Broken Lion Read online

  Hard.

  A few of the men started tittering like this was middle school and I was their pushover substitute teacher, the one who didn’t know how to herd the class clowns into their pens when they misbehaved.

  Wrong.

  I clapped my hands together and barked, “That’s it! All of you, out! Now! This isn’t a locker room. This is my house and we play by my rules! The exit is that way, gentlemen.” Like a football referee, I swung both arms around and pointed out the door. Too bad I didn’t have a referee whistle to blow in their faces. I hid a smile. Game, set, and match.

  “Want me to leave too, Doc?” The innocent look on Lion’s face was completely fake.

  I glared at him. “Are you always this defiant?”

  “Always.” And proud of it, no doubt.

  “If you weren’t my patient, I would throw you out with the rest of them. Unfortunately, I devoted my life to helping the sick and injured, no matter how annoying they may be.”

  His men laughed and hooted.

  I wheeled on them. “Zip it! All of you! Were you not able to find the door?” Considering the room was twelve by twelve feet, even an earthworm could find its way out. Then again, the average earthworm probably had a higher IQ than all these men combined.

  Lion smiled at me, the wheels behind his eyes turning, no doubt wondering what other thing he could do to harass me.

  I arched my eyebrows, daring him to speak.

  Finally, he chuckled. “Better do what the doctor says, fellas.”

  Cowed, the men shuffled out of the room, grumbling as they went.

  It infuriated me that they obeyed him and not me. Not that it mattered. Mission accomplished. Divide and conquer. Never fight the enemy all at once if you can take them down one at a time.

  At least they left.

  Order restored, I closed the door, but left it open a crack. Now it was just me trapped in this cage with Lion. Somebody get me a chair and a whip. Scratch that. Make it a tranquilizer rifle. I swear I’ll put this animal down if he tries anything. And someone call the taxidermist. Lion’s head is going up on my office wall on a plaque. Which reminds me, I’ll need to get a photo of me standing with my shoe on his head to commemorate the kill. The picture can go right next to the taxidermy head.

  I repressed another smile.

  “What’re you smiling about, Doc?”

  “Oh, nothing.”

  “Anybody ever tell you you got an iron fist?”

  I wanted to say, Yes, and I’ll use it on you if you don’t behave. But it was time for me to get to work, so I kept my mouth shut.

  “I like that in a woman.”

  “Is that so?” I was trying to be polite. His taste in women was not my concern, but I was slightly flattered he didn’t consider me a bitch. Slightly. I had never been afraid to stand up for myself even if it meant being labelled a bitch.

  “Yeah. I can take control all day long. I do every time I step in the cage. I think that’s why I like a woman who doesn’t take shit from anyone.”

  “That’s me. But I make an exception when asking my patients for stool samples. Then I will take their shit with a straight face.” It was a dumb joke. But it just slipped out.

  He snorted. “You’re clever, Doc.”

  I was surprised he found that funny.

  “You got a man?”

  I saw where this was going and I didn’t want to encourage him. His injured knee was my focus. I wanted to get the paperwork started for an MRI so I could move on to other patients. So I ignored his question. “Let’s get these bandages off so I can get a better idea of what’s going on.” I started to carefully unwrap the splint.

  “You didn’t answer my question.”

  I didn’t respond. I wasn’t going to get sucked back into flirtation. Since we’d already established that he found my iron fist a turn on, I needed another approach to keep him in line. The next best strategy was re-direction, a tactic that worked well with toddlers. That meant it would probably work well with Lion. “Can you tell me what happened when you injured your knee? What I mean is, did it twist more than normal? Were there any popping noises? Anything you can tell me will help.”

  “I’ll make you a deal, Doc. For every question of yours I answer, you gotta answer one of mine.”

  I smiled. “No deal.”

  “Then I’m not talking.”

  Ahhh, toddlers. They can be so stubborn.

  He folded his muscular arms across his equally muscular chest. Everything bulged magnificently, even his bulge, which I was still ignoring. But I couldn’t miss his charming grin. It had gone from ferocious to adorably playful.

  Sometimes, the best way to let a man down was with a compliment.

