Page 126 of The Night Shift
My heart soars. Then explodes into tiny butterflies with unicorn horns.
“Holly.” My voice comes out lighter than I intend.
“I need to talk to you.” Her voice is stern, her expression unreadable. She stands in the doorway, dark blue scrubs hugging her frame, one hand on her hip, cinching the lab coat at her waist. Her short blonde waves are slightly tousled, a few strands falling loose around her face. And her lips. Oh man, her fucking lips. Pressed into a thin line like she’s annoyed. But only I know how soft they get when she’s sighing my name, how they part on a gasp, how they taste like sin when she kisses me back. I should get on my knees right now and worship at her feet just for another taste —
“Wait,” Kennedy cuts in, eyes bouncing between us. “Holly as in…you’reDr. Hollister?”
Oh, crap.
Holly’s head snaps to her, aghast. “What did you just call me?”
I look between them. “You two know each other?”
“She’s the bad joke lady who doesn’t know how to laugh,” Kennedy says.
Holly pinches the bridge of her nose and mutters something that sounds dangerously close toI’m going to kill this child.
“Am I missing something here?” I interrupt.
“Is this really relevant right now?” Holly goes on. “Theo, I need to talk to you.”
Hearing my name and ‘need’ in the same breath from Holly’s mouth does something to my insides.
Kennedy folds her arms, unimpressed. “Seriously?Thisis what you’ve been mooning over for three years? Do you have no taste at all?”
Heat creeps up my neck. “I, uh…”
Holly turns to me, one perfectly arched brow raised, arms crossing tight over her chest. Fuck. Is this what Parker feels when he has to choose between April and his cat?
“I can’t leave,” I say. “Her mom’s gone to get her some ice cream.”
Holly frowns at Kennedy. “What flavor?”
Kennedy meets her glare, equally unimpressed. “Strawberry.”
Holly hums in acknowledgment, then turns and flags down a passing nurse, asking if she can stay with Kennedy until her mom returns. The nurse offers a smile, nods, and steps inside, taking my place by the bed.
Holly’s attention swings back to me, eyes expectant. “Today please?”
My feet are moving before I even register it.
Holly doesn’t check if I am following her. She knows I will. And fuck me, but I love that. I love that she expects me to obey her, that she doesn’t have to ask twice.
We walk to a faraway spot in the corridor before she turns to face me.
“So, to what do I owe this pleasure?” I ask. “Couldn’t get enough of me last night?” A couple of doctors walk by us, and I raise my voice just a little to mess with her. “I appreciate the enthusiasm, love, but the hospital corridor is hardly the place for round two.”
I wait. Expecting the usual glare or a sharp retort, but nothing.
She just stares at me like she’s bored. “Corbin needs the latest pediatric trauma guidelines. Something about updates in non-op management for liver and spleen injuries.”
“And he sentyouto ask me?”
“No, I volunteered because I just love talking to you. Do you have them or not?”
“Uh, they’re in the shared paediatric surgery protocols drive.”
“Great. Thanks.” She turns to leave.
