Free The Doctor's Private Visit by Altonya Washington Page A

are such a bastard, Tiberius.”
    “You knew that before we slept together.”
    “I can’t believe I was so stupid. Sleeping with a man just because he looks good? I must be crazy.”
    “Well, that’s exactly why I slept with you and I don’t feel crazy,” Tiberius threw back.
    “Why am I not surprised?”
    Tiberius paused. “Clarissa, did you think that just because we had sex it meant we were in a relationship?”
    “Tibe, I—”
    “Yes or no?” Tiberius softly coaxed.
    “I thought we’d build on something. I’d be lying if I said otherwise.”
    A short laugh came from Tiberius. “You thought a heavyrelationship would come from a one-night stand? You knew that’s what it’d be when you came home with me.”
    Through her sobbing, Clarissa tried to answer. “We had sex more than once…but you’re making it sound like something so much cheaper. Yes, I figured something steady could come from it—there was a connection. I guess I took it more seriously than you.”
    “Then I’m sorry, that’s where you made your mistake. And for you still to harp on this…it’s been over a year.”
    “Right! And there were plenty of women afterward to blur your memory of me, I’m sure! To you I was nothing more than a tenant for your grandma’s cottage. A tenant with benefits.”
    Suddenly, the gate wrenched open and Clarissa ran right into Capri, scattering portfolios everywhere.
    “I’m so sorry,” Clarissa whispered, kneeling to help Capri gather her books.
    “Are you going to be all right?” Capri asked, taking in the woman’s red eyes and tear-stained cheeks.
    Clarissa wiped the tears from her eyes and shoved the portfolios at Capri. “Tiberius is a cold son of a bitch,” she grumbled.
    Capri gave Clarissa a small smile. “That’s hard to believe.”
    Clarissa focused her hard glare on Capri. “Watch out for that guy in there, girl. If ever there was a man who only wanted a woman for sex, it’s Doctor Tiberius Evans.”
    Capri watched Clarissa stand and head down the driveway to her car. Looking at the gate, Capri debated for a moment whether to go inside to see Tiberius. Finally, she decided against it.
     
    Tiberius didn’t want to acknowledge the sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach when he saw Capri leaving the elevator with Jaye Horace. The new doctor looked just a bit too cozy with Capri for his liking.
    “Jaye, callin’ it quits for the day?”
    Capri blinked at the sound of Tiberius’s voice and looked up as the beginnings of a smile began across her mouth.
    “Actually, I just removed the last of Ms. Timmons’s bandages and everything’s looking just fine.” Jaye’s dark face shone with pride and something a bit more animal.
    Tiberius rolled his eyes and didn’t bother to point out that Jaye was looking nowhere in the vicinity of Capri’s foot.
    “So, are you done here?” Tiberius was taking Capri’s elbow even as he spoke.
    Jaye laid a hand across Tiberius’s shirt sleeve. “I was just about to see Ms. Timmons to her car.”
    “Don’t bother. I’m guessing there’re a lot of other patients you need to see to,” Tiberius said as he sent a sly wink in his colleague’s direction and pulled Capri away with him.
    She waited until they’d located her car in the mammoth parking deck before speaking, “If you don’t like Jaye you really should be a little more obvious about it. He might get the wrong idea.”
    Tiberius picked up on her dig and didn’t bother to deny it. “Only idea he had was to get you into bed.”
    “Yeah, I caught that.” Capri set her things onto the backseat of her Pathfinder. She saw the surprise in his eyes when she looked at him. “What? I guess it’s not about that for you, huh?”
    “In most cases,” Tiberius folded his arms across his chest and leaned against the hood of the SUV. “At least I’m up front about it.”
    “Ah…and it’s best to be up front rather than waste time trying to woo the woman?” Capri asked, though she