The Perfect Balance Page 5

  “Damn it. Why do you have to be so smart?” Vic leant his head on Chase’s broad shoulder.

  While they were virtually the same height, Chase had a more muscular build while Vic ran more to the lean side. Vic kept in shape by running and swimming, while Chase preferred kick boxing and weight lifting. Vic preferred having a man who was different from him. During his residency—while he and Chase had lived in different cities, only occasionally meeting up for sporadic weekends of blistering hot sex then falling back on the friendship that never seemed to change despite months apart—Vic had dated men with similar builds and interests as him. In the end, he became bored. Who wanted to date themselves? The premise seemed a little narcissistic to him.

  “Hey, maybe someday we’ll find a woman who could actually manage to fall in love with two doctors who love not only their crazy jobs, but each other. Then we can all move in together and create a perfect little family. We’ll travel the world, have kids, maybe even a dog or two.”

  “Buy a cute little Cape Cod house in the suburbs with a white picket fence?” Vic teased.

  Chase grimaced. “I was thinking more along the lines of early twentieth century Victorian. Blue with white shutters and river rock foundation. A huge yard for the kids to play on. We could build a fort in the trees and a clubhouse with attached swing set. The kids would run around while we sat out on our patio next to the fire pit, watching them play.”

  Vic was stunned. He’d never heard Chase talk about any dreams he had for the future. It was only natural. They were thirty-eight, and most men they associated with at the hospital were settled with families. “Wow! You’ve really put a lot of thought into that.”

  Chase stood and moved to walk away, but Vic grabbed his hand. “I love it.”

  Chase looked back and smiled weakly. “Someday, right?”

  Vic nodded. “Someday.”

  * * * *

  Miranda tried to keep her breathing even as she ran with Axel in tow. She’d gone online and looked up suggestions for great places to run in Boston. The posts had led her to the Emerald Necklace conservatory. The conservatory was a series of parks linked in a natural chain around the western half of the city. Today, she decided to explore the Arnold Arboretum. She’d read that there was a fabulous view of the Boston skyline from the top of something called Peter’s Hill. Miranda actually hated running, but she had to do something to keep her figure in check. Otherwise her generous curves would move past the stage of hour glass figure to full-on fat. Drew had cautioned her often about letting her weight get out of hand, and while Miranda hated to admit the man had been right about anything, she reluctantly admitted in this case he had been correct. She grudgingly acknowledged that after a run she did feel better, and she had more energy at the hospital when she exercised on a regular basis.

  It was a good thing she had moved to this city in the spring. Had it been winter, Miranda would never have found the willpower to trudge out in the snow. It wasn’t as if she could afford a gym membership. And it was a way to get out and explore the city. So far she’d done five of the suggested seven loops on the website. Her favourite so far had been the riverway loop.

  Miranda came to a clearing. Her legs burned after the trek up the hill and she paused for a moment, walking it out. She looked off to her right and there it was in the distance. Beyond the tops of green leafy trees stood columns of glass and concrete, lined up along the horizon as if they were matchsticks.

  “It’s a nice view, isn’t it?”

  Miranda quickly turned, right as Axel ran around her legs to greet their visitor. Miranda lost her balance and fell into the arms of the man standing beside her.

  “Whoa!” Vic exclaimed.

  Miranda managed to get her feet underneath her, but Axel’s leash was wrapped around her knees, and she was stuck.

  “Stand still. Let me help.”

  The man bent down and Miranda had a view of the top of his dark head. A pair of firm hands touched the skin of her bare thighs, and a shiver danced down her spine.

  “Come here, boy. Hand me the end of his leash.”

  Miranda did, and the man began talking to Axel as though they were the best of friends. His hands rubbed the top of Axel’s head, and inexplicably Miranda found herself jealous of her dog. That was silly because she didn’t want some stranger’s hands on her body, did she? No! Of course not. The leash around her knees loosened and slid down to her ankles.

  “There now. Step out, one foot at a time.”

