it.” The man really was overwhelming sometimes. How could he be so blasé?
He did as she asked, but his raised brows said he was just as cool as he seemed.
And that doorbell was going to ring at any second. She turned her shirt right side out and yanked it on.
What were they going to tell Jason?
Nothing. She was a big girl, she didn’t owe him an explanation. But he and Brad were best friends. She didn’t want to jeopardize that.
She dragged her hands through her hair. “How do I look?”
“You want the truth?”
Her glance went back to her chest. Nothing was sticking out that she could see. Both girls were belted in place. “Yes, I want the truth.”
“You look like you spent all night in my bed.”
Her eyes widened. “Oh, God. That’s not good.”
He put his hands on either side of her face and planted a hard kiss on her lips. “I disagree. It was very good.”
“But my brother...”
“Isn’t going to know what happened unless you tell him.” He skimmed a finger across her cheek. “Or unless you keep blushing every time I look at you.”
She closed her eyes and sucked down a few quick breaths.
The bell at the front door went off, and she grabbed Brad’s arm to keep herself upright.
“Relax,” he said. “It’s going to be fine.”
The trip to the front door felt like she was marching to her own funeral. “No blushing. No blushing. No blushing.”
Brad gave her a quick look as he put his hand on the doorknob then he pulled open the door. There stood Jason, a bouquet of daisies propped in the crook of his arm.
“Sorry for the short notice. I had some business in the city and thought I’d check and see how Chloe is doing.”
Chloe was doing just fine. Until now.
Brad glanced her way, and her cheeks tingled, a sure sign that blood was about to be pumped into them. Time for damage control.
“I’m fine.” The tingle turned to warmth, and Jason’s eyes narrowed.
“Has Travis been bothering you? Because Mom and Dad warned him there would be repercussions—”
“No, he hasn’t.” Let’s just change this subject, shall we? “But I am thinking about staying in the city on a permanent basis.”
“What? The folks think you should come home. Stay with them for a while.”
Brad spoke up for the first time, his voice smooth and sure. “The hospital has offered her a job. I think she’s old enough to decide what she wants to do.”
She was certainly old enough to share Brad’s bed. Something she prayed Jason didn’t figure out.
Her brother looked from one to the other before his gaze settled back on Chloe. “Where are you going to live?”
You mean once my lessons end and I’m declared frost-free?
“She can stay with me until she finds a place. I have a guest room.”
Heat bloomed in her cheeks. That guest bed hadn’t been used in a week.
Brad caught her eye, and one corner of his mouth lifted. Yep. Her face was as red as the business end of a branding iron. And her handsome host had marked her for life.
“Let me just find something to put the flowers in. Thank you for bringing them.”
“You’re welcome.”
Taking the flowers and feeling guilty for abandoning Brad, she hurried away to the kitchen.
Jason’s voice, low as it might be, followed her into the room. “I’m holding you to that promise.”
What promise? He had to be talking to Brad, not her.
“I haven’t forgotten.”
“Good. Because she’s already been hurt by one asshole. Don’t make it two.” Her brother gave a quick laugh that was halfway between jest and warning. “Because I’ll be coming for you if you do.”
* * *
Jason had underestimated his sister.
Brad was rapidly discovering just how strong Chloe was. She was a great nurse, compassionate, efficient and capable as hell. Even if he hadn’t had an ulterior motive in hiring her, she’d be a great catch for any hospital. Or for any man.
Anyone except for him.
As if summoned, she came out of one of the exam rooms, a file folder in her hand. She gave him a little wave and a smile.
Was it his imagination, or was there a little bounce to her step that hadn’t been there two weeks ago?
Maybe there was. But that sexy little blush was still there, as strong as ever. All she had to do was look at him and her face lit up like a set of red Christmas lights.
He was almost sure that Layla had figured something out. And maybe even Cade.
That, on the other hand, gave him no pleasure at all. He’d made a huge mistake with Katrina and had paid dearly for it. He thought he’d learned his lesson, but maybe not.
But this wasn’t a real affair, right? Emotions weren’t involved. Not that they’d been involved with Katrina either. At least, not on his side. Sex was sex, and nothing more.
There were times he wondered if his parents had messed him up for good. Left him with a hole where his heart should be. Deprive a kid of love for long enough, lock him away where he can’t be seen or get into trouble, and maybe that organ shriveled down to a useless hunk of flesh, good for nothing except pumping blood from one place to the next.
Chloe plunked the file into a holder outside one of the rooms and made her way over to him, bumping her shoulder against his arm. “How’s it going?”
The playful tone seemed to heighten his recent misgivings. His lips tightened. “Let’s keep our personal and professional lives separate, shall we?”
He knew he’d hurt her the second she took a step back, her teeth nibbling on her lower lip. “Sorry. No one’s around, and I just thought...” She squared her shoulders. “It won’t happen again.”
Jason’s words came back to haunt him: “She’s already been hurt by one asshole. Don’t make it two.”
“Hey.” He reached for her hand, only to have her take another step back.
“I have to get back to my patient, Dr. Davis.”
