Page 14 of Back in the Saddle

He took the hat off and grinned at her like he couldn’t believe his eyes.

Well, at least she wasn’t the only one feeling like an idiot. Damn it. What was he doing here?

‘Hello, Caroline.’ He smiled at her, and an intense feeling of déjà vu hit her. ‘I was wondering if you were going to recognise me. Fancy meeting you here.’

‘Of course I’d recognise you.’ She dropped her eyes to the floor.

How could she forget?

‘I’m glad to hear it. Especially since you declared our kiss only “decent”.’

Her eyes widened in alarm at the word ‘kiss’. She whipped her head round, checking if anyone she knew had overheard them. That’d give something to get people talking, only two weeks into a new job. Caroline hated workplace gossip. She had always made a point of not engaging in any of it herself, nor did she give people a reason to feature in it. And she wasn’t about to change that.

She felt herself blush even more as she raised her eyes again and looked up at his face. This was a mistake. Her gaze darted to his lips, her breath hitching at the memory of their tongues crushing together.

‘You know the kiss was better than decent,’ she murmured.

‘Good. I was thinking about it.’

They reached for the same piece of paper, the last one still lying on the floor, and their fingers brushed against one another. Caroline stiffened at the contact. His touch seemedto take away her ability to form a coherent thought or sentence.

You’re in so much trouble. So much fucking trouble.

She pulled her hand away, straightening as she stood up. ‘I’m so sorry. I hope I didn’t hurt you?’

‘Don’t worry, I’m fine. These things happen.’ He grinned. ‘Especially if someone’s looking at their phone when walking.’

‘I was looking up where my next appointment is. I’ll be more careful in the future.’ She tipped her chin, gesturing to the pile of folders, now safely back in her arms. ‘Thank you for helping to pick up these.’

‘No problem.’ His eyes moved up and down, studying her face intently with those grey eyes she couldn’t get out of her head. Their beautiful depth almost made her feel like they were the only two people in the corridor. Everything else seemed to slow down when their eyes locked. Like no one else mattered. Her cheeks were now burning hot, and she felt her stomach do strange acrobatics.

She looked away first, clearing her throat awkwardly. ‘Well … Erm … Yes. Thanks, again. For helping with the folders.’Don’t blush, don’t blush.‘I’d better be going, already late for an appointment.’ She readied herself to walk away when his response made her stop abruptly.

‘An appointment?’ His eyebrows knitted together. ‘Hope everything’s fine?’

Caroline blinked.You’re in a hospital. He must think you’re sick. ‘Oh, yes, I’m fine. I work here.’

Hunter’s gaze landed on the stack of the folders back in her arms. ‘You’re a doctor?’

She inhaled sharply, pushing the wave of anxiety right down to the pit of her stomach. ‘Something like that.’

He nodded and she was grateful he didn’t push her for more details. She didn’t have time to get into it now.

‘Can I walk with you?’

She raised an eyebrow in suspicion. ‘But you don’t even know where I’m going.’

‘True. But I have quite a lot of time to kill and don’t want to sit around waiting.’ He stopped, a shadow of sadness crossing his face.

She realised he was probably waiting for someone who was either having some tests done or was receiving treatment. Considering where they were, whatever the circumstances, they likely weren’t the happiest. Hunter didn’t look like he wanted to divulge more than he did, and she wouldn’t ask.

Her heart ached and she nodded. ‘OK then. Walk with me.’

They walked in silence. Caroline kept timidly glancing at him, only to find him already watching her. As they walked into the elevator, she pressed the round button for floor six. She stood with her back to him, pointedly trying to avoid looking at him. Her insides were in disarray whenever their eyes locked, and each time it happened, it untethered her.

‘So, what do you do here?’ Hunter asked. ‘“Something like” a doctor is very broad.’

‘I’m a research assistant.’ She hugged the folders to her chest. ‘Probably sounds more exciting than it is.’

---