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I cast one lingering look at Joyride as he rejoined his friend and his adorable toddler and then forced myself to turn away. I didn’t want to look desperate. I’d given him my number. Now it was up to him whether we saw each other again.

I really fucking hoped we did, though.

Dakota rolled up to me from the direction of the staff break room. “I was out running errands, so I brought you a coffee.”

She lifted a drink carrier. There were two empty slots. She’d probably delivered drinks to Piper, the counselor on staff, and Les, her favorite rehab aide, already.

“Dakota, you didn’t have to go to that trouble.”

She shrugged. “Maybe I just wanted to see my little brother working his magic.”

“I can’t work magic. You know that too well.”

“You’re wrong,” she said. “All your patients fall in love with you for a reason.”

I chuckled. “Yeah, old Mrs. Krantz is nursing a real crush on me.”

“She is!” Dakota insisted. “And since I’m already here…”

“Aha. I knew there’d be an ulterior motive. Either you’ve got a crush on Les⁠—”

She rolled her eyes. Les was ten years too young for her.

“—or you’ve got a real craving for coffee…baristas.”

Her cheeks went pink. Yep. Nailed it. My sister, at thirty-two years old, had a schoolgirl crush on the guy who worked at Mug Shots. I was secretly relieved it was just an unrequited crush. Not because I didn’t want Dakota to be happy, but because dating was complicated for her.

Even if you got past the physical challenges with sex, I’d heard so many patients complain about dates gone wrong. Men who treated a paralyzed woman like her brain had atrophied. Or, on the flip side, people with a weird fetish for it. Then, in the middle, you had the genuinely nice people who decided the logistics of that life were too complicated.

After nearly six years in the chair, Dakota was finally getting back to being herself. She was smart, confident, and passionate. I didn’t want anything to set her back, not after she’d come so far.

She thrust the coffee at me. “Shut up and take your caffeine fix before you wear it.”

I laughed and bent to read the labels. A chamomile tea—that would be hers—and a chai tea latte. Come to Papa. I twisted the cup out of the holder and took a long drink.

“This is delicious.” I sighed. “Maybe I should date the Mug Shots barista.”

“Don’t you dare!”

I grinned. “I knew you were into him. Don’t worry, I’ve got my own crush…” I turned to glance across the lobby again, but Joyride was gone. Probably good he didn’t see how damn eager I was.

Dakota had been pushing me to get out there more, but it was tricky. I didn’t want to abandon her, and I was pretty sure that dating would be nearly as complicated for me as it was for her. I was a package deal with Dakota, and anyone I dated would have to understand that she came first.

Always would.

“A crush?” she prompted. “Tell me more.”

“Not much to tell. He’s got my number. We’ll see if he calls.”

She wiggled a little as she lowered the coffee tray back to her lap. “There is so much more to tell, you liar. I want details! Is he cute? Is he sweet? Is he⁠—”

“Dr. Willis,” Emily called from the front desk. “Sorry to interrupt, but your appointment with Carrie is due to start.”

“Thanks, Em.” I turned back to Dakota. “Sorry. Gotta get back to torturing people for kicks.”

She grinned. “I always knew you were a sadist.”

“I’ve got lunch after, if you want to stick around?”