Page 5 of Dr. Do-Right
I blinked, trying to remember all my preparations and mantras. Alas, the only thought running through my head was that Malachi Dobrev was the hottest man I’d ever met in my life.
Somehow, against all odds, he was more attractive off-camera than he was on my phone screen. One look at him set my heart racing. My skin tingled where it touched his. Goosebumps shivered up my arm. The sharpening of his gaze told me he knew it, too.
And was interested. His lips curled up in a sinful smile.
I’d done the only thing I could do: jerked my hand away from his, glared at him like he’d tracked poop onto the carpet, and run away.
I’d managed to avoid him for the rest of the night. His visit coincided with me and Sonia’s truly epic annual Cinco de Mayoparty. The apartment was packed with plenty of people to buffer the charged air between Malachi and me. I ruthlessly placed as many bodies between us as possible.
Sure, his relationship advice was sound and always evidence-based. And his family counseling center in Colorado was literally raking in awards and charitable grants to support his work with under-represented populations, and families and couples who couldn’t afford traditional counseling.
But that didn’t matter. Over the years, too many people had chosen him over Sonia, and I refused to be another one of them.
I had resolved to be polite, but distant. To not give the man a second glance after he walked in the door that night. All that resolve had crumbled to dust the second he’d wrapped his hand around mine. It continued to flail like one of those car lot blow-up men as he seemed to chase me around the party. I couldn’t get away from him, no matter how hard I tried.
Eventually, I escaped to the blessedly quiet kitchen, rinsing a few glasses to get a jump on tomorrow’s dishes.
“I can’t help but notice you’re not avoiding anyoneelseat this party. So, I have to assume I’ve done something to upset you.” Even though I’d only known him for an hour, I could still identify his voice over the pounding bass and chattering voices beyond the kitchen.Dammit.“Which is odd, since I just met you earlier tonight and you’ve barely said a word to me since.”
“I’m not avoiding you.” I was, but I didn’t have to admit that to him. I shot a haughty glare over my shoulder. “Like you said, we just met. How conceited do you have to be to assume I’m thinking anything about you, at all?”
I was thinkingeverythingabout him. I’d thought I’d been prepared. I was so unprepared. I was like a toddler in an OR. No clue what I was doing and surrounded by potentially dangerous, pointy objects. I couldn’t keep my eyes off him, no matter how hard I tried. He’d cast his freaky voodoo on me, and I didn’tknow what to do about it other than to act unforgivably rude and then sprint in the opposite direction.
“No, you’ve definitely been avoiding me. Impressive, considering how small this place is. I almost hopped over the couch earlier to catch you when you were talking to the redhead.”
I steeled my spine and turned around to face him. Bad move. One look and I was drowning all over again. No wonder so many of Sonia’s friends had gone down like the Titanic. He smiled when I turned, like I’d done it just for him, and he liked that.
“I think you meanNurse Daley,”I over-emphasized her credentials. “She’s a very intelligent, capable woman who is more than just her hair color.”
Maybe he was a misogynist? Honestly, it would make my life easier.Come on, Dobrev. Give me something to hate you for so that I can slam the door on this crazy lust swelling inside me.
“Joannaisvery intelligent and capable. I was just talking to her about her campaign to include more LGBTQ+ representation in the clinical trials she’s assisting. She and her partner are doing great work at the shelter downtown. We had a good chat about it. You should have stuck around.”
“I know about the work they’re doing at the shelter,” I snapped. I’d accompanied Joanna and her girlfriend, Maggie, several times, giving free medical exams and updating prescriptions for LGBTQ+ teens who had been kicked out of the house or were down on their luck. The fact that he’d so quickly learned about the work that was so close to their hearts seemed like a point in his favor.Dammit.
“Maybe I’ll see you around, then. I’ve offered to hook them up with some counselors I know in the area. Do a video on the shelter to boost visibility. It’s good shit.”
Itwasgood shit, and another point in his favor. Or maybe like five points, given how casually he’d offered his help to merestrangers at a party, just because they were doing meaningful work.
I scowled, officially enraged by selfless acts.
“Again, I have to ask: are you this frosty to everyone? Or is the honor all mine?” He circled around the small kitchen island, setting off a fresh wave of panic. I could barely clench my fingers around the crazy attraction I felt for this guy. If he came any closer, it was going to start dropping out the sides, like an overly-full pile of laundry.
My panties would be at his feet.
“I’m inclined to think it’s just me. Sonia talks about you like you hung the damn moon. And you’ve been perfectly lovely to everyone else here. I have theories, of course.” He smirked, reaching around me to pull a bottle of tequila closer.
I’d snagged it in hopes of making myself a drink strong enough to douse whatever mating instincts were making me want to leap across the room and run my tongue over his lips. As he pulled back, his forearm brushed against mine. Just like when he’d shaken my hand, sparks erupted where we touched. Sweat prickled my neck.
His eyes flicked down to the point of contact, eyebrow quirking before he met my gaze again. “That’s theory number one.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” I sounded strangled. Probably because I was simultaneously trying to hold my breath to avoid breathing him in, and attempting to take deep soothing inhales to calm down my nervous system. A challenge, sure, but I was very capable. Most of the time.
He smelled like the ocean.
“I think you do, but I’ll spell it out for you, if you’d like.” He filled a plastic shot glass and slid it in my direction, reaching across the counter for a lime and some salt. “You don’t strike me as the type that needs much spelled out, though. Maybeyou’ve just forgotten what crazy sex hormones feel like. Nursing is a stressful profession. I can’t imagine you have much time for dating.”
Was it just me, or did that question sound hopeful? Very leading. He was fishing to see if I had a boyfriend. I didn’t, but admitting that felt like conceding another point and I was already woefully behind on the scoreboard.
