Page 27 of The History Between Us

Clearing my throat, I say, “I’m going to start breaking down one of the patient rooms while Doug finishes up with his patient.”

Colt gives me a mock solute before returning his attention to the task at hand. Doesn’t bother saying anything.

I spin on my heels with a huffed breath and go back toward the patient rooms. I need to snap out of it.

14

Colt Bishop

“Hey, Colt!” William calls out.

Walking down to where he’s at, I pop my head around the makeshift wall. “What’s up?”

Our eyes meet as he glances up at the sound of my voice. “Can you help me tear this down?” he asks. “It’s stuck for some reason, and I can’t do it myself.”

“Sure thing, Doc.”

To say I’m surprised William has made any effort at all to talk to me today would be an understatement. I’m still annoyed that he switched my care over to Dr. Braylon without so much as a heads up, and I mostly intended to not interact with him at all today because of it—which is kind of childish, I know—so, having him come up and talk with me threw me off a bit at first. Now, though, I’m going to enjoy this. Maybe see if I can push a button or two, especially since we’re the only ones here.

“How’s the new pup doing?” I ask him, after we successfully break down one of the beds.

“She’s good,” he says, looking more than a littleflustered. “Well behaved and sweet. She’s a nice addition to the house.”

“Show me some more pictures.”

Huffing out a sigh, he brushes his hair off his forehead. “Colt, we’re a little busy.”

“There’s always time for wiener pics.”

I’ll give it to him; he triesreallyhard to not react to that joke, but I don’t miss the twitch to his lips.

“It’s okay to laugh, Doc,” I tease. “I know I’m funny. Now show me the pics.”

“I don’t have many pictures of her on my phone.”

“Bullshit.” I snort. “I’m willing to bet money you have tons of shots of her. Let’s see it.”

Furrowed brow and a tight jaw, he holds my gaze for a long moment before folding, pulling his phone out. Turning the screen my way, he flips through photo after photo of the small, cute dog.

“Ha! I knew I was right.”

“Anybody ever told you how modest you are?” he deadpans,stillflipping through pictures of Winnie. She seems to thoroughly enjoy cuddling with William. A fact I find positively a-fucking-dorable.

“Once or twice,” I retort with a lazy shrug. “And devilishly handsome.”

William puts his phone away, looking at me, deadpan, ignoring the last comment altogether. “Speaking of Winnie, I took her to the vet earlier this week.”

“Did you now?”

“Yeah. Whit sure had a lot to say.”

Uh-oh.“He can get pretty chatty about the animals,” I tease. “Try not to hold it against him. We know he’s a little weird. You should see how he gets with toy airplanes.”

“Colt.” My name comes out harsh and growly, and it sends a shiver down my spine.Oh, fuck, how do I get him to say it like that again?

“William,” I reply softly, innocently, with a smirk.

Placing his hands sassily on his hips, his eyes narrow on me as he asks in a low tone, “Why does Whit know intimate details between you and me?”

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