While the three of them continued to talk, Clara’s phone beeped with a text.
Scarlett: Are you at the bar? Is everyone from the hospital there?
Clara frowned. Firstly, how did Scarlett know she was at the bar? Secondly, how did she know people from the hospital might be here? Thirdly, why did she care?
Clara: Yeah, I’m at the bar with Indie. And yes, Malcolm and a few others from the hospital and running group are here.
She waited a moment for a response, but none ever came.
Thanks, Clara. I really appreciate the information. You’re such a lovely roommate.
All things Scarlettshouldhave said.
Malcolm bumped her hip. “Hey. You okay?”
She looked up and nodded. “Yeah, just messaging Scarlett.”
“We keep trying to arrange a lunch at the hospital, but every time, I get caught up with an emergency.” A shadow passed across Malcolm’s face.
Clara frowned. “Everything okay?”
He opened his mouth to respond, but then Deb’s loud voice cut through the noise of the bar.
“Holy crack on a cracker. It’s that sex-on-a-stick Holden—and he brought his hot friends. Someone get me a fan.”
Clara’s head whipped around, and sure enough, Holden and her two brothers stepped into the bar, Aspen and Sky with them.
Her throat snapped closed at the way the tight fabric of Holden’s black T-shirt traced the muscles in his chest and arms. At the sharp edge of his jaw and his warm sun-kissed skin.
Holy Hannah, he was all strength and power and sex.
Butterflies were still fluttering in her lower belly when Briar suddenly pushed past her. The shove was so rough she almost spilled her drink all over her shirt.
Then the nurse walked straight up to Holden. She didn’t hear what they said, but Briar stood so close it looked intimate.
It felt like a punch to the stomach. One where the freaking air was forced out of her.
And she hated thatthatwas her reaction. She knew he didn’t love her the way she loved him. And he was eventually going to date.
But it still hurt.
“Here.” Indie filled her glass with more martini.
Without a word, Clara took a big gulp. She’d probably be needing a few of these tonight.
CHAPTER 8
Holden lifted the beer to his mouth, his gaze returning to Clara for what had to be the fiftieth damn time. She stood with Indie and Malcolm, and every time she smiled or laughed at something he said, there was this strong fucking urge to go over there and rip her away from the jerk.
Okay, maybe he wasn’t a jerk. He was a doctor. He helped people. Didn’t mean Holden wanted the guy getting close to Clara.
Briar had joined Holden for a while, but she’d obviously gotten bored of the little attention she’d received from him and returned to her friends.
“Careful, brother, you almost look jealous.”
He dragged his gaze from Clara to Becket, who stood beside him. Jesse was at the bar while the women were on the dance floor. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” A damn lie. And by the look of Becket’s smile, he knew it.
Becket swished his drink. “Is it Jesse?”
