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Chapter 10
Luke
Clara won’t look up from where she’s holding her head in her hands. I can hear the reluctance just in her stance.
We’re still surrounded by too many people for her to think straight. Being crowded never helps anyone think.
So, I guide her away for a moment. When she sighs, rolling her eyes up to mine, I smirk—knowing I’ve already won this.
“Talk to me, doc.”
She folds her arms, cocking her head as she glares at me.
“About what? About how you’re so dead set to have me stay with you? Yeah, I’m sure that would work out just fine.”
Chuckling, I gesture with my hands, making a come on signal. “All right, out with it. What’s the hang-up that has you hesitating?”
She blows out a long breath, looking off toward the street.
“How’s that supposed to work, Luke? I can’t just randomly move in with you. People will talk, and I am not getting into this with anyone at work. I won’t risk them.”
Clara doesn’t know she’s already lost some ground here. She just called me Luke.
With a grin, I mirror the arm cross. “Easy. We’re dating.”
Her eyebrows fly up to her hairline as her lips part. “Excuse me?”
“You tell people that we’re dating. We hit it off so well, and I swept you off your feet. Problem solved.”
“My coworkers will think I’ve lost my damn mind. Or was replaced by a body snatcher.”
She shakes her head, her nervous pacing starting up again.
“If you’re my girlfriend, I’ll have every reason to hang around. Visit you at work. With updates, of course.”
Clara scoffs at me, her eyes so fucking wide, it’s comical.
“It’s wildly out of character! I don’t date!”
“That’s a damn shame, darlin’.”
She rolls her eyes at me, stepping away again.
“Look.” I walk up behind her, taking her shoulders and spinning her around. “I’m going to level with you.”
Frowning, Clara barely nods and meets my eyes.
“The Cobras have already lost to me and my brothers once. And I have a bit of my own vendetta against them. Fucking up their plans would be damn satisfying.”
I can see the cogs turning in her head. I’m getting somewhere.
“When their anger dies off, you can go back to your life.”
“Luke.” Clara exhales so long and slow, I can’t imagine there is a scrap of air left in her lungs. “I need my independence. This is my life we’re talking about. I need to be hyperfocused while working. I’m a doctor. Things go wrong when I’m not on my A game at the hospital.”
I hold up my hands in surrender. “I won’t mess with that. I swear. I know what it’s like to have people’s lives in your hands. If you lost someone at work, I wouldn’t be able to forgive myself. Honestly.”
I don’t mean to let that all slip out. But the need to keep Clara close, keep her protected, is too strong.
