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Leanne Rorish was not normally an easily annoyed person.
No, rather, she thought she was pretty good at maintaining her cool and keeping herself balanced, especially in the chaos of Center Stage.
And in her personal life, well, it’s not like she really had much of one of those.
But either way, she was normally not bothered by the little things.
That was until Ethan Willis walked into her ER.
From there on out, every little thing seemed to bug her about him.
And it’s not even like he did things on purpose, or even, did things that were bad.
But somehow he had managed to get under her skin in every way possible.
“Maybe you should just let him give one good roll in the eye.” She snapped her eyes from the file she had been working on and glared at her best friend as he entered her office with a smug smile on his face.
“Who in the hell are you talking about?” Leanne knew damn good and well who Jesse was referring to, because, like it or not, not only did Ethan Willis get her last nerve, but he was also on her mind 24/7.
“I think you know exactly who I’m referring to.” He plopped himself into the chair across from her and smirked. “The good Colonel would probably rather enjoy himself. I’m sure you would too.”
“Jesse…” This was neither the time or the place for this and he knew it. “That is not appropriate in any way.”
“He doesn’t work for you, Leanne.” Of this she was very well aware, because, well, he liked to remind her of that constantly. “And he doesn’t technically work for Campbell either, so….”
“So what?” She knew what it meant, that she couldn’t technically get into any trouble if she were to start anything with him.
Not that she was even considering it.
She would never.
“Oh come on daddy, you two are intense.” Shaking her head she let out a sigh and dropped her pen onto the desk, letting her arms cross over her chest as she glared at him. “Everyone can feel the sexual tension. It’s a lot.”
“There is no sexual tension.” Except, there was, in fact, there was a lot of it.
“Oh please, you two could set the place on fire with all the heat you put off when the other one is near.” That was the worst possible analogy he could come up with and she let out a low groan. “Besides, how long has it been?”
“Been since what?” If he was referring to sex, he damn well knew the answer.
“You got laid.” She huffed at his choice of words but he simply chuckled at her perturbed face. “Let me guess, since before the accident?”
“Yes.” It’s not like she was proud of it, but she also wasn’t out looking for it either.
She had the hospital and her friends here and that was enough.
“I’m gonna go give the guy some hints.” Her mouth practically hit the floor at his words and she jumped from her seat and raced toward the door, shutting it quickly and standing in front of it.
“You will do no such thing.” It’s not that she didn’t trust him to do it somewhat gracefully, but she didn’t need Ethan thinking that she was desperate either.
“I was just gonna suggest that he take you to dinner.” There was a sparkle in Jesse’s eyes that told her there was more to the story.
“Jesse…” She got ready to lay down the law when her pager went off, indicating that she was needed in Center Stage. “We’re not done here.”
“Oookay.” And then she was slipping out the door and he was close behind her.
She knew this conversation was far from over, but she was thankful that for now, they had shelved the topic.
--
However, the topic didn’t seem to fully be shelved because a few hours later she was standing in front of her locker when she heard a familiar set of footsteps behind her.
Letting out a sigh she leaned forward, letting her head touch against the cold metal of the locker door, her eyes closing as she felt him appear beside her.
“I was instructed by a very persistent head nurse to invite you to dinner.” There was no anger or resentment or even teasing in his voice so Leanne lifted her head and turned toward him with a sigh.
“Jesse needs to mind his own business.” She loved her best friend to death, and he had nothing but good intentions, but damn, this was a lot, even for him.
“He’s just worried about you.” Ethan shrugged as he leaned back against the lockers, a small smile on his face as he crossed his arms over his chest. “Frankly, so am I.”
“Why the hell are you worried?” It’s not like he knew anything about her or her life. “You barely know me.”
“Your choice, not mine.” He nodded in her direction as he spoke and she let out a huff. “I’m not here to step on toes or make enemies, I’m just trying to do my job.”
“Fine.” Reaching up she yanked her locker open, letting the door block his face from view as she took a few deep breaths. “But doing your job doesn’t involve worrying about me.”
“Maybe not in your eyes it doesn’t…” There was a hint of something in his voice and when she peered around the open door he had a soft smile on his face and a twinkle in his eyes. “It’s who I am though. You’d know this if you bothered to get to know me.”
“Don’t start with me.” She wasn’t in the mood for this right now.
