Page 41 of Embrace

I twisted my mouth as I pondered his question. “Perhaps there is. Stay put.”

Greg nodded. “I will.”

Before I could turn away, he clamped his other hand down on my waist to stop me from going.

“I’m sorry for scaring you like that. You’re the only one I can trust.”

Gosh, he looked so vulnerable and so in need of my help. “It’s over.” I scrunched one side of my face. “But try another way to get my attention next time. That was scary as hell. I think I’m going to have to sign up for my friend’s self-defense course after that.”

He chuckled but didn’t let go of me. “Another thing,” he said.

I straightened my posture, putting my serious-doctor mask back on. “Yes?”

“I have a crush on you. I always have. Since I first saw you at Heathcliff’s trade party.”

I stepped out of his gentle grasp. “I’m taken, so the nature of our—”

“But you’re not married.” He smirked mischievously.

As a thought came to me, I folded my arms. “You’re not faking your symptoms to get next to me, are you?”

His hands flew up to show me his palms. “No. That’s not what this is about. I figured full disclosure was in order.”

“Humph.” I studied him with one eye narrowed. It was hard to determine whether I should believe him or not. I would have to wait for the scans to tell me the truth. His symptoms were severe. If they were real, the brain scan would show the damage.

I sighed. “Just wait here. Lock the door. You have my number. Call me if someone tries to open it.”

His flirtatious grin came back. “I’ll call you if someone doesn’t.”

I shook my head continuously. “You’re making me doubt there’s something wrong with you.”

Greg chuckled. “That was a joke, Dr. Ross. I do that when I’m scared. Lighten the mood and shit.”

“Well, then, don’t do that. If this is serious, then behave as though it’s serious.”

“Damn,” he whispered, watching me as if he was dazed. Then he took in a deep breath. “Okay. I will.”

I rolled my eyes but still turned and walked out of the room. As soon as I could, I planned to hand off Greg’s case. There were only three people I could trust to keep Greg’s condition private. Asher wasn’t around, and Angela didn’t have the pull to keep imaging and the lab from blabbing to the whole hospital that Greg Carroll was in the facility.

I stood in front of the third person’s office. After taking a deep breath, I braced myself and knocked.

* * *

“Come in,”Chief Brown said.

I slowly opened the door, and when the chief saw me, his face lit up.

“Dr. Ross. Are you here about the offer?”

I couldn’t stop my mouth from cracking a smirk.Are we really going to pretend that my new boyfriend isn’t his best friend and that I knew he knew all along that Jake Sparrow is Asher Christmas?

I took the necessary time to fold my arms across my chest, doing it slowly and confidently. “Did Asher put you up to it? Since he owns the hospital?”

His happy expression dropped. “I see.”

I let my arms fall to my sides. Acting like a bitch wasn’t my style. I really wished I had done that differently.

“Sorry about that,” I said, shaking my head. “No, that’s not why I’m here.”