Edge of Disaster Read online

  “Yeah, okay.” I sniffed.

  “You know something?”

  “What?”

  “You have the greatest nipples.” And he grinned that super sexy smile of his and I laughed and just shook my head.

  He lifted me off of him and stood me up between his legs. Then he pulled me closer and kissed my stomach. He moved his mouth over to the two scars from the stab wounds and kissed those next.

  He lifted his head and said, “I never told you this, but that night the call came in and I got to the O.R., when I saw it was you, I flipped out. I went into the locker room and punched in a wall and then followed it with a pretty hard kick. They had to replace a section of sheetrock. I was freaking out until all the scans came back and I knew you were going to be okay. Alexia, I really did hold your hand throughout the entire surgery. I told my partner if he fucked it up that I’d kill him.”

  I couldn’t breathe for a moment. “I didn’t know.”

  “I know you didn’t. You acted like you didn’t want to have anything to do with me so I wasn’t going to tell you I went psycho over you. I think I fell in love with you that first time I saw you in Camellia's. When you took my drink order.”

  “Grey Goose extra dirty martini with extra olives. My favorite.”

  “I couldn’t stop looking at you. That’s why I acted like I was ignorant about the menu choices. I loved the sound of your voice. You made the food sound so delicious.”

  I laughed. “It was my job.”

  “No, sweetheart. It was you. Look, I’m not gonna lie. I could stay naked with you forever. But, since this is your first time on the TSCSC, let’s go back up so you can enjoy the day.”

  The rest of the day was perfect. Jack made a huge loop and when the sun started to set he headed back to the marina. It was super dark by the time we docked and Pearce looked at me and asked me if I wanted to spend the night on the boat.

  I declined because I didn’t have anything with me. I wanted to go home and gather some things because he’d already informed me I was staying with him again. He was on call the next day, Sunday, but he wanted me all for himself that night.

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  We walked in Pearce’s door at eight o’clock and I plugged my iPhone in because it was dead. As soon as I did, it fired up with five missed called and ten texts...all from Terri wanting to know where the hell I was.

  I immediately called her. I tried to scoot away from Pearce but he intentionally stalked me and wouldn’t let me escape his arms.

  “Where the hell are you? I was giving you till ten to call me before I called the police. Geez Lex, I’ve been calling you since last night. What the hell!”

  She was yelling so loud in the phone, Pearce could hear every word.

  “You’d better tell her about me,” he said.

  “Who’s that? Where are you?” she demanded to know.

  “Calm down Terr, I’m at Pearce’s.”

  “Who?”

  “Pearce.”

  “You mean Smoky Eyes?”

  I flicked my head to him and he raised his brows. My face immediately started to burn.

  Shit. Fuck.

  “Yeah, Terri, that’s right. Smoky Eyes.”

  “What the fuck Lex! When did all this go down?”

  “Long story. Let me just say he called on Christmas morning and we got together that night.”

  “Humph. That’s exactly how long I’ve been tryin’ to get in touch with you. Couldn’t you at least have called me? Damn, I’ve seriously been worried sick about you.”

  “I’m sorry Terri. I really am. We just sort of got caught up here and then my phone went totally dead on me.”

  “Ever hear of electrical outlets? Shit. Forget it. I’m just glad you’re okay. Look, it sounds like you’re still tied up, so call me when you’re alone and free. Okay?”

  “K. I love you Terri.”

  “I love you too Lex.”

  I turned off the phone and looked up to see Pearce staring at me with a comical look on his face.

  “Smoky Eyes, huh?”

  Shit!

  “Yeah, that was my nickname for you. I told you that I fell in love with your eyes, didn’t I?”

  “You might have mentioned something like that.” He was smiling from ear to ear.

  We ended up snacking on the rest of the food he’d bought for the boat and watching a romantic comedy that night. Then we went upstairs for another lovemaking marathon.