His attitude had gotten her in enough trouble with Campbell earlier.
“What the hell did I do that was so wrong?” Nothing, absolutely nothing.
“You’re obnoxious. And you’re loud and you break too many rules.” She was going to go on a rampage and she hoped he was prepared. “You’re careless and rude and think that you’re invincible…”
“And you don’t?” Oh, oh he was going there. “You do those things too Leanne, it’s what makes us a good team.”
“We are not a team, Colonel Willis.” She knew how much he hated it when she used his military rank instead of calling him doctor, but right now she was trying to get under his skin.
“We’re not?” There was a fire in his eyes that sent a shiver down her spine and the next thing she knew he was spinning her and pressing her back against the lockers, his hands pinning her upping arms down slightly.
He didn’t apply any pressure, he didn’t hurt her or even really hold her down, but he held her just enough that she didn’t want to break free.
“No. We’re not.” She stared him down then, letting her eyes bore into his as she watched a storm brew behind his irises.
He was mad, but not in a way that she had seen before.
Not in a way where he’d get violent or start yelling.
Not in the way that he got with Campbell when you could tell he wanted to flip a table or throw a glass at the other man’s head or something.
No, this was different.
It was almost…
Passionate.
“Why can’t we be a team?” He was in her face now, his lips mere inches from hers, his breath warm against her face as his hands relaxed against her arms.
She knew that this was her chance to break free.
To push him away and make a run for it.
But she suddenly didn’t want to.
“Because we can’t.” That was the dumbest reason and she knew it.
“What are you, five?” His hands fell away completely, grazing over her hips as they went.
He must have noticed the way she jumped slightly at the touch because the next thing she knew his hands were planting themselves there, his thumbs brushing under the bottom of her scrub top.
The feeling of his skin on hers ignited something inside her that she hadn’t felt before and she let out a shaky breath.
“We can’t be a team because you’re going to leave, remember?” She had no idea where the hell those words came from or even that they had really been on her tongue.
Sure she was bothered by the idea that he might leave and go back to Afghanistan one day.
But saying it outloud like that?
Admitting that she would be possibly affected by such move.
That was big, really big, and he must have realized it too because his eyes softened and his hands squeezed her waist tightly.
And then his lips were pressing against hers and all coherent thought went out the window.
She had never expected in a million years that she would be getting kissed like this, against her locker, by someone like Ethan Willis.
Which is why she couldn’t help but push him away a little, struggling slightly to catch her breath, both from the kiss and the shock of it all.
He gave her a soft smile but stayed put, never once taking a step back from her and she wrinkled her brow at him and scowled.
“You’re obnoxious.” She huffed out, watching as he chuckled before leaning in to kiss her once more.
This time he was the one to pull back, raising an eyebrow at her as he let his hands skim under her top even more, brushing over the skin of her stomach in a way that made her insides tingle.
“Have dinner with me?” Was that what this was all about, because if so, he was the one looking a little desperate.
“Why?” She could think of a hundred reasons why she should, but honestly, they all scared the hell out of her, so it was easier to act like they didn’t exist.
“Because I really wanna take you to bed.” Her mouth dropped open and she huffed because she knew that Jesse had had to have said something. “But I’m a gentleman and I like to at least take a lady to dinner first.”
She wasn’t sure how to respond, so she simply stood there and stared him down for a minute, her breathing picking up as he continued to run his fingers along her stomach, over her hips and onto her back, and then back around again.
He was going to make her come undone just by doing that if he didn’t stop.
And that, well that would be just plain embarrassing.
“Fine, I’ll have dinner with you.” It’s not like it could hurt anything, right?
“And afterward?” He waggled his eyebrows at her and smirked and she couldn’t help but roll her eyes before pushing him away playfully.
“Don’t push your luck, Doctor Willis.” And with that she started heading toward the door to the locker room, looking back over her shoulder as she offered him a smile. “Pick me up at seven and don’t be a minute late.”
“I’ll be there at 6:30 and I’ll even wear a tie.” The look on his face was just plain adorable and she wanted to kick herself for even thinking such a thought about him. “And tonight, it’s Ethan, please.”
“We’ll see about that.” She pushed the door open and headed down the hallway with a smile on her face.
He may have been obnoxious and bold and loud, but he was also pretty damn sexy.
And for once, she was actually excited to see where this would go.