The Scheme

“Ouch,” I said, placing a hand on my own heart, feigning pain. I was hurting all right, but the ache wasn’t in my chest.

She flipped her hair over her shoulder, turned, and strode to the counter. I watched her perfectly sculpted ass move from side to side.

“It’s not that you’re not cute. I’m just not into your type.” She threw the gloves and swab in the red trash can then moved toward the table.

My curiosity was piqued. “And what is your type?” My eyes zoned in on her apple ass as she turned to lay out her medical supplies on the metal table.

She shrugged casually. “Not the good boy, that’s for sure.”

“I was just in a bar fight. How am I a good boy?” I silenced another chuckle.

“Doesn’t matter. I’m dating someone,” she said.

My shoulders sunk at her words. They shouldn’t have. I didn’t need or have time for a girlfriend, so I didn’t understand why I felt even an ounce of disappointment.

“Who beat you up?” She changed topics on me so fast I got whiplash.

I cringed as I remembered the whole stupid story. “Some random guy.”

“What did you do to get this guy super pissed enough to draw blood?” She quirked an eyebrow, a sly smile on her face.

“Hit on his girl and tried to take her home.”

Her gentle laughter rippled through the air, the change in her mood even more refreshing than her earlier a

“Not a nice guy move, is it? Hitting on another guy’s girl?”

“But you didn’t know, did you? And I bet you didn’t even get in a good hit.” She crossed her arms over her chest and quirked an eyebrow.

I pushed my fist into my palm, playing the tough guy. “You should’ve seen the other guy. He could barely even stand, let alone walk out of that club when I was done. Him and his friends.”

Her eyes flickered to my biceps before landing back on my face. “Really?”

I shook my head as a deep chuckle escaped my lips. “No, the guy handed me my ass.”

An irresistible devastating grin spread across her face. Her laughter was infectious, causing my lips to turn up wider in response. I noticed she had the cutest subtle dimple on her chin, and a sudden urge to run my tongue along her jawline came over me.

“Come on, did you even get a hit in? Surprise him with your fist against his jaw?”

I shrugged one shoulder. “I didn’t want to deal with it. I just wanted to get home.” Mentally cussing out Trey, I remembered I hadn’t even wanted to go out in the first place.

She tilted her head, her blue eyes studying me. “See? You’re too nice.”

“Nope. I just have bad luck.” Lately, that stroke of bad luck kept on stroking.

A knock on the door broke our conversation. When the doctor peered in, Kendy gave a nod, straightened, and popped her hip out, throwing a charming smile his way.

Her boyfriend?

I took him in, already sizing him up.

“Hi, I’m Dr. Klein.” He strolled in, looking like he had a stick up his ass as he shook my hand. He had a weak handshake for someone of his stature and build. Being a little over six feet tall, I’d expected a firmer grip. He stood no taller than five-eight as his eyes assessed me.

“Brian Benson.”

Kendy cleared her throat, and we turned our attention her way. “Hi, Dr. Klein.” A forced sweetness, which hadn’t been there a minute ago, flowed out of her. She fluttered her eyelashes, yet something kept them apart.

Maybe they’re not together and she’s just flirting with him.

I coughed to cover up my laugh, fixing her with a stare. It was fu

“Brian Benson, twenty-five-year-old male—”

“I gave the doctor my name already.” I tried to hide the amusement in my tone, but failed.

She threw me the dirtiest look, but composed herself, covering it up with a smile when she realized that still had Dr. Stiff’s attention. “A one-inch laceration by the eyebrow caused by a major impact to the face. Heavy bleeding for the last twenty minutes, indicated on his paperwork. No dizziness reported by the patient. He’ll most likely need stitches.”

Kendy handed the doctor some blue gloves, her hand lingering on his, but he seemed unaffected as he turned to me and proceeded to do his doctoral duties. I caught disappointment on her face, confirming her feelings were indeed one-way. That shouldn’t have made me feel good, but it did.

Dr. Stiff numbed the area with a local anesthetic, threaded the needle, and then placed a hand on my shoulder, indicating I should lie down. I followed his lead.

“We’re going to stitch you up. Just a couple to close this wound. They should dissolve in one to two weeks.” His chipper tone irked me. Like he wasn’t about to stick a damn needle through my skin. I was sure they’d seen more gruesome injuries in the ER.

Resting against the hospital bed, I closed my eyes, and then flinched when I felt the needle pierce my skin. As many times as I’d had stitches from playing football and being the rambunctious only boy in the family, I should’ve been used to the pain. But pain was pain. Before I had counted backward from ten, he’d completed his task.

“All right, we’re done here.”

I sat up, touching my brow as the roughness of the stitches brushed against my fingertips. He met me at eye level, forced a small smile, and shook my hand before quickly turning away. The gesture seemed practiced, like he’d learned it in medical school.

I pushed myself up to a sitting position. “Thanks, doc,” I said as he reached into his pocket for his phone.

He barely acknowledged my presence before turning to Kendy. Where had this guy learned his bedside ma

“Of course, Dr. Klein.” There was that lilt in her voice again, and her eyes lit up like fireworks while he fumbled with his phone, then left the room.

She paid no attention to me as she tidied up the medical tools and my bloody mess.

“So, is that the lucky man?”

Her eyes finally met mine, sparkling as they did when Dr. Stiff had been in the room. “Yeah. Isn’t he divine?”

I could hear the swoon in her voice.

Ugh.

My eyes flickered back at the door, where Stiff had walked out. Was she serious? I wanted to tell her straight up ‘no’; he was far from divine.

“How long have you been together?” I knew they weren’t an item, but I wanted to entertain myself with her reply.

“Well . . .” My question had caught her by surprise, and her face faltered. “We’re . . . we’re not really together, just yet.” Her cheeks flushed red, her self-confidence fading.

I lifted an eyebrow, waiting for some explanation as I barely bit back a shit-eating grin.

Before I could add to that, a short woman with dark hair walked in and handed Kendy some papers. Her eyes flew to mine before shooting back to Kendy. “He’s going to be at Bartlett’s tomorrow night. For sure. Just confirmed it.” She threw Kendy a cheesy smile before saying, “You’re welcome.” And then she disappeared as fast as she’d come.

Kendall clasped her hands together like she’d won the lotto. She bounced on her toes, and a tinge of jealousy came over me. I hadn’t had a girl excited about me in a while, and watching her made me realize how much I missed feeling wanted.

A moment later, she seemed to remember I was in the room. She narrowed her eyes and turned back to her medical supplies, disposing of the items in the red box on the counter. “Let’s just say he’ll be my boyfriend in the very near future. He doesn’t know it yet, but he’s going to fall madly in love with me.” She gri

I threw back my head, unable to control my laughter.

Her head flipped in my direction, and she stomped toward me until her pointed finger rested on my chest. “It’s not fu