Page 38 of Sinful in Scrubs

I stepped out of Marcus’s embrace, not wanting to play Kevin’s game but knowing there was a game to be played if I wanted to be taken seriously at this job. I loved being a surgeon, but I hated the games that came with office politics.

“Are you sure you’ll be okay?” Marcus asked.

I loved his concern for me. I really did. It made me all warm and tingly inside, which was a wonderful feeling, considering Kevin’s presence made me want to puke.

“I do not want to dance with you tonight, Kevin,” I confessed as he reached for me to dance. I avoided his arms. “If you want to have a conversation with me, then fine, but I’m not dancing with you.”

Kevin was a crappy dancer. If I thought I was bad, Kevin’s lack of coordination made me look like Ginger Rogers from old black-and-white films.

“Well, I understand you have a presentation coming up with the review committee,” Kevin said.

“How do you—” I cut myself off. I knew exactly how he knew. He was now on the review committee, thanks to his friends in powerful places.

“I don’t see how that’s relevant right now,” I said. “It would be nice if we could not talk about work. It would be better if we could not talk at all.”

“I think you should take this as a professional courtesy,” Kevin said. “And I’m only going to tell you once to stay away from Dr. Walker.”

“How on earth would I do that? We’re colleagues.”

“I know how you are with colleagues, Emma,” Kevin said.

“Kevin, we broke up. So this jealous act you’re doing is inappropriate, unprofessional, and no—we’re not doing it.”

“We’re not doing what, Emma?”

“I’m not playing your little power game.”

“Are you sure you want to talk to me like that?” Kevin asked.

“Are you threatening me?”

“Why would I do that?”

I raised my brows and just stared at him. Kevin was good at manipulative games. He wasn’t going to say the words that would incriminate himself. He was waiting for me to make the accusations so he could say I was wildly speculating and making ridiculous claims.

“I’ll take your words under advisement. Good night, Kevin.”

“I wasn’t done talking to you, Emma,” he said as he grabbed my arm and swung me around.

“That doesn’t matter,” I said as calmly as I could. “Because I am very much done talking to you.”

I cast my gaze around the ballroom, eagerly looking for Sarah, Marcus, or any friendly face that might keep Kevin at bay. When I didn’t see anyone, I decided to cut my losses and leave. Tonight was supposed to be fun, and spending time in Kevin’s company was about as far from fun as one could get. It was time for me to leave.

18

MARCUS

“Emma,” I called after her as I saw her walk with determination through the atrium and toward the front entry.

She didn’t hear me at first and kept walking, head up, shoulders back. It was clear that she was leaving. I quickened my pace and called to her again. She slowed momentarily as I jogged to catch up.

“Are you leaving? Did I do something? Is everything all right?”

“Yeah, I’ve got to go,” she said, gesturing back toward the party area where people were still happily dancing. “I just… I can’t be in there with him.”

“That guy was a bit of a jerk. Let me walk you home,” I offered.

“That’s not really necessary. I live nearby.”

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