Royal Seduction by Donna Clayton Page A

that would measure in the platonic range. But even the small, swift peck he’d given her had missed that mark. He’d spent the remainder of last night tossing and turning while his subconscious continued to conjure sensuous images of how easily that chaste kiss could have turned outrageously erotic, and once he’d finally dropped off to sleep, it had done just that in his dreams.
    His whole body grew hot as he contemplated the subliminal night fantasy.
    â€œRiley?”
    Dr. David Graham was older than Mount Hood, and the man should have retired years ago. But his position as director and top dog—as he’d preferred to refer to himself—at Portland General Hospital had afforded him a great deal of clout and power, and a sort of celebrity in the city that he refused to give up. Everyone knew Dr. Graham would have to be carried from his prestigious office feet first.
    â€œYes?” Riley sat up straighter in his chair.
    â€œI was asking your thoughts on the matter,” David said, obviously unhappy that he’d had to backtrack to bring Riley up to par. “You haven’t said much at all.”
    Riley had no idea exactly which matter he meant. Dr. Graham had been the one who’d forced Riley into this job, with promises of great things to come for him if he saved the clinic from ruin once the truth about Dr. Richie had been made public. However, the offer had also held overtones that smacked of blackmail, and Riley hated the fact that his past could be used against him.
    â€œOne of the concerns Dr. Jacobs and I talked about,” Faye Lassen supplied for him, “is the price tag of the project. It might be cost-effective for us to contract an outside laboratory for the testing.”
    Riley cast her a grateful glance, but she seemed too focused on the goings-on of the meeting to notice.
    David Graham looked appalled by Faye’s suggestion. “And risk allowing this information to get out?”
    Faye didn’t wither under the director’s frown. “You know contract labs are run under strict proprietary information laws, Dr. Graham. Everything about our experiments, from the substance to the results, will be safe.”
    David’s wiry brows set stubbornly. “I want to keep this in-house. And I’ve already agreed that Dr. Richie should head this up. Dr. Jacobs was right when he told me last week that NoWait is Richard Strong’s baby. No one knows the stuff like he does.” Frustration evidently got the better of him and he thumped his hand on the table. “Why can’t we find that man?”
    A dropped pin would have clashed like a cymbal in the sudden silence.
    The bristly director frowned down at the long agenda in front of him. “We still have a lot to discuss, and I see it’s nearly lunchtime. But I think it’s imperative that we nail everything down today. I don’t want this to drag on with endless meetings. I want the testing started. Or at the very least, I want all of our ducks in a row so that when Dr. Richie returns he can get right on it.
    â€œWe’ll order lunch in,” he announced. “Faye, can you take care of it?”
    Automatically, Faye answered, “Certainly, Dr. Graham.”
    â€œHave the food delivered right here.” To the group at large he said, “Let’s take a twenty-minute break. That should give all of you time to reschedule your afternoon appointments, and then we can get right back on this, okay?”
    He might have formed the words into a question, but he wasn’t interested in anyone’s opinion. He clearly expected his wants to be fully met.
    Riley and Faye left the meeting together. Once they were out of hearing range, Riley said, “Thanks for that back there.”
    Faye smiled. “No problem. You’d do it for me if the situation had been reversed.”
    He nodded.
    â€œBy the way,” she quipped, “where were you? Or rather, where were