Free Sizzling Nights with Dr. Off-Limits by Janice Lynn Page B

takeout and she’d never mastered much more in the kitchen than use of a microwave.
    â€œI can cook.” She glared at him, hoping no one was in the hospital hallway to see them, but afraid to look around to check. “I’m not a stagnant person, you know.”
    â€œI didn’t think you were.”
    â€œThen you shouldn’t sound so surprised that I’ve learned to do things I couldn’t do so well a few years ago.”
    â€œYou always were a quick learner.” He didn’t say more, didn’t say to what he referred. He didn’t have to.
    Emily’s brain went there anyway.
    Or maybe it wasn’t her brain, but her body.
    Her body seemed unable to not go there when Lucas was near.
    â€œProve it.”
    â€œProve what?” she asked, not following him.
    â€œThat you can cook.”
    â€œI know what you’re trying to do. You’re just trying to get me to invite you to dinner.”
    â€œYou’re right. That is what I’m trying to do. What are we having?”
    â€œChopped liver,” she said without thought, hating that he was once again keeping pace beside her.
    â€œChopped liver?”
    She almost let a laugh escape from her lips. Almost.
    â€œOh, yeah.” She knew he didn’t like liver, that he hated it. “Plus broccoli.”
    â€œI see you remember all my favorites.”
    Glancing toward him, she smiled sweetly. “But of course.”
    He stared at her a minute, then surprised her by the easy smile that slid onto his face. “I’ll come hungry.”
    â€œI didn’t invite you to dinner,” she reminded him.
    â€œBut you’re going to because you want to prove to me what a great cook you are now.”
    He had her there. She narrowed her gaze at him in dislike. She did want to impress him with the fact that she wasn’t the same person she’d been five years ago. Stupid pride.
    â€œI’m eating at nine. I’ll eat without you if you’re late.”

CHAPTER SIX
    L UCAS COULDN ’ T SAY the smells that greeted him were the best he’d ever smelled, but they weren’t bad.
    Immediately after letting him into her apartment, Emily disappeared. She didn’t tell him to make himself at home, just opened the door, motioned him in without a smile or a look that said she was glad he was there, then disappeared.
    He assumed to the kitchen.
    She probably wasn’t glad he was there. He’d practically begged for the invitation. Something he didn’t quite understand. He’d only wanted to make peace with Emily, to be able to function at the hospital without undue awkwardness between them. Now he wanted to be with her because he liked being with her. Which wasn’t in his plans at all, but that didn’t seem to have stopped him from pushing for an invite to taste her cooking.
    Or from feeling ecstatic that she and the pharmacist were history.
    He closed the apartment door behind him and checked out her living room. The comfortably decorated room was a far cry from the hovel where they’d lived when they’d been married. It had taken everything she’d made for them to scrape by.
    He’d looked at things differently than she had. He’d been in school, not some lazy bum seeking handouts from his family. Sure, his family hadn’t been pleased that he’d married Emily, but they’d never cut off his funds. Plus, he’d had his own money from his trust his grandparents had left him. Maybe he’d taken that for granted. But the reality was, the money had been his and there’d been no reason for him and Emily to struggle financially.
    Only, Emily had insisted she made more than enough for them to get by and had refused any help. He’d given in, for the most part, because he’d thought she’d eventually see sense. She hadn’t and he’d resented the change she’d imposed upon him.
    Or, more likely, he’d hated that