Page 13 of Code Red Chemistry

“What the—” I sputter, my heart racing.

“Hey,” he says.

That’s it.

Hey.

Sure, the single word is suddenly the sexiest word in the English language, but still.

“You can’t call a fake Code Red in a hospital!”

His grin is equal parts sheepish and smug, and he shoots a glance over my shoulder. “Technically, it wasn’t me.”

I spin to find my supposed best friend peeking out from around the corner of the corridor. A half dozen nurses have gathered around and are practically swooning.

“You’re impossible,” I say, turning back to Levi and struggling to fight back a smile as I cross my arms.

He comes closer and leans in to press a kiss to my cheek. “It’s nice to see you again, too.”

“What are you doing here?”

“Saying thank you,” he says with a wink. “And making sure you’re not planning to stand me up Wednesday night.” His voice drops, sending shivers through my limbs. “Plus, I couldn’t wait three whole days to see you again.”

Heat blooms in my chest, but I level him with myI’m a doctor, and this is seriouslook. “Staging a fake emergency isn’t exactly winning you any brownie points.”

“What about bringing you flowers?” He holds up the bouquet encased in signature White Glove tissue paper. “And your favorite candy?”

So he did remember how much I love the completely artificial yet undeniably satisfying confections that were a staple of my childhood. Either that or Libby clued him in.

“Slightly better,” I admit, accepting them both and trying not to notice how good he smells, like cedar and smoke and trouble.

“So, Wednesday?”

“Wednesday,” I confirm.

“I’ll pick you up at your place at seven.”

“Sounds suspiciously like a real date.”

“That’s the idea, Doc.” He winks and backs toward the exit. “Try not to miss me too much until then.”

I watch him go, drawing a deep breath, my nose filled with the scent of the fragrant flowers as he disappears around the corner. Before I can get back to work, Libby sidles up beside me.

“So, you’re on his side now?” I ask, shooting her a sidelong look.

She lifts a shoulder. “I’ve never seen you like this.”

“Like what?”

“Like you’re glowing from the inside out whenever he’s around,” she says softly.

I sink against the wall, the cellophane around the flowers crinkling. “I may be glowing, but I might also be setting myself up for another broken heart when it comes to Levi Reyes.”

“Why don’t you withhold judgment until you see how the date goes?”

She’s right. After all, he showed up here today, bearing gifts, and that’s already more than I got last time the day after wewere intimate. I hand Libby the flowers and tear open the bag of gummy worms, plucking two off the top and offering her one. “Did you happen to tell him these are my favorite?”

She shakes her head. “He didn’t ask.”

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