Chapter 1

The moment Amy Juergens- Underwood stepped off the elevator she felt her nerves kicked in. Tension stirred in the pit of her stomach and her pulse throbbed at the base of her throat. It was as if she was back in high school and had been called to the principals office. The only difference she wasn't sixteen anymore, but a twenty-six year old married woman, an intern at Grady Memorial Hospital and she had gotten summoned to the office of the chief of staff, Dr. Marc Molina.

Taking a deep breath and inserting her sweaty hands in the pockets of her slacks she paused at the desk of Dr. Molina's administrative assistant, Camille Wells. The older woman glanced up from the paperwork just long enough to say, "Go on in Dr. Juergens. They're waiting on you in the conference room.

They? The pit of Amy's stomach nearly dropped to the floor. Who were they? She wondered just what kind of trouble she had gotten into. Granted she and Madison Copperstein, ER head nurse, never saw eye to eye of much of anything. Amy had known from the first day of orientation it would behoove her to stay out of the woman's way.

Nurse Copperstein was a stickler for the rules and couldn't hold water to save her life. The woman had a true knack for getting into other people's business and had a mean attitude to go along with it. It is truly sad for someone who was only thirty years old. Amy smiled to herself upon recalling what her best friend and fellow intern, Lauren Fields had told her just last week. "Miss Copperhead- as other staff members called the nurse behind her back-needed to get laid or a man whichever comes first.

Quickly wiping the smile off her face and drawing in another deep breath, Amy knocked on the door.

"Come in."

Amy entered the room to find, three individuals sitting at a long table. Her gaze first went to Dr. Molina who was seated at the head of the table, and as usual his lusting gaze raked over her. It wasn't the first time she'd thought the man had a roving and longing eye. She has even addressed her concerns with her husband about her discomfort of being in the company of Dr. Molina. Lauren also had caught him ogling her and the other young female interns the same way. The married, fifty something father of three was well-respected in the medical field, and he had some political clout as well because he and the governor were college buddies.

Her gaze then swept across the length of the table. The woman seated to the right of Dr. Molina was Kathyln O'Malley, the attractive public relations director of the hospital. Although, Amy didn't really know Kathyln that well, she'd always found the young woman friendly enough when they'd passed in the halls, or even met in the elevator.

And last but definitely not least was the man who'd captured Amy's heart five years ago but whom she married three and a half years ago and each and every day especially since she became an intern at Grady. Dr. Richard James Underwood, chief resident and her husband.

She wasn't ashamed to admit to herself that she was unconditionally in love with that man more and more and he was extremely handsome. Her mother had warned her that it would be that way when she met her soul mate and her mother had hit the nail on the head with that statement. Although Amy didn't know exactly what the future held, she knew that it would be an amazing life as long as she had Dr. Ricky Underwood as her husband. She felt lucky to be able to claim him as hers.

Even while sitting down, Ricky Underwood was massively tall, and had a muscular build. His dark brown hair was thick but well maintained and he had the sexiest, chocolate brown eyes any man had the right claim. And that fresh stubble which was warming his chin from lack of shaving for the last couple of days only accentuated a pair of sensuous, soft lips. There was a small, dark brown mustache that was trimmed expertly.

Their gazes met briefly before she swiftly moved her eyes back to Dr. Molina.

"Nurse Copperstein said you wanted to see me sir," she said.

"Yes come in and join us, Dr. Juergens. We won't bite."

She nervously crossed the room and sat in one of the chairs that happened to be directly across from Dr. Underwood.

"Now, Dr. Juergens, the reason you were summoned here today was to first thank you for your bravery as well as your loyalty in reporting the drug abuse of one of your fellow interns. I know that wasn't an easy decision to make, and I want to assure you that you did the right thing and you are appreciated for doing so. We were hoping we would be able to handle this matter rather quietly, but it seems that won't be the case."

Amy nodded, trying to follow what Dr. Molina was saying, but her close proximity to her husband Dr. Underwood was distracting her. Was that heat she felt radiating off the man? She wouldn't be surprised given how drawn she was to him. It was an attraction they both had to constantly downplay, thanks to the hospital's no fraternization policy regarding managers and those reporting to them. Although, they got married before she became an intern, Ricky was her boss and they both knew they would have a lot to lose if they couldn't maintain their professionalism.

