Page 3 of Her Beta

But I somehow managed to sense he was near toward the end of my shift, just as Dr. Charron came up and patted me on the back. “Great job today, Evette. If I’d gotten into the room any later, you might’ve been the one delivering a baby instead of me.”

“Aren’t there rules against doctors putting their hands on nurses while they’re working?” Leyton growled, stalking toward the nurses’ station where we were standing.

Dr. Charron lifted his arms, shaking his head. “My intention was not to be inappropriate. I have the utmost respect for Evette as a nurse and a woman. I would never do anything to hurt her.”

“You’d better not,” Leyton grunted.

I glared at the hot guy who was defending me from a doctor who I’d enjoyed working with over the past seven weeks. “Thank you, Dr. Charron. I appreciate your kind words.”

“My pleasure.” He tilted his head in acknowledgment before striding away.

Crossing my arms over my chest, I tapped my foot on the floor while waiting to see what Leyton had to say for himself. He raked his fingers through his hair with a deep sigh. “I might’ve overreacted.”

“Ya think?” I quirked my brow and tilted my head to the side. “If that was supposed to be an apology, it’s seriously lacking. You were missing a few words…like ‘I am sorry.’”

“I’m sorry to have irritated you.” He smirked at me, which I was shocked to discover sent a sensual shiver down my spine instead of irritating me. “Does that count?”

“It’ll have to since I need to get back to work.”

I strode toward the nearby door labeled as Employee Access Only, and he called, “I guess then I’ll see you when you’re done. I’ll practice my apology so it’s better.”

It was too bad that I wouldn’t have the chance to see Leyton’s second attempt at an apology. I had a hunch it would’ve been interesting, to say the least. But I hadn’t left much wiggle room in my travel schedule, so if I wanted to make it to my new post with enough time to get settled in before my first day, I needed to hit the road as soon as I clocked out tonight.

Unfortunately, I was going to be left with a lot of unanswered questions about Leyton. Something that was on my mind as I pulled out of the hospital’s parking lot an hour later. This morning, I’d been so excited to move on to my new assignment. But now, I felt like crying.

It was moments like these when I really wished my parents were still around. When they passed away in a car accident three years ago, I never thought the day would come when I didn’t think about them all the time. But now I went for weeks without picking up the phone to call them before remembering they were gone.

I intended to drive straight through to the extended stay hotel the agency had booked for me, but I felt too emotional to stay behind the wheel that long. Instead, I pulled off the highway only an hour into my drive.

Deciding to go with the first hotel in the row directly off the main road, I parked near the entrance and grabbed the carry-on bag that I’d used to pack my essentials. Then I headed inside, relieved when the front desk attendant told me there were rooms available.

“Two queens or one king?”

There was no hidden meaning behind his question, but that didn’t stop my thoughts from wandering to what Leyton and I could do with a big bed. “Umm…it doesn’t really matter. Whatever is easiest for you is fine.”

After tapping at his keyboard, he checked me into a room and asked, “Just one key? Or do you need two?”

“One will be fine,” I assured him.

It wasn’t as though I had anyone in my life to share the room with. Which was an especially depressing thought after driving away from the only man who’d ever interested me.

My shoulders slumped as I trudged toward my room. Once the door closed behind me, I leaned against the hard surface with a deep sigh. For the first time since I decided to become a travel nurse, I was second-guessing my decision.

Some instinct deep down inside was crying out for me to turn around, get back in my car, and drive back so I could see if Leyton was still waiting for me at the hospital. But I made a commitment and couldn’t back out of it only days before I was supposed to arrive at my new assignment. Without a logical explanation, I’d ruin my reputation at the agency and never get another assignment again. Unfortunately, telling them that I didn’t want to leave because of my fierce attraction to a stranger wasn’t going to cut it.

3

LEYTON

Ihated to bother Aaron and Cressida when they were celebrating the birth of their first pup, but my grizzly was about to lose his shit because we hadn’t caught a glimpse of Evette for the past hour. It only took one look at the gorgeous nurse to know she was meant to be mine. When her delicious scent filled my nostrils and my cock hardened, it only confirmed what I already knew to be true…I found my fated mate. Finally.

Thank fuck that I had parked behind Aaron’s vehicle, or our paths might not have crossed for years. If ever.

Cressida’s stay at the hospital was bound to be short since shifters healed quickly. And she had an added advantage due the uniqueness of her animal. If baby Andrew needed any extra medical attention, she was better equipped than anyone to help him. That unicorn horn of hers was a miracle, which was why it was a well-kept secret by our pack.

Keeping an eye out for my wayward mate, I headed toward Cressida’s room. Opening the door as quietly as possible, I found Aaron sitting at her bedside, looking happier than I’d ever seen him. After all the wolf shifter had been through, I was thrilled that he’d found his happily ever after. And I knew he’d want me to have mine too. If anyone would understand the single-mindedness I was feeling toward my mate, it was him.

Cressida and the baby were sleeping, so I whispered, “Have you seen the nurse recently?”

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