Page 44 of Lethal Attraction

I chuckle before pushing her away. “Okay, okay, don’t get too excited. This is all new.”

She wags a finger at me. “I know relationships, my friend, and this feels solid.”

“Oh, yeah?” I snort.

“Call me an expert,” she turns her nose up.

“Didn’t Emma ask you out first—”

“Shut the fuck up.” She whips around, stopping when she notices someone lingering on the other side of the nurse station glass. There’s a nurse from the general practitioner clinic standing with a tilt to her hips as she waits for us to acknowledge her.

“Casey,” Taryn greets, hiding her sneer easily as she pulls on a mask of cordial bliss.

The nurse taps impatiently on her clipboard as her head tilts. Her golden hair is tied back into a tight bun, without a single hair out of place. Her dark blue scrubs are something expensive and match her multitude of nursing accessories. She’s well put together and also happens to despise anyone who works in the ER.

Casey clears her throat, flicking through the charts in her hand with clear displeasure. “Dr. Bellamy. You’re being requested in the clinic.”

The way she says my name is as if it doesn’t roll pleasantly off her tongue. I can tell that whoever is requesting my presence has caused quite a stir among the staff in the general practitioner’s office. They were probably clutching their pearls when their beloved Dr. Torres was rebuked by their patient.

It isn’t an unusual occurrence to have a returning patient ask for me. If I performed a surgery and they’re coming for a routine check-up, it would be highly odd for them not to ask about me checking their incisions. It’s a peace of mind thing, and one I never mind honoring.

“Of course,” I smile, to which the nurse turns up her nose and stalks back through the ER.

Taryn’s grin drops the moment she’s out of sight before she wraps her hands around her neck and pretends to strangle herself. I snort at her violent charade.

“What a bitch,” my friend sings sharply.

I give her a patient stare. “She isn’t a bitch—”

Taryn raises her eyebrows so high they hit her hairline. “Careful. Finish that sentence incorrectly and I’ll actually strangle you. You know it’s okay to talk shit about stuck-up people, right? It’s not illegal or anything.”

I deadpan at her. “Yes, I know it isn’t illegal. Casey is just…aggressively committed to being unpleasant.”

My friend’s eyes widen as she gives me a stupefied expression and sarcasm drips from her words. “Wow! So, basically, you found a way to still call her a bitch, but with extra steps!”

I stare at her before slapping my left hand over my side and sniffing as I avoid her judgmental gaze altogether. “Yeah, maybe I did. Fine. She’s a bitch. Are you happy?”

Taryn gasps playfully. “Reed!”

“You’re a child.”

She slaps a hand on my shoulder. “You know you love me! Hey, if you aren’t too busy tonight, maybe you can join Emma and me for dinner? We plan to drink a few beers down at the bar on Third Street if you’re interested.”

Usually, I would jump at an opportunity to drink and relax, but all I can seem to think about is when I can convince Thalia to join me on another date. I know I’m thinking too hard about this. I definitely wouldn’t call myself suave, but it’s like I can’t help it when it comes to this woman…

She’s slowly wrapping me around her pretty manicured fingers, and I don’t want it to stop. I also hate being away from her. Knowing that she’s possibly hanging around has me antsy to find her.

“I know that look,” Taryn croons with a smirk. “You’re thinking about Mystery Girl again.”

My neck heats as I give a low chuckle. “That obvious?”

She rolls her eyes. “Invite her, genius!”

My brows jump. “Do you think she’ll say yes?”

My friend smiles softly. “You really do like her. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen you like this…”

I can’t keep my grin contained as I shake my head. “She’s just so…amazing. I can’t explain it, but being around her is different.”