I somehow got jerked to the ER for most of the day, which was a good break from Ansley, but not one I wanted. Seeing her upset the day before over Nolan had me wanting to cheer her up, which was odd as fuck. I was breaking my own rules, and it hadn't been more than a week and a few days.

Had Aiden known that I would fall for his sister? Had I fallen for her?

No. No way.

I pulled into a flower shop near the restaurant and got off the bike. I couldn't remember the last time I'd bought a girl flowers, but I wanted Ansley to feel special - different. I wasn't sure how the night was going to go, but I was going to push the buck a little. We would most likely never be anything because both of us had too many fucking hang-ups, but if she wanted kids... I could help there. She could have a safe place to land with me. I'd never give up her secret, and somehow, I'd talked myself into the fact that I'd be okay with getting her pregnant and walking.

Something deep inside of me felt unsure, but fuck it. I was going to offer at least.

"Hi there. Can I help you with something?" A young feminine guy walked out from a large bouquet of roses.

"Yeah, sure. I'm looking for some flowers for a date tonight."

"What message are you trying to send?" His expression grew serious.

"Um, not sure what you're asking."

"Flowers send a message. Red roses are for lovers, white and yellow for friends." He reached out and took a long-stem pink rose from a vase. "Is this for your mother, your sister, a friend, a funeral, or a woman you're hoping to bed?"

I snorted. "Wow. All that can be said with a flower?"

"Of course. Actions speak louder than words, and flowers whisper more powerfully than actions." He shrugged. "Doesn't everyone know this."

I laughed at the kid’s bravado. "I'm not sure. I'll take the red roses, and slip in a few white ones. I want this woman in my bed, but I'd like her friendship as well."

"Complexity. I like it." He turned and busied himself with putting together the bouquet for Ansley.

I pulled out my phone and checked for messages. Nothing other than a few girls trying to see if I was free for a long night of fucking. My insides grew cold at the life I'd created for myself. Had I really thought that fucking my way through life would be enough?

Yes. It was more than enough. Disgust rolled around in my stomach, but I forced my thoughts in a different direction. Dinner wasn't all I wanted from the beautiful woman who'd turned my shit upside down. I wanted a night exploring her body. I needed to hear her come again, to feel her body tense against mine.

"You alright?" The guy walked back out.

I didn't realize I was panting as my body grew hard and my heart raced. "Oh yeah. Sorry. Just have asthma."

He smiled. "Alright. Let's get you rung up."

I paid the guy, thanked him and drove to the restaurant with the flowers balanced in one of my hands. I was worried the wind was going to rip the petals off the damn things, but I luckily made it to my destination without too much trouble.

The pretty girl at the hostess stand was wearing a black see-through top and tight slacks. Any other time I would have taken the time to appreciate how good she looked, but I wanted nothing but Ansley. I glanced over at the table as I followed her.

She wasn't there yet, and I was ten minutes late. Fuck.

"You have someone meeting you, I guess?" She moved back and smiled down toward my flowers.

"Oh yeah. Doctor Ansley Crawford. Tall, long black hair, beautiful woman."

She laughed. "Excellent. I'll show her this way when she gets here."

If. I sat down and tugged on the button-down shirt I had on. I hated like hell to dress up for a date, but Ansley was the type of woman who deserved it. No jeans and a t-shirt for her. I pulled out my phone again and checked it.

"Stop it. Shit." I growled and dropped the phone on the table in front of me. Why this woman left me feeling so needy was beyond me. I had to get over it. I was leaving in three weeks. Period.

The waiter came by, and I took a risk and ordered a bottle of wine. The chances of her showing up were growing more and more slim as the clock ticked by. Thirty-five minutes after I told her to meet me, I started to get up.

"Are you leaving?" Ansley stood in front of the table, the silky black dress she wore leaving very little to the imagination. My body screamed in delight as I ran my eyes down the full length of her.

"Fuck no," I whispered and got up to pull her chair out. "You're late."

"I wanted to get in trouble. I figured being late was the easiest way to do it." She sat down. Her movements were elegant, controlled. She made me want to be a better man.

"Well, you're on the right track for sure." I moved over and took my seat before offering her the flowers.

"Red for lovers. White for friends?" She lifted them toward her cute button nose and breathed in deeply.

"I want to be both." I pulled my napkin in my lap and leaned back as the waiter scurried over to fill Ansley's glass with wine. I waited until he left to catch her attention again. "I want to talk about something in a little while, but I don't want you to be upset with me when I do, okay?"

Much to my surprise, she nodded. "Alright. I'll play along tonight."

"Good." I picked up the menu. "Let me order for us unless you're picky. I love food. I'll get a few things for us to share. You'll love it."

