Snowed in with the Doctor

’Tis the season…for love?

Dr. Lora Rice is done flying through life solo. 30 Days to Romance guarantees the Maryland researcher will finally snag the man of her dreams. He’s not Dr. Justin Silver, who is brilliant, full-of-himself and totally wrong for her. So why is her hunky fellow scientist awakening feelings that make Lora long to come in from the cold?

Justin is a man of science. When he finally notices Lora, he no longer sees her as his work-obsessed colleague and competitor for a coveted fellowship, but as an incredibly desirable woman. And when a business trip strands them in a snowbound Minnesota cabin, he’s suddenly a man ruled by desire.

As passion heats up the long winter nights, Justin has to find a way to convince Lora that rivals in business can become the best partners in love….

Kimani Hotties: It’s All About Our Men

He twirled a strand of her hair around his finger. “Weren’t you the one who said scientists are curious?”

“They are.”

He let her hair go, lowering his voice. “So aren’t you curious about me?”

“I have a theory about you.”

“Let’s hear it.”

She shook her head, aroused by his heated gaze. “No, I want to prove it or disprove it first.”

“How?”

“Kiss me.”

His gaze dropped to her body. “Do I get to choose where?”

She lifted his chin and tapped her mouth. “On the mouth,” she said, although his sensuous look made her feel naked.

He feigned disappointment. “Just the mouth?”

“You can choose another spot later.”

“Good.”

When his lips touched hers, she discovered everything she had wanted to. His lips were both sweet and spicy, and they made her forget herself. Soon his kisses made a warm, wet path down her throat. “Have you proven your theory?” he asked, his breath warm against her skin.

“I’m still not sure.”

DARA GIRARD

fell in love with storytelling at an early age. Her romance writing career happened by chance when she discovered the power of a happy ending. She is an award-winning author whose novels are known for their sense of humor, interesting plot twists and witty dialogue. When she’s not writing, she enjoys spring mornings and autumn afternoons, French pastries, dancing to the latest hits and long drives.

Dara loves to hear from her readers. You can reach her at contact dara@daragirard.com or P.O Box 10345, Silver Spring, MD 20914.

Snowed in with the Doctor

Dara Girard

www.millsandboon.co.uk

Dear Reader,

“Mistletoe and Misunderstanding”—that’s how the original idea for this story came to me. I wanted to write about three things that fascinate me: 1) the holidays, 2) how opposites attract and 3) sickle-cell research. At first, I wasn’t sure I could pull it off, but I liked the challenge.

Fortunately, the right people fell into place: rash, hotheaded Dr. Lora Rice and cool, methodical Dr. Justin Silver. These two biomedical researchers put my story into action, with a passion for their work and each other. The holiday season helped add a touch of magic to their romance in a way that surprised even me.

I hope you enjoy this story about family, healing and, of course, true love.

All the best,

Dara Girard

Contents

Prologue

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Epilogue

Prologue

October

She couldn’t believe it had finally arrived. Lora Rice ripped open the small brown package, then eagerly pulled out the item inside. She swept her hand over the raised letters on the cover of the book she’d ordered: 30 Days to Romance. Just reading the title gave her shivers of anticipation. Late one night, a week ago, she’d been lazing on the couch in front of the TV with a half-eaten box of chocolate bonbons when a beautiful woman had appeared on the screen.

“Tired of sitting home alone on a Friday night? Do you sometimes wonder if Mr. Right will ever come? If you have, I’ve got the answer for you. Yes, he will. But you have to be ready for him.”

“How?” Lora wondered aloud.

“How, you might ask? With my book 30 Days to Romance you’ll learn the skills necessary to attract the man of your dreams. Whether you’re shy and plain or beautiful but awkward, I’ll give you step-by-step guides and exercises to get you out of your shell and into the life of romance. If I can do it, so can you.”

