Page 79 of Seduction

I walked into my office,keeping the lights off, then dropped onto the sofa, kicked off my shoes, and lay back to stare at the ceiling. I would’ve called Penina, but I’d gotten her message loud and clear—she didn’t want to talk to me. I chose to listen to Zara’s advice and leave her be. When Penina was ready to say something to me, I would know.

“Damn it.” I sat up straight. She and I could be closely related. I couldn’t wait until she called the number to get the results. I needed to know sooner rather than later.Is she a Valentine or a Christmas?

I needed a biological sample from Penina to be tested. The mask she’d worn the previous night hadn’t covered her mouth, so it was likely her saliva wouldn’t be on it. Plus, Kirk had taken the mask back to the mansion and locked it in the case with the others. The concierge had picked up the box that contained her attire. The maids had also cleaned, and they had done a thorough job.

I turned to think and caught sight of my desk. We’d fucked earlier and made out like crazy. I hadn’t washed my face, so I had Penina’s saliva all over me. I took my phone out of my pocket, called Si, and asked if he could do me a favor.

* * *

“Dr. Sparrow,”said a woman.

I sat up quickly and caught a glimpse of Melanie the OR assistant before I rubbed my eyes. “Shit, what time is it?”

We both turned to the clock on my table. It was eight a.m. The previous night had been crazy. I’d swiped my face for DNA samples from Penina, then I swabbed the inside of my mouth. Si came in and turned the samples in to the lab, advising them to put a rush on it. I thanked him.

“I’m not even going to ask what that was about,” he said before going home and back to bed.

Knowing that the samples were being processed relaxed me. The next time I lay down on the sofa in my office, I’d closed my eyes and thought of nothing, hoping that would help me sleep. It had.

“You’re due in surgery. We’ve been waiting for you for the past hour. Deb just suggested we check your office.”

I shook the cobwebs out of my head.An hour ago?The surgery was supposed to start at seven a.m.

“We’re just not used to you being in here. No one thought to check in here until now,” she added.

I held up a hand to let her know I wasn’t upset. “It’s okay, Melanie.” I sighed deeply as I stood. “Okay. Here I come. Tell everyone I apologize for keeping them waiting.”

“It’s okay, Dr. Sparrow.” She cracked a small smile. “We all knew you needed the sleep. You’re the hardest-working man in the hospital.”

I snorted a chuckle as I pointed at her. “And don’t you forget it.”

Melanie laughed on her way out.

Damn, I liked my surgical teams at the hospital. I wondered if they would return the same sentiment if they ever found out I’d been lying to them about who I was.