Page 68 of Hold Me Instead
“Last time, I tried to sneak in a forty-pound dog that liked to bark at dust bunnies. Definitely not as stealthy.”
Amber’s heart was in the right place, but it hadn’t been the first time Charlie had needed to bail her out. This little puppy needed a lot of attention, and hopefully, his chill demeanor would, in fact, last. “Alright, well, keep me posted? I’ll see you this weekend.” Charlie opened the door to the hall just as Zachary approached.
“Oh! You’re back!” Charlie’s cheeks heated, the happiness in her voice as cheery as if he was holding boxes full of Dorothy’s, all for her.
How her cousin had managed it, evensensedthe opportunity, she had no clue, but suddenly, Amber was next to her, keeping the door to the employee-only hallway open.
“Are you Dr. Lee?”
“Amber!” Charlie hissed.
Zachary slowed, his gaze bouncing from Amber to Charlie and back again. “Yes…”
“Knew it.”
“Wild guess. He’s the only other doctor here right now, you know that,” Charlie groused.
Her cousin ignored her completely. “Wow, you look just like your parents. Good genes.”
“Okay, seriously. That’s enough.” Charlie forced her way into the hall and tried to pull the door closed, but Amber kept her body in the way.
“I’m Amber, Charlie’s cousin.” She stuck out her hand.
“Nice to meet you.” Zachary shook her hand, then gave Charlie a look. “Taking personal meetings during the workday, Harris?”
“Yeah, sounds like me, when I barely take time for lunch.” She let out a nervous laugh, which sounded more crazed than anything. Now she was overheating.
“Why so defensive?” He replied softly, with a grin that made Charlie bite her lower lip. His eyes zeroed in on the action, and his grin grew wider.
Those laugh lines would be the end of her.Shit. He. Was. Sexy.
“Well, it’s nice to finally put a face to a name. I’ve heard a lot about you over the years, it’s been a long time comin’,” Amber said.
He raised his eyebrows. “That so?” Zachary asked Amber, his gaze fixed on Charlie.
She flapped her top to cool down. “Sheila!” she yelled, way too loudly, and spun around right into the woman. “Sorry. God, this hallway. Can you please take care of…Amber, what’s the pup’s name?”
“Charlie.”
Charlie glared at her cousin.
Amber shrugged. “Might call him Chuck. Not sure yet. He’s got this hidden feistiness about him, seems fitting.”
“I hate you,” Charlie muttered.
Zachary grinned, looking at his feet, but Amber stood proudly, smiling with ease.
“Sheila, please get Chuck the pup squared away with his tests. Then let’s get Amber out of here.” Charlie started toward her office.
“See you Sunday, Charlotte!” Amber called out, putting the final dig in as Charlie closed her office door behind her.
Knock, knock.
“Dr. Harris?” Jasmine called through the door.
“Yeah?”
“Room one is ready.”
