Page 19 of The Night Shift

“In addition to what? Being a gigantic pain in my ass?”

“Causing you pain is the last thing on my mind, Hollister. But if that’s what you’re into, then I have no qualms about asking you to bend over for me.”

A crimson flush goes up her neck. “Really? A sex joke? How professional.”

“Not joking at all, love. Who knows? You might just hate how much you love it.”

“Funny. I have the same theory about kicking you in the balls,” she snaps.

“Ask nicely and I might allow it.”

Holly’s jaw clenches. She stares at me for a beat too long, then squares up her shoulders and she takes a step back. “As much as I’d love to take you up on that offer, I think I’m going to head back home and get some rest. A six-hour-long surgery isexhausting enough, I don’t need to stand here and listen to your soul-sucking voice. Good night, Dr. Carter.”

My smirk wavers for a second. “Good night? Shit, Holly, did I break you?” I lift a finger to poke at her head. “Is it because of the sex joke? Oh, come on. If I knew you were that desperate, I’d be more than happy to oblige. Of course, you’d have to buy me dinner first and an expensive bottle of champagne for me to even consider having sex with you, but I can see it happening —”

She takes a deep breath in.

“But in all honesty, if things have gotten that bad for you, I understand. But just this once, all right? And only because you’re asking so nicely. We can’t make a habit out of it. On-call room down the hall is free if you want to go ahead and get started, Hollister. I’ll be there in a minute to give you a helping hand —”

Something inside her snaps. She takes a step forward and jabs a finger into my chest. “Stopcalling me that.”

The vexation in her voice goes straight to my cock. “There she is. There’s no need to pretend to be this holier-than-thou person in front of me. I’m already familiar with the devil that hides underneath.”

A disgruntled sound grumbles out of her, and it does nothing but turn me on more. “Fuck. You.”

My muscles tense with purpose. “There’s also no need to beg for it, love. I already know that’s what you want. I’m quite hard to resist.”

“I would rather pluck out my own eyeballs with a rusted spoon than beg you to fuck me.”

“Lying isn’t a good look on you.”

“Neither is wanting to waste my time faking an orgasm.”

My eyebrow arches in amusement and every cell of my body aches to prove her wrong.

She goes on staring daggers into my face, eventually shoving past me, a childish attempt to push me away, the force barely registering. My smile fans out. God, I love how feral she is.

She marches away from me. I watch her go, her shiny blonde waves bouncing to the side with every step and it’s not until she disappears from my view that my phone buzzes with another text message. I take my phone out. It’s for Holly.

One from a few minutes ago.

UNKNOWN: Roses are red, violets are blue, aren’t you glad I found you…

And two from right now.

UNKNOWN: How DOES it feel? Killing someone?

Attached below is a picture of her friend bartending.

UNKNOWN: Want me to show you?

Chapter 3

Holly

Now

The Fizzy Goblet