Page 50 of King of Temptation

A smirk tugged at his lips. “Or I’ll take you upstairs, tie you to Brody’s bed, and let your Daddy deal with you when he gets home.”

Humiliation flooded her cheeks. “He’s not my Daddy. He’s… just a friend.”

“Uh-huh. I kiss all my friends like I’m a soldier promising my one true love I’ll return home to her someday.” Again he jabbed at her, as if for emphasis. “Stay there or I’ll make sure your friend knows you’re in desperate need of a lesson on how to follow instructions.”

Apparently trusting she would, indeed, stay where he’d put her, Boone turned and strode away. He returned before Goldie had a chance to fully decide if she actually believed his threats, a smiling woman in tow.

“Hello, Marigold.” Despite the ridiculously late—or was it early now?—hour, the woman looked fresh as a daisy with her dark hair pulled up in a sleek, high ponytail, her makeup flawless. “I’m Dr. Winters. I understand you’ve had a rather eventful evening.”

“Winters?” Frowning, Goldie looked from the woman to Boone, her brain trying and failing to put the pieces together. God, she was tired. Doctor. Doctor Winters. Why was that so familiar to her?

“Sister. You’re his sister.” She knew of Naomi, of how proud Boone was of her, but she’d never actually seen the woman before now.

The doctor’s warm smile stretched to a grin. “His much smarter, much better-looking little sister. Why yes, I am, thank you for noticing.”

As Dr. Winters stepped forward, her brother rolled his eyes. But there was a twitch, just at the corner of his mouth, that gave away his amusement.

“Would you just look her over and get out of my hair already?”

With an eyeroll of her own, Dr. Winters set a black bag down on the coffee table in front of Goldie. “Ignore him. I’d say he’s not usually this grouchy but I’d be lying.”

“Tell me about it. I don’t know how he keeps the bakery open with that permanent scowl on his face.”

The scowl in question deepened as Boone dropped back onto the other couch. “Knew it was a bad idea to get you brats together,” he grumbled.

Grinning, Dr. Winters winked as she opened her bag and pulled out a stethoscope. “And yet, here I am, because who else is he going to call to give a mobster’s new girlfriend a check-up?”

“Oh, I’m not…”

Now it was Dr. Winters cocking a brow, looking eerily like her brother in the process. “You’re not in Brody O’Rourke’s home, where he told you to wait for him, after what I’m told was a very close brush with death?”

Looking over the good doctor’s shoulder, Goldie glared at the elder Winters sibling. “You’ve got a big fucking mouth.”

“Only when necessary. Now hush and let Naomi check you out before Brody gets here and accuses me of not taking care of what’s his.”

She wasn’t Brody’s anything, but clearly neither of them were going to believe her on that point so Goldie just shut her mouth and focused on following Naomi’s directions as she checked Goldie over.

“No shock, and I don’t think that cut will need stitches. I’m going to slap some antibiotic ointment and a bandage on it, but keep an eye on it the next couple days. If you notice any swelling or redness, have Brody call me. He has my number.”

“He does?” Another surge of ridiculously timed jealousy twisted in Goldie’s stomach. “How long have you known Brody?”

“Easy, tiger.” Leaning forward, Naomi gave Goldie’s hand an affectionate pat. “Your Brody is safe from the likes of me. Reagan, on the other hand…”

A low growl rippled through the air. “Absolutely the fuck not.”

Naomi rolled her eyes again, twisting around to glare at her brother. “I’m a grown adult with a medical degree, Boone. You can’t tell me what to do anymore.”

“The fuck I can’t. It’s bad enough you work for them, you don’t need to get any more involved than you already are.”

The sound of the front door slamming cut off whatever snarky retort Naomi was about to make. Brody appeared a few seconds later, covered in dirt and⁠—

“Holy shit, is that blood?” Heart in her throat, Goldie leapt to her feet and raced toward him, running her hands over his stained and torn suit. “Are you bleeding? Where are you hurt?”

“Relax, menace. It’s not mine.”

God, he sounded so… tired. And now her heart ached for a whole new reason as she cupped his face in her hands, the stubble of his beard pricking her palms. “Scared me.”

Closing his eyes, he dropped his forehead to hers. “Ditto.”