Total pages in book: 45
Estimated words: 41825 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 209(@200wpm)___ 167(@250wpm)___ 139(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 41825 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 209(@200wpm)___ 167(@250wpm)___ 139(@300wpm)
He didn’t fill the silence with small talk, and the quiet between us crackled with awareness.
“You’re staring.”
I startled, then laughed softly, the sound a little breathless. “Guilty. It’s not every day a stranger scoops me up from an underground race and drives me to the hospital like it’s the most normal thing in the world.”
“I’m a trauma surgeon, so it is the most normal thing in the world to me.”
“It’s lucky for me that you were there, then.” I shifted in the seat, wincing when the cut on my temple pulled. “Most people in my life would have called an assistant or arranged a discreet car service.”
“Most people in your life sound useless.”
The bluntness surprised a real laugh out of me. For once, I didn’t try to soften it to sound more ladylike. “It’s just that my parents believe there’s a proper way to handle stuff so nothing looks messy.”
His gaze slid to me again, darker in the glow of the dashboard. “I’m not about to let you suffer needlessly on my watch.”
I swallowed, suddenly aware of how small the space between us felt. “Is that part of your normal bedside manner, or do you just enjoy making injured women blush?”
“You’re nothing like my usual patient.” His mouth curved into a faint smirk that made butterflies swarm in my belly. “Once I decide something’s mine to handle, I don’t half-ass it.”
I pressed my lips together, fighting the ridiculous smile threatening to break free.
We were only a few miles from the hospital now, the glow of streetlights growing brighter ahead. My head still ached, but I wasn’t worried about what would happen next. With Thayer looking out for me, the usual knot of anxiety in my chest had loosened.
I didn’t want to shrink back into the neat, perfect box my parents had built for me. I wanted to let this unexpected man see the parts of me I usually kept hidden from the world.
4
CAGE
Iswung my SUV smoothly into my designated staff parking spot near the emergency entrance, feeling Hadley’s gaze track me as I shifted the gear into Park. The quiet rumble of the engine faded, replaced by the steady hum of nearby traffic and the muted bustle of the hospital in front of us.
Hadley shifted in her seat, the fabric of her clothes rustling softly as she adjusted herself to face me more directly. A hint of humor tugged at her lips, curving her mouth into an amused smirk. Her dark-blond hair fell forward slightly, catching in soft, and a little wild, waves over her shoulder, making my fingers itch to run through it.
“So, this is how it is for you, huh?” she teased, her eyes glittering playfully beneath the soft glow of the parking lot lights. “No mile-long walk from the farthest spot. Let me guess, we won’t need to wait hours to be seen either?”
I shrugged, not bothering to hide the faint smirk pulling at my lips as I turned my head to meet her gaze squarely. “Perks of being mine, baby.”
The moment the words left my mouth, her lips parted slightly, and her green eyes widened as surprise flashed in their depths. But there was something warmer, too. However, I didn’t give her a chance to fully process what I’d said before I shoved open my door and stepped out into the hot June air, letting the moment linger.
I rounded the vehicle and opened her door, not waiting for her to offer a comment or request for me to clarify. My pulse thudded hard in my veins as I leaned in, extending my hand to help her down. Hadley’s fingers wrapped around mine without hesitation, the softness of her skin igniting a spark that surged straight to my cock.
Fuck. Every innocent touch she gave me was unraveling my self-control faster than I’d ever thought possible.
Her feet hit the pavement, and I steadied her, keeping a hand at the small of her back as I guided her toward the emergency room doors. My touch wasn’t hovering or hesitant—it was solid, possessive, and deliberate. She didn’t flinch or pull away, leaning subtly into it, as if my touch grounded her in some way she hadn’t expected.
We moved into the ER lobby, the fluorescent lights glaring down, revealing worn linoleum floors and a cluster of uncomfortable-looking plastic chairs. A few heads lifted from scattered seats, curious eyes tracking our path as we moved directly to the reception desk. The nurse behind it glanced up, her expression shifting immediately from bored professionalism to focused attention when she recognized me.
“Hey, Dana,” I greeted as we approached.
“Dr. Duvall,” she replied, setting aside her clipboard.
“Which room is open?” It wasn’t so much a question as a demand.
She turned slightly to look at the large dry-erase board behind her. “Exam room two is open.”
“Thanks.” My attention went back to Hadley as I steered her past the desk without breaking stride. “Set up a CT scan.”