“Uh-oh.”
“Uh-oh what?”
“I’m in trouble, aren’t I?”
I let out a huff of a laugh. “What makes you say that?”
“You brought your stern voice with you.”
“Seems you’ve gotten yourself a little fan club,” I stated. “The nurses are gaga over you.”
“I’m flattered.” He shot me a grin. “You know the thing about fan clubs? They need a club president. You look like you’re up for the job.”
“I’ll pass, thanks,” I said, my expression sobering. “What’s this about you not taking morphine?”
“That’s right.”
“You don’t have to play tough guy in here. You just had major surgery. No one will think less of you for taking pain meds.”
He frowned. “It’s not about being tough.”
“No? Then what’s it about?”
Boxer rubbed the blond stubble along his jaw and paused a moment before looking at me and saying, “Addiction runs in my family.”
His response wasn’t one I’d been anticipating, and it shut me up immediately.
“Hmm. Rendered you speechless, did I?”
“I’m sorry, I didn’t expect that. I just thought…”
“You thought I was trying to get your attention.”
“What?” A slight blush stained my cheeks. “No, I didn’t.”
“It’s okay, Dr. Ward. I know you’ve been thinking about me.”
“Are you in cahoots with the nurses?” I demanded.
“Cahoots about what?”
“Never mind. Why didn’t you tell the nurses about addiction running in your family?”
He ran his fingers through his blond hair. “I don’t know.”
“We have other options for controlling pain. We can make you comfortable without narcotics.”
“I’d rather not, if it’s all the same to you.” His gray eyes were clear when they looked at me. I had the sudden feeling that I was seeing something more beneath the flirty biker exterior he portrayed, and it had me intrigued.
I had no business being intrigued.
I was his doctor. He was my patient. Nothing more.
“I’ll tell them not to bother asking you about morphine again. Okay?” I said.
“I appreciate it.”
“How’s the pain, though? On a scale of one to ten.”