“Good night, Cade,” she whispers, offering a smile as I go.
“Night, Oaklee.”
It’s uncomfortable to walk, but there’s still a little extra spring in my step as I head to my truck and climb behind the wheel. Backing out of her driveway, I take off for home.
Home to shower.
Home to replay every moment I shared with her tonight.
Home to dream about the most stunning woman in the world and what it felt like to witness her come against my fingers.
And what a great fucking dream that’ll be.
CHAPTER
EIGHTEEN
Oaklee
I take a deep, calming breath and enter my code into the back entrance of the clinic. I’m here before Allison, which is surprising, but I’m arriving a few extra minutes earlier than normal. I’ve been up since before the sun, my mind already dreading my workday.
I let the door close loudly behind me and note the light already on in the front office. I’m sure Fiona is already here, usually beginning her day at seven thirty. The light is also on in Dr. Houston’s office. Normally, that wouldn’t strike me as odd, but since Allison isn’t here yet, not a physician, it catches my attention.
Setting my coffee down on my workstation and placing my purse in the cabinet, I turn around to see if a light was left on and yelp. “Jesus,” I practically holler, covering my heart with my hand.
“Didn’t mean to scare you,” Lance replies, a knowing smirk on his smug face.
“Oaklee, are you all right?”
I turn to the voice and smile. “Yeah, sorry, Fiona. Dr. Williams startled me, that’s all.”
She looks back and forth between us and nods. “Okay. Let me know if you need anything.”
“I will, thanks. And good morning,” I reply, pasting a big fake smile on my face.
“Good morning to you,” she says before disappearing back into the office to continue her work.
“May I speak with you?” Lance asks.
“About work?” I inquire, turning my attention to my computer and pressing the on button.
“Sure.”
I sigh, knowing it’s not about work at all. Grabbing my iced coffee, I spin around, leaving plenty of space between us. He takes a step closer, but I hold up my hand. “That’s close enough. We are working together on a professional basis. That’s it.”
His eyebrows shoot up and a smirk falls across his lips. His hands move to his starch-pressed white lab coat. “You think I want something from you? Awfully full of yourself, aren’t we?”
“No, but I know your game, Lance. You may be the physician two days a week at the clinic where I work, but that’s it. We’re not friends. We’re not anything.”
He steps closer, his eyes softening as he approaches. “We used to be a lot of things, Oaklee.”
“Used to be is the key phrase there. Not anymore.”
He opens his mouth to say something, but we’re interrupted by the back entrance door opening. “Good morning,” I hear Allison say as she enters the building.
Lance takes a small step back but is still blocking the doorway. Allison steps around the corner, entering the nurses’ station and stops dead in her tracks. “Hi.” Her eyes move from Lance to me, a look of worry crossing her features.
“Good morning, Allison. This is Dr. Williams,” I say politely, hoping to keep any tightness out of my voice.
