Page 138 of Gloves Off

“You’re kidding.” She blinks.

How could I work with a doctor I was attracted to? I could barely concentrate on what she was saying during the appointment.

“Not kidding. I never told Ward you were incompetent, but I did tell him I was attracted to you.”

A slow blink, like she’s processing all of this. “You never told Ward I was incompetent.”

I shake my head as the sharp knife of regret and embarrassment twists in my gut. “I was pissed off about thelost causecomment and let my emotions get the best of me. It was childish and immature. I’m sorry again.”

She’s silent for ten agonizing seconds before she claps once and crows with victory, bouncing in my lap. “I knew it.”

“No, you didn’t.” The tension in my chest melts away. Not mad, then. That’s good.

“Sack ofpotatoes,” she whispers, eyes glittering like diamonds. “Sack of potatoes, my ass. Or maybe you’ve got a thing for potatoes.”

“What are you two hooting and hollering about?” Owens calls over.

“Volkov thinks I’m hot,” Georgia says proudly, and I roll my eyes, but I think I’m smiling again.

“Everyone knows this already,” Miller calls from the bar.

Her mouth turns up more and mischief sparks in her eyes. It’s nice, her smiling at me like that. “So now we know the truth. You’ve got a thing for me.”

“I don’t,” I lie quietly. “I definitely don’t.”

I do. I definitely do.

She laughs. “Sweetheart, I hate to break it to you, but that’s what an inconvenient boner means.” She lowers her voice again, studying me with that annoying, pretty smile. “You’re attracted to me. I bet that pisses you off so much, that you’ve got the hots for me. Ooooh, I bet that makes you mad.”

“‘Got the hots’? What are you, sixteen?”

“Is that why you were in such a bad mood over that trip earlier in the season?” She says it in this teasing, overjoyed way, like she knows the answer. “Tell the truth. The citizenship people might ask about this.”

“They’re not going to ask if I’m attracted to my wife!”

Her head falls back and laughter spills out of her. Something warm and crackling expands in my chest.

Georgia Greene’s laugh is something else. “I never would have told you if I knew you’d gloat like this.”

“Mhmmm.” She smiles at me, all smug and knowing, eyes sparkling. She fans herself, sliding me a coy look. “Is it hot in here or is it just me?” Her eyes drop to my mouth. “Volkov, your mouth is doing that weird turn-uppy thing again. Do you like my laugh or something?”

More than anything, but I can’t tell her that. I need to distract her.

“I like you in my jersey,” I admit. “The color’s nice on you. Looks good with your eyes.” My gaze moves to her auburn hair and I tug on a lock. “And your hair.”

What am I talking about? What am I saying?

She narrows her eyes, still smiling. “What’s wrong with you tonight?”

The bottom falls out of my stomach. I don’tknowwhat’s wrong with me. I can’t think around her. I can’t concentrate. She’s constantly on my mind.

Can she tell?

Her eyes skim over me, over my shoulders and torso, over the collar of my half-zip sweater. “You look nice, too.”

“Yeah?”

She looks away, smiling. “Yeah.”

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