Page 45 of Paging Dr. Summers

Against my better judgment, my eyes drifted to Brooke’s house, searching for any sign of life, any hint that she’d come home. The windows stared back at me, dark and lifeless.

Was she still out with Roman? Or worse, had she invited him back to her place? It was none of my business, but the thought aggravated me to no end. I tried to convince myself I didn’t care, silently repeating it like a mantra, but the lie fell flat.

“Erica,” I whispered her name. “Tell me what to do. Please tell me you don’t hate me.” I didn’t expect an answer from her, but I heard something.

A piercing shriek shattered the quiet night, and my breath caught when I realized it was Brooke. My eyes darted frantically, trying to pinpoint where the sound had come from.

“Oh. My. Gosh! It’s freaking freezing!” Brooke’s voice rang out, laced with both annoyance and disbelief.

I turned toward the lake, squinting in the dim light until I spotted her, her head barely visible as it bobbed in the water. My pulse kicked into overdrive. What the hell was she doing out there? Did she not realize how dangerous it was to swim alone at night? Assuming she was, in fact, alone and not still with Roman.

Without another second of hesitation, I sprinted down the deck steps, the uneven ground of the rocky beach stabbing at the soles of my feet with every step. But I didn’t care. All I could think about was reaching her, getting her out of the lake safely.

“Brooke, I’m coming!” I shouted, the icy water lapping over my toes as I charged forward.

“Logan?” Her voice carried over the lake, shaky but unmistakable. “What are you doing out here?”

“What am I doing? What areyoudoing?”

There was a pause, followed by a hesitant, almost sheepish reply. “Well ... I’m ... uh ... kinda, sorta, skinny-dipping?” Her teeth were chattering so hard, it was a wonder she managed to get the words out.

I froze, my brain short-circuiting as the realization hit me—she was nude. Completely, utterly nude.

This was definitely not going to help my insomnia.

“Logan,” she stammered. “I don’t think I can move. It’s so c-c-cold.”

Oh, hell. I dove into the water, the icy sting biting into my skin, but the fire driving me to reach Brooke burned hotter, pushing me forward. The cold barely registered as my focus locked on her, bobbing in the dark water ahead.

When I was almost close enough to touch her, she shouted, her voice trembling, “Don’t come any closer—I’m naked!”

“I realize that,” I called back, trying to keep my tone gentle yet firm. “However, you have very little body fat, and your completely exposed skin means hypothermia will set in faster than you think. We need to get you out of the water. Now.” I reached out to her. “Just take my hand and I’ll lead you out.” It seemed like the best course of action.

“Okay, but keep your eyes closed,” she pleaded.

“Just give me your hand,” I said, not making any promises. My focus was on getting her out of the water safely, not on the fact she was completely bare. At least, that was what I kept telling myself.

I wasn’t going to look—at least not intentionally—but the thought of what I might see was already wreaking havoc on my self-control. My priority was her safety, but I couldn’t ignore the fact that Brooke had just turned my night into a test of willpower I wasn’t sure I’d pass. A cold shower wouldn’t cut it after this.

A wave of relief surged through me as her icy hand slipped into mine.

“I’m s-s-sorry,” she stuttered.

“You don’t need to apologize. Let’s just get you out of the water.Then you can tell me the undoubtedly fascinating story of why you’re out here.”

A soft, breathy laugh escaped her, and I couldn’t help but feel a flicker of warmth despite the freezing water. I guided her through the lake until we reached the shallows where she could stand.

“Can you grab the blanket I left on the shore?” she asked, her voice trembling. “Hold it up in front of you so you can’t see me. I’ll try to walk out myself.”

The blanket might just have been my saving grace. “Are you sure you can manage?”

She nodded, her features illuminated by the moonlight, making her look almost otherworldly. Ethereal, even. The sight of her vulnerable yet so damn beautiful sent a shot of longing through me I couldn’t suppress. The urge to pull her into my arms was overwhelming, but I forced myself to focus. Right now, her safety was all that mattered.

I rushed out of the water, scanning the shoreline until I spotted her blanket crumpled in a heap. Grabbing it, I sprinted back into the lake, up to my knees, as I held the blanket in front of me, bracing myself for what came next. I’d have no choice but to hold her close, and the thought sent a mix of determination and dread coursing through me.

“Can you see anything?” she asked through her chattering teeth.

“Brooke, just get out of the water,” I said, my doctor instincts taking over, leaving no room for argument.

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