Page 1 of Kiss Me for Christmas

THE NESTING WARD

Scarlett

“Don’t turn around,”Kassidy says under her breath, ”but Dr. Sexy is here.” I cut her a quick glare, but she just twists a lock of her dark hair around a finger, smiling like the witch she is.

“You have to stop,” I whisper harshly, praying the nurses bustling around don’t hear me. “Someone is going to overhear you one of these days and the last thing I need is for Dr. Enoch to think I have a grade school crush.”

“How can younothave a grade school crush on that man?” Kassidy’s eyes go comically wide as she pulls a loose thread off of my navy blue scrubs. “He’s pressed muscle wrapped in a lab coat and dunked in pure alpha dominance. You should jump his bones.”

“Stop it,” I hiss, suddenly very aware of the large presence behind me.

“Beta Marin.” Dr. Enoch’s deep voice rumbles right at my back. I pray he didn’t hear us, but alphas have excellent hearing.

“Dr. Enoch.” I grab my patient’s chart and hug it tight to my chest. “Alphas aren’t allowed in the Nesting Ward. I’m afraid I’m going to have to ask you to leave, sir.” I slowly turn, then tip my chin all the way up to look the alpha in the eye. He looks damn good, like always. His black hair is brushed back, away from his face, and he has dark scruff all along his jaw. He looks a bit tired. Probably working late again. I swear he lives here.

“My apologies for interrupting.” Dr. Enoch’s dark eyes crinkle around the edges as he smiles at me, then Kassidy. A single dimple pops in his left cheek and I hug the chart a little tighter. “I wanted to check on Violet. How is she progressing?” He crosses his arms across his chest, making his pecs push out.The alpha has bigger tits than I do.“Did the Galphimia help? Is she still in heat?” he asks as his brows pull together.

“I’ll go check on her.” Kassidy smiles at Dr. Enoch before giving me a quick wink. We just checked on the omega twenty minutes ago. There’s no need to do it again.

“I just put my notes in the system,” I say, trying like hell not to sound too stern. The last thing I want is to offend him. Once an alpha sees you as a challenge, it becomes impossible to work with them. “If you’d like, I can give you a summary of my notes.” I glance past him toward the exit, noticing a few nurses pause and give the alpha a shocked look.He needs to leave.“Perhaps we can discuss this in the main hallway.”

“Has her fever broken?” he asks, not moving an inch. “Is that her chart?” He points at the tablet still pressed against my chest.

“Yes.” I immediately hand it over, trying like hell to figure out how to get him out of here without ordering him. While we take every precaution with protective gear and a powerful scent filtration system to keep the pheromones from drifting up and down the halls, it’s still risky to have an alpha on the floor.

I open my mouth, ready to politely ask the alpha to leave, but Dr. Enoch lets out a pained sigh and I go quiet. He feelsso deeply for his patients.He’s so sweet.“This isn’t good,” he whispers as his eyes drift over the chart. Deep concern builds in his eyes as he flips the page, reading through her vitals.

“No,” I cross my arms. “It’s not good. Her fever has only gotten worse and nothing seems to be easing her symptoms. She’s just…suffering,” I shrug, not sure what else to say.Poor Violet.

“Omegas need to be mated young.” Dr. Enoch slowly closes the chart. “Twenty-eight is far too old. I fear she might not survive another heat.” His voice edges soft, almost pained by the fact. “She needs to be mated off soon.”

“I know.” My gaze drops, hating that the sweet omega is going through this. But this is how it is for her kind. They need to be cared for. Claimed. Loved. While I’m well aware that omegas don’t have rights like betas and alphas do, I sometimes envy that part of their lives. Their purpose is to be cherished and deeply loved. It just seems so wonderful.

And Violet deserves to be happy.

“Are you okay, Beta Marin?” Dr. Enoch’s dark eyes drift over my face, and my nipples instantly tighten. It’s clear I’ve been exposed to far too many pheromones today. It’s time for him to leave.Now.

“Let me walk you out.” I give him my sweetest smile as I hold my hand just at his broad back. The heat from his enormous body warms my very cold fingers. The curse of all technicians: ice-cold hands.

“Of course,” Dr. Enoch gives me an almost sheepish nod. Alphas don’t like being told what to do or where to go, but Enoch seems very gentle compared to my other alpha work colleagues. He’s devoted to his patients and very soft-spoken. I like having him around.

“Any plans for Christmas?” the tall doctor asks as we walk slowly down the hall.

“Just work.” I give him a quick smile. He holds my gaze as a slow, sexy smile slides into place, and that damn dimple reappears. I’m suddenly too warm, and I duck my head.Why is he looking at me like that?

“Does that mean you’ll be at the holiday party?” His voice lifts as if hopeful.

“I..uh…I hadn’t thought about it,” I say honestly. The holiday parties at Havenfield aren’t exactly ragers. It’s forced conversation and fruit punch with co-workers that I already see more than my dying houseplants.

“I was thinking of going.” Dr. Enoch’s feet slow as the ward’s double doors come into view.

“Okay.” I smile, not sure what to say to that.

“It would be nice to see you there.” He tucks his hands behind his back, making his white dress shirt pull tight across his broad chest. “I hate the idea of anyone being alone at Christmas.”

I come to a stop, a little surprised at the turn this conversation has made.

Dr. Enoch is friendly enough, but I’ve never had anything other than a professional relationship with the alpha. This feels….like more? Maybe it’s not and I’m just projecting. Kassidy did just tease me about liking him.That has to be it.

---