Page 37 of Gloves Off

“Did he, now.” I turn to Volkov with a hard stare. “That was our secret,darling.”

“That’s very generous,” he tells Tate, ignoring me. “Thank you.”

“Yes, very thoughtful.” I’m still smiling. Smiling so hard it hurts. “Can’t wait.”

There’s no way I’m spending a week in a hotel room with him. Especially not thehoneymoon suite. Volkov doesn’t even go to weddings; to the surprise of his entire team last season, he skipped Jamie and Pippa’s. I’ll go myself and have the perfect week: drinking champagne and watchingThe Vampire Diariesin the bathtub—alone.

“We’re happy to.” Tate gives us a proud look. “Another two of our own getting married? It’s a big deal.”

A pang of regret twists in my gut. Tate Ward’s one of the few male bosses I’ve had who treats women like equals. He hires women, and even more, he pays us what we’re worth. When Darcy didn’t believe in her ability to work as an analyst for the team last season, he encouraged her. Team doctors are usually hired based on who the coach golfs with during the offseason, but Ward reached out to Heather and asked if any experts in athlete recovery would be interested in something with the team. When I preferred a part-time role so I could stay with the hospital, he made it happen.

And now he’s looking at me and Volkov like he’s proud of us. I want to puke.

“Have fun tonight,” he says before stepping away, and we’re surrounded by our friends.

“Surprise!” Darcy clobbers me in a tight hug. “Are you surprised?”

I let out a weak laugh. “I sure am.”

She admires my outfit. “Dressed to kill, as always. I’m sure Alexei’s having a hard time keeping his hands off you in this dress.”

From wringing my neck, maybe. I make a high noise of amusement, glancing at Volkov, who’s deep in conversation with Rory, Hayden, and Jamie. “Something like that.”

It seems everyone arrived earlier than us to surprise us, and now we’ve arrived, people are taking their seats for dinner.

“You two are up front,” Rory tells me and Volkov with a cheeky grin, “at the head table, so everyone can see you.”

Of course we are.

CHAPTER 18

ALEXEI

Dinner goes quickly,thank fuck. My new wife and I are distracted by the constant stream of teammates and colleagues coming up to congratulate us.

“Dude.” Walker swings by, drink in hand and eyes all over my mouthy wife as she’s in conversation with another team doctor and Hazel. “Georgia’s yourwife?”

I cross my arms over my chest. Another victim straying too close to the doctor’s web. Walker’s young and stupid. He doesn’t know the damage a woman like the doctor can inflict.

“Holy fuck,” Walker drawls, still staring at her, and something sharp twists in my gut. “I want a wife.”

My shoulders stiffen from the way he’s looking at her.

“No, you don’t,” I snap. “Close your mouth. And you can call her Dr. Greene.”

She does look hot tonight, though. That dress. I fucking hate that dress. Ilovethat dress. I’m trying to ignore her but I’m obsessed with it, sneaking glances when she’s not looking.

Her legs are long and bare, and the short, sparkly dress barely covers her ass. Something that fucking annoys me about the doctor is her ability to make clothes look like they were created just for her, fitting every curve and swell of her body in a way that’s hard to ignore. Her auburn hair is down, wild and curly, and she’s wearingmore makeup than before, drawing my attention to those captivating whiskey eyes and that fascinating mouth.

Beneath the boiling frustration in my gut, a minuscule grain of respect lingers. She’s winning again and I’m scrambling to get ahold of myself.

Well played, Doctor.

And then I remember that she has a boyfriend, and my teeth grit.

Walker turns back to me with a grin, his eyebrows bobbing up and down. “My wiener feels funny.”

I make a disgusted face. “Walker.”

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