Bryce hummed in amusement, tucking her hair behind her ear and leaning in closer.
“Would you like to find out how it feels?” His breath sent tingles across the exposed skin of her neck.
Beth had just taken a sip of coffee. She went rigid, unable to swallow.
“How does it feels to be all cozy in a… sprawl-y-ing... manly, man-like sorta way on the couch?”
Her brain short-circuited at the teasing rumble of his voice.
And then—
The coffee shot out of her mouth like a fountain, raining down on them both.
“Oh. My. Word.” Beth gasped, horrified. “I CANNOT BELIEVE YOU!”
She smacked his broad chest as Bryce roared with laughter, shaking the entire couch.
“You’re evil,” she muttered, scooting back to her original spot and kicking him.
Bryce caught her foot easily, a wicked glint in his eyes as he slowly began to rub it.
Beth blinked. She had never had a man rub her foot before. The moment between them shifted—not charged with something deeper, just warm, comfortable.
Composing himself, Bryce grinned. “That was some impressive flirting there, honey.”
“Oh, shut up. I’m mad at you.” Beth hid her flaming cheeks behind her fingers.
Bryce’s dimples deepened. “Are you really mad?”
“Furious,” she huffed. But she couldn’t stop smiling. “After the morning I had, I may have needed the laugh.”
“I did too.”
They sat there, simply enjoying the moment.
“Did something happen beforeFred the Jeepattacked you with his door?”
Beth nodded, rolling her eyes dramatically.
Feeling more relaxed than she had all week—maybe even since before Vegas—she launched into her story. She told Bryce about oversleeping, falling out of bed, and having to run back for her ID.
Bryce laughed so hard he had to wipe his eyes. “You really fell out of bed?”
“Like Humpty Dumpty.” Beth groaned. “I’m a heavy sleeper. I didn’t realize I was tangled in the blankets until it was too late.”
Bryce shook his head, still grinning. “No wonder you were grumpy. I’d have been in a foul mood too.”
Beth gave a sheepish smile, but then it faded. “That’s not why I snapped at you. I wouldn’t have talked to Eric or any of the other doctors like that.”
His expression softened. “Why not?”
“They’re my coworkers. My superiors. I avoid confrontation at work when I can. But with you…” She hesitated, searching for the right words. “Somewhere over the past week, I stopped seeing you as Dr. Jensen. I got too comfortable and forgot where the professional lines were. It won’t happen again.”
Bryce studied her for a long moment before speaking. “I’m not worried about that,” he said quietly. “But I am glad to hear I’m not just Dr. Jensen to you anymore.”
Beth pulled her legs up onto the couch, tucking them under her. “I was up late last night. Praying. Reading. Trying to figure things out.”
His gaze never left hers. “About us?”
