Page 77 of Sweet Heart

But before I can even open my mouth to reply, a sharp-looking man steps into our little circle. His jet-black suit is crisp, and the watch at his wrist is picked to match it. Not something easily recognizable like a Rolex or a Graff. No. It’s a matte-black F.P. Journe. Quiet luxury. The kind my grandfather used to like, because it would only broadcast his wealth to those with money.

“Doctor Durand, Doctor Ramos. Nurse.”

He nods at them, and they nod back. None of them greets him verbally. Cat’s fingers curl into my hip a little tighter, and his eyes track the movement with interest.

“And you are?”

He extends his hand to me and flashes me a smile of the straightest, whitest teeth I’ve ever seen. Cat shuffles next to me, and she lifts her chin slightly.

“Mr Abbott, meet my partner, Mary. Mary, this is Daniel Abbott, a chair of the hospital board.”

Her voice is clipped and carries a weight I haven’t heard in a while. I don’t even have to look at her to know she is in work mode. Everything about her betrays it. The way her voice is suddenly cold and businesslike, her grasp is more demanding than guiding, and her posture is rigid. Fuck, it’s so hot when she’s like this. What’s wrong with me? My belly swoops low and I have to fight the urge to bite my lip. Instead, I reach out my hand and shake his.

“Mr Abbott.”

“Mary.” He smirks, and narrows his eyes as they flick to Cat. “What a pleasure.”

Chapter 28

Cat

Daniel flashes another polite smile and nods at Mary. My molars grind into each other at the sight alone. I’ve never liked him. He only got chair because his father invested in a new wing for the hospital. He brings in plenty of money, so he is useful, but he knows it and isn’t above flaunting it. But if he thinks he can intimidate us…

Carmen locks eyes with me in a silent warning. She tucks a strand of curls behind her ear, and her nostrils flare in frustration, but her message is clear. He’s not worth it. Her unspoken words calm me a little, and even though I press my fingers a bit more into Mary’s hip, my jaw unclenches.

“And what is it you do?” Daniel asks her.

Mary’s eyes shine bright at the question. She either doesn’t hear the taunting tone behind his words, or she genuinely doesn’t care. I have a strong feeling it is the first, and that tugs a little on my heartstrings. There is something so innocent, so pure about it. I’d almost think she is delicate.

“I am a writer, actually,” she hums, and his eyebrows shoot up in surprise.

“A writer? Like, a journalist?”

She laughs that warm, ringing laugh of hers that goes straight into my chest. Carmen’s eyes instantly warm, too, and even Isa looks amused by the two of us. Mary is enchanting us all, and she doesn’t even realize she’s doing it.

“No, no,” she chuckles. “Nothing like that. I have mad respect for them, but that’s not my thing.”

“Then what is?” Daniel asks, and it might just be the first time I’ve seen him genuinely interested.

“Hm, well…” she hums, searching for the right way to describe it. “I write novels about strong women, with stories rooted in mythology.”

“Mythology, like Pandora?”

“Yes, exactly like that, actually.”

She beams up at him, and he looks back at her, amused. He cocks his head as if he wants to ask her another question, but then his eyes flick up, and his face slips back into that slick, rich boy façade he carries so well.

“Ah, excuse me, Mary,” he offers politely, as he gestures with his hand behind us.

We all turn to see two women casually saunter up. I tuck Mary a bit closer toward me when she steps aside to make room, and see that Carmen slides closer toward Isa. Smooth, hermana. I catch a quick grin on Mary’s face and know she’s seen it, too. Yeah, we have to do something about that.

“Doctor Voss, what a delight to have you here with us tonight.”

“Daniel,” a tall, slender woman purrs back in a French accent, as she moves forward to press a kiss on both his cheeks. “The pleasure is all ours.”

He nods, accepting her offer with a smug smile, before turning toward me.

“Catherine, please allow me to introduce you to our newest cardiothoracic surgeon, Doctor Celeste Voss, and her lovely wife, Riley. Celeste, please meet our Head of Trauma, Doctor Catherine Durand, and her…” he pauses briefly as if he has tasted the words and is savoring them before sharing them. “Partner.”