”I need you to stop coming up with every excuse you can think of to not be my friend let alone act on it. I need you to stop being professional, Isaak, and just be you .”

I search her eyes as Magnolia looks up at me expectantly, as if I hold the solution to all of her problems. I stare into those bright blue eyes and see a vulnerability there that makes my heart ache and skip a beat at the same time.

Kissing her would be a bad idea.

I want to. Goddamnit, I want to, but she is vulnerable.

Now isn’t the time for that level of intimacy.

I doubt that’s what she’s asking me to do.

As much as I want to, I don’t think that’s the solution she’s looking for.

Then there’s the little matter of Camden Blackhurst. I want to know every single detail of that catastrophe of a human and her connection to him, which is all the more reason kissing her is out of the question.

He did that and while it seemed to repulse her, there must have been a reason he felt comfortable doing so. One I have yet to figure out.

Instead, I do the only thing I can think of.

I settle for second best, and that’s more Isaak Lowe than anything else ever has been.

But I push those thoughts from my head and go with my gut, extending my arms in an open invitation if she chooses to accept.

She does.

Magnolia doesn’t even hesitate, just immediately moves toward me, sliding her arms under my suit coat and around my waist as she pushes me so I’m against the wall.

She rests her head on my chest, her face pressed right over my heart that has to be pounding against her cheek, and she wiggles closer so that as much of us that can touch, is.

If this didn’t feel so important, so much like it’s a turning point in our relationship because I’m able to provide some comfort for her, comfort she wants and accepted without batting an eye, I’d be aroused.

It’s a terrible thought to have, one that I instantly regret having but I can’t take it back, and I do mean it. My body seems to understand that now is not the time for something along those lines, though.

I’m grateful for that small miracle.

Especially as Magnolia nuzzles my neck, burrowing a little deeper into me.

The way she smells, the way her body feels against mine, it’s just… right. It feels good. Her scent is perfect. Possibly because it’s similar to mine in some ways but I think it has more to do with that connection she spoke of.

The one I don’t think I can deny any longer.

”Thank you,” she whispers, her breath warm against my skin.

I just nod as I wrap my arms around her and let my eyes slide shut.

I am in so much more trouble than I originally thought, but I don’t think I could give a damn at the moment if I tried.

We both fell asleep in the bottom of the closet.

Yes, we both fell asleep in my private bathroom after riding a rollercoaster of emotions and though it wasn’t intentional, it was clearly needed.

I don’t want to move.

Smoothing Magnolia’s hair from her face, I look down at her, smiling a touch over how peaceful she looks.

I did that.

I helped her calm down and ground herself. I provided comfort that she needed.

Pride swells in my chest over the success in diffusing such an impromptu panicked moment.

One that unfortunately must end because I need to check on the residents after everything that just happened.

I’m sure O’Brien has things under control but it’s not his responsibility, it’s mine, and I need to do what I’m getting paid to do.

With a sigh, I carefully move around the closet, scooping Magnolia into my arms as I get to my knees, holding her tight as I stand. She barely seems to notice all the commotion. Sleeping soundly even as I lay her out on my couch and cover her with one of the blankets.

I stare down at her for a few moments, a small smile touching my lips because even like this, she is hands down the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.

I wish it could stay like this.

Between us.

I wish we could continue living in this little bubble where we’re just two people who do care for each other, who bring balance to one another, and who can realistically have that long term.

Even if that feels like an impossibility, I have to talk to Magnolia about several things when she wakes, and if the invitation still stands, I’ll go out with her and Evelyn tonight. I can be her friend, Isaak, for a change.

And I will cock block the hell out of her while I do it.

With a shake of my head, I push my fingers back through my hair a few times, noting it’s just after lunch and we’ve been in here for about two hours. I lift my glasses and rub my eyes, scrubbing my hands over my face before I put myself back together in the most presentable way possible.

