***
"So tell us again about the working with Dr. Martin. I've heard she's a bitch." One of the other residents leaned forward at the large dining table we all sat around. There were around twenty of us by the time the servers brought in dinner.
Elizabeth was the center of attention, which she didn't seem to enjoy nearly as much as I thought she might.
"She was great to me, but I have a hard shell, I guess." She shrugged and picked up her wine. "There was no beating around the bush with her. You either did what she expected of you, or she would toss you out on your butt. The M.D. program at NYU might not be the top program in the state, but it worked well for me. Dr. Martin forced me to go as far as I could in my training, and I'm grateful for it."
"Sounds like your old mentor, Dr. Barkley, Aiden," Peter spoke up from the far end of the table, dragging me from my thoughts as I stared at my resident.
"It does. He was a hard bastard to like, but incredibly easy to respect." I brushed my hand over my lips and tried to ignore the desire to turn my attention back to Elizabeth. I could almost feel her staring at me. How she left me unraveled so effectively without me knowing a damn thing about her was upsetting. I would have to talk with her a few minutes after everyone left.
"This is true." Peter patted one of the young male residents to his left on the back. The kid looked like he was ready to go skydiving, not save lives. "Freddy's father is the associate dean at Harvard. He's a good man. I'm hoping this guy can live up to those same standards."
Freddy paled, and I chuckled, unable to help myself. Peter always picked some poor kid to tease in each new class of residents that joined us. I was just glad it wasn't Elizabeth this round. I had no doubt that I would have been be in front of her, defending her, though the old guy meant no harm.
"Who is your father?" I glanced over at Elizabeth as her warm brown eyes moved back to me. We lingered for a moment too long in a shared stare. I forced myself to turn to Freddy as he spoke.
"Vince Barker." Freddy picked up the roll on his plate and took a bite.
"I know Vince. He was a scoundrel back in the day," I laughed. "We didn't go to school together, of course, but he was a professor there when I attended."
"You went to Harvard?" A blond resident on my right asked, her voice airy - flirty.
"Sure did. He graduated valedictorian," Peter piped up, his eyes filled with the same pride he always had when bragging on me. It was embarrassing, though I'd gotten used to it.
"It was easier back then." I smiled and turned my attention back to Freddy. "Tell your father that Aiden Crawford said hello."
"I will, sir." Freddy turned back to his dinner as various conversations rose up around the table. I turned my attention to Elizabeth, who sat on my left.
"So I figured out how I know your advisor. It was driving me crazy the other day when I couldn't place her." I sat back in my chair and let my eyes move across Elizabeth's face as she watched me with open interest.
"Oh yeah? Did you guys date? You'd make a great couple." She smirked.
"Funny. No, her sister was a patient of mine. They would poke fun at me each time I came into the room. I think she wanted to date, or, rather, I knew she did. She's quite aggressive." I widened my eyes and picked up my fork to get another bite or two of my dinner before dessert was served.
"That's interesting." Elizabeth laughed and brushed her wine glass past her impossibly kissable lips.
"Yeah? More than it should be?" I lifted an eyebrow at her, and realized how comfortable it was to have her there beside me, talking quietly together as if we could create our own little world. Something told me we could. Too bad she was dating someone, from what Parks had told me, and that she was my resident.
And that she's ten years younger than me.
"She just warned me that you could be a little difficult when we met for my final assessment before coming to the hospital." Elizabeth's eyes filled with something like excitement. "Now I realize why. She said that the dean wanted you and me paired together, but she didn't."
I smiled, enjoying her honesty. It was refreshing. "Yes, your dean was good friends with my father when I was younger."
"Is your father a doctor too?" She leaned in as the conversation around us quieted.
"No." I glanced down the table at Peter as he stood, clapping his hands and smiling brightly. He was saving me from the story of my parents’ death. I was grateful.
"Alright. Let's go into the living room for dessert. That alright, Aiden?" He moved away from the table and toward me.
"It's perfect. If you spill anything on my carpets, you'll be over here cleaning them for a week. Got it?" I stood as the room dropped into an awkward silence. "I’m kidding. I don't want any of you back until Peter forces me to."
They all laughed, and I reached out, pressing my fingers absently to Elizabeth's back. I hadn't meant to. It was natural to want to guide her around. Her stiffening caused me to jerk my hand back.
"Forgive me," I whispered. "Old habits."
"It's okay." She glanced over her shoulder, and from the angle I got of her pretty face, I could have sworn I saw a hint of the lust that I'd been experiencing for the last week. Surely not, but I coveted the idea of it all the same.
We had dessert in the kitchen, followed by Elizabeth, Peter, and me cleaning things up. We talked about the good old days as Elizabeth laughed and asked questions, egging us on. Peter left just after we finished cleaning up, and I walked Elizabeth to the door and opened it.
"Tonight was fun." I explored her expression, wanting to see a hint of the desire that I could have sworn brushed by her earlier. I couldn't make the first move, but damn if I didn't want to. I'd have to hold myself back if nothing else.
"It was. I loved all the stories of your first few years at the hospital." Her expression changed a little, and it left me wanting to push her.
"What? You have something you want to know?" I pressed my shoulder against the door frame and shoved my hand in my pocket. The need to reach out and touch her was almost consuming. It was something I'd yet to experience in my nearly-forty years.
"Are you lonely?" Her brows pulled in tight, making her impossibly beautiful. "I mean, I'm not asking so I can fill that hole, spot, er..."
I laughed. "Yes. It's lonely at times, but I married my career a long time ago. I love it with every part of me. Saving lives is who I am."
"Thank you." Her cheeks turned pink. "I think I'm headed down that same path."
"I hope not, for your sake. Besides, Parks was lamenting earlier over your boyfriend. You're already headed in the right direction. People need relationships." I was digging and I hated myself for doing it.
"Parks is ridiculous, but I'm going to enjoy becoming friends with him." She shook her head. "Only friends."
"Yes. You have to be careful of him." I shifted and she stepped outside as if sensing that the conversation was drawing to a close. I didn't have a confirmation on her dating anyone, but she'd done that on purpose. I wasn't giving her nearly enough credit.
"Thanks again for tonight. I enjoyed it." She turned to go, and I called out to her.
"Elizabeth."
She glanced back, her face captivating me. "Yes?"
"I think we're going to be great friends as we continue down this path, so remember that I'm a resource to you. If you need something…"
"Thanks, Dr. Crawford." She smiled and turned, leaving me to stare after her.
Not only had she saved me from where the conversation was headed, but had set us back to being mentor and student. I appreciated it, and yet despised the shutdown. It was deserved, though. I'd made it quite clear in my office a few days back that I wasn't interested in anything with anyone, not even her.
"Not even an extended conversation." I rolled my eyes at myself and closed the door after she got in her car and pulled out of my driveway. "Such an asshole at times."
No wonder I was alone.