Page 10 of Bonded

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“What the…” Kat wrinkles her brow as she watches Digby move from the table with the guys to a more intimate booth in the corner with the blonde woman from earlier. She growls in the back of her throat, watching as the waitress now delivers a bottle of champagne to their table.

“Is something wrong?” Riley smiles. He turns around, unsure of what she’s looking at.

“Oh, um, no… No, I just… well, I thought I recognized someone, but it’s okay, it’s not him. It’s just some asshole I used to know.”

“Hey, guys…” Quinn stands over the pair of them, his hand on his brothers’ shoulder, concern set deep in his furrowed brow. “So, brother dearest what’s goin’ on?”

“Oh, hey Quinn, this is um… Katrina. She’s a friend of mine.”

“A friend? Wow! Well, it’s rare for Riley to have lady friends, so I’m very pleased to meet you,” he smiles, kissing her hand. “You know what Riley, we should actually call it a night, you have an early call tomorrow, so let’s go.”

“What? But why? You’ve only just got here. Don’t you want a drink first? I have plenty of time. Quinn, it’s fine.”

“No. No, I know you don’t like this place much. It was my bad idea to come here. Let’s just go somewhere else?”

“No, really, thisismy type of place. You know Kat, I only told him the other day how much I enjoy coming here.” He grins awkwardly, “Quinn, just get yourself a drink. We’re staying. I like it here.”

“So, do you come often?” Kat smiles.

“Oh, not really… just now and again. I’m working a lot. You know how it is being a doctor, lots of babies to deliver, and women to look at.” He groans in embarrassment.Oh,helldid I really just say that out loud?

“So you two are brothers?”

“Yup,” Quinn answers, and as he stares at Kat, he can’t help but smile. The green glint of her eyes hooks him in and he can see there’s something extremely appealing about her. “You know, you are exquisite.” The words drop from his mouth and he offers his hand in greeting. “Quinn Jacobs, lead clinical pharmacist, I work at the hospital too.”

Riley quickly turns and glares at his brother before bringing his elbow back, hitting him with a sharp crack in his ribs. He’s worried his brother’s going to do that ‘thing’he does. Because despite Riley’s good looks, Quinn has this special charm that makes girls fall at his feet. He uses it all the time, and it annoys the hell out of Riley but with Kat, there is no way he’s even giving him the chance.

“So, Zak told me you’re a doctor—a medic? Is that how you know Riley?”

“Yeah, kind of…” she smiles. “I applied for a vacancy at the hospital and we met at the interview.

“Oh, really? So, you’re gonna be working at the hospital?”

“No, not now. It was a back-up plan I had, just in case, I didn’t make the team. I mean, just in case I didn’t get the position I have now.”

“So, you work with the guys?” He smiles, “It’s okay, I know what they do. Don’t worry, secrets are safe with me. Did you know that, Riley? She works with thosebigguys, the ones over there. Thosehugeguys sitting at the table.” He cocks his eyebrow, hoping his brother will grasp his concerns.

He doesn’t and continues his conversation with Kat. “So you made the team then? I guess that means we won’t be working together?”

“No, sorry we won’t. It would’ve been nice, but the team is where I need to be right now.”

“Okay…. right, well we’ll be off then.” Quinn grabs at his brother’s arm, pulling him from his stool.

“Oh no… no, please don’t go.” Kat frowns, grabbing his other arm. “C’mon, we’re having tequila shots to celebrate me making the team. Come and join us. The guys will be fine and Quinn already knows them, so… c’mon.” She grins teasingly, “Do you like tequila?”

“Uh… not exactly, but okay! Why the hell not? What’s your motto, Quinn—life’s short, so fuck it and party.” He smiles, looking for his brother’s approval, which doesn’t come. “C’mon Quinn, you’re always telling me ‘get out there, Riley’, ‘find a nice girl, Riley’ and let off some steam? So, let’s do that.”

“Yeah, um… maybe tonight’s not really the right time to do that? I mean, letting off steam when you have work, it’s not a good combination. Let’s just go.”

“You go, I’m staying with Katrina. Sorry, I meant Kat. Quinn, stop, I’m enjoying myself.”

Kat collects up the tray of empty shot glasses that Hudson left on the bar for her. “C’mon I’ll introduce you. And you’re right, this is going to be fun.”

“Fuck!” Quinn closes his eyes and groans deep inside his chest. He’s not sure how he’s going to explain this to Digby and now he’s worried that it might not only be Riley that’s going to get his arms torn off tonight.

Chapter 4

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