"The Harvey family has threatened the hospital with a lawsuit."

Amy blinked. Lawsuit? That one word pulled her attention back to Dr. Molina." I don't understand sir."

"And neither do we, Dr. Juergens. Thanks to you reporting to Dr. Underwood what you knew regarding Dr. Harvey and our own proof of certain events, we'd hoped the matter could be handled discreetly. However, we have been notified that the Harvey family has decided to sue the hospital."

Amy raised a brow. "On what grounds?"

"That we reacted in the extreme and that Dr. Harvey was wrongfully terminated and that there was some form of discrimination."

Amy sighed and frowned. "How can they say that?" Although she'd asked the question, in a way she already knew the answer. The Harvey's just happened to be one of the richest families not only in Atlanta but in all of Georgia. It was an known fact they were Grady's biggest benefactors. They even had a wing named after them. Their son Grant had also been an intern. Amy hated being the reason for Grant's termination, but she felt she'd done the right thing when she'd witnessed his attempt to steal drugs from the hospital pharmacy more than once.

"The hospital feels we had sufficient grounds to release him. And although we are faced with a lawsuit as well as the withdrawal of the Harvey's support to the hospital, we will deal with it," Dr. Molina said trying to assure Amy of the tension that she already felt.

He than glanced at Kathyln. "As the public relations supervisor it will be your job, Ms. O'Malley to make sure the hospital maintains its stellar reputation through all of this. I can just imagine the type of image the Harvey's will try portray as far as the hospital is concerned."

Kathyln nodded, her expression sober. "I will."

Dr. Molina smiled at Kathyln, a smile that made Amy's flesh crawl. She wondered if she was the only one who'd caught on to it. She glanced at over at her husband and their gazes met, and not for the first time she could feel the sexual tension that emitted from his dark brown eyes into her blue/green ones.

Knowing that if her gaze lingered more that necessary it would create suspicion, so she drew in a deep breath and shifted her attention back to Dr. Molina as a question suddenly burned in her mind. " Now that's there a lawsuit pending, does that mean I'll be named as the person who was..."

"The whistle-blower?" Dr. Molina finished for her. "You wont have to worry about that. Your name will be held in the strictest of confidence and protected by the hospital policy. It has been proved that Dr. Harvey does indeed have a drug problem and it will be up to the Harvey family to prove otherwise."

Amy was glad to hear that. She knew that once the news broke everyone would wonder who had snitched on Grant because he was well-liked and had a promising future. It hadn't taken her long to figure him out and she'd been able to read the signs mainly because one of her older brothers had had the same problems before he'd gotten some help. Now he was married with a little girl and volunteered a lot of his time trying to help others kick the habit that had nearly destroyed him eight years ago.

"And because of the sensitive nature of the matter and the Harvey family's association with this facility, we have decided to hire someone to handle the suit that is not one of our regular hospital attorneys. In other words, we've decided to bring in the big guns."

"But we can assure you again, Dr. Juergens, that your confidentiality won't be compromised," Dr. Underwood interjected.

Amy nodded while trying to ignore the warm, husky tone of his voice that seemed to make her womanhood extremely warm and wet. She glanced over at him, met his gaze, felt her heart rate quicken. "Thank you."

"That will be all, Dr. Juergens." Dr. Molina said reclaiming her attention.

"All right." She stood and turned to leave. Although she was tempted to glance back over her shoulder to look at her husband she was fully aware that doing so would be foolish as well as risky, so she continued to move toward the door.

When Ricky entered their prestigious Atlanta row home, it was close to seven that night, a few hours later than his schedule at the hospital dictated and the time when he told his wife he would be home. He couldn't remember when he came home at a fairly decent hour but thankfully he has a understanding and supportive wife. He had been working many long hours since he'd taken on the role of chief resident at Grady. This group of interns were halfway through this leg of their training. His mind wondered to the other interns as he took off his jacket and placed his keys on the table, while leaving his shoes at the door. He had high hopes that they would become good physicians one day. Some more so than others. There were a few he still needed to work on.

And one in particular he needed but couldn't keep his mind off of.

Although she was his wife, he knew that he had to maintain being in an authoritative role and not show her favoritism.