  Miranda followed the instructions of the deep voice, mortified at her predicament. The man stood, Axel’s leash still within his grip. Miranda looked up and gasped. This man wasn’t a stranger after all.

  “Miranda Green, right?”

  Miranda nodded. “Dr. Burns. I’m so sorry. You must think I’m a complete klutz.”

  “Not at all. Your dog got a little excited at meeting a new friend, that’s all. He looks young, probably forgot his manners. Kids do that you know,” Vic said smiling.

  Miranda looked down at Axel who now sat as though he were the most well-behaved animal on the planet. Little snot ball. “Yes. Apparently. We haven’t had much interaction with guests.”

  Vic rubbed the behind the dog’s ears, and received a moan for his efforts. “What’s his name? He seems friendly.”

  “Axel. Normally he’s a very well-behaved, if slightly mischievous, two year old.”

  Vic handed the end of the leash back to Miranda. “So you two were out having a run?” He rolled his eyes. “Stupid question, sorry.”

  Miranda shrugged. Her social banter skills were hardly suave so she let the obvious question go without a comment. “We’re still getting to know the city. We’ve been trying the Emerald necklace trails one by one, searching for a favourite to make our routine. We try to get out at least three times a week.”

  “That’s good. I love to run. Gives me a chance to clear my head of all the constant buzz at the hospital. Would you like a partner for the second half?”

  “Oh, I don’t want to put you off your pace. I run out of necessity, not enthusiasm, so the road runner I’m not.”

  “Nonsense on both accounts.”

  “What’s that supposed to mean?”

  Vic held out his arm, and they started back towards the paved trail. “You said you run out of necessity. I can only assume that means you feel you’re out of shape. You’re beautiful as you are, so therefore nonsense. Now as to putting me off my pace, I would gladly slow my stride a touch if it meant enjoying this gorgeous summer day with a friendly companion.”

  “How do you know I didn’t mean by ‘necessity’ that I completely pigged out on pizza and Chunky Monkey ice cream last night and now feel like a slug, and therefore thought a good run would get my system back in balance?”

  “Then I would ask, was it worth it?”

  Miranda smiled and found herself no longer dreading each stride of her trainers. “And if I said yes? That I love to eat and sometimes a girl needs a night of self-indulgence while watching the type of sappy romantic comedies men cringe at?”

  Vic smiled. “Then I would say do you like pepperoni or sausage and have you seen Serendipity?”

  Miranda stumbled and Dr. Burns’ hand landed on her lower back. Axel trotted alongside, oblivious to the burning in his mistress’s skin from the touch of the other man.

  “You’ve seen Serendipity?”

  “I’ll tell you a secret. It’s one of my favourites. I think there’s something sweet about finding a person you have an instant connection with, only to be separated and end up back together to live happily ever after.”

  Miranda stared at the man running beside her. Was he for real? Men didn’t think like that. Or if they did, they were usually gay. Oh wait, hadn’t Calleigh and Jenna said something a couple of months ago about Dr. Burns and Dr. Pruitte? Thoughts like that were stereotypical, but then again, they became stereotypes for a reason. She decided to test the waters. “And your partner? Will he sit and watch th
ese sappy movies with you?”

  Vic laughed. “Sometimes. He doesn’t like to admit it, but every once in a while he enjoys them.”

  They ran in silence for a couple of minutes, and Miranda felt much better knowing that she didn’t have to read anything more into Dr. Burns’ quips than friendship. She’d never really had a guy as a friend before, it might be nice.

  “That was very smooth by the way,” Vic said with a grin.

  “Thank you. I thought so.”

  “Let me guess. Hospital grapevine?”

  “That and the fact that any man I’ve dated in the past would rather be hung with barbed wire than watch some chick flick. I wasn’t even allowed to have them in the house with my ex-husband. One day he came home and found the rental box for Kate and Leopold. He got so furious he—” Miranda cut herself off. She couldn’t believe she’d been about to casually blurt out something so personal to a man she wasn’t even on a first name basis with.

