knocked out and drooling on your shoulder before the first episode is over. Just warning you.”
“Wouldn’t be the first time. See you soon.”
We hung up, and I stopped at the nurses’ station that was at the bend of our horseshoe-shaped unit, sitting at one of the computers. I pulled up the chart I hadn’t had time to finish earlier and began typing my notes.
I was almost finished when I heard, “Excuse me, miss. I was wondering if you could help me with something …”
The sound of Caleb’s voice caused me to glance up, meeting his handsome face and the sexiest navy suit and gold tie. The combination was enough to make me stop breathing.
“Hi.”
As he folded his hands on top of the counter, his cuff links made a scratching noise. Casual was my favorite look on him, but the way he dressed every day for work was really growing on me.
I shook my head, still shocked that he was here. “What brings you to the ortho/neuro floor, sir?” I teased. “Sciatic pain? Numbness in the bottom of your feet perhaps?”
“There’s this gorgeous nurse who’s been caring for me, and I haven’t seen her in three days.” He lowered his voice. “I can’t get her out of my mind, and it’s making me fucking crazy.” A smile moved across his captivating lips. “I was hoping if I came here, I could convince her to have dinner with me tonight.”
Even with his attention on my face, I couldn’t feel nastier in my own skin. My scrubs were stained, I reeked of antibacterial gel, and there was probably white dust in my hair from the dry shampoo I’d forgotten to shake out thirteen hours ago.
I knew I looked even worse than I felt.
Yet he was staring at me like there was nothing more beautiful.
“Caleb, if I showed up to a restaurant like this, they’d kick me out. I’m disgusting right now.”
He reached across the space that divided us, palming my cheek. My eyes briefly closed, his woodsy scent taking ahold of me, the exhaustion tugging so hard that I could use his hand as a pillow and be asleep in minutes.
“Whitney, you’re stunning, no matter what you have on or how many hours you’ve worked. And I assure you, no restaurant I ever took you to would kick you out.”
I exhaled, his compliments wrapping around me—and so did the conversation I’d just had with my best friend. “Even if I wanted to, I promised Emily a girls’ night.”
His hand stayed on my face. “How about I walk you home, then?”
“I would really love that.”
He gazed around the nurses’ station. “So, this is your office.”
“Some of it. Most of my time is spent in the patients’ rooms. Want a tour?”
“Yes.”
“Give me one second.”
After his hand left my face, I typed the rest of my notes into the chart that was still open on the screen and eventually closed out of the system, joining him on the other side of the counter. I stood near him but not within breathing distance. That only lasted a few moments before he clenched my waist and pulled me close.
“Caleb, I’m warning you, it’s not pretty over here.”
“Impossible.”
His lips went to my cheek, bringing an even stronger wind of his cologne; he not only smelled deliciously clean, but also positively ravishing.
“I could fucking devour you right here,” he whispered against my skin.
“You’re crazy.” I giggled and leaned my head back before any of my patients or administration saw us. “Come on. I’ll show you around.”
I intertwined our fingers and led him down the hallway, explaining the layout of the unit, pointing out the break room as we passed it. We were just circling around the other side when we ran into Rebecca, standing in front of a med cart. I put my arm around her shoulders, and she rested her head against my neck.
“Don’t move. I just need a quick nap.”
We both laughed, and I loosened my grip on her. “You remember Caleb?”
“Of course I do.”
He held out his arm. “It’s good to see you again, Rebecca.”
“And you,” she responded, hugging him.
“It should be a slow shift,” I told her once they were apart.
“Should be?” She put her hands on her hips. “You know what happens when you put things like that into the universe.”
“Oh God, you’ll be fine.” It was my turn to hug her, and when I was pulling away, I added, “I’ll be back in the morning to relieve you. Let me know if you want