didn’t give me any shit today when I said I’m blocking the evening for my wife.”
Josie whistled loudly. “Wow. Didn’t think this day would come.”
I just made myself comfortable in my seat. Pushing the mediation issue to the back of my mind, I grinned at the group. This was part of our dynamic, and I enjoyed the hell out of it.
After our working lunch, I went straight back to my office. Laney hadn’t answered, but that wasn’t new. She only checked her phone sporadically, so I was surprised when she called only an hour later.
“Hey. Have a few free minutes and thought I’d call rather than text.”
“Always happy to hear from you. Thanks again for looking after Skye.”
“No problem. Better to ask me than Google. That always leads to panic. I like Skye.”
“She likes you too.”
“I found out that talking about you is the fastest way to sidetrack her when she’s worried.”
“You’re a fast learner. What exactly did you tell her?”
I was very curious.
“Like I’d tell you. Muahaha.”
I leaned back in my chair. “You’re really not going to tell me?”
“Nope.”
“You do know I’m gonna get it out of you next time I see you, right?”
“I don’t doubt that. The less details I give you, the more creative you get.”
“Fucking hell. That just makes me want to carry you out of that hospital, straight to my loft.”
“Why don’t you?”
I swallowed hard, completely thrown by her suggestion. I could already feel her soft body pressing against me while I lifted her. My palm would fit perfectly over her round, perky ass while I held her in place.
“I have a deadline tonight. I need to focus.”
“And you think that my being around would be... counterproductive?”
“Damn right it would.”
She giggled in the phone. “Am I bad for enjoying that?”
“Not at all. But when we spend time together, I want my focus to be all on you.”
“Oh, Cole. The things you say. Wait a second, I just got a message. Maybe a nurse... no, it’s the delivery service. Crap, crap, crap.”
“What’s wrong?”
“It’s Mom’s birthday and I wanted to send her flowers. I always do. And now the delivery service said they didn’t actually register my order. I need to find another service, and I also need to meet the chief in five minutes...”
She was too damn adorable, fretting like that.
“Give me her address. I’ll handle it.”
“Wow. Really? You’d do that?”
“’Course. Can’t let your mom think you’ve forgotten.”
“I’ll text it to you right away. Thank you, thank you, thank you. You’ve just saved the day, mister. I want to repay you. Do you have anything in mind that would work?”
“Many things. Many.” I cleared my throat, but that didn’t clear the dirty images in my mind.
Laney got my drift because I heard her sharp intake of breath. “Oh. Want to maybe share that tonight with me after my shift?”
“I can’t. I have a deadline tonight. But I want to see you soon, Laney. Really spend time with you. More than the fifteen-minute lunch breaks.”
“I want that too.” She sounded breathless. “So, my shift tomorrow is shorter. Want to meet after?”
“Hell, yes.”
She laughed into the phone. “Love that enthusiasm. Shoot, got to go. Arrived at the chief’s office.”
“Go get him. See you tomorrow. I’m getting even more enthusiastic just thinking about those many things I want as reward for saving the day.”
Chapter Fourteen
Laney
For the rest of the day, Cole and I texted whenever I had a free moment. I couldn’t get over that giddiness skittering all over my skin whenever I had a new message from him. I’d been afraid that after our outing last week, my undependable heart might raise some walls. The opposite was happening. I needed to see him. This time, I was determined to actually be awake and full of energy when I met him, so I was happy we were meeting after a shorter shift.
I’d willingly worked extra hours since starting at the hospital, so my colleagues glanced curiously at me when I announced that I was not lingering today after my eight-hour shift.
I’d dreamed about being a doctor since I was a little girl. In first grade, our teacher asked what we wanted to be when we grew up. I’d said with all the confidence in the world that I wanted to be a doctor. That answer had never changed. I’d never doubted my choice—not even in med school, when I’d first realized how difficult it all was.
But on bad days, I did wonder if I really was suited for this