Easier said than done when he’s looking at me like a triple hot fudge sundae with cherry on top.
“Whatever.” I pop the disc in the game console and toss him a controller. “Are you ready to do this or what?”
He catches the controller easily, which I guess is no surprise, because…football player.
“I’m not the one afraid to make the wager.” He chuckles. “So much for all that talk of kicking my ass. I thought you were tougher than this, Payne.”
I finish setting up the game, refusing to be baited.
“Man, it must suck knowing you’ve lost before the game even starts,” he says, in what has to be the most patronizing voice I’ve heard in all my life. “I’ve never even lost a game of Monopoly.”
I give him a saccharine smile and take my seat, tucking my legs beneath me. “Well, there’s a first time for everything. I’ll be sure to take a picture of your sad face so your mom can add it to the Chase Spellman shrine.”
“Damn. Did you just make a mom joke?” he asks, pretending to dust off his shoulder. “Now I know you’re scared.”
“Of losing at Monopoly?” I arch a brow. “I can assure you my ego isn’t that fragile.” I stare pointedly at him. “Unlike some people.”
“I’m not talking about the game. I’m talking about your feelings for me,” he says with a self-satisfied smirk. And, oh, man do I want to wipe that look off his face. “That’s why you won’t take the bet, right?”
“You know what? You’re on,” I say, jabbing a finger toward at him. “I’ll take your stupid bet, because you’re going down.”
Unfortunately, my declaration doesn’t have the desired effect. In fact, his smile is so freaking wide now he looks like the Cheshire cat.
Probably because I just walked right into his trap.
Now I definitely have to win the game, because if I don’t? I’m going on a date with Chase Spellman. And that would be a disaster.
Chase
“Boom!” Harper yells, cheeks flushed, eyes bright as she slaps her controller against her thigh. “Take that, Spellman!”
I can’t believe it. She actually beat me. I mean, it’s kind of a game of chance, but I was so sure I had it in the bag. Right up until my dumb ass landed on Park Place and went bankrupt.
Harper shoots me a smug grin and pretends to buff her nails on her scrubs. Joke’s on her, though, because I’m going to give her a foot rub she’ll never forget. By the time I’m done, the hospital’s fraternization policy will be the last thing on her mind.
“You wanna do a victory lap or are you ready to come over here and claim your prize?” I ask, pitching my voice low.
She squeaks and hops to her feet, eyes wide. “I’m—I’m going to have to take a rain check.”
“No way,” I say, pointing a finger at her. I turn my hand around and crook the finger toward myself, gesturing for her to come closer. “That wasn’t our deal, Harper.”
“Technically,” she says, toying with the end of her braid, “we never specified a timeline for prize distribution, so…”
“Get your sexy ass over here and let me massage your feet. You’ve been taking care of me all day. Now it’s my turn to take care of you.”
“As lovely as that sounds, that’s not really how the whole nurse-patient relationship works,” she says, scrunching up her nose.
“You’re off duty,” I say, rolling my eyes. Damn, what I wouldn’t give to be able to get out of this bed. The woman has me at a serious disadvantage and she knows it, keeping just out of my reach. “Besides, I’m going to be released in a few days anyway.”
“And yet, here you are,” she says, gesturing to me and my bed with a broad sweep of her arm.
“I’m barely even a patient,” I argue, scrambling to make my case. “The doc is just keeping me out of an abundance of caution. I’m sure it’s documented on my chart.”
“Oh, okay,” she says, sarcasm dripping from her words as she packs up the game cart. “I’ll be sure to tell that to Nurse Rogers when she fails my ass.”
“Now you’re just being dramatic,” I say, knowing it’ll get a rise out of her.
“Says the guy who climbed a drainpipe in a freaking toga.”
