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‘Are you okay?’ he asks, his voice rough.

I nod. My nipples sting and my pussy feels like it’s been battered by a ram, but I’ve never felt better. ‘I’m more than okay.’

His lips lift at the sides before he bends over, scoops my coat off the ground and hands it over. I shove my arms in and pull the sides together. I reach for the buttons but he knocks my handaside and proceeds to do them up instead, his gaze holding mine captive.

‘You want to go out tomorrow night?’

I shake my head. ‘Working until ten.’

‘The next day?’

‘A couple of my friends in the residency programme are coming over to study. And then I start a run of seven nights.’

I wasn’t exaggerating when I told him I have no time. But my instincts to stay the hell away from Danny Colton are not what they used to be, and I realise I don’t want to stay away from him. I want to spend time with Danny. And not just for this. But because he could have dragged any of those women inside out here. Women who are probably all more available and more fun than me. But he didn’t.

He chose me.

‘But I could break for lunch. We could meet somewhere?’

‘Or…’ He looks up from the last button and smiles. ‘I could drop in and cook pancakes for everyone?’

I meet his eyes at the suggestion, and my breathing, still not quite returned to normal, hitches. Danny in my house. Meeting my friends. Cooking for my friends. That’s taking this thing to a whole new level. I hesitate – is that where this is headed? I can try to fool myself as much as I want that Danny and I are about the fucking, but he’s cooked for me, massaged my feet, comforted me.

We’ve talked, gotten to know each other better. There is more to us than just really good fucking. The doctor and the drummer isn’t something I ever envisioned with any permanency, but it’s not preposterous either.

Is it?

He’s seen me at my best and worst. And he’s still here. I’ve seen him surrounded by women all vying for his attention, buthe chose me. Maybe it’s time I stopped putting up mental blocks between us because I’m worried what other people might think.

‘Sure.’ I nod. My friends would certainly be up for being fed and meeting the reason why I’ve been hella distracted these past weeks. ‘That would be nice.’

A slow, sexy smile spreads across that addictive mouth. His hand slides onto my jaw and holds me in place as he smashes a deep, hard kiss on my mouth. ‘Good answer, Doc,’ he mutters as he pulls away. ‘Come and meet the band.’

Then he takes my hand and leads me back inside.

10

DANNY

I am incredibly, unbelievably, stupidly nervous as I knock on Holly’s door. I have a large container with a just-cooked batch of beef stroganoff in one hand and a shopping bag full of pancake things in the other.

I’m not nervous about cooking. It’s who’s on the other side of this door that’s knotting me up. Who I’m cooking for. Because I’m totally hoping to win over Holly’s friends.

Meeting the friends is a big deal. For me. Because I know it’s a big deal for her. I’m an easy-going guy and I get along with everyone – seriously, grandmothers love me – but I know Holly’s finding it hard to reconcile our two lifestyles. Especially after her impromptu visit to the bar a couple of nights ago.

I hadn’t expected her to just turn up, but I’m glad she did. She was clearly a little freaked out by a bunch of women calling my name, but she didn’t run away. On the contrary, she’d moved towards me with purpose and determination. And maybe the alley was just a new and liberating experience for her, but it felt more like she was marking me, which was – not going to lie – a real turn on.

Better than that, the band had loved her. Because she’d greeted them like a non-groupie, like they were just normal human beings instead of members of a rock band. Also, they could see how smitten I am.

I don’t need their approval but it’s nice to have it anyway. And today it’s my turn to be put under the microscope and I want the same stamp of approval from her friends.

The door swings open, and it’s her. Holly. She’s wearing jeans and another long-sleeved Henley with another row of buttons that stretches nicely across her boobs. ‘Hey,’ she says cheerfully, but I can tell by the dart of her eyes that she’s a little nervous too.

I want to kiss her mouth but she’s giving off seriousdo not invade my body spacevibes as she glances over her shoulder briefly and says, ‘Come in.’

It’s on the tip of my tongue to whisperI’m going to rip that shirt open, tooas I pass but I don’t because it might throw her off balance and too much is weighing on how this all goes. If her friends don’t see us as couple potential then that could be the death knell for whatever fledgling thing we have going on.

Not that I think Holly can’t make up her own mind, but I am outside her comfort zone. I am unfamiliar territory. So, of course, she’s going to be looking to those she trusts for advice. For,do-you-think-I’m-crazy?opinions.