Page 56 of Night Shift

Turning, I walked over to the large windows overlooking the bay. The view of all the boats lined up along the docks was beautiful. I lost myself in the lights reflecting off the gently lapping water. It was then that Conan approached me from behind, encircling my waist with his arms.

Our reflection in the glass stirred a memory, unbidden yet vivid. The cabin. Atticus. He’d held me this way in front of the window right before blindfolding me. The memory was so clear, so evocative, it was as if I could feel his presence here with us.

I was still processing my thoughts when Conan gently turned me around to face him. He pressed his lips against mine and kissed me passionately. His tongue explored my mouth. That reminded me of Atticus too, and I couldn’t help but respond to him. As the heat between us intensified, his hands traced the curves of my waist and lingered over my ass, pulling me closer. Now I was caught in the storm of my own conflicted emotions. Each touch, each movement brought back memories of Atticus, blurring the lines between past and present.

Panic hit, suffocation climbing up my throat as my chest tightened. I tore myself away from him. In a moment of confusion, the words spilled out. “Stop it, Atticus!”

Conan froze instantly, his expression shifting from passion to shock in the blink of an eye. When I realized my mistake, my cheeks burned with embarrassment, and I fought the urge to run out of the door and disappear.

“I’m so, so sorry,” I stammered, following Conan as he stepped back. Hurt briefly crossed his face before he masked it with a guarded expression. I wanted nothing more than to take back those words, to rewind time and erase my gaffe. “I can’t believe I did that. I…I don’t know where that came from.” My words tumbled out in a desperate attempt to mend the moment.

His initial shock gave way to a cautious understanding. He ran a hand through his hair as he processed my blunder. “Samantha, it’s okay,” he finally said, his voice steady but distant. “I get it. Things…they’ve been complicated for you.”

I shook my head, struggling to find the words to explain a confusion I didn’t fully understand myself. “No, Conan, it’s not okay. I shouldn’t have… That was unfair to you.” The apology seemed inadequate, a paltry attempt to smooth over a stupid mistake.

This man was caring, thoughtful, and handsome as sin, and yet all I could see when I looked at him was Atticus. All I could feel were Atticus’s hands, Atticus’s lips, Atticus’s body moving against mine. It made me sick to my stomach, but I couldn’t deny it.

He offered me a tight smile, one that didn’t quite reach his eyes, signaling a rift that had opened between us. “We should probably…take a moment,” he suggested.

“Conan, I really am sorry,” I whispered, knowing full well that the apology couldn’t undo what I’d done.

Instead of responding in anger like I’d expected, Conan shook his head, then burst into a fit of laughter. It was unrestrained, genuine amusement. I stared at him in disbelief as he doubled over, clutching his sides. His mouth opened and closed as though he was attempting to speak but couldn’t get any words out. My face grew hot with embarrassment. Was he laughing at me?

I stood there, dumbfounded. “Conan…why are you…”

Unable to bear the humiliation any longer, I retreated to the window, burying my face in my hands to hide my flushed cheeks and wishing the ground would swallow me whole.

Finally, after catching his breath, Conan stepped up behind me again. Still chuckling softly, he reached out and gently encircled my waist with his muscular arms, though I remained stiff and unyielding. “I’m sorry, Sammy girl,” he murmured. “I didn’t mean to laugh like that. It’s just, when you yelled, ‘Stop it, Atticus!’ I didn’t know whether to take it as a compliment or an insult.”

I still couldn’t bring myself to lower my hands.

Trying to make sense of his words, I blinked away the tears threatening to spill over.

“I mean, it would have been a whole lot worse if we were going at it hot and heavy, and you called me his name with lust in your voice.” He paused. “Your reaction caught me off guard. The way you tensed up like that, I could almost swear you wanted to punch him in the face rather than anything else. Yeah, if you’re going to confuse the two of us, I’d much rather it be because you’re pissed off at him rather than because you’re about to say something saucy to me. Either way,” he went on, “I think you and I both know you have mixed emotions about Atticus. I know him way better than you and have seen how he affects all the ladies. His voice alone yanks their chain and makes women fall at his feet.” Conan’s grip tightened around me. “I have to tell you though, Sammy girl, I think you’re not only gorgeous but so much more—intelligent, hardworking, and a skilled nurse.”

He paused, taking a deep breath. “For now, though, I think it’s best for us to only be friends. How about we just chill out and order some room service?”

The tension dissolved, and I finally lowered my hands and faced him. “Room service sounds perfect,” I said, a smile tugging at the corners of my mouth. “You’re not mad? You don’t want to leave and never speak to me again?”

His response was immediate. “Oh God no. I’d never do that,” he assured me, giving me a chaste kiss on the forehead.

A giggle escaped me, breaking through the remnants of my embarrassment. “Hmph, well that’s already better than your older brother. He would’ve gone ballistic or something.”

“Seriously, let’s just hang out tonight, nothing more,” he said. “I’ve got a pair of sweatpants and a T-shirt you can wear if you want to get out of that dress.”

“Oh my God, that sounds awesome.”

He gave me a squeeze and stepped back. Then he rummaged through his bag that sat on the dresser and laid a pair of gray sweatpants and a navy blue T-shirt on the corner of the bed.

“How about you go change, and I’ll order us up something good to eat. Are you drinking?”

“I’d better not or else I’ll fall asleep on you.” I laughed as I picked up his clothes and headed for the bathroom.

My body relaxed as soon as I changed into the comfortable clothes. They were huge. The collar of the T-shirt hung off my shoulder, and I had to roll up the sleeves and the legs of the pants—and even flip the waistband—just to manage. I went from fairy princess to hobo real quick—but oh, I was all kinds of comfy now.

The vibe really shifted for the better when I returned to the room and we started grubbing down on what room service had brought. I’d never stayed in a suite and had no idea they came with a gaming console. I couldn’t get over how cool it was along with everything else in this room. And gaming? Turned out, it was my jam—or maybe he just let me win sometimes. Either way, we had a blast. Our easy laughter and playful teasing made the earlier tension seem like a distant memory.

At one point, I commented on his seemingly insatiable appetite. “Do you always eat this much?” I asked when he reached for yet another snack, half-amused, half-impressed by his continuous munching.

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