  The next morning, I rolled over and reached out my arm to find a cold empty bed. I felt lost and alone. It was really weird too. For years I’d been alone and didn’t mind. Now, just two nights with Pearce had me backtracking on all of that. I wanted him in here...and bad.

  I sat up and then I spied the note on the bedside table.

  Good Morning my beautiful Alexia,

  It is my most fervent hope that you had a wonderful night filled with wildly sexy dreams of me. I would like you to share them if you did, so that we can act them out tonight. I am at work so please call me when you awaken. If I’m in surgery, I obviously won’t be able to answer. Please leave a message or text me and I’ll call you back as soon as I’m able to. I miss you already and can’t wait to hold you in my arms again.

  There is coffee ready for you and anything is yours for the taking as far as breakfast is concerned (and anything else as well). I’ve left a key for you on the kitchen counter and the code for the alarm is 171272* Keep this somewhere so you can come and go freely.

  I look forward to seeing you tonight.

  I love you,

  Pearce

  I got up and searched his closet for one of his shirts to put on. Then I reread the note about forty three times before I finally set it down. In the kitchen, I made myself a cup of coffee and wandered around his lovely home, looking at the pictures and other things he had sitting around.

  I looked in every room, wanting to be close to him. Seeing a piece of him in every room, I ran my fingers along his desk and other things that reminded me of him. Tonight would take forever to get here. I just knew it.

  I looked at the clock and saw it was almost ten. I hit the stairs and stripped off my clothes. Walking into his shower, I was hit with the memory of our shower from yesterday, and I leaned against the wall and sighed. Every time I thought of him my knees went weak. I had to get my mind on something else or I would turn into one of those simpering women I’d always hated. The ones that pined over their men.

  Finishing my showering, I got dressed, dried my hair and put on my makeup. I decided to give Pearce a call and he answered immediately.

  “Hello Gorgeous.”

  “Hello Gorgeous back. I just got out of the shower. It was a long one spent there thinking of the one we had together yesterday.”

  “Stop. You can’t do this to me. I’m getting ready to do a splenectomy and a kidney repair on an accident victim. I need my head in the right spot.”

  “Oh, sorry, honey.”

  “Don’t be. Did you sleep well?”

  “Of course. I was well exercised.” I laughed.

  I heard voices in the background and other noises.

  “Look sweetheart, I have to go. They’re ready for me to scrub. I’ll call you as soon as I’m finished. I love you Alexia.”

  “Love you too Pearce. Do a good job in there.”

  “Thanks hon.”

  He ended the call. I went down the stairs, took the key and the code and set the alarm on my way out. I locked up and walked home. It was only about three blocks...or two and a half.

  When I got home, I called Terri and asked her if she wanted to meet me at Home Team for lunch. We decided to meet at twelve thirty at the one across the Ashley River.

  I did a couple of loads of laundry and vacuumed when my cell phone rang. It was Pearce telling me he was done with the first surgery but that he was getting ready to do another. He didn’t know what time he’d be done, but he’d call when he could.

  I finished up my chores and h
eaded across the Ashley to meet Terri. She was shocked when she saw me pull into the parking lot.

  “Pearce?”

  “No. Lisbeth. My Christmas present.” I laughed.

  “You’ve got to be kidding me. This is awesome.”

  “I know, right? I did my best to talk her out of it because I feel so guilty about it, but she would have nothing to do with it. It’s mine free and clear.”

  “It’s a beaut, Lex, it’s a beaut!” She used herNational Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation voice and had me in tears, laughing.

  We got a table and she pulled every last teeny detail out of me about my time with Pearce. She had a knack for that. I didn’t hold anything back. Part of me wanted her to tell me that I was insane and it would never work and the other part wanted her to pat me on the back and tell me what a great job I’d done.

  In Terri’s usual way, she did neither. She looked at me hard, like I knew she would and said, “I need to meet him. I’ll reserve judgement on all of this until I do.”

