“Yeah, Tanya’s been on a rampage lately. Better you than me.”
He raced a hand through his hair. “I need to get outta here. So should you.”
Samuels nodded and gave him a dismissive wave, “On it, captain, just finishing my notes.”
He retrieved his backpack from his locker and slipped on his black zip-up hoodie.
Backpack slung over his good shoulder, John began to walk out the front just to say goodbye to Samuels. “By the way, nice stash, Selleck. It’s getting bigger.”
Samuels beamed proudly at him. “You grew the beard three months ago. This ED couldn’t handle two bearded daddies.”
John snorted a laugh, the giggles emerging once more, a sign that he was beyond tired. Maybe meeting with Lawson was a mistake tonight.
The right thing to do was to text him and cancel.
The right thing to do wasn’t to have made plans in the first place.
The doors to the lobby opened to a packed house. He shook his head, more than ready to get the hell out of there. He waved to the security team before leaving, and was greeted by the brisk night air.
He inhaled in relief and exhaled slowly, taking a moment to appreciate the darkness, before he headed toward the employee parking lot. He made it to the gated entrance when he noted a motorcyclist, dressed in jeans, black cowboy boots, a worn brown leather jacket, and an all-black helmet. He hesitated, unable to take his eyes off those familiar-looking boots.
Upon John’s appearance, the motorcyclist slipped off the helmet, and his heart stuttered to a halt.
“You’re kidding me,” John said incredulously to him, another burst of laughter coming from his chest.
Lawson ran a hand through his thick dirty blond hair, the waves breaking beneath his fingers. “What? You don’t like it? It’s my dad’s old bike. He said if I could fix it, I could keep it.”
“Horses, motorcycle, doctor…” John drawled, stepping up to him. “Is there anything you can’t do?”
Lawson’s pale blue eyes were oddly calm despite the heat reflected in them. “For a while there, you.”
His smile froze on his face, and Lawson hummed in that sultry, low tone of his. “But my default state is persistence and patience. My Aunt Carol once told me that the best things in life are worth waiting for.”
“Wise woman,” John murmured. “Are you flirting with me, Lawson?”
“Yes,” he said quickly, unabashedly. “Always, if I could.”
He felt the ridiculous blush stain his cheeks. He sucked in a breath, “Sorry I’m late. I don’t know if tonight’s a good night. I’m tired…”
“I know,” Lawson said gently. “That’s why I’m here to pick you up.”
“On that?”
Lawson reached for a spare black helmet and handed it to him.
“Not a chance, Lawson,” he retorted. He had been teasing his sister when he said he was thinking about a motorcycle, because as an emergency doctor, he had seen the devastating toll they took on the human body. And he wasn’t interested in actually losing a foot or leg tonight.
“I booked us a room,” Lawson said, surprising him.
Heat instantly flooded his body. The hard, uncompromising glint in Lawson’s expression suspended him. “I have every intention of taking care of you tonight, Donnelly. Starting right now. So, get on the damned bike and let’s go. The sooner this starts, the sooner both of us feel good.”
The heat turned into molten lava at his words. He took the helmet and slid it on. Lawson reached for him, strapping the lower chin strap on over his beard, his fingers quick and efficient.
“Have you ridden a bike before?” he asked.
“A bike? Yes. This? No,” John replied through the helmet.
Lawson smirked. “Lean with me, keep your arms around my waist the whole time, and trust me.”
