Page 14 of Dr. Sexypants

Kristy shrugged and murmured, “I’m okay. What about you?”

Before I could smugly look her up and down and let her know I’d never been better, Lainey’s eyes got big and she exclaimed, “Oh my gosh—you guys trauma bonded last night!”

“Something like that,” I murmured.

I wondered how much Kristy had told her about what happened between us.

My question was answered when Kristy replied, “Fortunately, they found you before too much trauma could set in. We hadn’t even gotten your flyer made before I went home.”

Lainey blinked back tears. “I’m so sorry I worried you guys like that.”

“I’m not,” I blurted out, then realized how that must have sounded—especially to Lainey. “I mean, you have nothing to be sorry for. You went through quite an ordeal.”

“You’re right,” she replied quietly. “But I’m safe now, with only a few scrapes and bruises. I’m lucky; it could have had a very different ending.”

Kristy gave her best friend a big side hug, then dropped her head on Lainey’s shoulder. “Thank God you’re okay. I don’t know what I’d do without you.” She lifted her head and turned to grip Lainey by the shoulders when she looked her BFF in the eyes. “We’re getting matching rocking chairs—remember? When we live next door to each other in the nursing home!”

“I haven’t forgotten,” Lainey replied with a small laugh as she patted Kristy’s hand where her friend was still holding on to her. “Besties for life!”

I felt like I was intruding on their girlfriend moment, so I said, “If you’ll excuse me, ladies, there’s an emergency room calling my name.” I paused before stepping away. ”I’m really glad you’re okay, Lainey.” I looked directly at Kristy when I added, “You wouldn’t believe how Kristy reacted when she heard the news. I’m glad I was there to be a part of it.”

She stared back at me when she bit out, “I’m sorry you had to witness that.”

“I’m not.” The corner of my mouth hitched. “In fact, if you ever need someone to witness it again, you know where to find me.” I nodded once before walking toward the ER.

I hadn’t gotten very far when I heard Lainey ask, “You wanna tell me what that was about?”

Followed by Kristy’s, “Nope.”

The town was small; we’d run into each other again.

Chapter One

Three weeks later

Justin

I stood in front of my locker, fishing around in my backpack for my keys and sunglasses. The morning sun could be brutal after working an overnight shift.

Dr. Williams looked over at me with a smirk. “Happy birthday.”

“Thanks.”

How did he—oh yeah.

The nurses had snuck into the locker room last night and decorated the outside of my locker with posters and balloons, and I hadn’t felt like taking them down. I decided to deal with it when I came back after my day off. Although I wouldn’t hate it if the janitors did it tonight.

The staff also left a card they had all signed that included a gift card to Beaumont Bakery. I was going to put that to good use today. A birthday treat to myself, if you will. I hadn’t been at the bakery since the day Lainey was kidnapped.

Kristy had made it clear our hookup had been a one-time thing; I knew stalking her at the bakery would not go over well. But stopping in every now and then—especially since I now had a gift card—couldn’t be viewed as anything but fueling my caffeine and sugar addictions and spending my gift card balance.

Plus, she had only been there about half the times I’d stopped in over the last few months. She might not even be there today.

That didn’t keep me from hoping though. And being strategic.

I had noticed when she had been there, it’d been later in the day—never first thing if I worked overnight and left the hospital on time. It’d always been when I’d worked a later shift, so I decided to go home and sleep before getting my sugar fix.

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