Scowling, he paused and rubbed his hands down his sun tanned face. Amy Juergens-Underwood would be his downfall if he wasn't careful. Not that he minded in the least bit but he wanted to make sure he protected both of their careers as well as their relationship. He of all people knew the hospital's non fraternization policy and the consequences if it wasn't obeyed. Yet it is becoming increasing hard to maintain the professionalism whenever they were in the vicinity of one another.

Take today, for instance. A surge of lust and desire had rushed through him the moment she had entered the conference room. And when their gazes had connected he could feel the sexual tension and it took all of his will power not to rip her clothes and make passionate love to her.

Drawing a deep breath, he forced one foot in front of the other as he made his way toward the wonderful smell in the kitchen. The smell of homemade lasagna invaded his nostrils and made his stomach growl. There was also a hint of vanilla from the candles that the woman that he loved most had burning in the background. He was glad that she had decided to cook so that dinner wouldn't be a guessing game for the two of them. Amy was a magnificent cook and they rarely had time to enjoy a home cooked meal with them both being doctors. He felt like he hadn't had her cooking in a while although it had only been a few days. He is thankful that he didn't stop to pick up dinner because he wanted to be with his wife and put as much distance as he could from him and the hospital.

Seeing her husband, Amy smiled affectionately and walked up to him and threw his arms around him. "Hey, baby I hope you're hungry because I made your favorites. " She pulled him down to her and pressed her lips to his in a passionate kiss.

When the need to breathe overwhelmed them, they pulled away from one another. "Hey yourself and I'm starved," Ricky responded breathless. He took a seat at the dining table.

Amy pulled out plates and dished the meal that she had prepared for the two of them. She had made homemade lasagna with her special meat sauce, homemade meatballs with some meat sauce on the side, a fresh garden salad, vegetable medley, fresh garlic bread and Ricky's favorite chocolate chip cookies from scratch.

"Wow, honey this looks and smell delicious," Ricky beamed.

"Thanks," Amy returned.

The couple ate in comfortable, loving silence for a while before it was finally broken.

"How was your day this morning because I didn't get a chance to ask earlier," Amy said.

Ricky thought about her question and knew that the day hadn't gotten off to a good start but once he stepped foot on hospital grounds everything changed. He had been told that Dr. Molina needed to see him immediately, he'd gotten a clue how things would be. Because Ricky had been the one to actually terminated Grant, his name would come under fire as well. The thought of the Harvey's actually filing a lawsuit against the hospital when they knew their son had a drug problem was ridiculous. It only went to show that people with money thought they could do just about anything.

Moments later he responded to his wife's question. "I am sorry that I didn't have a chance fore warn you about the lawsuit. I found out about it this morning and then Molina bombarded you," Ricky said solemnly.

"Its alright, babe. I understand the position that you are in I knew you would have told me if you had the opportunity," Amy responded.

"After the morning meeting with Dr. Molina, the rest of the day went relatively well," Ricky joked. Amy smiled at her husband antics while they continued their dinner.

They had met again when one of Amy's patients Ruben Enriquez, had presented with shortness of breath and she needed approval to increase the dosage of the man's medication. As usual she was precise and right on point. There was no doubt she would become an outstanding physician. On her previous rotations she'd received nothing but compliments from patients and fellow doctors alike. Patients felt she listened to what they'd had to say, and doctors remarked on her professionalism.

His thoughts shifted back to their time in Mr. Enriquez's room. They had worked well together adjusting the intravenous line while, asking the patient questions.

When the dinner was finished Amy went to get into the surprise that she had for her husband while, Ricky rinsed the dishes to be loaded into the dishwasher and cleaned the kitchen. Once the kitchen had been cleaned to satisfaction and Ricky was loading the last dish into the dishwasher, Amy reentered the kitchen wearing some lacy sheer turquoise lingerie and walked up and threw her arms around her husband.

She placed kisses on his neck and Ricky turned to face his beautiful, sexy wife and he knew that this night would more than makeup for the tortuous day he has endured. The thoughts of Amy overwhelmed his mind as he pressed his lips to her soft ones.

