'What I mean,' she said hastily, 'is that you don't need to worry that I'll read anything into it—you know that all I'm interested in at the moment is my career. I'm certainly not looking for permanent attachments. It won't be long before I'm off to London to start a new job.'
Heavens, how could she tell such a lie and sound convincing?
'That's right, so you are.'
His manner suddenly cool, he turned and walked over to his desk, flicking open the notes and scanning them quickly.
Keely felt suddenly confused.
Now what had she said?
Surely her words should have reassured him?
She frowned, but before she could question him there was a tap on the door and Keely bit back a growl of frustration. Talk about rotten timing!
Zach strode across his office and opened the door, his manner as calm and unperturbed as always.
'Oh, Nicky, you want the notes.' Not by a tremor of his voice did he betray the fact that only a minute or two earlier he and Keely had been locked together with a passion that had nearly singed the paint from the walls. 'Keely's ahead of you. I was just finishing them off.'
'OK.' Nicky gave them a cheerful smile. 'Wasn't it great to have the chance to deliver a baby? It's nice to have something cheerful happening in the department for a change, don't you think?'
'Wonderful.' Zach's tone was even but Keely could see that the tension was back and she wanted to scream with frustration. For a brief moment she'd broken down those barriers that he'd built around himself. He'd let her close to him.
He walked back to his desk, signed the notes and handed them to Keely.
'There we are—all yours.'
His glance was cool and professional, and she sagged with disappointment. What had happened to the passion that had exploded between them? He was so distant that their kiss might never have happened, but she knew that for those few wild moments he'd wanted her as much as she'd wanted him.
But now he'd had time to think, he was backing off again. The death of his wife had hurt him so badly that part of him couldn't let go—couldn't allow him to give himself to a woman again.
The rest of Keely's shift was a nightmare. Every time she looked at Zach she remembered his mouth on hers and his hands touching her body.
Several times he had to repeat instructions, and by the end of the shift she was so jumpy that she thought everyone must have noticed that something was wrong.
She was relieved to climb into her little car, relieved to put some distance between her and Zach. Although not for long, of course. As they were both off duty he'd be under her nose tonight and the whole of tomorrow.
Torture.
When she arrived home she left a note on the kitchen table saying that she needed to get on with some studying and had taken her supper upstairs. At least that way she wouldn't have to spend an evening trying to pretend that she was totally indifferent to the man.
It was all very well telling herself that she wasn't going to throw herself at him, but it was becoming harder, not easier. She couldn't look at him without remembering how it had felt when he'd kissed her, and as for the rest...
She gave a groan and reached for a cardiology textbook. Maybe work would take her mind off Zachary Jordan.
Fortunately it snowed overnight, which at least provided a topic of conversation at the breakfast table.
'Good morning.' Zach strolled into the room and Keely's hands started to shake so badly that she dropped the packet of oats onto the floor.
Bother. Bother. Bother.
Why did he have such a powerful effect on her?
And why did he have to look so good in the morning? One glance in the mirror had been enough to confirm that a sleepless night had done nothing for her own appearance. Her cheeks were pale and her blue eyes were shadowed. Obviously he hadn't suffered a similar fate, she thought dryly, noting how sleek and handsome he looked. But, then, why should he? From his point of view all they'd shared had been a kiss. A very memorable kiss, of course, but nothing that was going to disturb his sleep.
Nothing that came close to what he'd shared with his wife.
'Something wrong, Keely?' One dark eyebrow lifted and she gave a bright smile.