Page 32 of Bloom: Part 1

“I see you’re already on a first-name basis. That’s good. What exactly do you want from him? A fling? A relationship?”

I clutched my fingers. “I…I think a relationship?”

“Cool, you’re not sure. We can work on that. I’ll help you on one condition.”

I jumped to my feet. “I knew it! There’s always a catch.”

“No, listen.” He caught my arm. I waited for the freak-out to happen, but he exuded nothing but kindness. “The condition is that you have to come out with us on our next night out without the bikers.”

“I’m not like one of you.”

“And that’s fine. We can do with your killer instinct to protect us. So what do you say?”

I shrugged. For Dr. Collier, it seemed like a small price to pay. I would never admit it, but the boys were fun and carefree. Had I been different, I might have enjoyed hanging out with them.

“Fine, but it better be decent help.”

“It is. Here’s what we’re going to do. You see, there’s a charity event coming up soon. How would you like to be my plus-one? Better you than dragging Grimm to an event he doesn’t like.”

“I’m not interested in you, Jamie.”

“First of all, ouch.” He clutched his chest dramatically. “But I didn’t mean for me. Dr. Collier will be there. He’s getting a recognition award for his work at the hospital. What do you think?”

Not exactly what I had in mind. I’d never been to a function like that, but I could do it. I would do it if it got me closer to Dr. Collier. “Tell me more.”

8

LOGAN

“Logan. Congrats on the recognition.” Nicholas kissed my cheek. The scent of his cologne was still as overpowering as the few times we’d been out together. In the beginning, the night would end in sex, but it hadn’t taken long for the attraction to fizzle out.

“Nicholas, thank you.” I squeezed his hand and stepped back. Around us, the yearly charity cocktail event was in full swing. Laughter and chatter filled the country club, a prelude to the evening affair. Low musical strains from the jazz band tucked into a corner resonated with a subtle lilt of sophistication. Fitting for the night.

After all, even a crime-infested town like Smoky Vale had its elite: the people least affected by the rampant, unchecked crime. The ones who lived behind tall walls and security systems. They wore their wealth like a suit of armor against the chaos that affected everyone else. A few nights of charitable deeds and they were satisfied they’d done their duty to the town.

Tomorrow they would appear in the Smoky Vale Star, who would focus more on who wore what rather than the purpose ofthe affair—to raise money to expand the burn unit. And although the donations should be private, the newspaper would publish who gave exactly how much.

Whatever it took to improve the medical facility in the town. God knew we needed it with how understaffed we were and the lack of resources.

“How have you been?” Nicholas asked. “It’s been, what? Almost two years?”

“Something like that.” Truth was, I hadn’t given him another thought.

“Too bad I had to leave town when I did.” He brushed imaginary lint from the shoulder of my jacket. “But now I’m back. There’s no reason we can’t pick up from where we left off. You’re still single, aren’t you?”

Bloom’s face popped up in my mind. What did my relationship status have to do with him? He’d finally listened and stopped bothering me. He no longer showed up at the hospital unless he had to see Dr. Simms, and the one time I’d run into him, he hadn’t followed me back to my office. Not that I would have had time for him with two new interns to train, a load of paperwork to complete, and the constant pressure to make money out of paper to meet all the expenses of our unit.

“Yes, I’m still single.” I took a sip of my champagne. The bubbles prickled my nose. Nicholas was a handsome man, no doubt. Tall and lean with eyes that were an unusual mix of hazel and green, set against his russet hair. But the spark that had flared between us was long gone.

“Then can I count on seeing you later tonight? I’ve missed you, Logan. Every other man I’ve been with since you have paled in comparison.”

“You’re still a sweet talker.”

“That’s not an answer.” He grabbed my hand. “Dance with me. Maybe then I can remind you of the chemistry we had.”

“That chemistry is—” The world fell away and Nicholas along with it. Two young men just entered the room. James, dressed to kill in a silver dress and heels, was still no match for the boy next to him. Bloom looked stunning in a pair of tight black slacks, a long-sleeve black shirt, and a matching corset with purple detailing that cinched in his waist and emphasized his slender but well-built frame. His long hair had been tamed into a loose bun, with a few strands falling across his forehead, but he kept his piercings, and his eyeliner was heavily applied, as always.

Absolutely gorgeous. And I wasn’t the only one who noticed, although the people could be discussing James’s short dress that showed off his spectacular legs. But James in a dress was a common occurrence. Bloom, with all his claws retracted and in formal attire, wasn’t a sight we were used to. The little spitfire looked more presentable for company than I’d ever seen him.

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