As Ricky continued to attack his beautiful wife lips, Amy released a moan from her lips. Ricky lifted her up and she wrapped her long legs around his waist. He carried her into their bedroom and placed her onto the bed. He wanted to take his time with her but the need and desire consumed the both of them. They continued to kiss one another then they made love until the early morning hours. After they were completely sated, blissful dreams filled their mind. They both fell asleep wrapped in each others arms.

Hours before the alarm was due to wake them for work, Ricky thought back to the first time that he had met Amy five years ago. She was finishing up Medical school at Emory University and they crossed each other paths while enjoying the view, at Piedmont Park. He'd gotten upset with himself for his immediate attraction to her and he wasn't sure what had brought it on. She was wearing black, tight yoga pants with a black and grey sports bra with a light overjacket. For some reason the pure sight of her turned him on like no woman had before.

Later that week, he joined some of the staff at Grady offsite to a nearby bar and grill for a casual get together, all it had taken was seeing the way her body had been shaped by a pair of boot cut, ripped denim jeans and a peplum for fitting shirt and his mouth had watered for days.

And then he had run into her at the grocery store one Sunday. She had been dressed for church and he'd gotten a chance to see the most gorgeous pair of legs any woman could own. She had looked so good in her black colored fashionable two-piece suit that he had only narrowly, avoided running his grocery cart into a display of canned goods in the middle of the aisle. He couldn't resist her anymore and he asked for her phone number. He contacted her and the two started dating which progressed into a serious relationship. They were married a year and half later at a remote ceremony in Kingston, Jamaica. The wedding took place several months after Amy's graduation from medical school before she became of an surgical intern.

Never had any woman been able to dominate his attention like she had and still does, especially in the workplace. And no matter how much he'd tried, he hadn't been able to lick his inappropriate attention for his wife the female doctor who was reporting him directly. And that wasn't good for either of their sakes.

At one time he thought the attraction he has for his wife was one sided but Ricky soon found out that Amy reciprocated his feelings. She have the type of beauty a woman didn't have to flaunt. It was just there and he honestly doubted she knew the effect she had on men, especially him.

Hell, he'd even seen Dr. Molina eye her down more than once and he had to bite down the jealousy and rage that had consumed him. But then the older man was known to have that bad ass habit with the female interns. Ricky was surprised no one had filed a sexual harassment complaint against him. Ricky wasn't blind to the man's antics and had even seen the looks and heard Molina's offhanded comments to several of the female interns, including his wife. He'd even confronted his superior about his behavior, which hadn't gone over well because Ricky couldn't compromise their careers by beating the hell out of the doctor.

His thoughts shifted back to Amy Juergens-Underwood. He'd assumed he had fixed the problem of wanting to devour her like it was his last meal every time he saw her when he sent her to work the night shift in the ER for a while. Usually she would have left the hospital by the time he would arrive. Amy being in the ER tested their relationship but they knew it was for the best. But one particular morning there had been a school bus accident resulting in a number of injured kids. ER had been quite busy that day and everyone even off-duty personnel, had been called into assist.

He had worked alongside his wife that day, and finally admitted and realized that he didn't want distance their relationship again. They would just have to learn how to control their desire and attraction to one another while at work. So far they have done their best. However, there were days like today that tested both of them to the fullest.

One day while they were in Mr. Enriquez's room together, he had truly looked at her face and thought she was the most beautiful woman in the world and that he was lucky to call her his wife.

Although he sees her everyday and night, he glanced over at his sleeping wife and really got a good look at her. He noticed her long dark, brown lashes which fanned her face, her mysterious blue/green eyes. She had extremely long, wavy brunette hair and she had creamy soft skin. They way her scrubs hugged her curvaceous hips and her plump breasts made his mouth water because he felt that he couldn't get enough of her.

As he stretched his long torso, he smiled because Amy was a true tigress as she snuggled closer to his warm body. While the heat radiated off of them, he continued to smile down at her. His cell phone pierced the quiet room and he quickly grabbed it so it wouldn't wake up Amy, and then groaned because he thought it was the hospital.

Authors Note:

Who is calling Ricky? Is it the hospital? This has nothing to do with Secret Life but some of the characters will appear in this story. I wanted to do something different and so them as mature adults and show them having a prosperous career. There will be drama as they continue their daily lives but will love be able to get them through their tough times. Continue to read and find out.