When the COM of the hospital kisses the snot out of you, you're going to do the best you can to stay as far away from him as possible.

Jillian wasn’t that lucky.

The hospital cafeteria was packed, after the tour bus crash. There were a lot of people just waiting for word on their loved ones. It took her a little while to maneuver to the counter, and even longer to find a seat. There was really only one empty seat with anyone that she knew, or could intrude upon.

Him.

He eyed her, challengingly. She knew what he was thinking. Jillian placed her tray on the table and stared at her boss. "Is this seat taken?"

"It is now. Sit. I see you’re a little later than usual."

"That bus accident."

"Yes, I'm just glad there were no serious injuries tonight. It could've been a lot worse."

"Why are you here still? Shouldn’t you have been out of here at least an hour ago?" She refused to let herself feel concern at the strain around his eyes, or the slight paleness to his skin.

She wouldn’t care about him. She wouldn’t.

It was just the family connection making her concerned at all. That’s what it was. It was that, and not the fact that he seemed so alone, like he didn’t have people to care about him from day to day. He had his brothers, but they were busy with their own lives—with the other people they loved.

Who else did Rafael Holden-Deane love?

"Budget meetings. Every department wants a little bit more than what FCGH can afford to give. Apparently tonight was the only time Rowland could meet. The part of my job I hate the most. They all gave valid arguments. I stuck around after the crash to deal with the media. What time do you get off tonight?"

"Nine." Hours away.

He looked at her pointedly. "Do you have a ride?"

"I have a father, Dr. Holden-Deane. Plus, I'm almost twenty-five years old. I can get myself home when needed."

"Don't get defensive, it doesn't become you. Do you have a ride?" He leaned forward. Jillian fought the urge to lean backward. Just to get the man out of her space. To not notice how good the darn man smelled—much better than her stale raisin cookie on her tray.

She knew how he smelled, and now she knew how he felt. How he tasted. Damn him. He’d just had to go and change everything.

"Jillian?"

"What are you going to do if I say that I don't? Come back and get me yourself? Stick around for the next four hours?"

"If I have to."

She hadn’t expected that response. Not at all.

"Well, relax; not that it's any of your business, but I do have a ride. One paid for by the great Barratt-Handley Industries. You see, I have an overprotective older sister. And a brother-in-law who seems to think people may try to kidnap me someday. Not like that has happened before, of course, but Houghton takes it seriously. Any time I need a ride, all I have to do is call the company car. It shows up, drive me straight home. Or wherever else I want to go. See, I got things handled."

"Good. A little cranky today, are we?"

Of course she was—she’d been yelled at, puked on, peed on, and cried on repeatedly for the last four-and-a-half hours. She was ready to snap. He made a handy target. A large, muscly one who looked really good in a dark blue suit—damn him. "Something like that. Why are you eating here? I have to say, FCGH doesn't exactly have the best menu options."

"I’ll fix that eventually. Because I don't want to cook for myself all the time. I don't want to drive to Travis' and beg food off of him and Lacy. The two of them need their privacy right now."

"I can't believe she's decided to move in with him. After what her ranch means to her… well, I just don't get it. Still, I guess it makes more sense for her to move in with him than the other way around." Travis ran a full operation that was huge from the ranch that surrounded Lacy’s home.

"He would, if she asked him to. Because he loves her. And that's all that matters."

"Why Dr. Holden-Deane, I think you may be a romantic underneath all that reptilian and scaly exterior. Whoever would have guessed it?"

A hot hand landed on her knee. Jillian stilled. Why had he picked such a tiny table? He had to be crazy to touch her here. She fought a shiver.

Damn him. He scrambled her brains completely.

"Jillian…you keep up the snotty and I'm going to lean forward and kiss you. Right here, for everyone in the hospital to see. How do you think that would go over with the gossips?"

"You wouldn't.” She squeaked; Jillian pulled in a deep breath and tried again in a regular voice. She would not let him see how he’d freaked her out. “You are the COM. What do you think the Board would think if you're seen kissing a lowly ER nurse? In the cafeteria, of all places? You wouldn't dare." She hated how timid and weak her voice sounded, but damn it—she didn’t think he was joking. The look in his eyes told her he meant exactly what he said.

Didn’t he always, though? She fought a shiver as she remembered exactly how it had felt to kiss him.

"Wouldn’t I? All anyone has to know is that you and I have known each other since before your return to the hospital. I mean, you’re best friends with my baby sister, after all. How romantic, right?” He leaned forward, one of those rare killer-sexy smiles stretching his lips for a nanosecond. Then he sobered again. “Your other sister and my sister grew up together. We are all one big happy family. Don't tempt me. You might be surprised by the results."

Jillian shut her mouth. Well, when she wasn't eating, that was. She eyed him like the snake she suspected he was every time he moved. And it took him far too long to let go of her knee.

Finally, her half-hour break was almost over. She balled up her trash, and stood.

For some reason, it didn't surprise her that he had stayed with her even though he was obviously finished with his own meal. He stood when she did. "I'll walk you back to the ER. And I'm heading out. Stay inside the lobby until that car of yours arrives. Promise me that."

Jillian just nodded. He shocked the hell out of her when he wrapped his fingers around the end of her braid and tugged gently. Her head immediately went back, and she stared up at the giant next to her. She half feared he was going to make good on his threat. Instead he trailed his hand up the braid and cupped the back of her neck. "You can run from me, Jillian Beck. But only for so long. Once I finally decide what I’m going to do about you, well, we'll just figure that out then, won't we? Stay safe tonight. I’ll see you tomorrow."

Jillian fought the instinctive shiver that ran down her spine. Something about this man…

It was only after he'd dropped her off unceremoniously at the ER and walked away that she realized his hand had been directly over the scar on her neck and wrapped around her hair and she hadn’t totally flipped out. Not one bit.

In fact, other than her brothers-in-law or her father, this was the only man who had touched her in weeks whose touch had not repulsed her.

Or frightened her.

Who had made her want him to touch her even more.

She had no clue what it meant.