Blake and I both chuckled. “G’night, Marie!” I called out.
“Night!”
We neared our Jeeps that were parked side by side, and I glanced over at his, letting out a small laugh. “You know, your duck is looking awfully lonely there all by itself.”
“Well, I like to actuallyseewhen I’m driving, so…”
I rolled my eyes with amusement. “I can see just fine.”
“Maybe you should feel special that the only duck I have in my window is the one you gave me.”
“There you go with that whole ‘make the logic work in my favor’ again,” I quipped. He smiled, tapping his finger againsthis temple as I chuckled. “So, do you think you’re going to come tomorrow night?” I asked as I stepped toward my Jeep.
“I’ll see how I feel after work. And if I do, I’ll have to see if Gabe can stay with Mav.”
“Give Maverick an extra treat for me when you get home tonight,” I said as I opened my front door.
Blake chuckled. “Will do.”
“Goodnight.”
He stood there watching me slide into the driver’s seat. “G’night.”
The following night, Courtney, one of the ER nurses, picked up Marie and me from my townhouse. The three of us met up with some others for dinner, and now she was giving us a ride to The Rusty Anchor. She offered to be the DD, and while I had no intention of getting drunk, I took her up on it, just in case.
It was Friday, so the bar was pretty packed. Inside, some of the hospital staff were already at the tables in the back, along with a few of Bayport’s police force, who Marie had invited—she’d been telling everyone she could to come out tonight. I headed to the bar, paying for Marie’s first round along with a tray of shots before making my way toward the back tables.
My attention flickered between conversations and the door, anticipation needling me. I was watching for Blake, my heart jumping each time that bell above the door rang.
Pathetic, I know. Iwantedto see him, even though I knew better. I shouldn’t feel these tangled, confusing things for him or let him preoccupy my thoughts the way he did. Blake was supposed to be off-limits as my brother’s best friendandmy preceptor. Yet the closer we got, the harder he was to resist. The pull wasn’t just physical, although one look at him had my body thrumming and imagination wandering. It was more than that,though. It was a persistent ache, a desire to truly know and understand him, that I couldn’t seem to shake.
I wanted toknowhim.
Not the Blake I’d always known as Wes’s friend. Not the doctor who mentored me day after day.
I craved therealhim—the version buried behind all of the walls. I wanted to understand the burdens he kept hidden and the struggles he faced alone. And I wanted to take them away.
My head and heart were tiptoeing along a line, one that could have real consequences if ever crossed—with my brother, with my job. Each time a rush of longing hit, I hesitated, questioning my feelings and the risks involved. Yet a reckless part of me didn’t care. I wanted to see what could happen between us, even knowing what it might cost.
Later that night, while the bar buzzed around us, Marie headed up to take a birthday shot with one of the police officers. I chose to stay at the table, taking in the scene.
When I heard the bell above the door ring, I glanced over with a pang of anticipation. My eyes widened as he scanned the crowded bar, and when his gaze landed on me, a familiar smirk curled on his lips as he started in my direction, like he’d just spotted his target.
He stopped in front of where I was sitting on the pub stool, and my brow furrowed while he remained looking as unbothered as always. “Hey, Hales.”
Not Blake.
“Brett.”
His eyes trailed over me before lifting to mine again. “Lookin’ good.”
“What are you doing here?”
He crossed his arms, his stance full of arrogance. “I stoppedby your place, but you weren’t there. I remembered this was one of your hangouts, so I took a shot. Looks like it paid off.”
My brow arched. “You dropped by my place?”
“Yeah. You’ve been ignoring my messages for weeks now, and I wanted to see you. To talk to you.”
