Vaughn strode toward her, his big work boots crunching snow and asphalt. Her heart rate sped up, but her stomach clenched, like she braced for a punch. Meanwhile, Romeo and Juliet were still flirting.
Let's go already, people.
"Iz, let me give you my number." Izzy held out the phone; Kerr punched in numbers. "Call me if you want, okay?" His casual smile turned into a tight grimace.
Izzy headed around the van, keys jingling in her hand. "See you Thursday, Dr. Mariah." She opened the door and a thick flow of invectives spilled out.
"G-good night," Mariah called.
"What's Thursday?" The sound of that deep male voice behind her slid straight down her spine to her... libido.
Izzy shut the car door and the cursing abruptly ceased once more.
Shivering harder, Mariah wrapped her arms over her chest and hurried back to the clinic, Vaughn keeping pace. Kerr trailed behind.
"Thursday?" Vaughn asked again, more gently. Like he was trying to be nice.
"That info is really HIPAA p-protected." Her teeth chattered. Icicles were probably forming in her eyeballs. God, it was cold out.
For his part, Vaughn wore jeans and a thin shirt, topped by his hip-length leather jacket. Unbuttoned, of course. And he didn't appear to be shivering at all. "You can't tellme?" he asked. But still with a calm tone and a disarming half smile. Like maybe hewasa nice guy who had just had a bad couple of days and was trying to make up for it.
Mariah could appreciate someone who tried to be better. To be fair, she had seen how careful he was with his sister and how he'd stood up to Wyatt Brand on Mariah's behalf.
She, of all people, understood second chances.
Could she take another chance on him, after their rough beginning? She studied his earnest expression, crooked nose, hard jaw, and dark, intense eyes. Another shiver rippled down her spine, but it had nothing to do with the temperature.
While she owed him nothing, Mariah could at least keep an open mind. Frankly, she was intrigued. It was okay for a woman to want to know more about a guy. No rule against that at all.
"I c-can't tell anyone." At the main clinic entrance, she swiped her badge and the doors opened with aswoosh. She sighed as the heated air rushed over her.
"Bro, here are the keys." Kerr pointed toward the door to the main hospital. "I'm going thataway for the night shift with Shel. Anything new to report?"
"No. She's still sleeping. Nothing new, right?" He glanced over, brows raised.
"Not yet," Mariah said. "But she's stable."
"Stable." Vaughn's mouth pressed into a line. "Let me know if anything changes, okay?"
Kerr tipped his hat. "Will do."
In the low-lit reception area, Vaughn appeared tired and much older, like the weight of the world fell on his broad shoulders. She studied the strong lines of his frame, and the easy way he clasped hands with his brother.
"Night, Doc." Kerr smirked at her perusal of Vaughn's broad shoulders.
Her cheeks warmed. "Sure thing," she said to his retreating backside.
Which left Mariah and Vaughn alone in the empty reception area.
