VERSUS (Second Chances 2)

“Have you seen my earring?” She tugs on her right ear lobe.

I glance at the diamond studs in her ears. I point at the one she’s touching. “There it is.”

A smile parts her lips. “It’s a silver hoop. I left my watch at your place, so I was hoping I did the same with my earring.”

I didn’t notice it when I was getting ready for work this morning, but I wasn’t on the look-out for it either.

“I’ll check around.”

“I have something to negotiate for it.” Her tongue drags over her lower lip.

My cock hardens because there’s no way in hell that it can’t when she’s tempting me.

“I have something from high school that I think you’ll be happy to see.”

That’s impossible. She’s the only memory of my past that I want to see.

I play along because she’s enjoying the hell out of this. “What is it?”

“You find the earring, and I’ll give you a clue.”

A smile ghosts my mouth. “I’ll do my best.”

My office phone rings, even though I told Gunner to hold all calls.

“That’s my cue to go.” She takes a step toward me but stops herself before she takes another.

“I’ll walk you to the elevator.”

She glances at my phone. “Answer that. I know the way out.”

I ignore the phone, so I can watch her walk away.

As curious as I am about what she’s holding onto from my past, I’m focused on something else.

I want to know who the hell Chet Richmond is and when he was last “on” the woman I love.

Chapter 37

Eden

My phone chimes with the arrival of another email.

I’m expecting a client in Buffalo to touch base, but that’s not what this email is about.

I don’t have to open it to know what it says. It’s a follow-up to an email from the other day. An email I have yet to respond to.

I exit the mail app on my phone and toss it next to me on the couch.

Noelle taps me on the shoulder from behind. “Do you want dessert?”

I pat my stomach through the white T-shirt I’m wearing. “I’m stuffed. I’m glad I’m wearing leggings. I need to go run ten miles to work off that dinner.”

She playfully tugs on my ponytail. “I’m going to take that as a compliment.”

I bend my neck back to look up at her. “As you should. Those fish tacos were delicious. Why are you a doctor and not a chef?”

She moves around the couch to take a seat next to me. “I’m both.”