Page 1 of The Potter

Halle

Assholes come in all shapes and sizes.

This one, with his chestnut hair, pressed suit, and emerald green eyes, is the leader of them all.

“Serena!” he yells for the second time since I’ve been in his office.

“You better hope Serena comes in here with two of the burliest security officers you have,” I threaten, nodding to the phone in his hand, “because I’m not moving from this chair unless someone drags me from it.”

Dr. Potter, a world-renowned surgeon, and the man I traveled on a bus cross-country to see, tips his head toward the ceiling, and releases an exasperated breath. “That can be arranged.”

I’ll admit, most of Dr. Potter’s frustration is my fault.

But had I known he was a giant asshole, I wouldn’t have been caught off guard when he walked into this meeting, sporting a frown and the tightest ass I’d ever seen in a pair of slacks.

Not that I make it a habit of looking at my physicians’ asses. But Dr. Potter, with his silent stare and snug pants, passed right by me, without so much as a hello, taking a seat in front of me and clipping out, “I can’t help you.”

He didn’t even open my file. He simply turned me down in those first few seconds of meeting me.

I sort of… lost it.

Words were said and no apologies were made.

Until now, when he grabbed the phone and started dialing for security.

“Look,” I jump up from my seat in front of the massive oak desk and put my hand over his. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to be such an annoyance.”

Dr. Potter allows the phone to click back into the cradle. A flicker of irritation crosses his face, and I take it as an opportunity to smooth things over and salvage this meeting. “Okay, I admit, I was pushy but not annoying.” I hold his severe gaze, channeling all my pain and hope over the past four years into this one moment. “But you don’t know how long I’ve waited for this meeting with you.”

His hands travel to his suit collar, fingering the material. Could that be a sign he’s cracking? “Understood, but like I told you twenty minutes and several insults ago, I can’t help you.”

This man… “I did not insult you.”

He makes a scoff-like noise. “Asking me if I,” he makes air quotes with his fingers, ”‘dolayaway’ is an insult to every surgeon I know.”

“Who knew surgeons were so sensitive?” I slap my hand over my mouth. “I’m sorry. That came out wrong. All I meant was I didn’t realize layaway was a big thing with surgeons. I assumed you all worked like a local K-Mart.”

Dr. Potter doesn’t find my humor funny as he rounds his desk, towering over me as his hands grip the armrest, caging me in.

Gah, he smells divine. Like leather banged a bottle of whiskey and spit out this devil with the face of an angel.

I struggle to find my voice with him this close. “I said I was sorry. Are you really going to hold that against me?”

The muscle in his jaw clenches almost rhythmically.

Don’t reach up and touch it, Halle. I know it’s been a long time since you found a man attractive, but this one isn’t stable, and you’ve had enough psychos in one lifetime.

I stay silent, not even expelling a breath as I watch Dr. Potter work through the battle in his gorgeous head.

His decision is the key to my entire future.

Please say yes. Please say yes.

“Your comment is forgiven, but I still can’t take on your case.”

My heart drops back into the black void of my soul, where despair holds it.

“Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have another appointment.” Dr. Potter straightens, keeping his eyes fixed on me as he smooths his shirt, tucking it in like he isn’t bothered in the slightest.

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