The Scheme

Dr. Klein moved into Clary’s line of sight. “He’ll be fine. The stitches should dissolve within a week or two.”

“Thanks so much.” And there it was, that a

He offered her a small smile, one that usually made my heart swell, but not today, when Clary was all up in my face, dampening my mood.

I propped one hand on my hip. “I’m sure your husband will be so glad your son is okay,” I called out as Dr. Klein waved to A

Clary’s eyes turned murderous as she flipped toward me. “Oh, boy. I see Kendy has her sights on a certain doctor.” She picked up her designer purse and glided it up to her slender shoulder. “I wonder if I should warn him about you. Does he know?” She flipped her long red locks off her shoulders. “That you can’t keep a man?”

My muscles tensed as I fisted my hands at my sides, my nails digging into my palms. The next second, I charged toward her, mere inches from her face. I had a sudden urge to knock her cold on her ass. But that wouldn’t have hurt her as much as she’d already hurt me.

She reeled back, but I moved even closer, just so she understood that she had messed with the wrong girl. “What did you say?” I tilted my head to egg her on.

She took a step back.

When she didn’t speak, because she was a chicken shit, I narrowed my eyes as I threw words out at her like stones. “Expensive clothing, designer bags, and even a new city won’t take the sleaze out of Bowlesville’s biggest skank.”

At that, I turned around and walked out the door, but not before she yelled out, “You know Cole was sleeping with me the whole time you two were together.”

My fingers twitched as I stopped mid-step. Their indiscretion had hurt me, but the pain Cole had caused went above the cheating. Something only Beth knew . . . because she was the only one I’d told.

It took all my self-control not to lose it in front of her. I gritted my teeth, stomped down the hall, and tried to calm my breathing. I walked into the supply room, shut the door behind me, rested against the wall, and slid down to the floor. My chin trembled as I tried to calm the emotions brewing inside me.

Breathe. Just breathe.

I pulled my knees up, dropping my chin to my chest as painful memories paraded through my mind. A lump formed in my throat, and my body trembled as a glimmer of my past resurfaced. It was amazing how one experience with a man could alter your view on every man in your life.

Every relationship post-Cole had been short-lived. Though I didn’t know if I could call my quick hook-ups real relationships.

My eyes fell shut. I couldn’t do this now. Not at work. I couldn’t let him affect me. He’d already taken too much.

My phone buzzed in my pocket again, thankfully breaking me from my thoughts and bringing me back to the present. Standing up, I swiped the budding tears from my eyes. I was bigger than this. I had my eyes set on someone new now, someone perfect for me. And tonight I’d drown myself in work and forget about Chlamydia Clary, Cole, and anything remotely related to my past.

***

BRIAN

The chemical smell of the hospital wafted through the room as I applied pressure to the cut.

“Are you sure you don’t want me to stay here? Hold your hand or something?” Trey smirked, though his eyes narrowed in concern.

“Nah, go ahead. I wouldn’t want you to cry or pass out from all the blood,” I joked back, though my own sole focus was on not passing out. Once Trey left the room, I rested against the hospital bed, focusing on the ceiling.

When the door opened, I couldn’t help but take in the attractive woman in the blue scrubs. The cotton fabric hugged her hips and accentuated her well- endowed chest. Even lightheaded, I could appreciate the curves. Then, when my eyes landed on a familiar pair of blue eyes, I couldn’t help but sigh at my luck.

Fucking-A!

What were the chances that the nurse in front of me was the best friend of the girl who’d broken my heart?

“Kendy?” I had to make sure my luck hadn’t just gotten worse.

At her name, her head flipped up from the clipboard, and her eyes flew to my chest then up to meet my eyes. I knew when she recognized me, because a swift shadow of shock swept across her features before she threw me a mean girl look.

I clenched my jaw and stifled a laugh. If I hadn’t wanted to see her, the expression on her face indicated she wanted to see me even less.

“It’s Kendall.” Her tone was harsh, and the scowl on her face implied she was already in a foul mood. She lifted her head and started talking to the ceiling. “Seriously? What have I done? Is this some cruel joke? Am I getting punk’d here?” She sca

A deep chuckle escaped my mouth. Too weird. What were the chances?

I found this situation unlikely, too coincidental, but even more humorous. I forced the smile off my face. Even a

The blood continued to drip down my face, onto my bare chest, as the sticky T-shirt I held soaked it up. “I’m bleeding here, Kendy.”

“I. Am. Not. Kendy. My name is Kendall,” she huffed and charged toward me, her temper rising with her words. “Forget it. The sooner I do this, the sooner you’ll be out of my hair.” She ripped my T-shirt from my hand and slanted toward me.

The sweet scent of peaches entered my nostrils. Shampoo or perfume? Whatever it was, I angled closer to get another whiff. The scent was intoxicating, or maybe it was the loss of blood causing my head to spin.

“How small is New York City?” she mumbled to herself. “To the point that I’ve seen two people from my past . . . well, sort of . . . and in my hospital?”

“Your hospital?” I raised an eyebrow, amused at her a

She threw me a nasty look, her eyes turning a darker shade of blue, as if they changed color with her moods. “Yes, sir. My freaking hospital.” She pulled a pair of nitrile gloves from her pocket and slipped them on. The snap of the gloves against her skin echoed through the room.

When she opened up an alcohol swab and swiped at the open wound at my brow, I flinched as the cold stung against my skin.

“First, Chlamydia Clary, and now you. Everyone from freaking Bowlesville is creeping into my business.” Her clipped curt tone was the complete opposite to her gentle professional touch, which had a calming effect, though the throbbing pain was still present.

“I’m not from Bowlesville,” I corrected her. “I’m from Madison, and this is the main hospital in the metropolitan area.” Anyone in the city who needed to be rushed to a hospital would end up at New York Cornell.

“So?!” She pressed the alcohol swab farther into my wound, and I winced at the burn. I wondered if she did it on purpose. A second later, her face softened. “Sorry,” she mumbled, dropping the swab.

I reached for her free hand, my body acting on its own accord, and our eyes locked. A jolt of electricity surged between us. At five-five, an overall cuteness surrounded her. How had I never noticed it before? Her blonde hair was perfectly curled, and her makeup only highlighted her soft yet stu

She smirked, catching me staring. “I’m not your type, boy.” A moment later, her hand brushed against my chest. “I’m way out of your league.” She leaned in closer, inches from my face, her breath tickling my skin as she whispered in my ear, “And I most definitely don’t fuck good boys.”

She drew her hand back as the blood from my wound immediately rushed south instead. Her naughty mouth was so out of her small town character, but so damn hot.