Page 28 of Stone
Kimmy looks at me intently, and I’m not sure what she sees, but her bottom lip wobbles as she tears my heart out and admits, “She’s left, packed her stuff, and got a job elsewhere, far from here.”
No.
Chapter 12
Rose – Three Months Later
“I swear the dad looks at you with a twinkle in his eyes, like he knows he can have you,” Mark jokes as he waggles his dark brows, and I laugh, shoving him a little, making him smirk.
Mark Chilvers is a colleague, the first one to make me feel comfortable after I arrived in New York, and for three months, he’s been flirting with me. I guess that is what you’d call it, looking at me intently some days, touching my hand or arm...
Piercing blue eyes pop in my head, and I try not to sigh.
While Mark is really hot with his dark hazel eyes and black short hair, with a body that women fall over, and we have a flirty thing going on. He just isn’t my lying cheating ex, Cage, and all I feel is disgust every time he touches me.
Three months and the four times Mark has tried to kiss me, I’ve pulled back. The feeling like I’m cheating too much to handle, despite the fact that it is not the case.
Cage has a wife, an old lady, he’s the cheater, not me. Yet, I feel like one every time I try to make a connection with Mark, even knowing that nothing can last between us if something were to happen.
I’m only here for a short time.
“Maybe you should give the dad your number, I hear he’s single,” Mark continues to joke, and I grin at him.
“Maybe I should,” I return, and he narrows his eyes playfully, making me laugh, before his pager goes off and he shakes his head.
“Dr. Powers is requiring assistance,” he says, then looks at me and confirms, “The Dog Pond after my shift?”
I smile and admit, “I wouldn’t miss it,” and he grins wide before his eyes travel down my body and up again. His look is full of lust despite the pink scrubs making me want to shiver in disgust but I hold it in, keeping my smile.
He winks when his pager goes off again, then turns, walking away down the hall, getting lost in the crowd, the hospital full today and my smile vanishes.
Tonight is supposed to be a date, one my mama encouraged me to accept when I mentioned Cage and I broke up, claiming our lives are at two different stages. He wants kids, and I can’t right now, lying through my teeth. But why am I dreading it?
Why does it feel completely wrong?
Cage spends every day with his wife. Donna’s seen it with her own eyes. The woman hangs off his arm, showing everyone who he belongs to, so why do I feel sick at the thought of dating Mark?
I sigh when my pager goes off and I see I have a visitor in reception and I head for the elevators, hoping it isn’t mypatient's father. As sweet as the guy can pretend to be, he’s like twenty years older than me and a clear womanizer. If I’m honest, every time I’ve got to go in his child’s room, I make sure I’m not alone.
The guy gives off creepy vibes.
I climb off the elevator and walk over to reception, smiling at a few patients waiting to be seen in the waiting room before I look to see whose come to see me. I pause before panic hits but not because I’m scared Cage has figured out where I am.
I rush over as Dirty smiles at me, and clearly seeing my panic, he promises, “Caleb is perfectly fine, actually, he wants to see you later if that is alright?”
I stop before him and breathe, “He isn’t here for heart problems?”
Dirty chuckles and instantly denies, “Nah, sweetheart, he’s as healthy as a horse.” I relax slightly, and he asks, “Are you due for a break?”
I look at my pocket watch before looking back at Dirty.
I could tell him no, I could walk away and demand he not return, but the little puppy dog look he’s got going on is exactly how Caleb looked to get extra Jello, and I know it’s a look I can’t say no to.
Huffing, I cave and admit, “I’m due an hour break,” and he grins before nodding to the door.
“I saw a bench near the pond,” he says, and I nod and walk with him towards the doors, Cage suddenly coming to mind now that I know Caleb is safe.
Crap, does he know?