  “Mr. Maxwell. I’m flattered that you’re interested. I mean it. You’re a handsome man with a sense of humor. If we’d met under different circumstances, who knows. But we didn’t, and I need you to understand one thing.”

  “What’s that?”

  “It’s against the rules for a doctor to date a patient.”

  “What rules?”

  “The rules set down by the Medical Board of California and this hospital. Dating patients is considered unethical and therefore strictly verboten.”

  “Who needs rules?”

  “Let me ask you something, Mr. Maxwell.”

  “Shoot.”

  “You’re what, a boxer?”

  “Mixed martial arts. Cage fighter.”

  I ignored the fact that the term cage fighter conjured up all kinds of sexy images of him, me, a gloomy torch-lit cage that vaguely resembled some kind of sexual torture chamber (in a good way), and both of us sweating. A lot. While naked. Him grunting. Me moaning. Excessive amounts of bodily fluids would be exchanged as sexual organs shamelessly filled all relevant orifices with said bodily fluids. The orgasm count would be in the triple digits.

  “You okay, Doc?”

  “Yes.” I cleared my throat, trying to block out the onslaught of images. I needed to re-direct my own giddy teenaged train of thought. What had he just said? Something about rules? Oh yes, rules. “Are you allowed to hit your opponent in the eye or the groin during a cage fight?”

  “No. Eye gouges and groin strikes are off limits. If you do it on purpose, you’ll get disqualified, automatically lose the fight, and get fined by the judicial board.”

  I arched an eyebrow. “Imagine that. And, have you ever hit anyone in the groin during a fight? I mean, on purpose?” Why did I say groin? Groin groin groin. I pushed the thought away.

  “No way. That would be against the—” He stopped short.

  “The what?”

  He refused to answer, but his adorable grin returned.

  “Sounds like you follow the rules, Mr. Maxwell. When it suits you.”

  The slightest hint of a blush reddened beneath his tan skin. He chuckled. “You got me, Doc.”

  “Rules, Mr. Maxwell. We all follow them, often when we don’t want to.”

  “So you’re saying you would date me if it wasn’t against the rules?”

  “I said maybe. And we all know maybe means no. Ask any kid, they’ll tell you.”

  He chuckled. “Right.”

  Why did I feel like I was flirting again? I swear, that wasn’t my plan. The truth was, I really was flattered he was interested in me. Men of his caliber rarely spoke to me let alone threw themselves at me. But technically it was too late. I would be remiss if I didn’t follow my own rules. The ECU wasn’t my own personal singles bar. It was my place of work. As far as I was concerned, every patient who walked through the front doors was off limits, no matter how attracted I was to them or vice versa. “I’m very sorry, Mr. Maxwell. You’re my patient. That’s not going to change.”

  “Okay. Then I won’t be your patient. You haven’t done anything yet so get me another doctor. Please.”

  I almost bristled at his order. Nobody told me what to do. But the please he added at the end stopped me short. As did his adorable smile. “I did un
wrap your bandage. See? It’s too late.”

  “Shit, I coulda unwrapped it. You gonna tell me if you put a Band-Aid on a guy, he’s your patient?”

  “Yes. If it happens here in the ECU, definitely.”

  “That’s ridiculous.”

  “That’s a rule. And we all know rules are sometimes ridiculous. But most aren’t.”

  “Just get me another doc, Doc.”

  “I wish I could, Mr. Maxwell. Unfortunately, we’re busy tonight and we’re short staffed. You would be doing everyone a favor if you just let me treat you.”

  “I don’t know, Doc. Any doctor can fix my knee. But something tells me you’re the only doctor in the world who can fix a broken heart.” What should have been corny came off charming because he delivered it with such sincerity.

  “I wish I could help you, but I’m not a cardio thoracic surgeon.”

  “Huh?”

  “Sorry. Doctor humor. A heart surgeon. I’m orthopedics. I don’t do hearts. But I am eminently qualified to fix your knee. So let’s focus on that, okay?”

  “What’s your first name?”

  I sighed. “If I tell you my first name, I’ll still be your doctor.”

