Hush (Just This Once 1)

I’d know that voice with my eyes closed. It’s deep and comforting. I turn toward the man who is now standing beside me. “I’d say you had at least a ninety percent chance of seeing me here since you do almost every Wednesday morning.”

He leans down to kiss me square on the forehead. “Those are good odds.”

“Spoken like a true poker champion.” I reach forward to adjust the dark scarf around his neck. “Did you walk all the way here from your place?”

My stepbrother, Rocco Jones, gives me a curt nod. “It’s ten blocks. If I can’t walk that far in sub-zero weather, I shouldn’t be living in this city.”

I study his ruggedly handsome face. The tip of his nose is red, his blue eyes are watering and his dark brown hair is pushed back from his forehead. “What’s her name, Rocco?”

“Who?” He cups his hands together in front of his mouth and blows on them. “What are you talking about?”

“You haven’t shaved in days. That’s usually because you’ve been holed up somewhere with a woman. So, who is she?”

“This is insulation from the cold.” He rubs his hand over the light beard that is covering his jaw. “I have a meeting this afternoon, so it’ll be history before noon.”

Rocco’s life couldn’t be any more different than mine. He made a small fortune playing professional poker before he invested in a game app that blew up worldwide. Now, he spends his time funding the business ideas of others.

My days are devoted to employment law.

“I have to get to my office.” I reach up to give him a quick hug. “I’m going to Pop’s for dinner tonight. Can I count on you coming? Nash and Luke will be there.”

“The infamous Jones family dinner, “ he drawls. “When’s the last time we all had dinner with Pop? You know how emotional he is when all four of his kids are sitting around the dining room table.”

I know how emotional he is. I know how I am too when I hear any of my three stepbrothers refer to me as their sibling. Even though my surname is still legally Newell, I’m a Jones in every way that counts.

“I’ll take that as a yes.” I glance back at the entrance, but there’s still no sign of Evan. “I’m going to work. I’ll see you tonight.”

“Who is he?”

“Who?” I try to keep my tone light. Rocco is the eldest of my brothers and he’s always been the most protective of me.

“The guy you keep looking for.” He stares past my shoulder at the entrance.

“No one, “ I say with a sigh. “I’m not looking for a guy.”

It’s not a lie. I’m done waiting with baited breath for Evan to show up. I got my hopes up that I’d see him again but I need to resign myself to the reality that we had one night together and that’s where our story ends.

Chapter 7

Evan

I look up at the clock that’s hanging on the wall in the recovery room. Five minutes after ten.

Fuck. Just Fuck.

Today is the third in a row I’ve missed meeting Jane at the café. I was in a scheduled surgery on Monday morning at eight a.m., and yesterday it was a consultation with a former patient that kept me from seeing the woman I can’t stop thinking about.

I was done my rounds at seven this morning and had every intention of breaking free of this place to head uptown. Those plans were sidelined by the repair of a torn artery in the leg of a woman who had been hit by a car.

The patient is going to be fine after extensive recovery.

Unless I can manage to get my ass to the Roasting Point Café tomorrow morning, I’m not going to be fine. I want to see the mysterious blonde. I’m craving another kiss and I’ve been aching for a chance to fuck her again.

“Did you talk to Kylie about me?” Jordan approaches from the left.

I scrub my hand over my forehead. “I’m good, Jordan. Thanks for asking.”

He laughs. “I’ll take that as a no. I held up my end of the agreement. You need to follow through on your end.”