Page 51 of Paging Dr. Summers

Logan ran the back of his hand down my cheek, the corners of his mouth lifting into an almost smile. “You undo me, Brooke.”

“Is that a good or bad thing?”

“Good.”

“So, does that mean you’re going to be my fling?” I seriously couldn’t believe I was asking again. Mom would be so proud. “I won’t tell anyone how old I am.” I grinned.

He smiled a genuine smile before leaning his forehead against mine. His warm, deliberate breaths brushed across my skin. It was as if with each breath he was daring himself to do this.

“I can’t imagine spending this summer with anyone else.”

“Me either. Does this mean you’re going to be my fling, Dr. Summers?” He still hadn’t answered, and now, I was feeling more than a little foolish. But I had to know.

He laughed before pressing his lips to mine, owning them without hesitation. I took that as a yes and parted my lips, inviting him to deepen the kiss, which he did with such tenderness, it was electrifying. I had to grip his shirt to steady myself from the shivers he was adept at producing in me. My heart pounded with each prod of his tongue as my mind spun with all the possibilities this summer with Logan held.

Logan’s hands wove into my hair, undoing my messy bun. My tresses spilled around us, creating a barrier between us and the world. And for a moment, it felt as if we were the only ones who existed. When he finished exploring my mouth, he tilted my head back and brushed his lips across my neck, trailing kisses down to my shoulder, where he lingered, his head nuzzling into my neck as if he didn’t want to move.

I rested my chin on his head and wrapped my arms around him, feeling the steady rise and fall of his chest.

“You don’t feel guilty, do you?” I asked, my voice barely audible, afraid he might say yes.

“No,” he murmured, his breath warm on my shoulder. “I just forgot what holding and being held by a beautiful woman feels like.”

“I’d be happy to remind you all summer long.”

“I look forward to it,” he whispered against my skin.

“So do I.”So did I.

“YOU HAVE A VISITOR IN the break room,” Evie grumbled when I walked out of patient room one. Evie was the charge nurse, and, as far as I could tell, she loved to strike fear in the ER staff. I did my best to avoid her, though I wasn’t intimidated by her and part of me even empathized with her.

I had a feeling my colleagues thought of me as standoffish. And admittedly, I had been. I promised myself I would be better. Not smarmy like Dr. Everett, but more cordial than I was previously.

“Thank you.”

Evie rolled her eyes. “I don’t remember announcing that today was bring-your-friend-or-partner-to-work day.” She marched off.

I smiled, hoping that meant Brooke was in the break room. She’d mentioned she would try to drop by after she and Lola volunteered at the animal shelter in Carson City. Brooke was trying her best to help someone every day. Little did she know how much she’d been helping me.

On my way to the break room, I crossed paths with Dr. Everett. He avoided making eye contact, likely aware of Brooke’s presence and who she was there to see. I took a bit too much pleasure knowing it was me, not him, she’d come to visit.

“Dr. Everett,” I murmured in passing.

“Dr. Summers,” he mumbled back.

Smirking at how bothered Dr. Everett appeared, I walkedinto the break room to find Brooke chatting with Calista Granger and her friend Jules and Lucy Shackwell, who was one of the ER nurses. I paused to admire Brooke’s bright smile and how effortlessly she fit in, like she was talking to lifelong friends.

It didn’t take long for Brooke to notice me. She popped off her seat at the table, dashed toward me, wrapped her arms around me, and snuggled in as if she belonged there. I’d never been with anyone as naturally or as publicly affectionate as her. Not that I minded—it just caught me off guard, and I had to remind myself to reciprocate. As soon as my brain kicked in, I put my arms around her.

“Hi.” I kissed the top of her head, recalling every kiss we’d shared the night before and longing for more.

She tilted her head and rewarded me with a smile. “Hey, there.”

“Logan, we were just getting to know yourfriend,” Calista said.

Friend? I’d never had a friend like Brooke before, but I wasn’t sure what else to call her.Girlfrienddidn’t seem right, seeing as we’d already settled on a breakup date. But telling people she was my summer fling would make me sound like a pig, especially since I was doing it to abate my own guilt. I’d decided the previous night to avoid overthinking the semantics and focus on savoring every moment with Brooke, and just hoped Erica wouldn’t hate me.

Brooke gave me a knowing look. “Yep, we’re good friends, aren’t we?”

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