Page 133 of Captive Promise

I soften, touched by her concern. “I won’t,” I assure her. “I promise.”

She nods, satisfied, but then the phone rings and she answers it. I turn back to my charts, making my final notes, my mind already starting to drift to thoughts of home. Of a warm meal and a soft bed and Nico’s arms around me.

As if summoned by my thoughts, I suddenly feel a familiar presence behind me.

A large, warm hand settles on my hip, another coming to rest on my belly. I lean back instinctively, my body molding to the hard lines and planes of the man I love.

Then realization hits, and I spin around, my eyes wide. “Nico!” I hiss, glancing around furtively. “What are you doing here? How did you even get past security?"

He smirks, that infuriatingly sexy half-smile that never fails to make my knees weak. “I have my ways,” he says with a nonchalant shrug. “Besides, I couldn’t wait to see you. Missed you too much.”

I soften, even as I shake my head in exasperation. “You’re impossible,” I mutter, but I can’t keep the fondness from my voice.

“Impossibly charming, you mean,” he counters, his grin widening.

I roll my eyes, but before I can retort, I catch sight of Dawn over Nico’s shoulder. She’s frozen mid-conversation, the phone dangling forgotten from her hand, her eyes wide and her mouth forming a perfect “O” of shock.

I bite back a laugh as she mouths a very emphatic “Damn!” in my direction, her gaze raking appreciatively over Nico’s tall, muscular frame.

And really, I can’t blame her.

He’s an arrestingly handsome man, with his chiseled jawline and piercing eyes, broad shoulders and narrow hips.

The charcoal grey button-down he’s wearing stretches across his chest in a way that makes my mouth go dry, and the sleeves are rolled up to reveal strong, tattooed forearms.

He looks like he just stepped off the pages of a magazine, like some high-fashion model slumming it in the real world. But there’s an edge to him too, a dangerous, coiled energy that speaks of the things he’s done.

It’s a potent combination, raw masculinity and refined elegance, and it never fails to set my blood buzzing and my heart racing. Even now, after all we’ve been through.

Dawn finally seems to recover herself, shaking off her daze and hanging up the phone. She saunters over to us, a mischievous twinkle in her eye that immediately puts me on guard.

“Well, well, well,” she drawls, planting a hand on her hip and giving Nico a very obvious once-over. “I don’t believe we’ve had the pleasure. I’m Dawn, Dr. Sokolov’s favorite nurse. And you must be the infamous Nico.”

Nico blinks, looking momentarily thrown by Dawn’s forward approach. “Uh, yes,” he manages, extending a hand somewhat awkwardly. “Nice to meet you.”

Dawn takes his hand, but instead of shaking it she uses the grip to tug him closer, her smile turning decidedly flirtatious. “Oh, the pleasure is all mine,” she purrs, batting her lashes. “I’ve heard so much about you, handsome. All good things, I assure you.”

Nico shoots me a confused look. I press my lips together, trying desperately not to laugh at his discomfort.

The man stares down mob bosses and contract killers without blinking, but put him in front of a flirty nurse in my workplace and he’s hesitating so he doesn’t ruin my workplace reputation.

It’s endearing as hell, and it makes me fall for him just a little bit harder.

But I decide to take pity on him, stepping forward and winding my arm through his, my engagement ring glinting pointedly under the fluorescent lights. “Hands off, Dawn,” I say with a playful warning look. “This one’s all mine.”

Dawn heaves an exaggerated sigh, releasing Nico’s hand with a wink. “Can’t blame a girl for trying,” she says with a grin. “You sure know how to pick ‘em, Dr. S. Tall, dark, and yummy as hell.”

“And taken,” I remind her, bumping my hip against Nico’s. “Very, very taken.”

Dawn snorts, waving a dismissive hand. “Details,” she says airily. Then her grin sharpens, turning sly. “But I expect an invitation to the wedding. And a dance with Prince Charming here. Gotta see if he can keep up with me on the dance floor as well as he obviously does in the bedr⁠—”

“Okay!” I cut her off, my cheeks flaming as Nico chokes. “On that note, we’re leaving. Shift’s over, time to head home.”

I start tugging Nico away, ignoring Dawn’s cackle of laughter behind us. Nico strides after me, smirking.

“What just happened?” he asks as we step into the elevator, the doors sliding shut on Dawn’s gleeful, waving form.

I just shake my head, torn between amusement and exasperation. “Hurricane Dawn,” I quip. “You’ll get used to her. Probably. Maybe.”