“What’s that look for?” Shane huffs out a laugh.
“What look?”
“That dirty smile like Mona-fucking-Lisa. You have a secret you want to share?” His head dips to meet my gaze. Without my heels, he’s a little taller than me.
I swat his shoulder. “No. Don’t be ridiculous. You know it’s impossible to keep anything from you.” Even though I’ve managed to keep my crush on him a secret. Since he’s been coming round more to help me with jobs around the house, my feelings for him have developed from a schoolgirl crush to something more.
I guess he’s just doing big brother stuff like he always has, but it feels different and last night when I touched myself, it wasn’t just the mysterious man I was picturing.
Dr Fletcher walks by the nurse’s station. A stethoscope draped around his neck over his white shirt. “Lilly, can I see you in the office for a moment?” He glares at Shane, giving him a once over, his upper lip curled with disdain.
Shane squares his shoulders and straightens his vest, waves of dangerous energy rolling off him. “I’ll let you get back to work.” As he swaggers away, he brushes past Dr Fletcher, giving him the same death glare in return. Only the intensity of Shane’s stare is reminiscent of a doberman, making Dr Fletcher look like a pug chewing a wasp.
Once Shane’s off the ward, Dr Fletcher flicks his head, pointing to the staff room. I follow with a deep breath, my hands wringing the hem of my blue tunic.
He closes the door behind me and stands too close for comfort, almost backing me up against the wall. “What did he want?”
“He was here to see a patient.” My back hits the window behind me, rattling the blind.
“I know that. I meant, what did he want with you?” His hands slide down my arms, then back up again, squeezing the soft flesh there. “He looked a little too comfortable with you for my liking.”
The irony.
“He’s my brother-in-law,” I say in a rush, hoping that’ll satisfy him, and I can go back out to my patients. Every second I’m in this room with him, the walls close in on me. I’m practically panting and for all the wrong reasons. No doubt this narcissist will think otherwise.
The strong, acrid smell of stale coffee assaults my nostrils, making my stomach churn with nausea. Someone offer this douche a mint.
“I see. As long as you’re okay.” He smiles, rubbing my arm again.
“I’m fine.” A sick thought causes acid to rise in my throat. Could the mystery man be him? Then I remember him telling me to keep my clothes on and let out a sigh of relief. Dr Fletcher would order me to take them off. I check the rota over his shoulder to be sure.
He was working until ten last night. My muscles relax, knowing it couldn’t have been him.
“Good,” Dr Fletcher says, but as he lets go of my arm, his thumb grazes the side of my breast. With anyone else, I would have thought it was unintentional. But with him, not a chance.
With a sigh of relief, I slip back onto the ward, and go about my job with one thought occupying my mind for the rest of the day. Seeing the mystery man again and finding out more about him.
Roll on nine-o’clock.
8
SHANE
Walking into the back room of the Black Crow, the familiar smell of ale mixed with furniture polish catches in my nose. The dimly lit room is a den of raised voices over the punk rock band playing through the speaker.
I continue walking through the room to the side door that leads to a smoking area out back. I don’t miss Lilly by the pool table, talking to one of the regular bikers. He’s harmless enough, but if she thinks she’s going home with him, she has another thing coming.
When she was with Kane, I never had to worry about her. But with her nocturnal activities, I can’t get her off my mind—and it’s not just worry that’s keeping me up all night.
Before I follow Kane outside, I’ve already placed a cigarette between my lips and pulled my zippo from my pocket. The cool air hits my skin, and I zip my leather jacket up to keep out the chill. I light Kane’s cigarette before my own. His cherry flares in the dark corner of the beer garden.
Leaning against the brick with one foot propped against it, I rest my head back, closing my eyes as I inhale my poison. Therush of nicotine softens the sharp edges in my mind, relaxing my shoulders a little.
Kane takes another pull on his cigarette, eyeing me. “What’s going on with you?”
“Nothing.” I let the smoke curl from my mouth.
He raises an eyebrow, waiting for me to elaborate. We’re like brothers. Inseparable since school, we joined the army together. He knows when something’s up. But I can’t tell him I’m lusting after his ex. My fucking sister-in-law. And I certainly can’t tell him what I’ve been doing with her this week.
