‘What did I tell you?’

‘What’s next?’ the man himself asked as he approached the counter, moving those muscles like a panther. No wasted movement, all stealth and strength.

Patients. That was why she was here. Not because of a sexy man. More’s the pity. A quick scan told her, ‘A toddler with a button up his nose.’

Cody gave her a guarded smile. ‘Small children and orifices—not always a good look.’

How had she got partnered with Cody today of all days? She’d tossed and turned most of the night because of him invading her brain matter, reliving that kiss so often she thought she could be ruined for any other man and his kisses. She might as well join the nunnery now. Spending the day working alongside him would only add to the tension tightening her own muscles, turning her stomach into a washing machine on spin.

She needed to be distant with him. How did she do that when she knew what it felt like to have those arms wound around her? And those lips on hers? But… Always a but. They wanted different— No, they hoped to obtain similar things out of life. But those things could never match up between them. So to avoid heartache she was determined to remain totally professional around him. Starting now. A couple of hours late, but at least she could begin as she meant to go on.

Except it was as though everyone else thought they should be together after what they’d shared here on Friday. The talk going around the department was still about the body packer and his boss, but at least no one was asking endless questions about how she or Cody felt any more. While meant kindly, those questions had become tiring, and had hindered her determination to put it all behind her. It hadn’t been as easy as she’d thought to come to work today. She’d had to deliberately toughen her stance and put on a neutral face, but every time she walked past Resus One a cold shiver slid down her spine and she found herself looking over her shoulder, fully expecting to find a gun in her face.

She’d thought she was hiding it well until Cody had said quietly, ‘Resus One’s never going to be the same, is it?’

She’d looked at him, ready to snap that she was fine, but had met only empathy in those vivid green eyes. Of course. ‘Not for a while, any rate.’

Those eyes, if not that voice, would be the undoing of all her good intentions. Face it, Harper, those intentions are already unravelling. She straightened her already straight back. She could lock gazes with the man and not feel her knees knock. Couldn’t she? Better not try to find out now. There were patients waiting. Was it possible to fall in lust this quickly? Quickly? It had been over a week since Cody had started working here, days since he’d been her hero in Resus One. Falling in love only took an instant in some cases.

Love? Lust. Love? Crazy. Not when she’d vowed to avoid that particular emotion again. That didn’t count family and friends, but Cody could never be just an every day kind of friend. She’d never be able to look at him without wondering what the follow up to his kisses would be like. Oh, she had her suspicions. But that was only the physical side of things. There was plenty more to Cody than his hot bod and those divine lips. Characteristics that were equally attractive as his body.

‘Harper? Hello. Where have you gone this time?’ Cody still stood in front of her.

‘What do you mean, this time?’

‘We were talking about Resus One and you went all blank on me.’

Not blank, but at least she could be grateful he hadn’t known what was going on in her head. ‘Resus One. That’s what we talking about.’ A glance at the innocuous room still had her shivering.

Cody shrugged. ‘We could hold a party in there to banish the bad vibes.’

‘A fancy dress one.’ And just like that she relaxed, dropping the façade of being only a colleague who knew next to nothing about him. Not what she intended at all. But she couldn’t seem to help it. There was a lot of talk doing the rounds about the hug she and Cody had shared after the police had taken the gunman away. Apparently it had looked seriously intense. The people talking about it didn’t know the half of it. Harper’s heartbeat went double-time every time she thought about it.

He said, ‘You’d come as a pirate, brandishing a sword and slaying anything that moved.’

‘Actually, I do a better parrot, all feathers and squawks.’

His eyes widened. ‘A parrot?’

‘Yes, with a very long beak, all the better to peck kids with, and claws that hold chocolate cake.’ Her smile broadened as it came from deep inside. Yeah, it was good talking with Cody like this. It was good being with Cody full stop—therein lay the problem. But right now she couldn’t be bothered with problems. She was tired, hungry and so ready for a strong coffee.

‘This I have to see. Whose birthday is next in the brat pack?’

‘Your biggest fan.’

‘Of course. How could I forget when Levi mentioned it at least ten times? But he’s getting too old for parrots. Or pirates.’ Cody shook his head. ‘Here I was, hoping to see you with your cake claws out.’

Harper rolled her eyes with amusement. Cody had been such a hit yesterday, he’d been invited to the next birthday party in her family. It was kind of cool, really. If she hadn’t been trying to avoid him. Maybe she should toughen up and go with whatever came out of this liaison. Have some fun, enjoy the moment. Eek. Scary. Exciting.

Loud cries came from behind the curtains of Cubicle Three, thankfully interrupting her frightening train of thought. ‘That’s our cue.’ Pushing the curtain aside, she went to meet their small patient. ‘Hello, Jarrod. I’m Harper, the doctor who’s going to make you better.’

The little boy yelled louder and the man sitting on the bed holding him, presumably his dad, looked uncomfortable. ‘Sorry, but he’s got himself into a bit of a state.’

‘Hey, Jarrod, what’s this?’ Cody stepped up with his hand twisted into the shape of a…?

Harper had no idea, but Jarrod stopped yelling long enough to stare at the fingers that were now wiggling at him.

‘It’s Bobby the Bunny. Look what he can do.’ Cody made hopping gestures across the bed, pulled faces and made ridiculous noises.

And had Jarrod completely entranced.

Harper sighed. No surprise there. Yesterday she’d learned how good he was with kids. Introducing herself to the man holding Jarrod, she confirmed he was his dad. ‘Has Jarrod tried blowing his nose hard?’

‘Lots of times at first, but then it hurt, so he stopped.’

‘Any idea how big this button is?’

‘Bigger than a shirt button, but not by too much, if I’ve got the right one.’

Harper moved closer. ‘Jarrod, can I can look up your nose? Bobby Rabbit will be here watching you, okay?’

Jarrod screamed and turned his head into his father’s shoulder.

Not okay, then. ‘You’re going to have to hold him firmly while I take a look,’ she instructed the father. ‘Nurse, can you turn Jarrod’s head for me?’

After a fast and awkward exam, Harper shook her head. ‘That’s jammed at the top. I’m going to have to sedate him so that I can pull the button out with tweezers.’

‘Wait a moment.’ Cody disappeared before she had time to ask where he thought he was going.

Who’s the doctor around here? Her bonhomie faded. Another reason why she had to keep that distance: Cody had no right to think he could take charge.

The curtain flicked open as Cody returned. He held his hand under Jarrod’s nostrils. ‘Big breath through your nose, buddy.’

‘Pepper?’ Harper shook her head sharply. ‘I don’t think a sneeze is going to fix this. That button’s jammed tight.’

The first two sneezes proved her right. The third one sent the offending round of plastic flying across the floor.

‘Good boy, way to go.’ Cody held his palm up in front of the bemused boy. ‘High five, man.’

Jarrod’s hand was ridiculously tiny against Cody’s, but his smile was huge. ‘High five, Bobby Rabbit.’

Tags: Sue MacKay Billionaire Romance
Source: readsnovelonline.net