Page 14 of The Golden Hour

And he wonders how many times she’s done this to other doctors.

“If you’re worried about her finding out,” she says, biting her lip and dropping her voice to a whisper, “I can be discreet.”

“And I would never cheat on my wife,” Mason growls, his skin crawling.

Dr. Lewis shrugs, unbothered.

“Suit yourself. But you’re going to crack open if you don’t blow off some steam. If you ever change your mind…”

She gives him a wink before walking out of the locker room.

Mason stands there, heart pounding in his chest. Not from temptation. In fact, he’s really fucking thankful that the only emotions that welled up inside of his body could only be described as absolutely fucking not.

He knew doctors were generally not faithful to their spouses.

He learned that quickly when he was an intern and walked into the on-call room, where one of his very married senior residents and a night nurse were having sex—thankfully, both clothed. He didn’t mention it to the doctor, but he felt sick when he saw the man’s wife drop off lunch for him later that week with a sweet kiss, completely oblivious to the fact that her husband was a cheating piece of shit.

Mason went home and held Honey all night, making love to her with an almost desperate frenzy, murmuring how much he loved her into her soft skin. Silently promising himself he would never turn into that.

He was the product of a very happy marriage. He grew up watching his dad worship the ground his mom walked on—opening doors, coming home after a long day of work with her favorite flowers for no reason, looking at her across a room like no one else existed.

When he found Honey, even though he was only fourteen, he told his parents she was the one. And they didn’t minimize. They didn’t tell him to keep his options open. They accepted his word.

And they met Honey and fell in love with her too.

His phone buzzes in his pocket, and when he checks it, he sees text messages from Honey, from Melissa, and from his own mother.

Mom

Are you on your way?

“For what?” Mason mutters, frowning as he tries to think about where he would be going.

A conversation with Honey before he left that morning—her saying something to him tries to penetrate his mind, but he can’t catch the words. His brain had been foggy from lack of sleep, and he just remembers her handing him his lunch.

Something about taking a shower?

They all know he’s working today. They know he’s not reachable, so what are they talking about? He’s about to ask his mother what she means when Nurse Ellen sticks her head in.

“Carpenter, Weaver needs you. Central 7.”

Instantly, he straightens and places his phone in his pocket, forgotten.

“Catch me before you leave today,” Ellen says as she heads toward the front desk. “I have a gift in my car.”

“A gift for what?” Mason calls after her, but Ellen is already gone.

Dr. Weaver is in Central 7, standing next to a bed occupied by a younger blonde bleeding from her forehead. Mason does a double take when he sees her face. It’s like looking at a younger version of Dr. Weaver.

They both glance over with matching blue eyes when he walks in.

“I’m giving you a softball,” Dr. Weaver says, gesturing to the girl who looks like she wants to be anywhere but here. “This is my daughter—Dana. I want her to be in the best hands.”

The girl snorts quietly and crosses her arms at that. Dr. Weaver shoots her a scolding look. Dana rolls her eyes and averts her gaze. Mason immediately starts disinfecting his hands and putting on gloves, seeing the tray already set up.

“I’m trusting you with my kid, Carpenter,” Dr. Weaver says as she steps closer to him. “Get this easy win, and get back out there.”

Mason nods, determined now with the level of trust she’s showing him. Dr. Weaver leaves, and Mason approaches Dana, smiling easily.