  “You’re too damn smart for you own good, you know that? That’s what I like about you, Doc. I mean, Ms. Flanagan.” He was looking at my name tag. “Since you’re not my doctor anymore, I’ll have to call you Ms. Flanagan until I know your first name.”

  “How do you know I’m not a Mrs.?”

  “I don’t see a ring.”

  “Maybe I left it at home.”

  “Don’t see a tan line.”

  “That’s because I’m always here working and don’t have time to get one.” I had to admit, his persistence was endearing. And he complimented me for being smart, which was the way to my heart. But it wasn’t going to work. “Try as you might, Mr. Maxwell, I will not be dating you. I’m sure one of the nice women waiting outside for you would be happy to take on that responsibility.” If they haven’t already. Everything about his demeanor suggested that he was an accomplished manwhore, which likely meant his telling me I was smart was just a trick to get me into bed. I didn’t do tricks. I’m sure the strippers outside would be happy to turn all the tricks he could ever want.

  “Them? Nah. They’re just fight groupies. But you? You’re my kind of woman. You’re a boss and a badass and smart as hell.” Tricks, more tricks! “Not to mention your red hair and those mint green eyes make me rock fucking hard.”

  Tricks, tricks, tricks!!! My eyes aren’t even mint green! They were just plain green. Mint. Pfft. He’s not fooling anybody. Except… me.

  I finally broke down and stole a glance at his cock. He wasn’t exaggerating. His python was wide awake and straining against his tight lycra shorts. I could see the shape of the head and the shaft through the fabric. When it pulsed, I almost lost my cool. Almost. There was a reason they called me Dr. Freeze in the ECU. I could deal with rude patients, gunshot wounds, and the chaos of trauma all day long. But this was different and that was one long python…

  “You’re blushing, Ms. Flanagan.”

  I was also staring. It was a fact that some snakes hypnotized their prey before going in for the kill. I tore my gaze away before his snake ate me. Or I ate it. If I hadn’t been hypnotized, I would’ve been embarrassed by my utter lack of professionalism. But it was the snake’s fault.

  “You sure you can’t find me another doctor, Irish?”

  “How did you know I was Irish?”

  “Flanagan is Irish, isn’t it?”

  “Yes. But don’t call me Irish.”

  “Why not? Is it racist or something?”

  “No, just don’t call me that.” Nicknaming me makes me sort of like you, so stop.

  “Then tell me your name.” His dark eyes smoldered with the promise of forbidden pleasure, the kind of pleasure that took place in his torchlit caveman’s cage where I could scream out every orgasm he gave me without worrying about waking the neighbors.

  I hadn’t had an orgasm with a man in ages. And never with a man this magnificent. Like I said earlier, I wasn’t a robot. I had my limits. Apparently, Lion was it. So I caved. I let down my guard and muttered:

  “You don’t even know me, Mr. Maxwell.”

  “But I will.” Again with that commanding voice. Low and dangerous and oh so delicious.

  Ooze.

  Latisha had been right about the anti-venom kit. I needed one to break the spell that Lion Maxwell had cast over me. If something didn’t break it soon, I was going to make a terrible mistake.

  Chapter 2

  BRIGID

  “I heard you had a knee injury in 109. Sounds like a possible ACL?” The man asking was Dr. Ivan Hackett. He was the Co-Director of Orthopedics, which made him one of my bosses. His voice still had a hint of a British accent from his childhood. The upper-crusty kind with its usual nasal note of smarmy superiority. I’m sure he and the Queen of England would get along just fine. They probably had tea together at Buckingham Palace whenever he was in town.

  “Yes. I already had my patient sent up to Radiology for an MRI. I’m waiting on the results.”

  “If you need a consult, let me know.”

  “I think I can handle it.”

  I was never sure if Dr. Hackett was always second guessing me or just a male chauvinist pig. His fine features and classic good looks made him that much more annoying. Although he didn’t have the sort of rugged body you would find in a firemen’s calendar, he was tall and lean and had a broad-shouldered swimmer’s body. I had seen him in a suit and he wore it impeccably well. And he knew it. If there was a sexy doctor’s calendar, Dr. Hackett would be Full of Himself February.

