Page 61 of Healing the Heart

“You know him?” Noah asked in surprise.

“I know of him through his wife, Lexie. We’re old college friends. She had Jonas arrange my open sub night invitation.”

Eric set Val on her feet and rose to leave, too. “I knew that. Didn’t I mention it?”

“No,” Noah snapped.

Rising too, Samson’s booming laughter and open-hand slap on the tabletop made Fiona jump. “Guess that means you owe Mitchell a drink at the bar when you visit.”

“But they’re free,” Val reminded him, but the lumberjack of a man had already moved out.

“If things keep going like they are,” Eric told her as he guided her toward the door, “he’ll owe him a helluva lot more than that.”

The others filed out, leaving her alone with Noah.

“We didn’t decide anything until yesterday,” she said. “Why does everyone assume we’re a couple?”

“Aren’t we?” he asked, leaning over to brush his lips against hers.

“Yeah,” she breathed when he drew back, thrilled by the prospect of a future with him. “But we’ve never even scened at the club together. How did they guess?”

He raised their joined hands. “The death grip you’ve had on me for the last half hour might have something to do with it. You can retract your claws, kitten. You’re safe with me.”

She loosened her grasp, frowning at the half-moon indentions her nails left in his skin. “I didn’t realize,” she whispered.

“I know.” His free hand slid around the side of her neck, and his fingers tangled in her hair. “You needed to anchor yourself to me, and I was happy to oblige.” He pulled her in for a deeper kiss that was just as sweet. “Now. Since this business is done—”

“Is it? It doesn’t seem like we’re any further along than when we started.”

“Done with the meeting, Fi.”

“Oh. Right.”

“That protein bar has worn off. How about we grab some lunch?”

“Okay, but can we go by my place after? I don’t want to, but I need a few things, including khakis and a clinic polo. I have to work tomorrow.”

He grunted, so she knew he didn’t like the idea.

“You can’t take a few days off while we settle things? The boss won’t mind.”

“You mean you’d pull some strings?” She shook her head. “I have patients who need me, bills to pay, and keeping busy will keep my mind off Jordan, whoever he is.”

“All right, then. While you rehab your young patients, I’ll find an office where I can keep an eye on you and get some work of my own done.”

“Won’t that be weird? A renowned surgeon who is also the founder playing bodyguard to one of the staff?”

“What if it is? Your safety comes first.”

Easy for him to say. She’d be the one to deal with the fallout after this had resolved, and if things didn’t work out between them. She didn’t want to consider them not being together, but it was early days, and she had a career to consider.

“I’ll call the director and alert her. She’ll help provide cover.” He brought her close, resting his forehead against hers. She welcomed his strength and support, but mostly his calm in the face of this chaos. “We’ll get through this, kitten. Trust me.”

Her head fell back, and she frowned up at him. “If you call me that while I’m at work, our cover will be blown.”

With a laugh, he threw his arm around her and guided her to the exit. “You sound like a bad police drama.”

“I’m serious, Noah.”

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