“At a bar. Just the two of us.” I gestured between us. “You’re part of an active investigation. I’m supposed to be impartial.”
Cole leaned back, studying me. “Is that the only reason?”
Nope, I thought. I was definitely going to go home, pull my vibrator out from my drawer, and stroke myself to a sweaty orgasm while replaying every second of this encounter.
I didn’t say that, though. And he didn’t press for an answer.
The waiter returned the folio. Cole slid his card back into his wallet, then stepped out of the booth. “I’ll walk you out.”
The parking lot was cold and mostly empty. We walked side by side, not talking, but it felt comfortable instead of awkward.
I unlocked the car, turning to say goodnight. Cole was closer than I expected. Not crowding, just…there.
“Whether or not we do this again—and I hope we do because those people don’t scare me—I’m glad you invited me out. I needed normal conversation with another human. I forget what that feels like.”
“Same.” I opened my car door, one foot inside. “And you’re right. We should definitely do this again.”
“I’d ask you to text me when you get home but…” He started to laugh.
“See, you don’t listen, Dr. Vaughn. You’re in mypersonalphone, not my work phone.”
“Then I’ll expect a text when you make it home.” He stepped back. “Drive safe, Harper.”
“You too, Cole.”
I watched him walk toward his car in my rearview mirror. He lifted a hand in a small wave before getting in.
The drive home was quiet, just the hum of the road and my thoughts. I’d enjoyed that, more than I’d expected to. Cole was easy to talk to, easier to laugh with. Thoughtful, deep, intellectual in a way that didn’t need to prove itself. Honest without oversharing.
And yes,fine. In a way I was trying hard not to overthink.
At home, I pulled out my phone and texted Cole the minute I crossed the threshold into my apartment. Then I put myself through my normal routine—keys in the bowl, bag on the chair, phone on the charger.
I headed to my bathroom, washed my makeup off, and pulled off my clothes, dumping my suit into a dry cleaning bag.
I checked my phone one more time before hopping in the shower.
Cole:
Thanks for letting me know you made it home.
Cole:
See you tomorrow. Sleep well, Harper.
I set the phone down and sighed. Here comes real life, encroaching on my fantasies of fucking that fine ass surgeon until I couldn’t see or walk straight.
Chapter Six
COLE
“Patient is a twenty-six-year-old male.”
My intern’s eyes darted between me and the bedside computer screen as if he hoped I wouldn’t notice the gaps in his presentation. “Motorcycle versus SUV. Uh—patient presented with blunt force trauma to the chest and abdomen. GCS was fourteen on scene, dropped to eleven during transport. Initial CT showed a grade three splenic laceration. Possible liver involvement, but radiology couldn’t confirm without contrast.”
Martin let the last words hang. I watched sweat bead along his hairline. His hands trembled slightly as he held the tablet in front of him like a shield. He was young and had a fresh-from-medical-school eagerness that made him volunteer to present cases even when he clearly had not prepared adequately.
Behind him, three other interns hovered in the hallway outside the ICU, watching the scene play out like they were witnessing an execution.
