Page 64

“Well, I’m actually glad to hear you say that,” Evan said. “It means that you want what’s best for Sarah. So she’s going to be taken out of harm’s way until her safety can be guaranteed.”

“Dr. Sholly?” an additional voice appeared.

“Yes.”

“Child Protective Services are here.”

“Okay. Please get Nurse Watson and have her return with the patient.”

“Of course.”

Again, one of those weird moments when time moves simultaneously too fast and too slow occurred.

I heard the nurse and the intern return with Sarah. I heard the voices of other men, trying to politely tell Sarah that she would be coming with them for a little while instead of going to her mother. I heard Sarah began to cry, and her mother began to yell in protest.

And when I couldn’t take it anymore, I stood up and pulled back the curtain, right in time to see a crying Sarah being taken away.

I looked toward Evan, seeing his crushed expression. His eyes met with mine for a moment and then he slowly shook his head.

I didn’t know what that meant.

But I was sure as hell going to find out.

CHAPTER 10

Evan

I didn’t really need more coffee, but I just needed something to do. I often found the process of making coffee more comforting than drinking it. And after what had just happened with Sarah, I desperately needed something to soothe my nerves.

The sound of the girl’s crying was something I knew I would never forget as long as I lived. I knew it was for the best that CPS stepped in; the alternative of leaving her in an unsafe environment was completely out of the question. But it didn’t matter, I fucked hated dealing with CPS and kid’s cases. This is why I had been on the night shift, shit like this just didn’t happen then.

Hell, I could too easily imagine what a child felt like in these circumstances; being taken away by complete strangers typically felt more frightening than staying in an unstable environment.

The devil you know is better than the devil you don’t. That saying could ring all too true.

Distracted, I accidently burned my hand on the hot coffee mug. Fuck. Agitated, I swore far louder than I meant to right as the door to the on-call room opened. I closed my eyes for a second, hoping that it was no one but Morris. But when I reopened them, I saw that it was Tessa.

With a heavy sigh, I reached for a couple packages of sweetener.

I needed a distraction, but I was pretty sure I didn’t need it to be her. We had already been caught once, what was two times going to do?

I immediately thought back to the feel of her skin and practically felt my cock harden on the spot. She had started out as just a pretty distraction, but now, she was already so much more. It scared me how strong of a connection I felt with her even though I’d only known her for just a short time, which was all the more reason I had to concentrate on keeping my distance from this point forward.

I couldn’t get attached.

I could feel her staring at me, and I was well aware that she realized I’d been ignoring her the whole day. I just couldn’t face her though—at least not without replaying the previous day in my head. My cock pulsed again at the thought. At this rate I’d have to take care of myself in the on-call room. Damn.

I attempted to open several packets of sweetener all at once, but with too much force. They spilled all over the counter and I swore again.

“Rough day?” Tessa asked, standing beside me with her own coffee mug.

“You think?” I said, reaching for more sweetener. I opened them carefully this time and poured them into my cup. I searched the table for the coffee creamer, seeing that they were beside Tessa. “Hand me a pack of creamer, will you?”

She silently reached for a packet of cream and held it out to me. I took it from her hand, my fingertips brushing against her palm and reminding me once again how soft and delicious her skin was—stop thinking. Focus on the coffee.

I clenched my jaw and turned away from her, carefully opening the creamer and pouring it into my coffee as well. Grabbing a plastic spoon, I began to stir, watching the black liquid lighten to rich brown.

I set the spoon down and picked up my cup, realizing I suddenly didn’t know what to do or where to go. Tessa was still staring at me, and I so desperately wanted to meet her gaze. But I was afraid of the feelings those bright blue eyes would inspire in me. I was already feeling so down—so broken—that I knew it would be all too easy to seek comfort in her.