“Here.” She hands me a small cookie, those dry ones with vanilla in the middle.Disgusting.A crime to the cookie community, to be honest. “The sugar will help,” she says, trying to convince me.
Reluctantly, I take one bite, and it’s as revolting as I remember.
The doctor stares at me with a warm smile. “Welcome back to earth. We’re going to have to stitch you up now. I can’t leave it any longer, it’s not good for your thumb.”
I suck in some air through my nostrils.
The nurse rubs my arms to comfort me, while I internally wish my brother would get here, but he said he is too far. Another problem for my day.
The sound of a man’s voice in the hall causes my head to tilt to the side as I try to figure out who is approaching the other side of the curtain. Familiar. Definitely familiar.
I wince from the doctor poking my thumb just asheopens the curtain.
Oh no.
No. Why?
In my weakest moment, too.
“Liam sent me to get you home,” he explains with that subtle sly smirk that melts me every single time. Sometimes he laughs and a dimple appears. His brown hair complements his matching eyes. He shaved today, I can tell.
I’m totally screwed, and unfortunately, not by him. I may be in my late twenties but around this guy I’m as hopeless as theteens in my class. I stop just short of writing his name in the margins of my notes, drawing hearts around it.
Of all the people Liam could call to help me out, it’s the one guy I shouldn’t think about.
The man I most definitely do not want to see me in this frazzled state.
But my brother chose who to rescue me, and it’s Oliver.
My older brother’s best friend.
2
OLIVER
Of course I came running.
Liam called, and it took only a millisecond before I raced to grab my car keys. I was working at home after hours, admittedly, a great pastime of mine. But that’s what I signed up for when I became a lawyer, and handling legal for the Spinners hockey team over in Lake Spark only levels up the extra workload.
But taking a break from my laptop isn’t the reason why I was in my car so fast. It’s because of the woman lying on the exam table, currently looking at me like a deer in headlights. It doesn’t deter from the fact that her soft dark blonde hair frames her face, and her gorgeous hazel eyes glimmer no matter her mood. Fuck, I love her lips. Always with a coat of gloss which only highlights the perfect line of her mouth, not too plump.And…
Nope.Can’t go there.
She’s Liam’s little sister. Out of bounds.
I can be ruthless with negotiation when it comes to my job. Out of the office, I’m a little more relaxed, except when it comes to this situation.
I follow protocol; Don’t go there.
After all, I don’t want to risk losing a friendship with a man I’ve known since high school. I didn’t take notice of Hailey back then because she was the little sister a few years behind us in school, but since she returned to Everhope a few years ago, I’ve more than noticed.
She’s beautiful, funny, and a completely inappropriate fantasy.
It’s so simple. I’m supposed to be the good guy, but inside, I want to break every damn rule and let my filthy thoughts of this woman come to fruition. Hailey hasn’t broken the rule, either. She a good girl like that. If only I could whisper that in her ear while undressing her.
Focus, Oliver.
“D-did Liam say what happened?” She seems wary, her bright doe eyes landing on me.
