“Actually, it’s a little better today.”
Maybe the smile really was a smile.
“Exactly what I want to hear.” I paused. “Remember, hit the button if you need me and I’ll get here as fast as I can.”
She gave me a nod and focused on her phone, and I went into the hallway, stopping at the portable computer station to enter some notes for a previous patient. Just as my hands hit the keyboard, something made me glance up from the monitor.
A feeling.
One I couldn’t explain, but when I saw Gavin making his way toward me, it all made sense.
Or maybe it didn’t make any sense at all.
He certainly wasn’t coming here to speak to me. He was headed for Bettie’s room, which was only two doors behind me.
But still, the sight of him was doing everything to me. My blood pressure skyrocketed, the tingles, starting between my legs, exploded through my body, and the anxiousness peaked.
Was that because he looked so different from the last time I’d seen him? Instead of the sweatpants-and-shirtless look he’d had going on during the early hours of that morning, here he was dressed in a suit. One that was extremely sharp, black, and a level of sexy I couldn’t even fathom. He’d paired it with a light-blue shirt and a tie that had the two colors mixed in smooth, small stripes. His black hair was gelled toward the center, his scruff just as long and thick as it had been when we’d kissed.
Oh God, that first kiss.
I didn’t think I’d ever get over it.
But that didn’t mean I was going to throw myself at him or act like I was dying to see him. That would have zero effect on a man who only wanted a one-night stand.
So I gave him a wave, and as he approached, I said, “Hi, Gavin,” and I entered my password so I could work on the notes.
“Emily ...” He stopped near the back of the computer, the movement sending me a wave of his cologne. That spicy ginger-cinnamon scent was enough to make me weak, and it was absolutely enough to make me glance up and lock eyes with him. “Just the person I came to see.”
He came to see ... me?
Even though his eyes were on mine, I felt them on every part of my body, even the parts that were covered by my scrubs.
I’d never been so thankful that Maya had the day off.
“And why is that?” I asked. “Why aren’t you here for Bettie?”
“I wanted to thank you.”
Now, this was interesting.
I let my brows raise, my teeth finding my lip before I said, “For what?”
“What you did for Ben. Since he saw you, you’re all he’s talked about. Well, you and Fenway.” His head dropped, and he looked at me through his lashes. A gaze so charming and provocative, it should be on the cover of a romance novel.
“When I took the job with Dr. Kaplan, I learned very quickly I needed to provide a distraction for my patients. Fenway comes in handy during almost every visit.”
“Most kids love a cute dog.” He pursed his lips in a masculine way. “Good choice.”
I ran my hand around the edge of my V-neck top. “I’m just happy it worked out and you didn’t find yourself at the ER. How’s he feeling now? Any soreness? I imagine things must be okay since some time has passed.”
“The next morning, he didn’t even bring it up, which means he felt nothing, since that kid doesn’t hold anything back.”
“Most don’t.” My head tilted while I stared at him. “You’ve got the most adorable kid, Gavin. Truly. Ben is really something special.”
“I got lucky.”
“Well, yes, but luck has nothing to do with how great he is. That’s because of the way you’re raising him. You’ve turned him into such a little gentleman. Thoughtful. Caring. Kind. Kids aren’t born with those traits—they’re taught those traits, and you’ve done an incredible job with him.”