That night Lora had sat up and listened to the testimonials, then ordered the book. Now it was here. Contrary to what her family thought, she was ready for roses and champagne. She wanted a date who remembered her name and didn’t forget his wallet. She didn’t want to spend another holiday avoiding the office party or family get-togethers. And lately it seemed like her family’s only reason to exist was to set her up on a blind date or discuss what was wrong with her love life.

“You’re nearly thirty-seven,” her mother had said only a few weeks ago.

“I’m thirty-one.”

“Oh, really? You look much older.”

“Thanks, Mom.”

“And if I think you’re older, so will men, and they like their women young.”

“Not always.”

“The clock is ticking.”

Lora didn’t care about the clock. It was the pity she hated. She’d been a wallflower all her life. She didn’t need to look in the mirror to know what everyone else saw. A slender woman of medium height with black square glasses and thick black hair always pulled back in a ponytail or bun. She didn’t consider herself a stunning beauty and never turned heads. A man had never winked at her or even whistled. And she’d tried.

Lora remembered years ago that she had gone to her favorite department store and picked out a colorful pink spring dress, which she matched with a paisley lime-green short linen jacket. She had even bought a new pair of two-inch sling-back heels. After pulling her hair into a large braid, she had courageously walked past a construction site nearby, but she hadn’t even gotten a glance.

At birthday parties, anniversaries and the occasional family gathering, she was overlooked and invisible. But she hadn’t cared much while she was in school. All that had mattered to her then were her grades. Her classes got her out of the house and away from her father’s critical stare. She’d flourished in high school, college and graduate school. How she looked or fit in was never a concern; she was in all honors classes, so she could hide behind her accomplishments. In high school she was president of the science club, and in college she excelled in her biology and chemistry classes, to the point that she was selected by two of her professors to work on several exciting grant-funded projects. Graduate school, where she had studied biomedical research, had been grueling, but Lora loved the challenge, and as always, she came out on top, winning several science awards. A white lab coat had been her primary outfit for the past eight years.

Then her best friend died. Suzette had been anything but invisible. She’d been a bright, vivacious Spanish blonde who made Lora’s life feel like a big adventure. They’d gone to concerts together and learned tai chi. But when Suzette died, Lora’s life of adventure seemed to go with her. She’d buried herself in her work as a researcher. One day when she was walking back to her office, she’d seen this sad, haggard woman in a store window, and it had taken her several moments to realize it was her own reflection. This was not the life Suzette would’ve wanted for her. She was the only person who’d really known Lora. Now, with the help of this book the old Lora would fade away and a new one would be born. Lora Rice would no longer be ignored, especially by one man: Warren Rappaport. He was a newly hired scientist in the department, and he was very sexy.

She’d achieved all that she wanted and was a success in her career. Now she was ready to be a success at love.

Chapter 1

November

Dr. Justin Silver was knockout gorgeous. It was a shame he was such a jerk. Why, of all the labs in the entire world, had he come to work in hers? It had been a cruel twist of fate to have to see—let alone work with—a man she’d never wanted to set eyes on again. Lora had joined Ventico Labs to work under Dr. Shirley Coolidge, a former professor she’d adored, and to research sickle cell anemia. Then Silver had been hired to replace the former director who’d overseen the three lab teams at Ventico. The other two teams were run by Dr. Kevin Yung, who focused on juvenile diabetes, and Dr. Carla Petton, who focused on effective pain management for the elderly. She’d cringed at the thought of working with Silver, but because she hardly saw him and only heard his name once in a while, she had discovered that his presence hadn’t made much of a difference.

That was before the unthinkable happened. Dr. Coolidge left unexpectedly to take care of her sick mother, leaving a vacancy open that Silver had to fill until they hired a new manager. So for the past several months she’d had to deal with him, and now she found herself in his office for her performance evaluation.

When she’d first entered his office, for some reason the thought of desert sands and an ancient Mali palace came to her mind. He had the regal bearing of a king and acted as if he were lord and master of all.

