Page 121 of Tell Me Something True

And if that wasn’t a metaphor for her current situation, she didn’t know what was.

Because that was how she felt, crouched there in the empty waiting area staring into Reed’s eyes, her heart racing, her palms going damp.

Tied to him.

“Verity?”

Verity glanced over her shoulder and saw Dr. McNabb, a tall, gorgeous, middle-aged Black woman in dark gray scrubs and sneakers, her long dreadlocks pulled up in a bun, standing in the doorway behind the reception area.

Eyes wide, panic setting in, Verity did a full body turn while standing up, which would have been a slick move if she’d managed to be graceful about it.

Alas, no grace was had.

She turned too quickly and had to slap her hand on top of Reed’s head so she didn’t topple over.

“Ow,” the big baby muttered, not even reaching out a hand to help steady her.

Reed Walsh did not touch her.

Ever.

“Yes?” Verity asked Dr. McNabb, blushing so hard, she lifted both hands to her cheeks to make sure they really weren’t on fire.

If Dr. McNabb—one of the smartest, savviest, and absolutely the coolest person Verity knew—thought it odd to find Verity cuddled up with the owner of one of her patients on the floor of her otherwise empty waiting area, she didn’t show it.

Or show any judgment over it.

Then again, she and her husband had raised four daughters. She was probably used to walking in on teenagers doing stupid things.

“Is Titus ready?” she asked.

Verity glanced at Reed only to find him holding Titus like he was a cuddly puppy and not a fully grown, seventy-pound dog with a snout full of porcupine quills.

“He’s ready,” Reed said, brushing past Verity, as if she’d suddenly turned invisible.

So nice to know things were quickly returning back to normal between them.

Reed carried Titus over to Dr. McNabb, who made a sympathetic tsking sound when she saw his face. “That porcupine got you good,” she murmured, gently turning his head to the side. “Don’t you worry. We’ll get you feeling better in no time.” Her phone buzzed and she checked the screen. Looked up at Verity. “Please take Titus to Exam Room 2. Sydnye has everything set up and ready. I’ll be in as soon as I take this. This is Dr. McNabb,” she said, answering the phone as she walked down the hallway to her office.

Leaving Verity alone with Reed.

Again.

Not her favorite place to be.

She tended to stand a little too close to him when it was just the two of them. Say things better left unsaid. Forget all the important lessons she’d learned from all the previous times she’d been alone with him.

She waited, but Reed just stood there, holding his dog. “Did you bring a leash?”

Looking at her as if that was the dumbest question someone in a vet clinic had ever asked him about his dog, he shook his head.

She went behind the desk. “You can set him down,” she told him, getting one of the leashes kept in a bottom drawer.

Reed sent her one of his usual scowls. “Why?”

She straightened. “So I can take him to the exam room.”

“I’ll carry him for you.”

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