Page 11 of Lethal Attraction

Oh, no.

“I shouldn’t be fraternizing with a patient!” I defend myself.

Thalia leans against the counter, propping her chin in her hand as she smirks. “Fraternizing, huh? Sounds like you like me, Dr. Dreamy.”

My colleague covers her mouth with a hand, but I can see her shit-eating grin beyond her fingers. She thinks this is hilarious. “Yeah, sounds like you have a small crush, Dr. Dreamy.”

I close my eyes at the nickname, knowing that by the time I’m clocking out tonight, it will have made its rounds through the ER. I wouldn’t be surprised if someone calls me Dr. Dreamy at least once on the overhead intercom. I won’t hear the end of this anytime soon.

“Go back to your room, Thalia.” I say with authority as I try to return to my patient’s chart.

The raven-haired beauty doesn’t budge as her eyes light up with a challenge. “Make me, Reed.”

Oh, fuck.

Hearing her say my name like that has a long-dormant part of myself standing at attention, and I mask my surprise at my arousal. It isn’t just hearing my name from those plush lips that has me on edge; it’s the way she said it. Like she caressed every letter with her breathy tone.

Taryn isn’t helping either, as she elbows me. “I’m sure Thalia would love for you to walk her back upstairs. I’ll watch over your rooms for you.”

I cover my mouth with a hand before cursing her. “Fuck you.”

She smirks. “Hop to it, Dr. Dreamy.”

I groan before pushing my chair out. “Come on.”

Thalia bounces towards the opening of the nurse’s station, waiting patiently for me as I close out my charts and join her. I take the pole of her IV stand and walk beside her as I guide her back to the elevators.

I check her fluids and note that she’s almost done with this bag as I examine her machine’s screen. “I’m still not sure how you got past your nurse.”

She snorts. “I told them I needed a smoke break.”

Little Devil.

“Do you smoke?” I ask, masking my curiosity with professional probing.

Those enchanting, pale eyes roll up to me. “And what are you going to do if I say yes?”

I clear my throat, avoiding her gaze as I wave to a few nurses I pass on our way to the elevators. “Well, as a doctor—”

“You’re not my doctor. Remember?” She interjects.

Touche.

I stop, staring down at her with a stern expression. “As not your doctor, I would say that’s bad for you.”

She cocks a hip, placing a hand over her gown-clad hip. “Boring. Just because you tell me not to do something makes me want to do it even more.”

She’s testing my patience. That snarky attitude of hers is really starting to pick at the more dominant side of me, but I know better than to give into her goading. We’re in the middle of a crowded hallway where I work. She’s going to have to try harder than that to crack me.

I shrug. “Fine. Get lung cancer.”

“Maybe I will,” she examines her nails.

“Go right ahead,” I mutter as I drag her IV onto the waiting elevator.

The door hasn’t even closed when she keeps our little disagreement going. “It could help dislodge the stick that’s shoved—”

As soon as the door slides shut, I collar her throat, causing her head to whip up to me. The sarcasm dies on her tongue as I level our noses.