Page 59 of Caged Heat

“Nah. Her boyfriend’s on his way.”

I stared, unsure what I was supposed to do. She’d initiated the question, but now it seemed to be in my court. Did she want me to ask her to do something? Was I supposed to offer to take her home? Why did I get so tongue-tied around this girl?

Because she’s special, dumbass.

“Cool. Do you need a ride?” Lame.

“Nope.” Damn. Missed my opportunity. “But…” Hope rose in my chest. “Since we’re both free, maybe we could spend it together? Bottle Grounds is having a NYE party. Free drinks, courtesy of Uncle Gus-Gus.”

I smiled so wide it threatened to escape my face. “I do love free drinks. I can meet you at the front of the hospital in thirty minutes?”

“Sounds good. But first.” She grabbed the pen from my pocket and uncapped it with her teeth. I stared at where her lips touched the pen cap, simultaneously jealous and vowing never to throw this pen away. In my daze, I missed what she was doing until she was done, capping the pen and placing it back in the pocket of my white coat. Glancing at my hand, I made out a string of digits.

Her phone number.

“Doctor Rigsby-Ellis, we need you in exam room two,” a nurse called, breaking the spell.

Grinning, I nodded as I walked backward, not wanting to lose sight of the perfect girl until the very last second.

I had no idea what was in store for me tonight, but if she was giving me a chance, I’d take whatever it was.

New Year’s Eve had just become my favorite holiday.

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

STEPH

Clearly, I’d lost my damn mind. You’d think I’d been the one to hit my head and not Autumn. But here I was, waiting outside the hospital for a guy I had no business getting a drink with.

Somehow, Mack had gotten more handsome. His hair was still long and unruly, and his curls were a chaotic mess I wanted to run my fingers through. It was the scruff along his jaw that had my thighs clenching with need. It somehow made him more rugged and distinguished.

Get a grip, girl! Just admit you have a thing for him already.

And wasn’t that the gosh dang truth. I liked him. More than I wanted to believe was possible after one afternoon.

This was a bad idea. If I spent any more time with him I was bound to ask to bear his children. Geesh.

“Yep, this is a bad idea.” Spinning around, I took two steps when my phone vibrated in my hand.

Unknown: Not leaving already, are you?

Unknown: I promise to be good.

My breath caught in my throat. Damn. So close. Turning, I smiled sheepishly at the handsome man standing a few feet from me. Please tell me he hadn’t seen me freak out.

“Hey. I wasn’t leaving. Just going to my car. It’s, um, cold.” It was maybe sixty degrees. No one would ever call that cold, but thankfully, he let me get away with it.

He smiled. “Do you want to ride together or…?”

Damn, he was too sweet. He was giving me an out.

“We can ride together.” My cheeks heated, and I loved the smile he sent my way.

“Great. I’m parked over here.” He motioned toward a parking lot, and we walked side by side. After a few feet, he slipped off his coat and draped it over my shoulders, proving how good he was.

And now I felt like a jackass. Mack was too sweet. I’d ruin him.

Mack opened the door for me, and I slid in, cursing my libido for getting carried away and asking him out. The facts hadn’t changed since this summer.

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