Page 26 of Her Only Hero

Lara raised her brows.

“In that case, June,” Vinny said. “Would you mind finishing the tour and showing Dr. Hamid where the morgue is? It’ll give you a chance to catch up and discuss your case.”

“Oh, sorry, Vinny, I actually can’t take Aram, uh, Dr. Hamid, on a tour. I have to pH buffer for the next run.”

“I’ll do that for you,” Edward said.

“No, it’s okay. I can do it. Serves me right for dropping the flask. Right?”

But Edward had already grabbed a new flask. “No worries, June. Go ahead. Enjoy your reunion.”

A groan escaped my throat. “Oh. Thanks,” I said and turned toward Dr. Hamid. He grinned, and his cheeks dimpled inobvious amusement. Two years ago, he had macerated my heart, and now he acted like nothing had happened. How dare he?

“All right, Dr. Hamid, please come this way. I’ll show you where the cooler and the autopsy suite are. Buckle up. We’re so busy here you may never find your way out.”

Chapter Fourteen

Aram and I walked down the barren hallway toward the steel elevators. This man had been my world. His breakup had devastated me, but also changed how I proceeded with my new cautious life, that is, until Patrick.

I had finally moved on from Aram. But right now, with him beside me, memories rushed back with his charming smile, the shape of his lithe physique, and the way he walked, smooth and assured like a jaguar. I tried to act calm and unruffled, but my heart beat erratically.

I pushed the elevator button and dared to take a glimpse when we got in. His bright aqua eyes still captivated.

“How are you, June?”

His voice. Deep and warm. I hadn’t heard it in so long. It sounded like a replay of an old song. “I’m great, thanks,” I said. “How have you been? How is your wife?”

Considering my blunt question, I expected an awkward silence. But there wasn’t any.

Aram scrunched his brow as if he was carefully choosing his words. His words had always been wise. “I’ve been all right. I don’t know if you had heard, but for the past two years, I’ve been in Scranton, working at the University Hospital.”

“No, I hadn’t heard where exactly you were. You didn’t like it there?”

“I did. It was a very modern facility with all the latest technology.”

“Then why did you come back?” The elevator landed at zero, and the doors opened. I didn’t wait for an answer and got out. He followed me down the corridor, and I gestured to the right.

“This door leads to the locker room and showers. The number to the combination pad is 2-4-5-6. Do you want me to write it down for you?”

A corner of his mouth turned up. “No. I think I’ll be able to remember it.”

Of course, he’d be able to remember four numbers. I realized I was acting like a scorned shrew. This wasn’t me. We continued to the next door, and I punched in the entry code.

“This is the main entrance to the morgue,” I said in a softer, less formal tone as we entered a square tiled foyer. I pointed to the inner steel door. “Inside are the autopsy suites and the cooler drawers. We can house twenty-four bodies, and right now we are close to capacity. You’re going to be busy,” I added. My voice had trailed off. He made no move and had no hint of humor in his expression.

“I’m not afraid of a little work,” he said.

My mouth went dry. Why did it feel like nothing had changed, when in fact everything had changed? His lips parted slightly. Our gazes locked for a few seconds. Or was it an eternity?

“Do you want to go in and look around?”

“I’ve missed you,” he said in a low voice.

My breathing ceased. He missed me? There was a time when I had yearned for him and hoped he missed me too, in some minuscule way. I filled my lungs and became lightheaded.

The door from the main corridor flew open, and Vinny stormed in, holding a folder.

“Oh, good, you’re here,” he said. “Enjoying the tour, Dr. Hamid?”

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