  “Miranda? It’s okay. I know you moved here to make a new start. That’s a very brave thing to do, and I’m proud of you. I’d like to be your friend if you haven’t filled up your dance card already.”

  “I’m not sure how appropriate that would be, Dr. Burns,” Miranda mumbled.

  “Please call me Vic, and there’s no professional reason why we can’t be close. I’m not your supervisor or anything. Unless of course, you simply don’t like me,” he finished with a smile.

  “Oh, no that’s not it! I mean you seem nice.” Miranda looked down at Axel, who gave her one of his goofy, ear-flopping smiles. “And Axel seems to like you, but as you said I recently got out of a really bad…making friends isn’t easy for me. Trust isn’t easy for me, not anymore.”

  Chapter Four

  They’d reached the end of the loop. Miranda walked out to the parking area and got Axel’s bowl and a couple of bottles of water out of a portable cooler she kept in her car. She poured some out for Axel, keeping the rest of that bottle for herself, and handed the second bottle to Vic.

  Vic took a long drink. “Thank you. We’ll keep it simple and uncomplicated. You know one of the perks of having a friend who’s bisexual is that we’re kinda like having a girlfriend and a boyfriend all in one. You get the best of both worlds,” he said with a wink.

  The sip of water went down the wrong tube and Miranda started to cough. Vic patted her on the back, and she held onto his shoulder as she bent over, trying to catch her breath again. “Did you—” she coughed, “say bisexual?”

  “Mmhm. Grapevine missed that part, huh? Both Chase and I are.”

  “But I thought you said the two of you were…”

  “Committed? We are, have been for several years. However, neither of us is willing to give up women completely. So, we occasionally share a woman and on occasion date outside our relationship. Less now than in years past. Our policy is honesty always. That goes for both each other and anyone else we become involved with.”

  “And you plan to go on like that indefinitely?”

  “If we could find a woman whom we both love, and who loves us, and accepts our love for each other then we’d probably get down on our knees and beg her to marry us. Until then…” Vic shrugged.

  Miranda’s mind once again drifted back to Chicago and the love between the two men and woman in the hospital. She sometimes wondered whatever happened to them. She knew she shouldn’t, but her mouth opened before she could stop herself. “The sharing thing. How does that work?”

  Vic arched a brow.

  “Not that part! I have an imagination. I can count body parts and add two and two together. Or I guess that would be one plus one plus one. Or would it be… Never mind the number.”

  “Then what do you mean?”

  “I mean…” What did she mean? Why did she care? Was it morbid curiosity, or a desire to climb out on a branch beyond her safe little nest and see the world from a different perspective? How she’d had the guts to ask Vic the question in the first place, she didn’t know. Anytime Calleigh or Jenna started talking sex, Miranda would clam up or scurry away as if she were a frightened little mouse. There was something about him though. Something calm, easy, comfortable.

  It didn’t make sense. Miranda had sworn off attractive men after Drew. Promised herself she’d never fall for their lies or phony good nature ever again. Yet here she stood, discussing a man’s private life with ease. A very handsome man.

  Okay, be honest with yourself Miranda. He’s hot. Seriously mouth watering, spine tingling, wish you had a bottle of chocolate sauce to lick off him, H-O-T!

  Long and lean with firm runner’s muscles. Dark crisp hair she wanted to feel tickling the palm of her hand. Broad shoulders Miranda could rest her head against. Vic’s damp T-shirt clung to his chest and Miranda had the unfamiliar desire to feel the skin below the fabric rub against her. Good God, where were all these ideas coming from?

  “Miranda?”

  She blinked a few times. “Sorry?”

  “You had a question about Chase and me sharing a woman.”

  “I did?” she squeaked out.

  “Yes, you did.”

  “Oh, well I guess maybe it was something along the lines of, what’s in it for the girl? If the two of you are in love, what does she get out of the experience? It’s not as though sex with two guys is any better than sex with one. Seems more like double the hassle to me.”

