Portal to Eden

Chapter 1

Chapter 1

“Phone call, Em,” Peter Fairfax called. He frowned. He’d first thought it might be the hospital. He was a pediatric hematology/oncology fellow at LPN, the staff’s nickname for Nuestra Señora de Los Pequeños Niños, and he was often required to drop everything for one of his little patients.

However, this caller refused to give his name, and while Peter trusted his partner implicitly, he’d been part of the ‘when a man answers’ scenario before, although on the other end and years ago, back when he’d been a feckless intern, and he didn’t like it.

“Who is it?” As usual, her husky voice sent thrills through him. It always amazed him that such a voice—which simply made him want to throw her over his shoulder and carry her away to a secluded spot where he could ravage her lithe body—could command the respect of the world’s most powerful leaders, but it was obvious it did, since whenever there was any kind of crisis, Dr. Emma Bradley was the one they called for. Begged for, if need be.

“I don’t know.”

“Oh?” Emma came out of the bathroom, a towel wrapped around that lithe body and another around her auburn hair. She wasn’t a conventionally beautiful woman, but she was striking, as Peter had quickly grown to realize, and he didn’t like the idea of another man trying to take her away from him. Trying, because he knew no man would ever succeed.

“He didn’t say.”

“Hmmm.” She took the phone from him. “This is Emma Bradley.”

As hard as he listened, Peter could hear nothing more than sibilance from the other end.

Emma glanced at him and gave a slightly distracted smile. “If you’ll excuse me, Peter?” She turned away.

He gritted his teeth and strode into the kitchen, not liking this situation one bit. Plenty of times before she had received such calls, and she’d never had a problem with him being in the same room. Why now…

The extension was on the wall. Did he dare listen in, risking the chance Emma would realize his insecurities?

Screw it! He dared! Cautiously he lifted the receiver and brought it to his ear.

“I understand, General.”

General? Which general? The army was flooded with them, not to mention the Marines. Or the Air Force. Peter wouldn’t trust any of those flyboys as far as he could throw them.

He gnawed on his lower lip, then realized the ‘general’ was talking.

“…and President Langley requests that you stay afterward, for an early dinner.”

“That’s very kind,” Em murmured. “Of course I will. Please tell her I’ll see her in a few hours then.”

“Excellent. Thank you, Dr. Bradley. Goodbye.”

“Goodbye, General.”

Wondering what this was all about, he hung up and busied himself at the cook top just as Emma joined him.

“I’m sorry, Peter. I’ve been called to Washington, and I’ll miss dinner.”

He was almost inclined to grouse that she should be sorry, but he couldn’t. He was honest enough with himself to admit that if he’d been invited to the White House for any reason, he’d be willing to do a lot more than just miss dinner, and it was for damn sure he wouldn’t be sorry.

“It will keep. Shall I go with you?” He was an eminent doctor in his own right, with the plaques and commendations on his study wall to prove it, and if the president should want to see him as well... “I’ll need to call the hospital to make sure Patterson can cover for me, but it shouldn’t be a problem; there isn’t anything pressing going on right now. It’s a good thing my black suit is back from the cleaners. We can stay overnight, or perhaps make a weekend of it. I’ll just—”

Emma looked surprised and then slightly regretful. “There’s no need, Peter. It will just be a flying visit.”

“What?” He wasn’t invited? Or was it that she just didn’t want him to come along? He’d never cared that her career seemed to overshadow his, but lately with the position of chief of pediatric oncology almost within his grasp…He cut off that line of thought—it was fair to neither of them, and besides, he didn’t want to jinx himself—and forced himself to give her a slight smile. “When is your flight?”

She glanced at her wrist, laughed ruefully to find it bare, and looked at the clock on the wall above the breakfast nook. “I need to be at the jetport within the hour.”

“I’ll drive you there, shall I?”

“You wouldn’t mind? Oh, Peter, you’re a treasure!” She kissed him, and as her lips caressed his, his feeling of unease disappeared. “Thank you.”

He ran his palm over her shapely ass, then set her away from him and waved aside her thanks. “Go get dressed and packed. I’ll get the car.”

She beamed at him and hurried back into the bedroom they shared.

Peter took the keys to the Porsche. He had nothing to worry about, he assured himself. After all, Em loved him and wouldn’t do anything to jeopardize what they had. She was going to make the perfect wife of the chief of pediatric oncology.

* * * *

He was just turning into their drive on his return from the jetport when he received a call from LPN.

“Dr. Fairfax, you’re needed here immediately! Danny Murphy is having an adverse reaction to his chemotherapy!”

“Dammit,” he muttered under his breath. He’d been so sure that newest chemical cocktail would do the trick, and now…It was a good thing he hadn’t accompanied Emma to Washington. Idly he wondered if Danny’s pretty sister would be there, then pushed the thought from his mind. “I’ll be there in fifteen minutes.”