White Nights (White Nights 1)

With a last look around, I go downstairs and pull on my jacket. When I step outside, Yuri is waiting next to the car.

I shiver in the early morning cold as I make my way toward him. “Morning, Yuri.”

“Morning, Miss.”

“Please, call me Kate.”

“Kate,” he says with a nod.

“Thank you for last night, for taking care of the locksmith.”

“You’re welcome.” He takes a set of keys from his pocket and hands them to me. “Your new keys.”

I drop them in my pocket. “I really appreciate that.”

He opens the back door. “Why don’t you get in? It’s cold.”

“What about Alex?” I don’t want to inconvenience him by using his car. “How is he getting around?”

“He took the Bugatti.”

“Oh.” Alex has a Bugatti? Of course he does. I climb into the back and settle into the pleasant heat of the car.

“Where to?” Yuri asks when he’s taken the wheel.

“My place, please.”

I said I was going to reach out to Alex to get my closure. This is not the closure I envisioned, but it’s something. This chapter of my life is now finished.

Even though it’s for the best, tears burn at the backs of my eyes at the thought.

12

It’s another hectic day at the ER. The influx of patients never diminishes. When it’s time for my lunch break, I hurry to the breakroom to quickly eat the sandwich I prepared at home, but Rose rushes toward me with a cooler bag in her hand. I haven’t told her or Nadia about last night’s mugging because I don’t want to explain why I was visiting the restaurant where my one-night stand took me on our sex date. To hide the marks, I’ve tied a scarf around my neck and claimed it’s to prevent myself from catching a cold.

“Hey, Kate,” she says, out of breath. “This was just delivered for you.”

I look at the blue bag in her hand. “For me?”

“Yep.” She hands it over. “I grabbed it since I was on my way up. I hope you don’t mind.”

I scrutinize the bag. “That was kind of you. Thanks.”

“Lunch break?” She scoots past me to the breakroom, in just as much of a hurry as myself.

“I hope,” I say with a sigh. “If it’s not interrupted.”

“I know.” She opens the door and holds it for me. “I haven’t finished a single lunch this week.”

“Mm.” I enter and deposit the bag on the table. “My mom calls it the flu season diet.”

Her face falls as she lets the door shut with a click.

“Oh, Rose.” I lay a hand on her arm. “I’m sorry. That was insensitive.”

“Not at all.” Tears shimmer in her eyes. “Your mom’s great. Enjoy every moment you have together.”

Taking a seat, I study her face as she sits down opposite me. Dark rings still mar her eyes, but they’re less puffy and less red from crying. “How are you holding up?”

“I’m dealing with it.” She shrugs, arranging the strap of her tote bag over the back of the chair. “You know.”

“Yeah.” I pat her hand. “You miss her.”

She sniffs and puts on a bright smile. “Don’t keep me in suspense. What’s in the bag? The guy who delivered it was rather mean-looking.”

My stomach tightens with suspicion and a tinge of appreciation I shouldn’t feel. “Did he drive a fancy black car?”

“Yes. Who is that?”

“I’m not sure.” But I have an idea. “I think it may be the driver of my one-night stand.” Make that my two-night stand.

Her eyes grow big. “You had a one-night stand?”

“I know, right?” I make a face. “What was I thinking?”

“Actually, I think that’s exciting. I just didn’t peg you for the casual sex type. When you spoke about your ex, your decisions sounded logical and very much long-term oriented.”

“Exactly.” I blow out a long breath. “That’s why the one-night thing was a huge mistake.”

“Yet…” Her expression brightens. “He sent his driver to deliver stuff.” She waves at the bag. “Open it before June charges in here and tells us we’re needed at another emergency.”

Smiling at her enthusiasm, I unzip the bag. I have to admit, I’m just as curious as Rose about the contents of the mystery bag. A delicious waft of melted cheese and mushrooms reaches my nostrils. Inside sits a plastic container with a red lid—the twin of the one I shoved into the back of my locker. Steam escapes from a lifted corner of the lid. Whatever is inside is piping hot. Someone prepared it a short while ago. A silver fork and knife wrapped in a linen napkin are neatly arranged on top of the dish. In a side compartment of the bag is a bottle of water complete with a slice of lemon and a mint leaf drifting inside.

“Wow.” Rose makes a puppy face and bats her eyelashes. “That’s so considerate. He sent you lunch.”