  Vic stepped closer. Their bodies stood only inches apart. Miranda detected the scents of sweat and man and instead of turning her off, she actually felt a pull deep in the pit of her womb.

  “Then you’ve been sleeping with the wrong men. Sex is all about sharing pleasure between you and your partner, or partners in the specific scenario we’re discussing. It’s about a feast to the senses to be experienced by everyone present. The sensation of fingertips caressing your skin, of lips and tongues dancing on and inside your body. The rapture of being filled, possessed and driven to heights unachievable outside the act of making love. Whether I’m with Chase alone, bring a woman to my bed, or share her with my partner, it’s always about making love. Never do we treat the women in our life with callousness or as disposable sex toys.”

  Miranda panted. She couldn’t even imagine sex such as Vic described it, but suddenly she wanted to. Whether she was capable of the responses she imagined Vic demanded of his partners, Miranda had no idea. Drew had always called her a cold fish. Said sex with her was less pleasurable than fucking a blow up doll. But deep down, Miranda knew passion resided somewhere inside her. She felt it sometimes late at night, alone in her bed. She felt it now, standing inches away from a man who described the intimate details of his life.

  “Come with me, Miranda. Let me show you how making love is intended to be.”

  “But I don’t love you, and you don’t love me. To pretend otherwise would be a lie. To be frank, we hardly know each other. How can one experience pleasure if beneath the pretty words there’s nothing but the sound of a stranger’s voice?”

  “Tell me what you feel, right now. As you stand here with me, our bodies a hair’s breadth apart. Don’t tell me what you ought to feel, based on logic. Tell me what’s happening inside your body, right now.”

  “I’m jittery. My blood is hot, my pulse is racing and there’s a slight buzzing sound in my head.”

  “Are you wet?”

  Miranda gasped. She’d never had someone be so blatant before. What kind of man asked such a question?

  “The kind of man who wants his woman to experience every ounce of pleasure her body is capable of.”

  “How did you—” she whispered.

  “What you feel is desire, arousal. There’s nothing false about it. Right now your body craves my touch. Pleasure is the result of bringing your arousal to its highest peak, then taking it one step further till you tumble over the edge into ecstasy. We’ll start there. As to us being strangers, I sincerely hope we won’t remain that way for long.”

  The words sounded pretty. Hell, th
ey made Miranda want to clinch her thighs together to help alleviate the foreign ache building inside her. But they were just words, and she’d fallen for them before. “I’m sorry. I have to go. I can’t do this.”

  Vic leant a fraction of an inch closer. Their bodies skimmed each other, and his head lowered till their lips all but touched. “Can’t or won’t?”

  Miranda was horrified to find tears swimming in her eyes. She wanted to believe Vic. Wished that she could believe him, that she had enough strength to take the risk. “Both.”

  Vic stepped back and Miranda immediately felt bereft with his withdrawal. She opened the back door to her Jeep and Axel jumped in. Miranda opened the driver door and paused. She looked over at Vic, who stood calmly with an unidentifiable expression on his face. Was he sorry she’d turned him down, did he really care? Or had his attentions been an easy afternoon flirtation, easily forgotten the moment Miranda drove away? He had Dr. Pruitte to go home to, so it’s not as if he was without someone in his life. Miranda didn’t really understand what her acquiescence would have brought to his life. He had love, he had a partner. The addition of her couldn’t possibly enhance anything. More than likely if she’d capitulated and gone home with him, he’d have discovered she really was horrible in bed and regret the decision. And what if Dr. Pruitte was there? Could Miranda really make herself vulnerable to two men, only to be tossed aside later when they discovered their love for each other was more than anything either of them could ever feel for her?

  Miranda climbed in then shut the door. Her fingers fumbled as she tried to pull down her seatbelt. Vic stepped up the window and Miranda rolled the partition down. The summer heat had made the interior stifling, and fresh air cooled the sweaty tendrils on the side of her face.