She lifts her eyes to meet mine, and I pause my movements, my hand almost cupping her cheek. A blush climbs up her neck, and she swallows, her lips parting as the moment stretches between us.
My heart throws itself against my chest as we remain frozen, locked in each other’s orbit, close enough to share breath and body heat.
Fuck. I should pull away. Hell, I should run away. Monty is not the kind of woman you kiss.
But she’s also not the kind of woman you offer a place to, and I did that.
My gaze drops to her lips.
Torn between “fuck it” and “fuck no,” Monty makes the decision for us and moves closer. Her eyes flick between mine, and I run my thumb across her jaw.
I’ve made a lot of mistakes in my life, but it’s true what they say—the biggest regrets are the risks you don’t take.
“I had my first kiss at fourteen and I threw up in his mouth.”
I blink, raising my brows. “What?”
“My fact for the day,” she says quickly. “Should we go?”
I nod and close the passenger door, wondering what the fuck I almost just did.
Monty sighs,dropping her head back. She’s sitting on a hospital bed, leaning back against her hands like her room service is late. “We’ve been waiting forever, let’s just go. It’s probably just a sprain, like you said.”
I fold my arms. “Okay, then walk over to me and we’ll go home.”
She wrinkles her nose. “Know-it-all.”
I’m glad we’re back to teasing and sniping, and not whatever the hell almost occurred in the car earlier. If she hadn’t stopped me, I would’ve kissed her. What the hell was I thinking, getting that close to Monty of all people?
It’s like willingly wading through a den of fucking snakes.
The curtains are drawn back, and of course she gets the youngest, most attractive doctor in San Fran-fucking-cisco.
He looks up from his chart and beams a smile. “Ms. Reid.”
“Yes,” she sighs, either not noticing his good looks or not caring. I hide a smirk behind my hand, then immediately set my face to neutral.
I shouldn’t be happy about her not noticing an attractive doctor. Sheshouldnotice him. He’s her fucking age.
Pulling up a stool, the doctor positions himself at Monty’s feet. “I’m Dr. Hanson. What happened here, then?”
“I was running. Well, walking back to the car”—she winces as he takes hold of her foot—“and I tripped. It’s probably just sprained, but this guy”—she waves at me—“insisted we come here.”
Dr. Hanson smiles at me. “Well, your father was right. It’s best to get an X-ray.”
“He isn’t my father,” Monty says, and my smirk returnsas disappointment flashes across the doctor’s face. It’s worth being called her dad if I get to see his dreams fade when she calls me her boyfriend like she has from the moment she got here. “He’s my friend’s dad.”
Now my smile fucking disappears.
Dr. Hanson smiles again.
I’m gonna hit him.
“Well, Mr. …” He looks at me, brows raised.
“Chief Guy Gibson.”
Oh my God, what am Idoing? Am I really in a pissing contest with a thirty-year-old doctor over a woman I shouldn’t even want?
