Hush (Just This Once 1)

“Either way, I see some pink roses in your not-too-distant future.”

I tap the face of the watch on my wrist. “I see a court date in my very near future so I need to take off. You’re welcome to stay and visit with Gabi.”

He chuckles. “That one would eat me alive. I’ll pass.”

r /> I laugh as I push myself to my feet. “Are you headed in the same direction as me? We can share a cab?”

“That’s a plan I’m on board for. I’ll take every minute I can get with my sister.”

***

I tap my toe, wishing that the barista would fill the cup with hot water and hand the ginger tea I ordered to me. It’s my third cup today. After Gabi shoved the cup into my hand as I was exiting the building with Rocco, I sipped it on my way to the courthouse. It helped almost instantly.

I picked up another on my way back to my office and I’m about to take yet another home with me. I make a mental note to stop at the deli by my apartment to see if they have a box of ginger tea bags. It would save me a fortune.

“Chloe.” I feel a hand on my shoulder. “I have no idea you stopped in here at the end of the day.”

I recognize Evan’s voice instantly. I’ve missed it even if I didn’t want to admit that to myself.

I turn to look at him. He has a light growth of beard covering his jaw but other than that, he looks exactly as he did the last time I saw him here.

“I had a break at work and thought that I’d come down here on the off chance, you’d walk past.” He gestures toward the sidewalk outside the café. “When I looked in the window, I couldn’t believe it was you.”

I skim my hand over my hair. I didn’t put a lot of effort into my appearance this morning because I was feeling under the weather. I showered quickly, pinned my hair up into a messy bun and chose a pair of black pants with a black blouse.

“How have you been?” I ask because I don’t know what else to say.

He takes a measured step closer. “Worried about you. I didn’t handle our conversation well. I should have been more sensitive. I’m sorry, Chloe.”

Chapter 25

Evan

Her bottom lip quivers when I offer her my apology. She looks pale and tired. I won’t tell her that because I’ve known enough women in my lifetime to know that some take offense when offered an unwanted opinion.

“You were scared.” She looks into my eyes. “You did nothing wrong. Whatever I felt was because of stuff from my past. That’s not on you.”

She’s kind. I pushed her to reveal details about herself that were incredibly personal. The woman doesn’t know my last name or where I work yet I know that she’s suffered through a painful experience in her pursuit to have a child.

“Let me make it up to you.” I look over at the large paper cup that the barista is pushing toward her. “I can take you for something to eat.”

Her hand falls to the front of her coat over her stomach. “My dad and I must have eaten some bad fish. We both picked up a trace of food poisoning. I’m sticking to tea for today.”

I pick up the cup and put it in her hands. “Do you want to talk? I have a couple of hours before I need to be back at work.”

She looks up at the circular clock that’s hanging on the wall. “You have to go back to work at eight? You are a doctor, aren’t you?”

I see no reason to hide behind a veil of mystery anymore. The scale of information between us is unbalanced. I need to right that. “I’m a surgeon.”

Her gaze falls to my hands. “That’s why you’re so good with your hands.”

I welcome the playfulness more than she could ever know. “They’re gifted.”

“I’d agree with that.” She sips the tea. “This is hot. We can sit while it cools and then I’ll head home.”

I’ll take it. The lead weight in my gut is finally disappearing. I know she’s okay and willing to talk to me again. Suddenly, everything feels right in my world again.

***