Lora studied him as he sat behind an enormous glass-and-chrome desk, which was organized with military precision or obsessive compulsion, she didn’t know which, nor did she care. He was a difficult man to categorize. His large office, which was enviable in their small facility, had several large windows with a view of the office complex with its manicured lawns and lake. But he didn’t seem to take any pride in his status as director at Ventico Labs. His office was stark and about as welcoming as a broken-glass chair. No pictures were on display on the desk or on the walls; only a large erasable calendar and a Baltimore Ravens cap that sat on a chair in the corner stood out.

The one bit of whimsy was a small silver sculpture that sat on his desk. She couldn’t make out what it was supposed to be, but it looked like macaroni and kidney beans sprayed with silver paint. Something a small child would make. It was positioned next to a large thermos that looked like it could hold enough food for a family of four. The second incongruous item in the room was the chair she sat in. It was surprisingly—almost annoyingly so—comfortable.

Lora hadn’t expected that and wondered if the selection had been accidental. He wasn’t the type to care about the comfort of others, just about getting the job done. He was a man of precision.

Lora flexed her fingers, pushing the sound of his voice to the background as he continued discussing her one-year evaluation. She found his voice unnerving. It was alarmingly deep and almost soothing and as deceptive as an ocean’s wild undercurrent. His voice could make a person ignore what he was actually saying. It could lull a person into agreeing with him, even when you didn’t plan to. She could see why he was so successful as a director. No one argued with him. It was always “Yes, Dr. Silver.” “Of course, Dr. Silver.” But she wouldn’t be conned. Lora knew who he really was. She listened closely to each word and let them cut right through her while she silently planned her revenge.

He’d said that her lab notes, usually handwritten, weren’t always well organized or coherent enough. That, at times, she jumped to conclusions without stating adequate justification. But his most cutting assessment had been when he’d called her undisciplined. Undisciplined? She was one of the best researchers in the lab, and she wasn’t being modest.

She had always been the best. High school valedictorian, youngest student to graduate from the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine Research doctoral program. Upon her arrival at Ventico Labs, she’d quickly organized several systems there that helped it run efficiently. And not only that, but people actually liked her. Unlike him. Nobody liked Justin Silver, not that they’d say so to his face. He wasn’t someone to like. He was someone to follow, perhaps admire, even reluctantly respect because of his brilliance as a research scientist. But likable? Absolutely not.

She knew the moment she’d seen him again that it would be difficult, but she wouldn’t think about their first meeting right now. He couldn’t hold that against her, could he? They were adults—scientists—and they dealt with facts, not emotions. But with this evaluation Lora knew she wouldn’t be granted the transfer she wanted to work on a project with Dr. Petton. Not only would the transfer allow her to work under a new head, but collaborating on Carla’s project on the use of non-addictive pain medication would greatly advance her study of pain management and sickle cell anemia. Silver was halting her progress and stunting her career growth—and she couldn’t fight him.

“Dr. Rice?”

Lora blinked then cleared her throat. “Yes?”

“Do you have any questions?”

Plenty. Such as whether he had a heart or if he rusted in the rain like the Tin Man. She brushed imaginary lint from her lap. “No.”

“I’m surprised,” he said coolly.

Lora took care to keep her gaze lowered, pushing up her glasses before they slid down her nose. Avoiding his gaze was her best defense. The best way to remain civil. “Why?”

“It’s not like you to agree with everything I say.”

That was true. But what was also true was that he was trying to bait her. She knew she had to tread carefully. She needed to end the meeting and leave. “This is an evaluation. Whether I agree with your assessment is immaterial.”

Dr. Silver leaned forward. It wasn’t an aggressive move, but it put her on notice. “That doesn’t stop me from being curious as to your feedback.”

Lora nodded, straightening the cuff of her sleeve. No, she wouldn’t tell him anything. She’d let him wonder. “Most scientists are curious. That’s why we’re in this field.”

“You’re so angry you can’t even look at me.”

Lora stiffened, sensing the challenge. Not just in his words, but also in his tone. That deep, slow timbre held a hint of mockery. But she wouldn’t let him mock her. She was a different woman now. Different from the one he’d first met. She’d completed fourteen days of her 30 Days to Romance project. Her progress had been slow, but she was determined to succeed. This was going to be a new season for her. She’d no longer be the wallflower.

