Page 24 of Auctioned to Dr. Daddy

The problem is that on some level, I know that Selma’s right. It would be so easy to start something with a guy that I’m working with. And I’ve spent all morning thinking about how I totally want to start something with Nathan.

It’s not just the way that he fucks me—though that’s pretty amazing. It’s the way that he keeps looking at me as if I'm something that he wants to spend more time around. People haven’t done that with me often over the years.

My lips purse suddenly. “How long do you have to be out of a relationship before the next one doesn’t count as a rebound?”

“You’re not a rebound for his ex,” Selma says. “And before you ask me how I know, let’s just say that Tyler likes to talk. A lot. About anything, everything, and with very little prompting. He had a couple of things to say about Emma over champagne before we left the auction—”

“Like what?”

Selma looks amused. “Short story? She sounds like a total bitch. I guess that Nathan had a hard time cutting the thing off since they’ve got a kid together and everything.”

“At some point, he mentioned his mom didn’t like the idea of a divorce,” I say, thinking back to it. “And I get that. I wouldn’t want to disappoint my mom.”

That’s why I’m trying so hard now to live up to her standards and to be the best heart surgeon out there. I would do anything to carry on her legacy and try to make her proud. Work hard, study hard, play… Never. That’s just life sometimes.

And a kid, that complicates things.

“They probably were worried about how their daughter would take it, too. I can’t imagine having a marriage fall apart like that when you have a kid in the picture,” I point out.

It’s just one of many reasons why the thought of having kids makes me way too nervous to ever actually consider it. Marriage falling apart like that? Hard pass. Losing a spouse? Yeah, I watched my mother do that one, and it was no cakewalk for her or for me.

“The family didn’t come up in detail.” Selma shrugs. “But Tyler did say that you were a better catch by leagues.”

I roll my eyes. “I feel like you’re the one that said that.”

Selma holds a hand up, twisting two fingers together in a promise symbol. “Scouts honor, it came from him.”

Did Selma go to scouts? I’m… not sure, actually. I guess it doesn’t matter. I’ll take the ego stroke without argument this time—it’s much easier to take a compliment from my best friend than from Nathan. His smoky eyes make them all seem way too serious and real.

Selma continues, “Bottom line, there’s literally no way that you were a rebound. And you should totally make a go at him when you get to Mercy. I can tell, you’ve got it bad for the guy.”

I do have it bad for him… But I’m still pretty sure that it’s going to be a better option if I don’t make a pass at my new mentor.

No matter how much I really, really want to.

Chapter Eleven

Nathan

I’mtwentyminuteslateto work and rushing into the hospital with Tabitha still on my hip, her pink princess day bag thrown over one shoulder. “Come on, sweetie. Time for the elevator!”

Tabitha perks up. She loves riding on the elevator. “Yeah?”

“Yeah, that’s right. What floor is the daycare on? Do you remember?” I press the button to call the elevator down.

Tabitha holds up one hand, with four chubby fingers extended.

“That’s right,” I tell her, swelling with pride. “The fourth floor.”

She’s a smart girl, but she doesn’t speak much. It’s not developmental—I’ve already had her taken to a few specialists, just to make sure she shouldn’t be getting that extra bit of care. As far as I can tell, she just doesn’t like talking much.

No babbling from this girl.

The elevator dings and the doors slide open. I step into it when a familiar voice calls out, “Wait, wait, hold the door!”

With my hands full of Tabitha, the most that I can do is shove my foot between it. The sliding doors bump against my black Crocs and then slide back open. A moment later, Demi Winters comes bursting into the small space with me, looking frazzled.

She’s got a large canvas tote bag thrown over her shoulder, and her scrubs are black with cartoon horses on them. Demi flashes me a smile. “I’d call this good luck. Thanks for holding it.”

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