Page 85 of Guarding Over You
His hand reached for hers, grasped it for a moment, then let go. “You can call if you need me.”
“I’ll be fine and you’ll be at work. You don’t need that kind of distraction. I mean it, Blaze.”
She was trying to reassure him. Asserting her independence again. He got it.
“This thing, what are we doing about it?”
“What thing is that? The one where I finally got you naked last night or the one where I’ve got to push evil thoughts from my mind and hope they find something on the security cameras?”
“The first one.”
He’d planned on talking to security today when he got a minute to find out what he could. Not sure they’d tell him much, but it was obvious he was there helping Arden on Friday.
It wasn’t going to be much of a secret at this point about any relationship the two of them had and he should know where her thoughts lay.
“Well, I’m exclusive. Considering you’re the first person I’ve been with since my divorce, there isn’t too much for you to worry about there.”
“I didn’t think otherwise,” he said. “And you don’t have to worry with me either. When I’m with someone, I’m all in.”
“Even if it’s casual?”
He didn’t want those words to cut through his chest and expose his heart, but the blood was seeping out just the same.
“It’s not casual with us.”
“I didn’t mean it that way. I should have thought my words over more carefully.”
“Sorry. I wasn’t upset, just feeling our way here. There is already talk in the ER about the two of us.”
“Oh,” she said, throwing her hand up to cover her mouth since she’d been chewing. “You didn’t tell me that.”
“It didn’t seem like the thing to say just yet when we didn’t know where it was going.Iknew where I wanted it to go, but we hadn’t had that talk yet.”
“We did little talking last night either.” She let out a small giggle. “Maybe that was better for me. Sometimes I overthink things to death and then lose my voice talking. I went with how I felt. How you make me feel.”
“How is that?”
“Sexy.” She laughed again. “I haven’t felt that way in so long I wasn’t sure it was possible. Alive. There are many ways to feel that, but last night was a great reminder that my life can get back on track.”
He reached for her hand again, laying his on top of it. “I’d like that. For both of us.”
“Me too. And you’re asking because if people were talking about it already, what are they going to say when I see you now and my eyes are rolling over your body in your scrubs wishing that you were naked and remembering everything you did to me last night?”
The smile broke out across his face. “Talk about a nice feeling.”
“It is one. I really don’t care if anyone knows we are dating. If you’re okay with it, I think I’ll let Billy know when I see him next. With everything going on, it’s best to be transparent.”
“Agreed. I have no intention of just telling people about it. Maddy and I talked last week and she was the one who was busting on me the most, but she said she’d stop doing it. I know it’s not going to stop the gossip, but she won’t be tossing crumbs to the vultures either.”
“I think we just let this play out the way it does. That is what I’m telling myself going forward.”
“What about Gracie?” he asked. “I’m not saying I’m going to kiss you in front of her, but I’d like to still spend time together. The three of us.”
“I’d like that too. Until I let Billy know, can we just keep it the way it’s been around her?”
“Absolutely. That’s your call.”
He finished breakfast, helped her clean up, even though she was pushing him away and saying she had it.