She lifted her gaze. The moment she did, she knew she’d made a huge tactical error. Silver’s voice was dangerous, but his eyes were lethal. They weren’t just brown—they were like petrified wood, as if any emotion that had once been there had been frozen in time. Nothing was left but cold stone. At that moment she realized that Dr. Justin Silver was one of the most coldly calculating men she’d ever met. Just being in his presence gave her goose bumps.

Again, the desert sands image came to mind. He looked as if he came from a legion of warriors. She could picture him riding into battle, his brown skin polished by the sun, and conquering whoever he deemed his enemy. He had a warrior’s arrogance and cunning. Aside from his steady brown eyes, he had a firm mouth that was solid like a blade and a ridged jawline. His eyelashes were the only problem. They were graceful and beautiful, and it annoyed her that they were wasted on such a man.

But she knew he was not a man to make either a friend or an enemy out of. Lora shifted in her seat. She was required to stay on his team and didn’t want to do anything to jeopardize her position. She boldly held his cold gaze, determined to keep her composure. “I’m not upset,” she said, pleased by the neutrality of her tone.

His voice grew soft and remained low. “Yes, you are.”

Lora sighed, hoping to appear bored, although inside she was steaming. “May I leave now?”

“I’m not holding our first meeting against you, if that’s what you’re thinking.”

“I wasn’t thinking that,” she said, wishing he hadn’t brought it up. She hated that he remembered and mentioned it so casually, as if it didn’t matter.

He frowned, confused. “Then why are you upset?”

“I didn’t say I was upset.”

“You don’t need to. I can tell.”

“I’m sure you can. You’re very observant, after all. I just know you don’t care.” She stood, calculating her distance to the door. “Now excuse me.”

“I do care.”

Lora bit her lip to keep from laughing.

He raised his brows. “You don’t believe me?”

“Does it matter?”

“Yes, I can’t allow what happened in the past to affect our relationship now. I’ve moved past it, but obviously you haven’t.”

“I have. And I’m trying to be polite.”

“Then stop and be honest.”

“And risk losing my job?” she shot back, her patience thinning.

“You won’t lose your job.”

Lora returned to her seat and sat. “Is that a promise?”

Silver fell silent and leaned back, a casual gesture that was anything but. “I already know what you think of me, and I know you’re not shy with voicing your opinion, so why start now? Although you are one of the best scientists we have here at Ventico, there’s always room for improvement.”

“I agree. May I go now?” Lora saw his eyes narrow, but she wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of letting him know what she thought. She’d done that before, and it hadn’t changed anything.

“Yes.”

She stood again and walked to the door, feeling a small sense of victory.

“So what happened to your hair?”

Her hand flew to her hair as if she feared it had disappeared. She spun around and glared at him. “What do you mean?”

“It’s different.”

“I know.” Lora gaped at him, trying to figure out if he was joking, but his tone wasn’t mocking and his expression remained interested. Why was he casually talking about her hair? How had he noticed it? No one else seemed to. She’d gotten a trim and permed her thick hair to make it more manageable. She now wore it in a low, soft ponytail, using a decorative comb to hold it in place instead of a rubber band, and she’d added thin bangs and light brown highlights but nothing dramatic.

His eyes caught and held hers. “Whatever you did, it looks nice.”

Lora blinked, unable to respond. Was that a compliment? Had she fallen into a parallel universe? She turned to the door, eager to escape. It didn’t matter. He could be nice all he wanted, but that didn’t change the fact she thought he was a bastard.

Lora left Silver’s office, sat down at her desk and wanted to scream and kick something. Why did he criticize her one moment and compliment her the next? He was playing games. Yes, Justin Silver would get his payback.

