Page 29 of Chase

“It’s a figure of speech,” I shoot back with a scowl.

“Nurse Coleman, watch your manners,” the doctor warns, moving closer to Russell. She raises her fine-boned hand and places it up onto his shoulder. I don’t like it. “Mr. Chase is a good friend of mine. I won’t have a staff member disrespect him.”

“No disrespect intended.” I take a breath, trying to steady my nerves at the unexpected situation I’ve found myself in after a long day on my feet. Russell takes a small step away from the doctor, and her hand drops to her side. She frowns fractionally before readjusting her features. I wonder what relationship they’ve had in the past and if it was a romantic connection or purely business. Her mannerisms indicate something personal, but he shows no sign of there being more than a business connection.

“It’s fine, Miss Coleman,” Russell says, maintaining the façade. “But I would suggest you stick to nursing rather than teaching the English language. Adages are not professional in the workplace.”

“My apologies, Mr. Chase.” His eyes blacken as I use his surname. “I will be sure to remove adages, catchphrases, and general slang from my working day vocabulary.”

“Good to hear. Well, thank you, Miss Coleman, you can go,” he says dismissively, then turns to the doctor. I stand like a lemon, pissed off by his arrogance. When I don’t move immediately, his focus returns to me. “You can go.” He mouths each word dramatically and my irritation rises to another level, but I turn and walk out of the room, biting my tongue.

Back out in the reception area, Bryan is busy banging on his keyboard. As I approach, he looks up and smiles. These past few months, he’s become someone I feel comfortable being around. I love hearing all the crazy stories about his kids and his unreliable ex.

“So, how did your date go?” I ask him, and he grimaces. His usually happy demeanor disappears with my question, and I kick myself for asking. “From your expression I would say not great.”

“Dating apps suck,” he says, his expression becoming more sad. “The guy was an idiot.” He stops typing, then picks up his phone and opens the app he has been using to search for potential partners. He opens the messaging service and passes the handset to me.

Message after message from some guy called Colin who Bryan has met once for a quick coffee, fills the screen. Lines of text declaring his undying love and begging him to give him another chance.

“Oh, you attracted a loose cannon,” I mutter. “Did you sleep with him?”

“No,” he spits. “We barely made it past the coffee, and not for the right reasons. All he talked about was some online game he plays constantly and his long list of previous sexual conquests.”

“There are always going to be duds in the dating pool,” I tell him, trying to be supportive. My heart aches for him. He was so looking forward to stepping out into the world of dating again and investigating his new-found interest in men. “The next one could be a keeper.” He hisses through his teeth but doesn’t respond to my comment. “It was your first time back dating; give yourself a chance.”

“Sam, I have four kids and no money. The last thing I need to waste time on is men worse than my ex-wife. Maybe I’m better off single.” He restarts typing, and I continue to flick through the app on his phone, hoping to find something positive to suggest.

My eyes land on a handsome man with dark hair, hazel eyes, and the most gorgeous smile. “What about him?” I say, turning the phone in my friend's direction. He glances up then shakes his head. “Why not? His name is Tom. He’s forty-two and works as a vet. Nevermind the fact that he’s hot. If you’re going to explore your sexuality, Bryan, at least do it with someone you want to rip the clothes off.”

“Look at him,” he replies sadly, not looking at me. “Why would he be interested in me?”

I stare at my beautiful friend, and my sadness for his situation grows. His ex-wife ripped him to pieces and left him with very little confidence. Even though I’ve never met her, I hate her. How she could do wrong to such a kind man I will never understand.

“Because you’re beautiful,” I tell him, walking around to the other side of his desk and wrapping my arms around him. “Bryan, any man would be lucky to have you. You’re a catch. Never forget it.”

“I’m not sure potential suiters would agree that a broke single dad to four reprobates constitutes a catch.”

“Then they’re idiots. You, my friend, are gorgeous both inside and out. You deserve to be happy. Don’t settle, he’s out there. Keep looking, and enjoy the search.” I kiss his cheek before releasing him. He smiles up at me.

“Thanks, Sam. You’re not so bad yourself. Anyway, what did Casanova want with you?” he asks, raising an eyebrow.

“Who?”

“The hot lawyer. He’s quite a ladies' man from what I hear, and I know for a fact he and our good doctor bumped uglies for a while.” He runs a hand through his hair then grins.

“How do you know that?” I ask, my nosiness getting the better of me.

“I saw them,” Bryan says with a chuckle. “Her bent over the desk, dress over her head, and him balls deep. Fuck, I wish he was into men.”

“She’s too old for him” I mutter, my cheeks flushing.

“I’d imagine it’s perspective. When he’s fucking her doggy style, her pussy will look the same as a twenty-two-year-old.”

“Rude, dickhead. Not a vision I want, my boss’s pussy.” Bryan shrugs and goes back to typing furiously.

I haven’t told anyone here much about my private life, and I’ve never mentioned Connor. It’s something I want to keep to myself. Most of my work colleagues are low on funds, and sick of treating the rich and famous who spend fifty-pound notes like penny coins. Telling them I had a millionaire boyfriend didn’t seem like a sensible course of action. Now, if Connor insists on picking me up at work, we meet around the corner.

“The heart was collected by those two idiots again,” Bryan tells me, interrupting my thoughts. “I don’t like them.”

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