Page 11 of Hearts Clash

“Oh, come on,” Gianna pressed teasingly. “After the week we just had? Come on. Maybe if you actually relax and enjoy yourself once in a while, you won’t be so tense all the time.”

She winked cheekily at Scarlett and flashed her most dazzling grin, sending her heartrate skyrocketing. Something stirred deep down inside her, but she couldn’t tell whether it was mostly from intense dislike or extreme desire. Either way, the way those whiskey-colored eyes gleamed under the string lights above and the subtle, alluring scent of floral perfume on Gianna’s smooth skin made Scarlett’s skin feel hot and prickly. That devious smirk alone nearly made her blood boil and set her insides alight with a bizarre, thrilling excitement.

God, she hated that she actually wanted to do it, to loosen up and have fun, just because Gianna told her to. With a resigned sigh, she reached for the small glass of vodka in front of her. She tossed it back, swallowed hard, and slammed it back down onto the table, holding Gianna’s gaze firmly as if this was some kind of battle of wills. Judging from the wicked grin on the other woman’s face, it clearly was.

Everyone cheered, laughing and applauding as she choked the vodka down, making her cheeks flush even further. This was ridiculous. It was juvenile nonsense that she hadn’t participated in since college. Even then, she had usually been the responsible friend who acted like a chaperone at every party. She didn’t really understand people who enjoyed this sort of atmosphere.

Not that she had been to a whole lot of parties.

Within seconds, more wine and beer were ordered, and the whole table was rapidly filling up with food and booze. There were more shots of tequila and vodka, each one hitting harder than the last. The upbeat music carried on, and their companions laughed, chatted, danced, and drank even more, their merrymaking becoming progressively louder and more spirited. At some point, everyone except her and Gianna had taken off dancing, leaving the two of them alone at the table.

“So, hey,” Gianna said, leaning back leisurely in her chair and languidly stretching out her long legs. “About that surgery on Monday? You were pretty great. Just putting that out there.”

Scarlett blinked and arched her eyebrows. Was that an actual, genuine compliment from Gianna Rodriguez? Perhaps the alcohol had gone to her head already and she was imagining things. Nevertheless, she cleared her throat and inclined her head.

“Thanks,” she replied tentatively. “Team effort. You’re an incredible surgeon, Gianna.”

“Damn, you must be wasted,” the brunette laughed, throwing her head back in delight. “Can I get that in writing?”

That actually made Scarlett laugh, too. She felt herself sinking comfortably into the cushioned seats and warming up to the idea of letting go a little.

“Hah. Absolutely not,” Scarlett retorted with a smirk, feeling more relaxed than she’d felt all week.

“Can’t have anyone challenging your title as Queen of Rose Bay, can you?” she teased, nudging Scarlett with her knee from across the table. “If I didn’t know better, I’d think you felt threatened by me.”

Something about the way she said it, with her husky voice and mischievous eyes and the subtle seductive tone underneath, sent a shiver down Scarlett’s spine. Those lips were calling out to be kissed, glossed to perfection and tempting her beyond belief. Instead, she tore her eyes away and took another sip of her cocktail.

“You wish,” Scarlett replied. “Barely a year and a half here, and you think you’re gonna steal my crown just like that? Not a chance.”

They eyes met again, and this time it was charged with something different—a tense, palpable energy between them. Gianna grinned like a cat playing with her prey, slowly creeping closer. Scarlett straightened up, unconsciously mirroring her actions, leaning over the table to meet some unspoken challenge.

Their faces were mere inches apart when a very drunk Carla flopped heavily back into her seat beside Scarlett. The older woman genially wrapped her arm around her shoulder, leaning in and swaying slightly as she laughed merrily.

“Am I wrong, or is there something going on between you two?” Carla demanded playfully, grinning at them as she gestured wildly with her free hand. “I swear, every damn time I see you talking, it’s like you’re either gonna start making out or throw hands.”

Scarlett’s entire body stiffened and locked up immediately at that suggestion. Her cheeks flushed as she recoiled, practically jumping away from Gianna like she had been burned. There was no way that could be true. Did she come off that way? Enough that their department head would pick up on it? Oh, God.

“Well, I am irresistible. I guess Doctor Miller can’t help herself,” Gianna quipped lightly, tossing her hair back with a playful smile. “But seriously, no. She wishes.”

Gianna stuck her tongue out at her like a petulant child, and Carla let out a loud, roaring laugh. Still mortified, Scarlett just sat there stiff as a board, desperately trying to calm her racing pulse. If Gianna was bothered, she showed no sign of it. Carla let go of Scarlett’s shoulder, slapped her on the back, and gave her a friendly grin.

“Oh, relax, Scarlett,” the plump older woman chuckled, “I don’t judge. But honestly, she is absolutely right. You should wish! Doctor Rodriguez is a catch!”

Gianna winked appreciatively, grinning smugly from ear to ear. Meanwhile, Scarlett was ready to melt into the ground and vanish entirely. All she could do was down the last of her gin and tonic and attempt to look casual. Internally, she wished for an alien invasion or a nuclear explosion or literally anything else that would save her from this situation.

Instead, her colleagues continued chatting and laughing like nothing happened. The others rejoined them shortly after, and soon, Bianca and her friend Eileen were sharing some rather explicit stories from their college days that had the others crying with laughter. Scarlett, she stayed quiet, smiling tightly and only offering polite, brief answers when directly addressed.

Eventually, Avery, heavily pregnant, declared that it was time for her to head home to rest her aching feet. Scarlett recognized this as an opportune moment to take her leave as well.

“Let me walk you out,” she offered, extending an arm in the pregnant woman’s direction.

Avery nodded gratefully, and the two bid their goodbyes to the others before setting off toward the elevators. Once they were downstairs, Avery got into a cab, and with one last glance up at the lively terrace, Scarlett walked the three blocks to her apartment on foot.

The fresh night air was cool and soothing, and she was grateful to be rid of the noisy chaos. Still, unwelcome images of Gianna in that tight red dress haunted her thoughts. The image of those smoldering eyes, the sultry tones in which Gianna spoke to her, the intoxicating aroma of her perfume lingered in Scarlett’s memory every step of the way. Even when she finally fell asleep, exhausted and overstimulated, her dreams were filled with nothing but visions of her gorgeous rival.

***

The next day, Scarlett woke up with a pounding headache of the kind she hadn’t experienced in years. The sunlight streaming through the bedroom window hit her straight in the eyes, making her groan. As she dragged herself into the shower, she felt dizzy and nauseous, the whole world spinning around her. All in all, the worst hangover she’d had since her residency days.

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