Megan’s expression softened. “I’m sorry, but we can’t be that way here.”

Pesh opened his mouth to protest when a voice behind them cut him off. “Don’t you two look cozy,” Kara mused. Pesh whirled around to find Kara staring at them with venom burning in her eyes.

“Excuse me, but I need to get another chart off the carousel,” Megan said, with her head tucked to her chest.

She turned to go, but Kara reached out and grabbed her arm. “If you don’t mind, exam room Three needs a clean-up.”

“Kristi is the only one authorized to give me orders around here,” Megan replied.

Kara pursed her ruby red lips. “Insubordination and sleeping with a doctor—you really have a career death wish, don’t you?”

Megan started to protest, but Pesh stopped her. Glaring at Kara, he said, “I want to talk to you. Alone.”

After shooting Megan a triumphant look, Kara let Pesh lead her out of the nurses’ station and down the hall. “What in the hell do you think you’re doing?” he demanded.

“Saving you from making a huge mistake. You don’t need a girl like that—you need a woman to take care of you.” When her hands started to snake up around his neck, Pesh grabbed them.

“Don’t touch me!” he snarled.

A sultry smile spread across her face. “You liked when I touched you before.”

“That was one time—a drunken mistake that I regret daily, and I never intend on making again.”

She narrowed her eyes at him. “So you’re throwing me aside for a young bimbo?”

“Do not speak that way about Megan ever again. Do you hear me?”

“And do you really feel that she thinks you’re worth throwing her career away for?”

Pesh closed the gap between them. Looming over Kara, his entire body shuddered in anger. “Listen to me when I say that if you threaten to expose Megan one more time, I will make life a living hell for you. As the supervising physician over the ER, I can have you shipped off to some hellhole far from here.” He glared down at her. “Do you understand me?”

She slowly nodded her head as the realization that there was nothing between them finally dawned on her. “If you’ll excuse me, I need to go clean my exam room.”

As she hurried past him, Pesh exhaled a breath of relief. He never used that tone of voice with women, or men for that matter, unless he was absolutely pushed to do so. But Kara’s previous behavior and the way she’d acted today had forced him to become what he wasn’t. At the feel of a hand on his back, he whirled around.

Megan gave him a beaming smile. “My hero!”

He laughed at her expression and words. “You don’t have to worry about her harassing you or me for that matter. I took care of things.”

“I heard you.”

He grimaced. “You did?”

She nodded. “It was amazing.”

“I’m glad you thought so.”

“I’ve never had a man take up for me like that before.”

Pesh shook his head. “That’s a shame.”

“If we weren’t in the middle of the ER’s hallway, I’d kiss you to show my gratitude.”

He smiled. “I’ll gladly take a rain check.”

“Oh you will? That’s good to know.”

Lowering his voice, he said, “I’ll expect that kiss later tonight when we’re alone. And I don’t just want it on the lips.” His brows rose. “I want it on several places on my body.”

Megan grinned. “I think that can be arranged.”

“I’ll be looking forward to it.”

“Dr. Nadeen?” a nurse called from the top of the hall.

“Yes?”

“You’re needed in rxam room Four.”

“As soon as I finish this patient consultation, I’ll be there,” he replied.

At his blatant lie, Megan covered her mouth to hide her giggling. “I have to go. But can I come over tonight?”

“Yep. Let me get Mason fed and bathed, and then I’m yours.”

“See you later.” He winked at her before he turned and started down the hall.

A few nights later Pesh found himself speeding along the quiet streets of Megan’s neighborhood. His phone dinged once again. Slowing down, he took a peek to make sure it wasn’t the hospital. He wasn’t too surprised to find it was another text from Megan. He could tell from the way she had been frantically texting him that afternoon and evening that she was nervous, which was totally surprising to him. She was so strong and fearless that it was hard for him to imagine her ever feeling nervous. But he supposed that in Megan’s mind she had good cause to be nervous as tonight he was introducing her to his family.

After he picked her up, they were going to his sister, Shveta’s, house for dinner. His parents, along with at least one of his brothers, would be there. Although he had spent a lot of time with her family, it hadn’t quite meant the same thing as her spending time with his. He didn’t know if her nerves stemmed from simply meeting his family or if they were from the fear of how far their relationship had progressed in the last few months.

He turned into the driveway at ten after seven. He didn’t even get up the front porch steps before the door flew open, and Megan rushed out. Her diminutive figure wobbled a little on the black high heels she was sporting. She wore black pants, and a dressy red top that had a lot of beading. It reminded him of the kurta, a style that women from his culture wore. He wondered if she had chosen it for that reason.

“You look beautiful,” Pesh murmured, leaning in to kiss her tenderly. When she didn’t warm to his touch, he gazed down at her. “What’s wrong?”

Rolling her eyes, she snapped. “Duh, I’m really nervous.”

“You’re really that worried about my family’s opinion of you?”

She threw up her hands. “Of course, I am. Your family is very important to you. I don’t want…” She tore her gaze from his.

“You don’t want what?” he pressed.

“I don’t want to bring shame to you.”

He bit down on his lip to keep from laughing at her. He couldn’t believe Megan was so concerned with his family’s opinion. His heartbeat accelerated at the thought. It had to mean she really was falling in love with him. He brushed a silky strand of blonde hair out of her face. “Sweetheart, you’re not the first American girl I’ve brought home with me.”