Page 31 of The Potter

“Oh, is that what you’re mad about? The legalities of me seeing Ms. Belle without a nurse in the room?”

Duke is playing a dangerous game. One he might win.

“Or is it because you don’t like to share Ms. Belle?”

Inhaling, I stride to my chair and throw myself down, cradling my head in my hands. “Fuck you.”

“Fuck me? You mean, fuck Halle, right? Since she’s the one suffering from your lack of OR time.” He arches a brow, the humor disappearing from his tone. “Why won’t you take her case, Brother?”

“You know why I can’t,” I say, breathing in and out, willing my hands not to shake at the thought of taking a scalpel to her skin.

“I know you can’t keep doing consults. You have to let him go, Vance. You’re a surgeon. The best one in the state. Patients depend on you.”

“Don’t you think I know that?” I snap, dropping my hands. “Don’t you think that’s all I think about when I’m up pacing?”

Duke flinches. “I didn’t mean for it to seem like you didn’t care, but, dude, the longer you stay away from the OR, the more the anxiety will build. I’ve seen this happen to other surgeons. You can’t let go of a lifetime of work. People make mistakes.”

“Not me.”

Duke smiles, but it’s lacking. “Yes, Vance. Even you make mistakes. Lo—”

“Logan,” I interrupt. “Logan, my best friend. Not just anyone.”

Nodding, Duke continues, “Logan won’t be the last case you botch.”

That word. Botch. It sends a rush of panic through me, and I stuff my hands between my legs. “It will be if I never operate again.”

“What’s your plan then? Work as a professor at the university? News flash, Vance. You have a personality of a junkyard dog. Students would be terrified of you. Trust me, working in an OR—alone—is your best bet. You suck at peopling.”

“What the hell is peopling?”

Duke shoves his sucker in my pen holder and stands. “It means get your ass back in the OR, where you belong, and help this girl. She moved across the country, just for the talent you want to piss away.”

I stand. “You think I don’t want to help her?” Blood rushes through my veins. “You think I like turning her away?”

“Don’t you? I hear the rumors, big brother. You give this girl shit every day. She might as well be your personal dumping ground.”

Holding my tongue, I grind down on my back teeth. The key to winning any argument with Duke is taking the fun out of it. If you don’t give him something to run with, he’ll tire of the conversation and move on to someone or something more entertaining.

“Fine. Have it your way.” He makes for the door. “If you don’t operate on her, I will. She’s getting what she came for.”

Fuck it. “You’re not touching her.” I’m in his face before either of us can process what I did.

“Oh, not only am I going to touch her, big brother. I’m going to perfect her for you. Maybe then you’ll be able to tolerate her.”

He’s up against the door on his tiptoes before I realize it’s me holding him there.

“Well, look who seems passionate about our new employee…”

I’m so sick of his games. “You know I can tolerate her,” I grit, which only makes Duke laugh.

“I know. I also know that you want to do more than tolerate her.”

“Our relationship is strictly professional.”

“Then do her revision,” he challenges. “Remain unaffected and perform the surgery.”

Dropping his shirt, I let him go and step back. “Get out of my office, Duke.”

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