Page 40 of Secret Baby for Dr. Grump

“But you already said yes before.”

“When I thought you wanted to be friends. Now you want to be more and I’m not ready for that.”

My ears perk and warning bells ring in my head at the insistence in her tone—an indication that he might have already asked her repeatedly before I walked in here. Because I was too preoccupied with getting jealous, I didn’t even notice the look on her face, which is as tense as her voice.

And nervous.

I don’t think. I immediately march over to them, my footsteps deliberately loud. Olivia jumps at the sound, her eyes widening when she spots me.

“Dr. Jennings.”

“Hey, there you are.” I don’t stop until I’m standing between them without inserting myself in the middle. Annoyance sparks when Mark doesn’t move away from her.

“Luke, hey.”

I don’t return Mark’s greeting. My gaze stays on Olivia. “Is everything okay?”

Silence. I don’t miss the nervous look that crosses Mark’s face. Finally, she nods. “Yes, of course. Everything’s fine.”

Mark smiles, relieved. “Everything’s fine, Luke. I don’t even know what you’re talking about?—‍”

I turn my swift gaze toward him, cutting him off with a look. “Mark.”

He pauses. “What?”

“I would like to remind you that hospital liaisons are prohibited, especially between colleagues with no equal power…like a doctor and a medical assistant. Surely James told you about this?”

“Yes. He told me about it?—‍”

“Good. Then you should remember that. It would be a shame to lose a doctor like you over harassment and liaison accusations.”

Mark’s eyes widen, and this time, I know what he’s seeing in my look. It’s a threat as much as a promise. He nods nervously, then finally takes a step back.

I should be amused that he’s now acting like Olivia’s a plague, but the fury is still thrumming inside me. I watch him like a hawk as he makes an excuse about being late for an appointment before finally leaving the lounge. Even then, I still watch the door, willing the man to return—because if he does, I don’t think I can suppress myself from punching him.

But he doesn’t return. When enough time has passed, I turn to Olivia, who now looks pale. Concern has me reaching out to touch her cheek.

“How many times has he asked you out?”

She gulps, about to downplay it. Then she seems to change her mind at my challenging look and shrugs.

“A couple. This is the second time he’s cornered me to ask me out. Third time if I count him asking me out during our first lunch together at the cafeteria.”

My rage intensifies. “Fuck. I should have punched the bastard?—”

A hand reaches for mine—the one on her cheek. She doesn’t let go as she gives me a pleading look. “No. Don’t. That will just get you in trouble.”

The muscle in my jaw ticks. “Then I should report him?—”

“No. Please don’t.”

“Why the hell not?”

“I don’t want to cause trouble.”

“But he harassed you.”

“It was more of him asking me out and me being too polite to say no outright. I should have said no right away the first time, but I didn’t realize he wanted more than friendship.” She squeezes my hand. “Now I do, so I said no. I think he got the picture and won’t do it again.”

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