Hush (Just This Once 1)

His end of our agreement consisted of him chatting up the wife of our boss while he filled up on free vodka. My end is a hell of a lot more complicated.

Kylie Newman is a retired model turned vascular surgeon. She’s got at least ten years experience on me and the last guy she dated was a rock star on Wall Street.

She’s out of Jordan’s league but I always honor my word, so I’ll pitch the idea of a lunch date with Jordan to her and let fate take hold of the wheel.

“I’ll talk to Kylie this afternoon.” I nod to the nurse who is waiting to speak to me. “I’ve got another surgery in an hour and then three consultations. Is your dance card full too?”

He shakes his head as he eyes up the blonde nurse.

She’s cute and married. Vanessa Ryan is one of the superstars in this ward. I rely on her heavily to keep me updated on the progress of my patients. “She’s married, Jordan, and our co-worker.”

“It doesn’t hurt to look,” he quips. “Why are all the hot ones taken?”

“Just a guess, but it might be because they found men who don’t stare at them like a fucking creep.”

“You’re an asshole,” he volleys back with a wide grin.

I toss Vanessa a smile before I turn to walk toward her. “You’re right, but it works for me.”

***

I powered through my day, fully focused in surgery and wholly invested in every consultation. I even convinced Kylie to have lunch in the hospital cafeteria with Jordan next week. I agreed to be the third wheel, but Jorda

n won’t know that until he finds me sitting next to him chowing down on an underdressed egg salad sandwich. I’d rate the day a success except that I can’t shake thoughts of Jane from my mind.

“I wanted to thank you again for the tickets to the Islanders game, Evan.” Vanessa stops making notes on the chart in her hands to look up at me. “Garrett is over the moon. Date nights have been few and far between lately. We both appreciate it.”

Garrett Ryan, Vanessa’s husband, is one of the good guys. We met on Vanessa’s birthday when he stopped in to drop off a bouquet of flowers and a birthday cake so the staff could celebrate with her.

We hit it off. I’ve been invited to their home twice for dinner since that day and both times an emergency nixed the plans. I’m still waiting on another offer, but I know they devote the bulk of their time at home to their daughter, Ruthie.

“It’s my pleasure,” I say, looking at her. “A friend has season tickets, but he couldn’t use them. I know how much you two love hockey.”

She wrinkles her nose. “Garrett loves hockey. I love Garrett, so it’s perfect.”

I feel the phone in my pocket vibrate. I already know who it is. Jack Pearce. We’re supposed to meet for dinner, but he’s grown accustomed to me being a no-show. I couldn’t ask for a better friend. He’d say the same about me.

“Are you going to get that?” Vanessa cocks her head. “You’re off the clock. You should get out of here and have a life while you can.”

“It’s just a friend. He can entertain himself until I decide if I’m meeting him for a burger or not.”

“If I had a vote, I’d say meet him for a burger.” She shrugs. “You’ve been working non-stop. You deserve a night off. Besides, you never know who might be in the restaurant. My friend, Bridget, met her husband at a restaurant. They were both having dinner with other people and then, bam, they saw each other and everything changed.”

I pinch the bridge of my nose. “I think I have a better chance of having a bam moment inside the Roasting Point on Lexington at the crack of dawn than a burger place in midtown tonight.”

“That’s oddly specific.” She laughs. “Should I ask what that’s about?”

“Ask me tomorrow morning after eight. With any luck, I’ll have had my bam moment and I’ll know the name of the woman I can’t stop thinking about.”

Chapter 8

Chloe

“You were quiet during dinner, Chloe.”

I look to where my stepdad is standing next to the dining room table. He’d cooked a feast for my brothers and me. I smelled his signature chicken potpie as soon as I let myself into his house in Queens.

He gave all four of us a key the day he moved into the small house. That was almost a year ago. I can tell that he’s still not as comfortable here as he was back in the apartment in Manhattan he shared with my mom, but he’s finding his way.