Marrying The Boss by Judi Nolan Page A

the guy she'd crossed half the
world to get away from? The guy who'd lashed out at her?
    " I'm sorry." Kate stared up at Spencer. His
intent gaze was unsettling. She didn't want to know what he was
thinking. "Eric was...a friend. Someone I once knew." She lifted
her shoulders, turning away to gather up cushions and restore order
to the room. "I...it was a long time ago. I don't wish to think
about it now."
    She looked back at him. "Maybe I'd better
go. You'll have things you need to organize. I know I need a shower
and a change of clothes before morning surgery," she finished in a
rush.
    " Of course." Spencer took the blanket she
held out to him for folding.
    Eric . So the creep was more to her than
Kate was letting on. She talked about him in the past tense, but it
didn't carry the ring of truth. She was still suffering for what
the guy had done to her and recently too.
    Spencer snapped the blanket
taut, folding it in frustrated fury. If he even met him…
    Kate kept her distance and they continued
to work in silence. Spencer watched her move about the room.
Obviously she didn't wish to discuss her past relationship or bring
herself to trust him. To understand it was never his intention to
hurt her by stirring up painful memories from the past. He didn't
understand himself right now. Uncertainty chipped away at his sense
of control.
    The silence between them lengthened,
became painful. Unwilling to let her leave like this, he put a hand
out to detain her just as she finished patting the last cushion
back into place. "At least stay for a cup of coffee. I know I could
use some. I owe you for what you've done tonight and you must be
hungry."
    This warm, sleep tousled and barefoot Kate
looked entirely delectable and too dangerous, but he couldn't send
her away like this, looking distressed. But every signal, every
movement of her slender body, told him she had placed herself off
limits.
    Kate watched him, running her tongue over
her bottom lip. A safe distance from this man was what she needed
right now. Space and time to reassemble the barriers she had placed
around her innermost thoughts and feelings. But their talk of Eric
had rattled her composure, leaving her feeling vulnerable and
confused.
    " I guess I could stay." She finally
allowed. "A cup of coffee would be welcome, thank you, Dr.
Stelanos."
    " The name is Spencer."
    " Spencer," Kate breathed reluctantly,
finally giving him this one small victory. Where was the real harm in
that?
    " You'll find it's a lot easier." Spencer
turned to lead the way into the kitchen.
    Kate wasn't so sure. "How's your aunt?
What's her prognosis?"
    She helped herself to a cookie before
pulling out a stool and sat down at the scrubbed oak table across
from him.
    He sighed. "Disgruntled. She doesn't take
kindly to people telling her what to do. Thankfully her hip wasn't
fractured, but she has a mild concussion. If she takes things easy,
she should make a full recovery."
    " Thank goodness you were here."
    Not liking other people telling them what
to do appeared to be a Stelanos family trait. "How are you going to
cope with Jamie while she's away?"
    " We'll manage."
    " Thanks." Kate accepted the mug of coffee
Spencer passed to her.
    He leaned back against the counter behind
him. "I'll need to take the morning off, but Jake can cover for me.
Alexia will no doubt have the whole hospital reorganized before
lunch, if I'm not there to stop her. She's already told me she's
convinced I'm keeping her in hospital as some sort of punishment.
She's always been a very good martyr."
    Kate felt disturbed by the idea. "I'm sure
she doesn't really mean it. She must realize you're only doing
what's best for her."
    " Maybe," Spencer muttered bleakly. "I'm
afraid we haven't seen eye to eye on a lot of things for some time,
especially Jamie's upbringing. My aunt is old and very set in her
ways. She would have my son brought up in a strictly Greek way,
where I think he should be—"
    Whatever he was going to say was