  “Fair enough.”

  We talked about a few other things and then it was time to go. We hugged and I promised I’d set up a time for them to meet. I really wanted her honest opinion.

  I got home and pulled out my computer so I could start getting ready for work the next day. Ugh, I hated to even think about it. I had gotten spoiled having these few days off.

  I went through all my emails and answered my clients. Then I pulled up appointment I had scheduled for the next day and made sure all my preparations were completed.

  I turned on the TV and waited for Pearce to call. When the clock hit eleven, I decided to head for the bed. I texted him to let him know and hit the sack.

  ********

  PEARCE

  “Middleton, get your ass in here, stat!” my partner called out. I finished scrubbing and waited to be gloved, masked, shielded and gowned by one of the personnel.

  “I’m here,” I said moving into the sterile field.

  “What the hell took you so long? Your head’s in the clouds. Must be a woman.”

  “Must be,” I answered. “Wanna tell me what we have here?”

  “Yeah, what we have is a mess. Gunshot wound. Abdomen. Perforated bowel and then some. Need I say more?”

  “Nope. Let’s go to work.”

  We got the patient patched up and into recovery but it was one of those days. One right after the next. And the whole time all I thought of was Alexia. And that she loved me. She. Loved. Me.

  I smiled. It was a damn good thing I had a mask on for most of the day because everyone around me would’ve wondered what kind of happy-assed pills I was popping. It wasn’t like me to be smiling through all the shit messy cases we were dealing with today. But I couldn’t help it. Alexia put a smile on my face that I couldn’t erase.

  Whatever it was that broke through her barriers, I was thankful for. She explained about her past and honestly I didn’t give a flying fuck. I knew she was a good person. I could feel it and see it in her eyes. She had repented enough for the sins she had committed and for the ones she hadn’t. I only prayed should could move on and I planned to help her do just that.

  “Dr. Middleton, they need you in five.”

  The intercom in the surgeon’s lounge interrupted my thoughts so I tossed the rest of my lunch in the trash and headed back to work.

  ********

  I must’ve been wiped because the next thing I knew my phone was ringing and it was two in the morning.

  “Hullo,” I mumbled into the phone.

  “Hey babe. Sorry to wake you, but unlock your door. I was swamped and just finished. I want to crawl in next to you and pass out.”

  “On the way.”

  I went to the door and unlocked it and was in his arms before I knew it. His face was chilly from the night air and I shivered as he kissed my neck.

  “Come on, sweetheart, let’s get you back in bed.”

  He tugged me along and I got under the covers and he slid in behind me and pulled me against him.

  “God, I missed the hell out of you today. Do you think you can go to med school and become my partner so we can always be together?”

  I chuckled. “I don’t think so. The sight of blood makes me pass out.”

  “Hmm. Guess that won’t work then. I’ll have to come up with something else.”

  He snuggled in closer and I heard his breathing even out and that’s the last thing I remembered.

  ********

  My alarm woke us at six and Pearce groaned.

  “I’m sorry. I should’ve set it on vibrate.”

  “It’s okay honey. I can go back to sleep. I don’t need to be in until nine.”

  I got up and went into the bathroom, showered and got ready for work. He was sound asleep when I came out. I headed to my closet and got dressed. The coffee was already made when I hit the kitchen. I poured myself a cup and wrote him a sexy note about how I loved to find a hot guy named Pearce in my bed in the morning.

  I left him my extra key and headed to work. My office was in Mount Pleasant so I headed over the Cooper River and was enjoying the view and singing my head off as the traffic thickened. I knew it was a bad sign because it was only seven fifteen when I suddenly came to a dead stop.

  I flipped on the radio and sure enough, there were reports of an accident ahead. All lanes were blocked. Great. I’d be sitting here for a while.

