“No,” Emily said quickly. “No way. That’s too formal. I’m going to stick out like a sore thumb.”
Tessa shook her head, her blonde plumes bouncing. “It’s a gala, Em. Rich people need an excuse to throw money at things, and nothing opens wallets faster than expensive outfits and tiny hors d’oeuvres. Consider this dress your contribution to hospital funding. You’ll look so hot, they’ll donate more.” She sauntered over, the dress swishing as she held it out in front of Emily. “Honestly, Em. It’s kind of criminal that you’ve never worn this dress before. The color? With your skin tone? Absolutely criminal.”
Emily scowled, but her fingers betrayed her. She reached out to brush them over the fabric. It was soft, silky, and draped in a way that was both elegant and undeniably sexy. Perfect for an evening gala. Perfect to impress someone.
Tessa waggled her eyebrows. “This is it, babe. You’re wearing it to the gala. No questions asked.”
The Azure Ballroom at the Vesper Cove Hotel was as extravagant as Emily expected—if not more. Crystal chandeliers threw golden light across the glossy parquet floors and reflected off the high, arched windows that framed the view of the darkened ocean beyond. White-clothed tables were arranged around the perimeter, each set with fine china and gleaming silverware. In the center of the room was a towering floral arrangement of white roses and calla lilies and a small stage had been set up near the back, where a string quartet played something light.
Emily exhaled slowly, tugging at the neckline of her dress. The silk felt too smooth against her skin, too luxurious, and the fitted bodice made her hyper-aware of every breath she took. Dammit. She should’ve just gone with the boring blue dress. This was too much.
She had half a mind to turn around and leave—sitting on the couch in her pajamas with a tub of ice cream watchingPrincess Diarieswas a hell of a lot better than this—when a familiar voice interrupted her.
“Doctor Sharp. You’re looking exquisite this evening.”
Emily barely had time to flick on a fake smile before Dr. James Caldwell appeared at her side, wearing his usual smarmy grin. He was dressed in a tailored black suit, his dark brown hairslicked back and the way he looked her up and down made her stomach turn.
“Thank you,” she replied softly, forcing that smile. “You’re not looking too bad yourself.”
He chuckled, his voice grating her skin for a reason she wasn’t entirely sure about.
It wasn’t like James had ever done anything inappropriate but something about him just felt like a mosquito buzzing in her ear, annoying enough to make her want to swat him away.
“This is just another Friday evening for me,” he said, with the self-assuredness of a man who believed he was a gift to the world. “You know how it is. Same old, same old.”
Emily bit back a sigh and wanted to say,No James, I do not know how it is and I’m quite sure I wouldn’t want to either, but instead nodded politely.
“Just last week I was in New York—flying first class, of course—attending a gala where there were not one but two champagne towers. Can you believe that? I mean seriously? I know tonight’s not going to compare. Oakridge isn’t exactly Lenox Hill Hospital…”
Emily was trying to listen, except her attention had already drifted past him. She was scanning the ballroom for someone else, her eyes drifting from one well-dressed figure to the next, hoping for a glimpse of someone. Someone in particular.
But she didn’t see the one face she was hoping for. No salt-and-pepper head in sight. No sign of Bette, and Emily couldn’t help but feel disappointed. She tried to fight off the feeling, tried to refocus, but then James said something about a horse he once saw at a charity event in Tuscany and Emily realized that Bette was probably not attending the event.
Maybe she had better things to do. Or maybe Bette was against charity galas and was at home, enjoying a quiet evening, free from all this glimmer and forced pleasantries.
Well, if Bette wasn’t going to be there, did Emily even want to stay?
Did she have to? Was there some sort of unwritten rule about how long you had to suffer through these things before it was acceptable to make a quiet exit?
Emily’s mind was just about to spiral into a hundred questions when she caught a flicker of movement near the entrance.
There, at the door, stood Bette Bridge.
There was no spotlight, no sudden swell of music in the background, but when Bette entered, it felt like the world subtly shifted. She wore a perfectly tailored black suit that should’ve looked rigid but somehow managed to be soft and flattering, hugging her frame in all the right ways. The short sleeves, cut at the shoulder, showed off her strong, toned arms—arms that Emily hadn’t expected at all. The woman’s scrubs did nothing to flatter her body.
Emily blinked rapidly, trying to shake off the sudden heat spreading through her. She was definitely not staring, definitely not letting her eyes linger on Bette as she waltzed into the room.
When their eyes met, it was as if James no longer existed. The pull to walk over was inexplicable, something magnetic that overpowered her usual cautiousness in a social setting. It didn’t matter that they hadn’t spoken much out of their therapy sessions, Emily just wanted to speak to Bette, to see her smile, to hear her voice.
Was that so bad?
“Excuse me, James,” Emily said quickly, forcing the words out with a smile that barely masked the newfound nervousness twirling around in her stomach. “I’ll be right back.”
She didn’t wait for him to respond or even to acknowledge the confused twist of his brows, she just stepped forward, one leg at a time as she maneuvered through the crowd.
“Bette,” she called, a little too eagerly when she was just close enough away that she wasn’t shouting. For some reason, it felt so good to say her name out loud. “Hi. I didn’t expect to see you here. Or I did, but when I didn’t see you anywhere, I thought maybe you weren’t coming, or that you—” she cut herself off before she blabbered on too much. Her mouth was moving faster than her brain.
“Doctor Sharp,” Bette said, her voice calm and collected as always, but there was a glimmer of warmth Emily hadn’t expected. Maybe she was glad to see her too. “You look…well, wow.” She paused for a beat, her eyes roaming over Emily’s body and unlike when James did it, this felt completely different, like a compliment rather than an evaluation.
