Page 98 of Perfect Distraction
Andrew’s eyes met hers, and he tilted his head to the side, waiting for her to continue.
“Um, Will was…my first, and when I realized it meant nothing to him, I was devastated. After that I thought maybe I’d wait until I was married, because then I’d know I wasn’t being used, and that the man I was with wanted me for more than my body.” She shrugged and added, “Or my chemistry skills.”
Andrew shot up to a sitting position. “Are you fucking kidding me?” His jaw went taut, and he swung his legs off the edge of the bed, his back to her. “I’m going to kill that son-of-a—”
“Andrew,” Lauren put a gentle hand on his back, where the muscles were bunched and tense. “Don’t worry about that; I was just trying to explain why I’m waiting now.”
“Don’t worry about it?” he bit out. He stood, flexing his fingers. “I’m so pissed I can’t see straight.”
Lauren scrambled to the edge of the bed and got up on her knees. She grabbed his hand and pulled him close to her, turning his body to face her. His face was like stone.
“Look at me,” she said, and he did. “Don’t let that bother you. I’m over it, okay? I learned something from it. And now I have you, and you’re better than anything I could have ever imagined.”
Andrew’s expression softened marginally, and he put one hand on her hip. “It bothers me. I can’t help it.”
She kissed him once and said, “I don’t want to think about Will anymore. It’s Valentine’s Day, and I’m with the man I love.”
Still on her knees, with him standing at the edge of the bed, their faces were almost level. She pressed herself against him, moving his arms to circle her waist. He looked down at her with heavy-lidded eyes, but the muscles in his cheek remained clenched.
Lauren dipped her head to kiss the hollow of his throat, then moved her lips to his earlobe. “Andrew,” she whispered, feeling a tremor run through him. “Aren’t I supposed to be your distraction?”
All at once, his body relaxed, and he nodded. He dropped his head to her shoulder, tightening his embrace. “Distract me.”
…
The next morning, Lauren searched for any plausible reason she might need to be in the infusion center around the same time as Andrew’s appointment. She searched her current patient roster and found one she’d needed to call and check in with, anyway.
She took the back stairwell and wove her way through several occupied infusion chairs. Before seeking out either of the patients she hoped to see, she turned down a short hallway just off the infusion suite for a cup of coffee.
When she came out of the empty break room she almost had a repeat of her first meeting with Andrew. She caught herself just short of colliding with a large male chest, but this one belonged to Gavin.
“Whoa. Hey, Lauren.” Gavin grabbed her by the upper arms. He flashed white teeth in a cocky grin.
Be nice. “Hey, Gavin.”
She backed out of his grip and moved to slide past him, but he put a hand on her elbow.
“Hey, can we talk for a second?”
Lauren glanced around the hallway. They were alone. She hadn’t forgotten about the last time he cornered her, making accusations about her and Andrew’s relationship, and she didn’t want anyone to overhear. “About what?”
“I wanted to say I’m sorry. About the last time we talked, and calling you unprofessional. You’re great with our patients and have made a big difference here at the cancer center.” He raked a hand through his hair. “I think it’s pretty obvious I like you. I have since the start, and I think I was jealous. I acted like an asshole, and I’m sorry.”
Something inside Lauren told her not to trust him, but when she met his ice blue gaze, it surprised her to find he looked sincere. “I appreciate that. Apology accepted.”
“I know I messed up, but I really would like the chance to take you out.” He angled his body, forcing her to take a step back, and her left shoulder hit the wall. “Please? Would you give me a chance to get to know you, and show you I really am a nice guy?”
Lauren felt a little like she was caged in, and she didn’t like it. She tried to step to the right, but he blocked her. He put a hand against the wall near her head, his thick, veiny forearm at eye level.
“There’s something between us,” he said in a low voice. He reached up with his other hand and rubbed a section of her hair between his thumb and forefinger. Nausea swirled in her stomach. “There’s no way I’m the only one who feels it.”
Lauren straightened her spine and batted his hand away. “I’m sorry, Gavin, but there’s nothing here. I’m not playing games with you, I’m just not interested.” Lauren tried to keep her voice firm, but her pitch kept rising, which happened when she was nervous or uncomfortable.
“But we’d be so good together,” Gavin continued, crowding even closer to her.
Lauren looked him right in the eye. “Gavin, you’re the one being unprofessional. Please move and don’t ask me out again.”
A new voice came from the end of the hallway. “You heard her. Back the fuck up before I put you on the ground.”
