Page 39 of It's Complicated

“Hey,” I say, smiling tentatively.

“Hi, Lori.” His face is a mask of polite friendliness and I. Hate. It.

“Wasn’t Aiden supposed to come today?”

Jace’s brows pinch. “He had the tasting menu with Kirsten and asked me to cover for him.”

His reply feels clipped and my smile falters. Gosh, I’ve never felt this nervous around him. Usually Jace is my safe place, my go-to confidant whenever I need someone to talk to, the calm in the midst of a storm. But today, the air is thick with tension.

“Oh right, the tasting.” I try and fail to sound casual. Jace is about to side step me when I block him. “Are you sure we’re okay? You didn’t reply last night.”

He shrugs. “I fell asleep.” He’ssolying.

“Really? So having to kiss me didn’t freak you out? I know it’s weird for us to kiss but—”

“This is not the place, Lori.” He makes to turn away again, but I grab his forearm, stopping him.

“I just want to make sure kissing me didn’t gross you out.”

He stares at me, inscrutable, the only movement of his features a ticking in his jaw. “Not. The. Place.”

“All right. What time do you get off?”

He takes a look at the crowded lobby. “I think we’re both in for overtime.”

He’s right, we’re not getting out of here any time soon.

“Don’t go home without saying bye, promise?”

He gives me a stiff nod.

I grab the patient file Rue gave me and scan it quickly before handing it to him. “In that case, I have a wonderful suspect UTI for you.” I hand him the file and beam.

He takes the folder from me and turns on his heels without another word.

Uh-oh.

15

JACE

“You have to be more careful in this weather, Mrs. Parker,” I tell the old lady I’m treating for a mild case of frostbite in her distal phalanges.

“Sorry, Dr. Barlow, I got my gloves wet and I didn’t think my fingertips would freeze so fast.”

“The wet clothing probably didn’t help, and it’s January in Chicago.” I catch a blur of Lori passing by and make a conscious effort not to look at her. I already hate how hyperaware I am of wherever she is in the room. But then I hear her laugh, and I can’t help myself, I look up.

And there she is, lighting up the entire room with her infectious smile. I feel my heart lurch in my chest, and I turn back to Mrs. Parker, trying to focus on her condition.

But every time Lori laughs or talks, my concentration falters. I finally finish to re-warm Mrs. Parker’s hand in a warm bath and loosely wrap her fingers with sterile dressings to protect the skin.

When I hand her a prescription for antibiotics should the area get infected, she takes it, staring at me keenly.

“You have some other health concerns you wanted to have checked out today?”

“You know.” She tilts her head, still studying me. “If you’re in love with the beautiful doctor across the room, you should tell her.”

I hardly suppress a grin. “What makes you say that I’m in love?”

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