  I looked around and happened to see some guy waving at me. I looked closer and damn if it wasn’t Beavis again. Why couldn’t I get away from this dude? I gave him a slight wave and turned away. Then I had another thought. Now he knows what my car looks like and can even snag my tag number off the back.

  Shitfuck!

  I looked to see if I could change lanes but I was jammed in, just like everyone else. I decided to try to use the time to get some work done.

  A few minutes later, I heard this tapping on my window. I looked up and you know who was standing there with a big grin on his face.

  “Hey girl. You’re looking downright professional today. No par-tay time for you, huh?”

  “Um, I’m actually trying to get some work done here. This wreck is messing me up,” I said curtly. My heart started hammering in my throat. What the hell was he doing?

  “How about we get together again sometime. Brett and I really had a great time.”

  Brett? That must be Butthead.

  “Look, that was a huge mistake. I was really messed up that night and I’m not into that anymore.”

  He reached inside my car and clamped his hand on my arm. His voice hardened as he said, “My feelings are a little hurt here Lexi. We treated you to some good stuff and now you’re acting like you’re too good for us,” he snarled.

  I tried to pull my arm away from him, but he held on like a vise. My voice shook as I replied, “That’s not it at all. I just decided that I needed to slow down and walk the straight and narrow. I was going at it a bit too hard so I’ve backed off it all.”

  “Well, the way I see it, you still owe us,” he growled.

  “How so?”

  “You did a bunch of our stuff. That’s how so.”

  “So you want me to pay you or something because you never said anything about that?”

  He looked at me and his eyes turned dark as his lips thinned into a sneer. “Listen sugar, I don’t want your money. I want a three-peat of what we did before. A little Lexi-wich, if you feel me. Now, I can play nice or rough. Your choice.” His hand was squeezing the crap out of my arm now and it was really hurting me.

  “My choice is not to play at all. Leave me the hell alone,” I said as I tried to jerk my arm free again.

  I pushed the button and rolled up my window, catching his arm in the process. He started hollering as he released his grip on me. “Let me out of here,” he cried.

  “Are you going to be a nice boy?” I asked. I didn’t know where the hell this bravado came from, because in reality I was shaking in my boots. Literally.

&
nbsp; “Yeah. Just roll the window down, bitch.”

  “Ask me nicely and say please.”

  “Please roll the window down.”

  I did...just enough for him to pull his arm though. Then he did what I expected. “You’re gonna pay for this bitch.”

  He jogged back to his car, rubbing his arm all the way. I watched him and made sure I got the make and model of his car, which was a newer black Honda Accord. When traffic started moving again, I scooted into the far right lane and kept an eye on his vehicle. I was finally able to get his tag number and I committed it to memory.

  By the time I made it into Mount Pleasant, I was shaking so badly I had to pull off into the first gas station. I was sweating profusely and I could feel the beginnings of a panic attack. Right then my phone started ringing.

  I looked at the caller ID and it was Pearce.

  “Pearce!”

  “Alexia! What’s wrong?”

  “I...I...” I couldn’t breathe, or talk or say anything. I started hyperventilating.

  “Alexia, can you hear me? If you can hear me, don’t put the phone down honey. Keep it up to your ear. I can hear you breathing. Shit! Please tell me you’re okay. Or tell me where you are so I can come and get you. Can you text me?”

  I was panting and my face was starting to tingle. I heard someone tapping on my window and my first thought was that Beavis had followed me. When I looked up I saw it was a woman. I put my shaking hand on the button to lower the window and just handed her my phone.

  I kept trying to gulp in air but it only seemed to make things worse. She started talking to Pearce and ran inside the Seven-Eleven. Minutes later she came back holding a paper sack in her hand.

  “Put this over your mouth and take some deep breaths. You’re hyperventilating and this will help.”

  I did as she instructed but my panic was so far gone I didn’t think it was helping.

  “It’s okay honey,” she patted my back, “just keep breathing. This happens to me when I fly. It takes a little while before it starts to work.”