Free The Surgeon's New-Year Wedding Wish by Laura Iding

George.
    Especially George.
    And, heaven help her, she didn’t seem to have the strength to resist Quinn.
     
    Quinn’s entire body ached with frustrated sexual tension, robbing him of his ability to sleep.
    He should have had the coffee. Should have probably volunteered to work the night shift tonight, since he was wide awake and unable to sleep anyway.
    When he closed his eyes, trying to force his muscles to relax, the image of Leila’s face shimmered in his mind. Had he pushed too hard? His body vibrated with impatience. No, there was no way he’d imagined her response.
    She wanted him, as much as he wanted her. But she was fighting the attraction, trying to resist him. Why, he wasn’t certain, although he suspected an underlying fear played a role.
    Not fear of him. His eyes shot open at the thought. Could it be? No, she didn’t fear him. The way she’d instantly melted in his arms convinced him she wasn’t afraid of him. What she feared must be something inside herself.
    And somehow he needed to find patience as she took whatever time she needed to figure it out.
    Getting out of bed, he padded to the window and stared out at the snow-covered ground as heat radiated off his skin.
    Time for another cold shower.
    He had a feeling he’d be experiencing plenty of cold showers until Leila was brave enough to come to him.
    And what if she didn’t come to him? What if she gained strength from being distant from him? The mere thought brought a wave of panic.
    Twenty-four hours, he thought grimly, staring blindly at the stark, wintery landscape. He’d give her twenty-four hours. A day that would seem a lifetime.
    And then he’d go to her.
     
    “Quinn? Quinn! Wake up, you’re upsetting Danny.”
    He came awake in a rush, squinting at Delores, who stood at the side of his bed, and grabbing the sheets in a reflexive move to make sure his lower body was well covered. Didn’t a man get any privacy in his own home? And what was she saying about Danny? “What’s wrong? Danny?”
    “You wouldn’t wake up, that’s what’s wrong. And Danny thought there was something wrong with you.” Delores’s tone was full of irritation. “Did you stay up all night?”
    Shame chased the rest of his exhaustion away. “Not on purpose,” he muttered in response to her question. “Where’s Danny? I need to see him.”
    “Right behind me,” Delores said dryly. She turned to Danny, who hovered in the doorway, looking like a waif propped up on his crutches. “See, Danny? I told you your dad was just sleeping.”
    “I’m sorry, Danny,” Quinn said, feeling awful. “I didn’t mean to scare you.”
    His son lifted a shoulder in a casual shrug, but Quinn wasn’t fooled. He could still see the remnants of stark terror in Danny’s haunted eyes. Quinn gestured for his son to come into the room and Delores left, giving them a few moments alone.
    “I’m sorry,” Quinn murmured again, drawing Danny close for a big hug. “I’m here. I’ll always be here. I won’t leave you.”
    Danny didn’t respond, but buried his face against his chest, clinging to his shoulders with a firm grip. Quinn held Danny for a long time, rocking him back and forth, trying to instill a sense of safety and reassurance.
    Finally Danny broke away and flashed a small smile. He rested against the bed frame as his fingers flew. Auntie D. has breakfast ready. She made chocolate-chip pancakes .
    “Sounds good. I’m starved,” Quinn said. He wished more than anything he didn’t have to work second shift later that day. He felt bad about unintentionally scaring Danny. “Let’s go. We have some time to play some video games after breakfast.”
    You have to work today? Danny asked, his brow puckered.
    “I’m afraid so.” Quinn captured his son’s gaze and deliberately held it. “If you would rather I stay home with you, I’ll try to find someone to cover my shift.” It was a Tuesday night, shouldn’t be that difficult to find cover.
    There was a