  “Well, if anything else arises, do page me straightaway.”

  “I will do that.” Sometime in the next century. I smiled at him.

  “Right, then. Off to surgery.”

  “If you need any help, do page me straightaway.”

  He smirked. “Cheeky.”

  “Who you talking to out there, Doc?” Lion hollered from his room. His entourage outside turned to look at me.

  Dr. Hackett couldn’t resist an opportunity to stick his nose in my business. He waltzed right into Lion’s room. I followed. Per my orders, the nurses had already cold packed Lion’s knee.

  “I’m Dr. Hackett. Is there something I can help you with, sir?”

  Lion’s eyes danced between me and Hackett. He looked suspicious. “You guys talking about me? I heard something about MRI results. Any word yet?”

  I opened my mouth to speak but Hackett beat me to the punch.

  “We’re still waiting for results from Radiology. Isn’t that right, Dr. Flanagan?”

  “Yes.” I so wanted to throat punch Hackett for doing that.

  Hackett ignored me. “I’m sure we’ll have the results for you shortly, sir.”

  Lion said, “Who are you again?”

  “I’m Dr. Ivan Hackett. Co-Director of Orthopedics.” He loved to tell people his title. Never missed an opportunity. He probably said it to himself every morning in front of the mirror while tying his tie. Double Windsor knot, Royalty approved. He was such a douche. Make that, King Douche V, fifth in a long line of douches.

  “So you do knees?”

  “Yes, I am specialized in orthopedic surgery, among other things,” Hackett grinned.

  “Can you do mine?”

  Oh, no.

  Hackett was taken aback. “Is there a problem with Dr. Flanagan?”

  “I don’t like women doctors.”

  Asshole!

  “I assure you, Dr. Flanagan is highly qualified in every respect. If I were in need of a proper doctor to perform an orthopedic procedure on my knee, I would ask for her.” I was surprised he spoke so highly of me, but then he ruined it by placing both hands on my shoulders in a fatherly way. He was at most five years older than I was.

  I wanted to cringe away from his touch, but I didn’t want to make a scene.


  “Ehh.” Lion shrugged. “I still don’t like women doctors.”

  “I completely understand,” Dr. Hackett said.

  Did he understand that there was a problem with women doctors, or was he just commiserating with Lion? It didn’t matter. I felt like a fool either way.

  Hackett said, “I would be happy to offer a second opinion once the results are in. From the looks of the swelling, we’ll have to wait until it goes down before I can perform any sort of procedure. Dr. Flanagan can walk you through the image results while I’m in surgery, but do have your nurse schedule a proper consult with me before you leave. That is, if you don’t mind, Dr. Flanagan?”

  Was he being snide? Why was I asking? He was always being snide. If I had a chainsaw handy, I would lop off Hackett’s head and hang it on my office wall next to Lion’s. These two were unbelievable.

  “Dr. Flanagan?” Hackett prompted. “Have we got this sorted?”

  I gritted my teeth and smiled. “I guess we do, Dr. Hackett.”

  “Brilliant.” He patted my shoulders in that fatherly way of his, like I was his incompetent daughter. “I’ll let you take it from here.” He reached over to shake Lion’s hand. “Pleasure to meet you, mister…”

  “Maxwell. Lion Maxwell.”

  “Excellent. We’ll speak soon. Until then, I assure you, you’re in expert hands with Dr. Flanagan.”

  “That’s exactly where I wanna be.” His voice was low and dangerous once again. But this time, there was no oozing. Well, not on my part. When Hackett was gone, Lion grinned at me, very much satisfied with himself. “Guess who’s not my doctor anymore?”

  “Do you have any idea what you just did?” I was pissed.

  “Sure do.”

  I hissed, “If you think after that little stunt that I would ever consider dating a man like you, you’re sorely mistaken.”

  “But you are still considering it.”

  What an ass! Make that a delusional ass! He was an ass who didn’t know it.

  I turned to go but stopped short at the door. I whirled around and glared at him. “One other thing. I’m still your doctor. Once a patient, always a patient. As I said before, Mr. Maxwell, I don’t date my patients.”