Troublemaker (The Men of Matiz 2)

Last night it felt like he was struggling over what's going on with his dad. We left the hospital quickly and he's made no effort to check in with Kade or anyone in his family since.

"Seven at the hospital it is."

"I'll meet you at the nurses' desk on the seventh floor."

"Seventh floor at seven." He taps his forehead. "Got it."

I move to stand but his hand grabs my wrist.

"Kiss me one last time, Ad."

I do. I kiss him slowly and when I pull back, I see forever in his eyes.

***

"You're Hale's babe, aren't you?"

I look over at the man standing next to the exam table holding the leash of a Boston Terrier. He can't be much older than I am. "I'm not."

"Yes, you are," he insists with a grin. "I follow those posts religiously and I know she works here. You're her."

This isn't the first or even the second, time this has happened since I stopped seeing Trey. Unfortunately, he hasn't started dating again, so those posts are still the first that pop up whenever anyone searches for the halesbabe hashtag.

I'm not going to stand here and argue the point. It's useless. "I was seeing Trey, but it's over now."

"So you're available?" He shoves a hand through his short blond hair.

"No," I answer quickly. "I'm not."

"You're sure?" He leans forward and his hot breath skirts over my cheek. I step back, wishing I would have broken clinic policy and left the door to the exam room open.

"I'm positive." I cast my gaze down to the tablet in my shaking hands. "I'm going to go see what's keeping Dr. Hunt."

He steps in front of me as I walk toward the door. "Don’t rush off, Adley."

I hate that I was tagged in any of those photographs. I never wanted my face out there. I like to live my life in private, quietly. "Please move aside."

He doesn't move. "I'm still a member. I remember the first time I ever saw you there."

Panic creeps down my spine. This can't be happening again. Please, not again.

"I don't know what you're talking about." My voice is as unsteady as my hands. "If you'll move aside, I can get the doctor."

"I'm talking about Club Skyn, Social Room A. You laid out like a feast for anyone who wanted…"

The door flies open and Dr. Hunt marches in with a smile on his face and his usual greeting. "Good morning, who do we have here?"

He stops as soon as his eyes lock on mine."Adley? What's wrong?"

I shake my head as I try and speak. "I need to take a minute."

Dr. Hunt brushes next to the man to reach for my hand. "Go to the lunchroom. Sit. I'll be in to check on you as soon as I'm done here."

I nod and as I start to walk away, I hear the bastard's voice trailing behind me. "It was good to see you again, Adley. You know where to find me."

Chapter 42

Crew