“Sure.” George winked then opened the glass door into the building. “Friends.”
“No, it’s true.” Logan didn’t even know why he felt the need to explain their arrangement to him. “But I enjoy hanging out with her.”
“Hanging out,” George repeated like it was a four-letter curse word. “And your generation of men wonder why they are single and unmarried.”
Logan rubbed the back of his neck. “I don’t wonder that.” He passed through the open door and into the lobby to wait.
“See, even worse.” Then George closed the door and returned to his post outside.
The elevator doors swung open. Brooke stepped out. With a peacoat jacket slung over her arm, she wore dark jeans, and a black button-down blouse tucked into it. A shiny gold necklace and the bangles on her wrist made her practically sparkle. Her cute boots racketed against the tile floor of the lobby. He stared in awe. The familiar uptick of his pulse made his breath hitch.
For a brief second, he glanced down at his outfit. He wore a simple henley long sleeve navy tee, black puffer jacket, and jeans. For a split second, he questioned everything.“Wow,” he finally voiced. “You look incredible.”
She halted in front of him. “Thanks.” Her cheeks splashed with red, making them adorably rosy. She shifted her coat from one arm to the other. “You look great yourself.”
“No, I don’t.” He forced a laugh. “I came straight from the hospital, and this was what I had left in my locker that was half way presentable. Believe it or not, I mainly wear scrubs or workout clothes to and from work.”
Brooke bit her bottom lip. “Was it a long day?”
“Yeah.” He sighed and ran a hand through his hair. “But I’m happy to be here with you.”
She scrunched up her nose. “That bad?” Her gaze scrutinized him again.
“I almost lost a patient during surgery, but it ended up being okay.” He rubbed the back of his neck. His blood pressure rose a bit as he recalled the harrowing experience. It was part of the job, but it didn’t mean it didn’t affect him. “The whole experience shook me up a bit.”
“I can only imagine.”
He dropped his hand. “If I’m being honest, it made me question my abilities as a surgeon.” Logan wondered why he was revealing everything to Brooke, because normally he bottled everything up.
“Ahh.” She nodded then stepped closer to him. Her hand grazed his arm until she squeezed his bicep. “I’m sorry. It’s never easy when things like that happen, but I believe you’re an incredible doctor and surgeon. Things happen, you’re only human. I think giving yourself grace is essential.”
“That is easier said than done.” His arm warmed through the layers of his coat. He wondered how long her hand would remain on his arm, because he liked the feeling of her closeness. Her fruity perfume made his head spin. He gulped trying to remind himself he had unresolved feelings for Shelby. Didn’t he? What he wanted and what he had muddled together in a jumbled mix. “I’ll try to take that advice to heart.”
“You don’t have to come with me tonight. You can be off the hook and head home.” Brooke squeezed his bicep again then let go. “I totally understand if it’s too much.”
Logan wrapped an arm around her shoulders, tugging her closer until their hips touched. “Are you kidding me?” He glanced down at her. “I’ve been looking forward to spending the evening with you all day.”
A surprise look flashed across her face. “Really?”
“Absolutely. We’re friends, right?” He removed his arm from her shoulders. “Now let me help you into your coat.” His head nodded toward the glass door. “Or I think George will think lessof me, because he’s being eyeing me since I came in. I can’t let him down.”
Brooke laughed. “He’s a bit protective of me.” She handed him her coat. He held it out for her to slip her arms in. “But he knows about our little arrangement.”
“Ahh,” he commented.
“I even showed him the list of rules.”
With the coat on, Logan used his hand to untuck her hair from where it hid beneath her collar. The silky strands glided through his fingertips, and he had to pull away to keep himself from letting his hand linger too long.
“He didn’t seem to believe it.” Logan stepped back and plunged his hand into his pocket. “Not even when I told him we were only friends.”
“Friends—right.” Brooke fidgeted with her purse. “Absolutely. I didn’t think this was arealdate.”
“Then we are on the same page,” Logan offered.
“Yep.” Her lips formed a tight line. “Even if George thinks differently.”
Brooke strode to the front door, and Logan jogged to catch up with her and snatched the door open before she grasped it. She passed through, and he followed behind. Chilly winter air nipped at his skin, so he plunged his hands into the pockets of his puffer jacket.
