Excerpt of Hardball by V.K. Sykes

Two steps inside the hospital room, Nate stopped short, brushing up against a woman in a white lab coat. She must have been standing at the foot of the bed, fully hidden by the door. Quickly taking a small step backward, she`d clearly been startled by their brief physical contact. As their eyes met, Nate felt all the air sucked from his lungs in one whoosh.

What a babe.

The woman's brow creased. "I'm Dr. Bell. Can I help you?"

He couldn't stop his gaze from quickly traveling the full length of her body, from her face to her ankles and all the way back again. Though not nearly as tall as he was, this doctor was one seriously long drink of a woman. Close to six feet, he reckoned. Her unbuttoned lab coat revealed a lean but curvy figure, and long, elegant legs. She had a naturally beautiful face, too, with big, hazel eyes, a full, sexy mouth, and a peaches and cream complexion. Still, he suspected she tended to hide her light under a bushel. She wore no makeup that he could see, and her auburn hair was pulled back into a ponytail. Glasses were perched on the end of her nose, secured by a fine gold chain around her neck. They added to her unadorned, resolutely professional look.

Her outstretched hand finally registered in his brain and jolted him into action. "I'm sorry," he apologized, "I was a little surprised for a moment there"

Her hand was long and fine–boned, but her firm grip told him it was strong, too. The kind of hand he'd like to have doing surgery on him. In fact, he mused, he wouldn't mind that hand doing all sorts of things to his body. "I'm Nate Carter. I come around whenever I can to visit with the kids."

She still looked puzzled. It dawned on him that she had absolutely no idea who he was. It felt like a nice change of pace from the constant fan recognition.

"I'm a pitcher with the Patriots," he said.

Her mouth relaxed into a half–smile. "Oh, I see. You're one of our celebrity visitors." Her crisp tone told him she was far from awed by his presence. Looking down at the little girl, she said, "This is Morgan McDaniel."

Morgan shyly put her little hand in his. "Dr. Holly, I know who Nate Carter is," she said in a whispery voice. "He's the Patriots' best pitcher. Everybody knows that."

Dr. Bell smiled as Morgan skewered her. "I don't think I've told you yet how new I am to the city, Morgan," she said, her serious voice at odds with the amusement in her eyes. "If I'd been here for more than just a few weeks, I'm sure I would have recognized a man as famous as Mr. Carter."

Nate smothered a chuckle. What a perfect response. She validated what the little girl had said, and made him feel good at the same time.

"That's why I didn't recognize you, either," he said. "I've met most of the doctors here over the past few years, and I know I would have remembered if I'd ever seen you before."

"Well, then, I suppose we might run into each other again." She gave him a hesitant but intriguing smile.

"You bet," he said.

As if he didn't already have enough motivation to keep doing this. "Dr. Bell," he continued, wanting to keep the conversation going, "do you mind my asking where you're from? I detect a bit of a southern accent."

She sighed, her expression conveying rueful resignation. "I grew up in Jacksonville, Florida. But for the last nine years I've been at the University of Virginia."

"You're from Jacksonville? Hey, I've got a condo in Ponte Vedra Beach. I'm in Jax all the time when I'm down there." He looked over at Morgan, staring at the adults with big, round eyes, and winked. The little girl giggled.

Nate glanced back at the doctor. "That's got to be some kind of karma, right?"

Dr. Bell registered his flirtation, her eyes widening in surprise. A slight blush colored her smooth cheeks. He could feel his smile broaden as she somewhat defiantly returned his look, and it occurred to him that perhaps the good doctor was issuing a challenge.

Well, he'd be more than happy to oblige her. He knew without a shadow of a doubt he was going to find out just what this lovely doctor was all about.

* * *

Holly's pulse had jumped when she looked up at the imposing man who'd nearly barged into her. She wasn't used to seeing a man's chin as high as her eye level. This guy had to be six–five, or maybe even more. And he wasn't just tall, he was built. Not like the proverbial Mack truck. More like a sleek, expensive sports car. Maybe a Ferrari, she mused, thinking back to her father's auto collection.

Despite his deep, hooded eyes and dark masculine stubble, she guessed Carter might be a couple of years younger than her. He radiated youthful vitality and an off–the–chart testosterone level. As soon as he entered the room, she`d instantly sensed the power coiled in his long, whipcord body. Instinctively, shed taken a small step backward to preserve her personal space.

It didn't surprise her that he was an athlete. His hard, agile–looking body fit the part. What had surprised her was how the normally shy Morgan had immediately warmed to him, and how he interacted with her in such an easy, gentle way.

Carter was obviously a natural charmer with kids, and she would have bet a month's salary that his charm would be just as effective on women.

Still, charming was one thing. Steaming hot was something else entirely. Nate Carter put the two together, and it made for a dazzling combination. When he sat down next to Morgan's bed, Holly had opened her mouth to make her goodbyes. But the words had died in her throat and her feet had remained glued to the floor.

"Would you like me to sign a picture for you, Morgan?" Carter asked, pulling an eight by ten from a folder tucked under his arm.

"Yes, please." Morgan's eyes shone. Though she was a very sick little girl, she glowed under Carter's gentle, humorous attention.

He carefully inscribed the photo as Holly looked over his shoulder.

To beautiful Morgan—as brave and strong as she is sweet. Your pal, Nate Carter.

"But I'd like something from you in return, honey," he said, handing Morgan the print.

Morgan plucked shyly at the bed covers.

"I'd really like it if the next time I visit I could bring my camera and get someone to take a picture of us together. Would you like that, too?"

"Yes!" Morgan cried, more excited than Holly had ever seen her. "Dr. Holly can take our picture!" She looked over at Holly, who nodded her agreement.

"Good, then, that's settled," Carter said. "I'll come back soon. Maybe even tomorrow morning."

Holly finally found her voice. "Page me when you arrive. If I'm not tied up at the time, I'd be glad to help."

The teasing warmth in his eyes set off a corresponding rush of heat in her face and neck. God, she must be blushing like a teenager.

"Great! I'll see both you lovely ladies tomorrow." Carter affectionately stroked Morgan's cheek with his big hand, then winked at Holly as he left the room.

Holly gazed at his back until he was through the door and out of sight, more than a little flustered by the encounter. The man was a powerhouse of sex appeal, yet the empathy and kindness he had shown Morgan seemed totally genuine. It was crazy, but she couldn't help wondering if he was single. Though she'd seen no ring or tan line on his finger, a guy who looked and acted like that sure wasn't likely to be sleeping alone.

Turning back to the still–beaming Morgan, Holly gave her head a quick shake. She had exchanged maybe a dozen sentences with Nate Carter, and yet she'd caught herself wondering about his marital status. Not that she could completely blame herself. With those dark eyes and sensual mouth, plus the combination of strength, size, and masculinity, Nate Carter was a package that would mesmerize any red–blooded woman.

She tucked Morgan back into bed, determined to push Carter firmly from her thoughts. Though he had seemed interested in her, her mind was surely playing tricks. The guy obviously had a charm factor pretty close to ten out of ten, so it would be all too easy for a woman to see what she wanted to see.

Still, her rusty internal radar told her that Carter had made something approaching a pass at her. The way his eyes had raked over her—she didn't think she could be wrong about that. Then there was the sexy wink when he left the room.

Oh, for God's sake, get a grip, Holly. She mentally scolded herself as she strode down the hall to the elevators. He's a baseball player. Even if Nate Carter were by some remote chance actually interested in me, we'd probably run out of conversation after half an hour.

She sighed as she stabbed her finger at the elevator call button. She knew a half hour would probably be all Carter needed to get her flat on her back and between the sheets.