“How did it go?” Carla asked. She was in her early forties, and Lora had met her briefly several years ago but had gotten to know her better while working at Ventico. She was slim with a face best suited for an operatic tragedy. Her lips turned down, and she had large somber brown eyes. She kept to herself. Lora knew she was single, never married, with an excellent mind. She was always very calm, as if she could walk through a storm without flinching. She’d helped Lora through the transition after Dr. Coolidge left and Dr. Silver took over. But although Carla was observant, she hadn’t noticed Lora’s new hairstyle—or at least she hadn’t mentioned it. No one had, not even Warren who she wanted to. Why had Silver noticed? Why had he said anything? “I’m still in one piece,” Lora said with a nonchalance she didn’t feel.

“Lucky you. He nearly made Dr. Yung cry with—”

“I don’t care what he says to me. I know he can be mean.” She’d never let herself care enough to let him hurt her. She was angry but not hurt.

“No, he—”

“How was your eval?”

“It was fine, but from your expression and tone I think I can surmise that we won’t be working closely together.”

“No. He effectively shot that possibility down.” She clenched her hand into a fist and shook it at his closed door. “He’s ruining my career.”

Carla laughed. “It’s not like you to be so dramatic. He’s a savvy director and has a keen eye for what’s best for us and our department.”

“He moves us around like chess pieces.”

“He’s used to winning.”

“So did he say anything specific?” Lora asked.

“Not really. I got good marks. I’m truly hoping he’ll allow more funding for my project.”

“You deserve it. I can’t see him not letting that happen.”

But as Lora said the words, she knew it was a lie. She could easily see him stopping Carla. Just as he had stopped her. If he didn’t think something was worthwhile, he would disregard it. But she didn’t care what he thought of her. He could think whatever he wanted. He was the type to always find fault anyway. But why had he given her a compliment? What was wrong with him? What was wrong with her? She wanted to stop thinking about him. Her makeover plan was supposed to impress men, but he didn’t count.

In following the steps in 30 Days to Romance, she’d already gotten a new pair of designer glasses. She’d tried contacts years ago but had never been able to adjust to them, and she had no interest in laser surgery. She’d also changed her hairstyle and even started wearing lipstick. She wasn’t averse to wearing makeup; she just hadn’t made it a priority. She’d even taken two dance lessons and was learning the salsa.

“I wonder what his evaluation was like,” Carla said as she peered at an attractive black man hurrying past.

Lora looked up and saw Warren Rappaport walking by; she hoped she wasn’t visibly drooling. She’d give him high marks all around. When Rappaport had arrived, most of the women had taken notice, but Carla hadn’t shown much interest. She never seemed to take interest in men, or women, for that matter. Her main focus was her work, just as it had always been for Lora.

“Have you talked to him yet?” Carla asked, knowing of Lora’s interest.

“Not yet.”

“Personally, if I had to choose between Rappaport and Silver, I’d go for Silver.”

“Are you insane?”

Carla held up her hands in surrender. “I know he’s terrifying and a bit distant—”

“As far as the Arctic.”

“But he’s established, respected and easier to read. Warren is attractive, I admit, but he’s still building his career, and he’s a little too charming.”

“How can a man be too charming? Everyone likes him.”

“Hmm. He just doesn’t seem as transparent as he acts. I hope that book you’re reading tells you how to catch the right man.”

“How do you know about my book?” Lora asked, surprised.

“I saw it in your bag. You better be careful about reading it in here. And whose interest you get.” She grinned, then walked away.

Lora folded her arms. Silver’s response was an aberration, that was all. It had to be. She had holiday plans, and Dr. Justin Silver would not be part of them. But Dr. Warren Rappaport definitely would be.

* * *

Justin touched two fingers to the inside of his wrist, then checked his watch. He measured the time and his beating pulse, then swore. Yep, his pulse was racing. He could feel it but wanted to confirm it. This was the effect Lora Rice had on him. It had been the same the first time they’d met, when she’d basically let him know that she thought he was the scum of the earth. Unfortunately, it was no different now. No, he was wrong, it was worse. Much worse. And he wasn’t sure what to do about it.