Thankfully, the staff on shift won’t start any rumors or spread any lies about the two of us being here so long. They’re good people, people we can both trust, and while they may not understand what it’s like to feel the way Maggie did, they’ll try.

Exiting my office as quietly as possible, I pull the door closed behind me with every intention to head toward the common areas, but stop in my tracks when I look up.

”Hawthorne?” My brows raise as my eyes shift from one worried expression to the next. “Severe, St. James. Can I help you, gentlemen?”

”Everything okay, doc?” Desmond asks as the three push off the wall across from me. “Doc okay?”

I frown a touch before I nod absently.

How unusual.

I know the residents came to Magnolia’s defense but this is not quite what I was expecting when I came to check on them.

”She need anything?” Calix starts wringing his hands, his eyes shifting from me to the door as he gnaws his lower lip. “Anything we can do?”

This is so strange.

Strange, but it means our plan is working.

Either that, or they want to know if Magnolia is incapacitated so they can murder her quietly.

I snort and scold myself for the thought, which earns me three puzzled looks. Well, two puzzled looks and a slightly less stoic one.

”Ms. Reynolds is fine,” I say as I motion for them to follow me. “She’s resting right now and I anticipate she’ll be feeling better when she wakes.”

”Panic attack?” Desmond asks.

I nod and decide this is going to be a very relaxed, very impromptu group session to get a feel for how the men are adjusting to us. “Unfortunately, yes.”

I doubt Magnolia will mind me saying that. They saw it happen, they’re concerned, and it all validates what we set out to do.

Korvin grunts behind me, something that makes me grin, and once we get to the living room where Ivan and the Rookers are sitting, I turn to find he is directly behind me.

”Uhm,” I choke out, clearing my throat as I slowly look up into those icy gray eyes. “Have… have you gentlemen… have you had lunch yet?”

He shakes his head but Calix speaks. “Couldn’t. Vibes on the ward were heavy. Had to wait and see. Passed on the lunch cart.”

Interesting.

All of these men are large, much larger than me and I’m not some wilting flower at my six-foot-one. I imagined they would have eaten and the fact that they haven’t is interesting.

”None of you have eaten?”

Korvin shakes his head again.

“Well,” I say, clearing my throat again before I finally put some space between us. Why don’t I want to move? “Perhaps now that you know Ms. Reynolds is recovering peacefully, should we rectify that?”

He grunts some sort of acknowledgement, the three of them taking a seat in the living room with the others, who have been watching our exchange with somewhat unsettling grins.

”O’Brien?”

“What’s up, doc?” He comes over to our circle, standing next to me while the men settle.

”I think we should send out for lunch today.”

O’Brien gives me a smile and emphatic nod. “Luigi’s.”

I turn to face the six of them. “I take it you all like pizza?”

”Real pizza?” Calix asks. “Not the cardboard shit from downstairs?”

”Real pizza,” I say with a smile. “Whatever you want, on me.”

” Oh , well then.” Desmond sits back in his recliner, spreading his thighs as he props his hands behind his head. “ On you, you say? Does this mean I get to choose how we top?”

A flush races up my neck as his eyes darken, staring at me with a look I can feel on every inch of my body while a few of the men chuckle.

“I mean, we get to choose the toppings.” Desmond arches a brow and waits for me to respond, but I can’t.

That is absolutely not what he means.

Not even close, and the true meaning of his words has me biting my tongue because I’m finding it harder and harder to refrain from responding the way I want to.

Which is something along the lines of yes, you can top me, and please do so while I have Kovin’s knot in my mouth additionally adding something like and perhaps Calix can suck me off while Magnolia rides him because I am a disaster.

The more attracted I am to Maggie, the more attracted to my residents I become. Those three, anyway. It’s alarming. It’s concerning, and the frequency in which it happens has me questioning my work here at times.

Seems as though I’ll be masturbating for a good portion of my evening.

Off the clock, of course.