Page 70 of Forgot to Tell You Something

“Shh.” He presses my head back against his chest while his free hand slips beneath the waistband of my scrubs, tracing along my skin.

“Hey, hands, mister.”

“It’s your fault. Your skin is like silk, Tally. I want to peel off your clothes and devour every inch of you.”

“Right here?”

“Right now.”

It’s suddenly a thousand degrees in here. Placing my chin on his chest, since he isn’t letting me break the embrace, I meet that glacial gaze. “Dr. Stevens, are you trying to seduce me?”

A half-smile decorates his lips as he moves his hands up to frame my face. “That’s called love, Darlin. If I wanted to seduce you, you’d be sprawled across my table, and I’d be replacing a second pair of underwear.”

Two thousand degrees and rising. Maybe I can skip my daily rounds. This is far more important for my mental and emotional well-being.

“My Mom is in town,” Owen states.

Random subject change, but at least it throws water on my overheated hormones. “Really?”

“She never actually left Florida, just traveled to Tampa to visit a friend. She’s taking full advantage since she only saw me once a year when I lived in San Fran.”

“I get it. You’re her baby boy, and she’s spent enough time away from you.”

“I’m having dinner with her tonight at that restaurant. The one you refused to dine at with me.She wants you to come.”

I arch my brow. “She does?”

“Yes, and so do I.”

“Are you sure it’s a good idea? How do we explain being together if someone sees us?”

Owen clears his throat, a muscle twitching in his jaw. He’s aggravated as hell with our arrangement. “Is there something you need to tell me? Are you secretly married, Tally?”

“No, what a ridiculous question!”

“Then who cares is someone sees us. In fact, I hope the entire staff sees us tonight.”

“But—”

His fingers press to my mouth, and I reward them with a kiss. “Stop arguing, Tally, or I’ll announce right now, over the hospital loudspeaker, that you and I are getting married.”

That’s such a tempting idea, maybe I should keep arguing.

“Just say yes, Darlin.”

With a smile and nod, I concede. “What time should I meet you two?”

16

Owen

“How in the world did you close so fast?” my mother inquires, pouring herself a glass of water. “It takes months in North Carolina.”

“The condo was vacant, with a motivated seller. I already had my pre-approval, so smooth sailing.” On something, at least.

My mother leans over, squeezing my hand. “I’m so proud of you. You’ve done so well for yourself.”

“Thanks, Mom. My folks were pretty supportive,” I reply with a wink.

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