Page 141 of Gloves Off

He doesn’t look surprised to see my giant bunny lounging on the chair by his bed. “I left the door open and he hopped in here.”

My heart stops like I’ve found my size shoe at a set sale. He’s being nice to my bunnies? That wasn’t on my bingo card.

“You said they stink.”

He shrugs, eyes on my hair again. “They do, but they’re growing on me.”

The way he’s looking at me right now makes me want a repeat of last weekend, after the awards ceremony. The way he made me come so many times I couldn’t see straight, couldn’t think straight.

It’s happening again, I realize. It’s not just sex; I’m starting to like him.

Detached,my survival instincts screech.

“I should get ready for work.” This time, when I slip out of bed, he doesn’t stop me.

“Georgia? You sleepwalk when I get hurt, don’t you?”

I freeze at the door, stomach sinking. I knew I shouldn’t have told him the real reason I transferred him to another doctor. He told me the thing about getting hard during our exam—oof, I’m going to be thinking about that a lot—and I was so proud of him for how he worked with Luca, and I just—I don’t know. When I told him about medical school and why I didn’t want to get married, he listened, so I had the urge to tell him more. Let him in a tiny bit further.

I don’t like this, though. I don’t like him seeing right through me. Seeing all the things I don’t want to acknowledge.

Staring at the floor, I nod, before I head to my room without another word.

A bouquet of coral roses arrives in my office that afternoon, and I don’t even need to look them up in the book.

Coral roses—fascination.

CHAPTER 66

GEORGIA

“Excuse me,”I say to Alexei the next day when I step into the living room.

He’s lying on the sofa, reading emails on his phone, the bunnies on either side of him. I don’t think I’ve ever seen any of them so relaxed.

He’s wearing a black T-shirt that looks unfairly good on him. Dark colors suit him. God, he’s hot.

“What is this?” I gesture at him and the bunnies.

He shrugs. “They wanted out of your room.”

“They were making noise?”

“I could just tell they wanted out.” He absently strokes a hand down Stefan’s back and the bunny’s eyes close.

Interesting. I start to smile. “Find any tumors?”

He gives me an annoyed look and I’m fully grinning now. “No, but I better keep looking.”

God, my heart. This is too freaking cute. “Are you guys all friends or something now?”

“Hellfire,” he sighs, and I’m fully grinning, because that means yes. “Do you need something?”

“Nope. Just finding this extremely interesting.” And adorable. I’m on the bottom of the stairs when he calls after me.

“I’ve got an idea for soccer practice tomorrow night.”

With narrowed eyes, I turn.

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