Page 47 of The Specialist

The room had gotten warmer with the large group of people, and she had slipped off her shawl after dinner. The first time she stood, I saw the way the dress dipped low in the back, exposing her beautiful skin. I had to endure other men touching the bare skin of her back as they danced. Holding what was mine. Feeling the softness of her flesh. How it stretched over her spine. More than once, I had to hold myself back from walking over and ripping someone’s arm off when their hand drifted too low for my liking.

It was when the newest doctor in the ER asked her to dance that I lost it. He was younger than me. Handsome. Cocky and sure of himself. The way he held her was too tight. Too aggressive. More than once, I saw her head shake and she stepped back, putting some distance between their bodies. Seconds later, he was pressed up into her again.

Leo had decided to work the event as well. He enjoyed the occasional easy-to-handle event, and this hospital meant a great deal to him. They had saved his life when he was brought in after a vicious beating at the hands of a perp we were after at the time.

He sidled over to me. “Um, if you are going to mentally murder the man, you might as well go over there and break them up,” he said. “Everyone in the room is accounted for. We’ve seen nothing suspicious, and I don’t think Sofia would object. Consider yourself off the clock.”

That was all I needed. I moved toward her, skirting around the dancers on the floor and appearing at Sofia’s side. I heard enough to step in right away.

“I said no, Dr. Slater. I don’t date colleagues, and besides, I have a boyfriend.”

“Where is he, then?” he challenged.

“Right here,” I growled. “And unless you want to lose your hands, I suggest you move them.”

He stopped moving, glancing at me. Young and good-looking, yes, but he was soft. His muscles lacked any great definition, and he was weak. As soon as he saw me, he stepped back, holding up his hands. “Just dancing, man.”

“And now it’s my turn.”

Ignoring him completely, I swept Sofia into my arms and twirled her away. As soon as I held her, inhaled her lovely fragrance, I relaxed. She leaned her head on my shoulder with a small laugh.

“Hello, caveman.”

“You said you never dance,” I growled.

“Tonight seems to have been the exception,” she agreed. “Must be all the new staff.”

“I tried,” I said. “I couldn’t take it anymore. All those men touching you.” I ran my fingers over the silky skin on her back. “Touching what is mine. He’s lucky I didn’t break his hands.”

She tilted up her head. “Don’t do that. He is a gifted surgeon.”

“He’s weak to be a surgeon.” I sniffed.

“Not everyone is built like a brick shithouse, Egan.”

I had no idea what that meant, but I was certain it had to do with my size. I scoffed. “How he stands on his weak legs and performs surgery is a mystery to me. And how old is he? He probably still needs naps in the afternoon.”

She laughed low in her throat. “He’s old enough. And he is strong—he’s just built differently from you. If you weren’t so jealous, you would see that. Plus, he’s an amazing surgeon, and the patients love him. When he’s in doctor mode, he’s brilliant.”

I didn’t like her praising him.

“He was pressuring you.”

“He was asking me out. He asks me every shift. Every shift, I say the same thing. No. He’s a hopeless flirt, but he is harmless. He will have already forgotten about me and moved on.” She looked around. “See?”

I followed her line of vision. He was already dancing with someone else, not looking at all upset.

I grunted. “I don’t care. All of them need to back off. The rest of tonight’s dances are mine.”

“I thought—”

I cut her off. “We’re in a room surrounded by my people. I don’t see anyone out of place. You can go to work shortly, and I will go to the apartment.” I pulled her closer. “But when you get home in the morning, Sofia, I’ll be waiting. It’ll be payback for this dress and the stunt you pulled earlier.”

“You don’t like the dress?”

I looked down as I spun her. “I love the dress. It looks exquisite on you. It’ll look even better on the floor by our bed.”

She pressed her lips to my ear, her voice low and raspy. “And you didn’t enjoy fucking me?”