“About what?” I hate feeling jealous. My only saving grace is that Owen might not know that I am.

There’s a chance, right?

“So,” he hedges, stepping closer to my spot near the bench, “would this sudden frostiness have anything to do with Nicole?”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” I mutter, shoving on my Converse.

“I always said you were a terrible liar. Just admit that you’re jealous.” He’s baiting me. The conceited prick.

It doesn’t matter that he’s correct. I’m not giving him the damn satisfaction. That, and I’m furious that he hung out with another woman after we agreed to be exclusive.

“Not my business who you’re fucking, although I’d be careful. She’s got a reputation on her. Then again, apparently, so do you.” Damn. I have to say, I have a wicked tongue sometimes.

Owen’s eyes widen as the smile slides from his face. “Jesus, Tally! I was joking. Nothing is happening between Nicole and me.Nothing.You know that, don’t you?”

I finish fixing my ponytail, hoping the slight shrug will suffice as an answer, and he’ll leave. It doesn’t.

I turn to face him, and my heart catches at his easy manner as he leans against the door. He’s so beautiful, even if he is a closet man whore. “Whatever you say, Dr. Stevens.”

He rolls his eyes at my formal reply. “Remember what I said the last time you called me Dr. Stevens?”

“It’s your title. It’s appropriate.”

“Well, the things I want to do to you are highly inappropriate.” He jostles my arm, trying to make me smile.

Fat chance of that.

He opts for another tact, realizing he gained zero yards with the last play. “Are you hungry? I know an incredible pizza place that this sexual dynamo showed me.”

“I thought you and Nicole were having dinner.”

“Youarejealous.”

I flip him the bird because I lack an intelligent response. That, and my stomach is threatening to upend itself. Again.

“You’re a brilliant woman, Tally. But you’re an idiot if you think, for one second, that I want anything to do with that woman.” He nods toward the exit, offering his famous sex on a stick smile. “Come on, grumpy girl, let’s go get pizza. You can glare at me the whole time. Even douse my slice with crushed red pepper.”

I shake my head and push my glasses up my nose. Usually, I find him impossible to resist. But the whole Nicole situation stinks. Worst part? It’s my own damn fault. I wanted to keep our relationship on the down-low. Nicole has no such hang-ups. “I’m heading home, but thank you. Enjoy your dinner.”

His large, talented hands grasp my shoulders. “Am I going to have to pull rank here, Tally?”

“For pizza?”

“To spend time with you.” He frames my face, his thumbs dancing across my cheeks. “I miss you. I know it’s only been four days, but I feel you putting distance between us again.”

“Apparently, you were busy with Nicole,” I grumble, my little green monster getting angrier by the second.

“First, it was a group of doctors grabbing a drink. I showed them that card trick. That’s why she claims my hands are talented.” His brows raise, waiting for me to admit that he’s not a cheating scoundrel. He’s lucky his tongue is so talented. It would be far easier to remain angry if it weren’t. “Second, I’m never too busy for you. It’s not healthy for me to be away from you. I think about you way more than I should. And by that, I mean all the damn time.”

“It can’t be that bad. You’re busy settling in, with Nicole’s help.”

“Tally,” Owen warns, sending me a scathing glare.

I guess I have to let the Nicole situation drop. For now. “The rumor is you’ve been here until after ten the last few nights.”

“Yeah, working out until I’m too exhausted to do anything other than sleep. Otherwise, I’d go nuts from sexual frustration.”

“It’s been less than a week, Owen.”