"I like the sound of that." She lifted her glass to her lips and took a sip. "How was the ER today?"

"Busy. Bloody." I set the menu down and moved closer to the table. "And the OR?"

"About the same. I think Henry missed you." A hint of a smile played along her mouth.

"You have no idea how fucking beautiful you are, do you?" I reached out and took her free hand, running my fingers over her knuckles. "I wanted to put a fist in Nolan's face the other day for upsetting you."

"Thank you. On both accounts." She pulled her hand back. "He's always going to upset me. He ruined my youth and stole a few promises from me."

"You're still young, Ans. You have a shit-ton of life ahead of you."

"You have such a way with words." Her smile lifted but didn't reach her eyes.

I laughed. "I just feel like I can be myself around you."

"Oh yeah? And who is the real Jacob Parker?" She took another sip of her wine and studied me.

"I'm not sure anymore. I would have said a great surgeon who sluts himself out to stay safe from women like you, but safety looks so fucking boring from this vantage point."

Her shoulders stiffened, and the playfulness disappeared from her expression. "You know we can't be anything but colleagues."

"We're going to be lovers tonight, Ans. I'm taking you home with me." I lifted a hand as she started to oppose me. "I'm not taking no for an answer. Even if it's the last time you let me touch you."

"Alright." She finished her wine and lifted the glass to me. "If that's where the night is headed, then fill me up again."

I laughed and filled her glass up. "Tell me about yourself. I know about the shit with Nolan, but what do you like to do? Who are you under that raw sensuality and brilliance?"

"You think I'm sensual?" She softened, and my heart skipped a beat. Nolan was the wrong man for her. If nothing, I prayed she would realize that and run far away from him.

"Beyond hot." I glanced up as the waiter stopped by with salads. He motioned toward the piano bar and the dance floor. "Thank you." I turned my attention back to her. "Do you like to dance?"

"I love it." She picked up her fork as I got up. "Where are you going?"

"I'm taking you to the dance floor." I stopped beside her and held out my hand. "Don't deny me. All of these fancy-pants people are watching."

"Oh, brother." She got up and slid her hand into mine. "All of this is necessary?"

"I did come in under the two-hour time clock." I turned on the dance floor and pulled her flush against me. I pressed my palm in the small of her back and leaned down to kiss her exposed shoulder. "I've never done it in under two hours."

"Then you lied?" She asked breathlessly.

I could affect a million women over my lifetime, but something about affecting her fucked me up good. None of the others mattered like this.

"No. I challenged myself." I spun her around and pressed my budding erection against her stomach, wanting her to know what she did to me. "I knew I could do it with the right prize dangled in front of me."

"And dinner with me was more than enough?" She chuckled and lifted her chin. We locked gazes, and I had no doubt that she felt what I felt.

"Can I ask you something?" I leaned down and brushed my nose by hers. A gentleness swelled inside of me that I'd never experienced before.

"Yes," she responded and pressed her ample breasts against my chest as we moved.

"Do you really think you're past the point of having a child?" I tightened my grip as she tried to pull back. "Don’t push me away. I want to know if you still want one."

"Why?" Her expression grew bleak. I hated to push her into an emotional state, to shove her into a place of pain, but I had an offer for her. I needed to see if it was worth stating.

"Because I want to know, Ans. Tell me." I leaned down and brushed my lips by hers. "As friends. Open up to me. Tell me what I want to know."

"I'm past the point, Parks. You as a doctor know this." She rested against me as if our conversation left her exhausted.

"I don't agree with your prognosis." I leaned down and nipped at her lips, suddenly so turned on by her willingness to let me in a little. I slid my hand up her back and into her hair, sliding my fingers through the silky strands until I got a good hold on it.

"It's selfish of me. What if something turned out wrong with the baby?" Her eyes held too many emotions for me to ignore.

"Then you would love him just the same." I leaned down and kissed her with a fire I hoped she felt as deep as I did. A moan left me as she pressed herself against me and took the kiss to another level. "Let me help you." I licked at her mouth and kissed her again before turning and walking us back toward the table.

"Help me how?" She asked as she dropped down in her seat, her cheeks flush, her eyes wide with curiosity.

"I'm never going to get married, Ans. I'm too tarnished for that shit, but if I could help you with one of your dreams, that would feel good. Right."

"Are you offering to be a sperm donor?" She leaned back as if I had slapped her.

"No."

"Oh. Good." She let out a nervous laugh. "Then what were you-"

"I'm offering to make love to you until you get pregnant. I'm not making what we have into something sterile and clinical. You want a baby, and I want you for a little while longer."