“I HAVE A SURPRISE for you,” Kate sang as she walked into Jake’s office.
“Oh?”
“You have a little boy in exam room two.”
He rose from his desk and adjusted his Monty Python baseball cap. “That’s not a surprise, Kate.”
“Guess who his mother is.”
Jake stared at her for a minute. Then the room tilted when he realized who she meant. “Oh, God.”
She leaned over his desk and winked. “I’ll go see if we have enough red lollipops.”
“No, no, no. You are glued to my side. Do you understand me?”
“Come on, Jake.” Kate turned him around and shoved him out the door. “You have to learn how to deal with aggressive women some time.”
“Times like these, I wish I had a partner.”
The scent of roses gagged him as he stood outside the door. A deep breath, a small prayer, and he entered the room. Mrs. Ricks swayed to her feet. “Hi, Dr. Jake.”
“Hi.” Geez, he hated when his voice cracked. He glanced at her son, four-year-old Evan. The sight of his droopy, watery eyes and pale, feverish complexion took his mind off everything but his patient. “What’s the matter, Buddy?”
“My ear hurts.”
Jake grabbed the otoscope. “Let me take a look, and maybe I can make it feel better.” He shined the light into his ear, seeing the canal was deep pink with fluid in the middle ear. Poor kid.
Jake rubbed Evan’s back and faced his mother. “He has an ear infection. I’ll write a prescription for antibiotics. It should clear up in a few days.”
After finishing the examination, he squatted down in front of the child. “You did a great job. You deserve a prize for that.”
Evan lay down. “May I pwease have a wed wollipop?” His lids lowered. He had to be in pain and still asked so politely for a treat. At that moment, Jake would’ve given him a puppy if he wanted.
“Sure thing, Sport.”
He opened the top cabinet and took down the lollipop box. Brown, orange, green, yellow. No red? Had he eaten them all?
He turned to Kate. “We’re out?”
“I’ll be right back.” She offered a knowing grin and left the room.
Jake gulped as Kate closed the door behind her. Mrs. Ricks gave him a seductive smile. He quickly scribbled out a prescription. God, he wished he’d worn an intimidating power suit instead of the Yosemite Sam T-shirt and blue jeans.
Should he leave the exam room, or was it safer to stay here with her son as chaperone? Maybe he could make a beeline for the reception desk. Yes, that sounded like his best bet. He inched toward the door. “Here’s Evan’s prescription. You can give him a children’s pain reliever to make him more comfortable.”
Mrs. Ricks moved in front of him, blocking his escape as she eased the paper from between his fingers. “I’m a little disappointed you didn’t call.”
He backed up. “I told you I-I didn’t think it w-would be appropriate.”
She moved forward. “I won’t tell if you won’t.”
Jake straightened and squared his shoulders. Kate was right. He needed to learn how to deal with women like this. “That’s not the point.” He grimaced when his attempt to sound firm fell flat. “I’m your children’s doctor.”
“So?” She reached up and removed his cap, running her fingers through his hair. “God, your hair is like silk. What do you use to wash it?”
“S-soap.”
“You have such sexy eyes.”
He glanced at Evan. Fast asleep on the exam table. Shit! Where the hell was Kate? He tried to slide away from Mrs. Ricks without having to push. “Please excuse me. I have—I have other patients to see—”
“God, you are so cute. That innocent boy act is such a turn on.”
Jake gaped, horrified. “Mrs. Ricks—”
“It’s Ms.”
“Either way, you must stop this.”
“Aren’t you interested, even just a little?” She leaned against him, lifting her lips toward his.
Jake almost cried with relief when Kate entered the room holding a folder and probably the last red lollipop in the office. He grabbed her wrist and yanked her between him and the daunting woman.
Kate threw a glare over her shoulder before turning to Ms. Ricks and handing over the lollipop. When she spoke, her tone was soft and even. “I see Evan is out like a light, so tell him I hope he feels better.” She opened the folder and made a note in the file. “And might I suggest, Jane, either learn how to take no for an answer or find another doctor.”
Slamming Jake’s cap to the floor, the woman glowered, scooped her son in her arms, and stormed from the room.
Jake flinched at the slamming door then turned to Kate, trying to hide his grin. “Wow, you can really be a bitch.”
He could almost feel the daggers she aimed at him piercing his face. She slapped the folder against his chest before stomping from the room across the hall to his office.
Jake scooped up his cap then followed. He closed the door and was about to apologize when her icy stare stopped him.
“Listen, Dr. Harris. I did not go to college all those years just to be your babysitter. I haven’t been involved in something so juvenile since I passed notes to William in study hall.”
Jake frowned. “Who’s William?”
“My husband—don’t change the subject. This has got to stop.”
“Do you think I do this on purpose?”
“Oh, please.” She rolled her eyes and fanned her face. “‘Oh,Dr. Harris, that innocent boy act is such a turn on.’” She dropped her hands into fists at her side. “As if you didn’t know.”
“You were listening outside the door?” Her taunt sparked his anger.
“I figured I would give you a chance to—”
“I think you’re forgetting who the boss is around here, Mrs. Henderson.” He bent over, bringing his nose within inches of hers. “This is my practice, and if I want you to play goalie for me with every single woman who walks in here, you do it! Because if you can’t, I’ll find someone who will.”
Her face paled. “Dr. Harris—”
“No, Kate, I’m tired of this shit. You are not my babysitter, and I’m sick of you acting like you are. Either get over this obsession you have with our age difference or find yourself another job.”