Page 23 of Misery and Ecstasy

Who the hell could that be?

It’s Sunday, and I never have appointments on Sunday.

Shit.I hope it’s not another drop-in from my mother.

Pushing myself off the counter, I tiptoe to the front door, reluctant to deal with whoever’s on the other side. But when I open it to find Draven on my doorstep, my adrenaline kicks into overdrive.

“Draven, h-hi. What are you doing here?”

His eyes quickly rake up and down my body before landing on mine again. He’s not avoiding my stare. That’s good. Hopefully it means hedidn’tcatch me last night. Though if he did,heshould be the one flooded with embarrassment for snooping around in a house that isn’t his.

But I only see confusion on his face.

“I thought I had to be here as a condition of the deal Royce made?”

“Everyone gets the weekend off. Yesterday’s session was more at the …request… of Royce.” He opens his mouth to say something, but I continue. “But I’m actually glad you’re here. I need you to fill out some paperwork that we never got around to yesterday. Come on in.”

Stepping aside, I hold the door open for him as he enters my house. Catching a whiff of him mixed with a hint of leather from his vest does things to my senses I don’t want to admit.

Damn it.

I need a minute before closing myself in a small room with him again.

“I just made some coffee. Do you want any?”

“I’m good, but thanks.”

“Are you sure? I don’t want you falling asleep on me again.” I laugh nervously, but the unamused stare I get from him cuts me off quickly. “Ooo-kay, follow me.”

I lead him into my office before grabbing the packet of paperwork I need him to fill out along with a pen.

“Go ahead and get started on this.” I hand everything to him. “I’ll be right back.”

I’m thankful for the excuse to have a moment to collect myself.

I feel my phone vibrate against my ass as I walk back to the kitchen. Pulling it free, I open my awaiting message.

Delilah:

It’s (717) 555-5971. He actually left a little while ago to come see you.

Me:

Thanks for sending. Yes, he just got here.

I don’t wait for a response before leaving my phone on the counter and pouring my coffee. I enjoy my first sip alone before heading back to my office. When I get there, he holds out the stack of paperwork for me.

“You finished all ten pages already?” Shocked, I place my mug on the table and sit in my chair. Flipping through the forms, I realize he’s only given me his name and his phone number.

When I look between him and the paperwork, his unfaltering, steely gaze makes it apparent he isn’t going to be filling out any more of it.

Whether I demand him to or not.

“All right, then. Well, I don’t want you to have wasted a trip, so I guess we can pick up where we left off yesterday?”

“You’re flying this plane, Doc.” He rolls his eyes. He doesn’t want to be here any more than I want him to be.

Yesterday, I didn’t want to deal with him because he’s part of the MC. Today, however, I don’t want to deal with him because I’m not comfortable with my highly-inappropriate, growing attraction to him.

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