Rush

“I understand.” I move to stand.

As he reaches the foyer table to scoop up his keys, I take a step closer. “I want to thank you for that.”

He turns on his heel. “For what?”

“Helping me tell Drake about Beauregard.”

A ghost of a smile flashes across his lips as his hand curls around the doorknob. “Your brother needs to accept that Bonehead is not the guy for you.”

Are you?

I open my mouth to ask, but before I say the words, Case is stepping out of the apartment. He tosses me a glance over his shoulder. “Goodnight, Emma.”

“Night,” I whisper even though the door is already closing behind him.

Chapter 27

Case

“I should be saving lives, not listening to you bitch about some framework for a kiddie game.”

“It’s called Letter Leap.” I glance at my cousin. “I thought you said you were done being Dr. Fuller for the day. Your shift ended two hours ago, no?”

Fighting off a smile, he stares at me. “I’m a man of medicine, Cason. My work is never done.”

I bark out a laugh. “Is that why you’re drinking water and not scotch?”

I hold up my almost empty glass not only to punctuate my point but to get Kendall’s attention. I need a refill.

Asking Gavin to meet me at Durie’s after I spent three hours with Elias was a good idea, whether my cousin wants to admit it or not.

“You said we needed to hang out while I’m in town,” I point out. “I didn’t promise the conversation would be great.”

Gavin looks to Kendall instead of commenting on my remark. “She’s about to cut you off.”

I shake my head. “I’ve had one drink. I’m not even close to my limit.”

“The bar shuts down in twenty minutes.” He points at his watch. “Maybe you didn’t realize that you called me after midnight. You’re still running on California time, aren’t you?”

“What can I do for you two?” Kendall stops next to Gavin. “Are you still nursing that water, Doctor?”

She lets out a stuttered giggle at her attempt at a joke.

Gavin huffs out a strangled laugh even though I can tell he didn’t find it funny. He moves to grab his wallet from the inner pocket of his suit jacket. Pulling out a few bills, he drops them on the bar. “We’re both fine. We’re set to leave.”

Her gaze inches its way up Gavin’s arm to his face. “I’m heading over to a club in Midtown after I lock up. Do you want to tag along?”

Gavin’s been in this pub with Drake. He greeted Kendall by name when we sat down, but before I could ask how well they know each other, he’d shot me down with a slap on my shoulder and a reminder that he doesn’t dick around with anyone Drake has been with.

Their friendship formed because of me, but I’m happy to see that it’s still going strong.

“Thanks, but there’s somewhere I need to be,” he says with a grin.

Home in bed is the place he wants to be. I’ve heard it twice since he walked in. I can tell that he’s dead tired, but after what happened between Emma and me earlier, I needed a stiff drink before I walk back into my apartment knowing she’s in bed.

I hope to hell she’s asleep.

I don’t trust myself at this point not to kiss her, or touch her. With my dick driving my desire, I’d be all in with little regard for my friendship with her brother.

Kendall shrugs. “If you change your mind, let me know.”

Scooping up the money, she sets off toward a table surrounded by men in suits.

“I doubt like hell Drake would mind if you took her home,” I offer.

“I’d mind.” He sets a hand on my forearm. “You’re too immature to understand that.”

I laugh. “You’re what…four or five years older than me?”

“Three.” He waves three fingers in my face. “I’m three years older. That means I’m wise enough to know that you didn’t drag my ass down here to talk about work. What’s going on?”

The change in his tone sets an alarm off inside of me.

I know what he’s thinking and he’s so far off base that I stop him before he can dive headfirst into the one subject of discussion I want no part of.

Gavin is a healer. It’s in his blood. If he sees someone in pain, he wants to step in and do his part.

He helped me when I needed it, but I’m not looking for his sympathy tonight.

“Emma,” I spit out her name. “Goddamn Emma Owens.”

He sits back on the stool. “You fucked her?”

My gaze darts to his face. “Hell no.”

He laughs. “You want to fuck her.”

“Hell yes,” I admit.

“You’re worried about Drake.” He points out the obvious. “You think he’ll be pissed.”

“He will be pissed,” I spit each word out slowly. “Do you remember what happened when I took Annabeth Carson to bed?”