Between Suits and Scrubs

16. Im flirting with you.

Daxton noticed the way my body stiffened, spine alert as I stared out the window, eyes wide.

He followed my gaze to the sidewalk, which was now empty.

"Is something wrong?" He inquired.

I sucked in a breath, peeling my gaze away from the sidewalk and returning my attention to him. "Sorry, I think I'm going crazy."

He brought his eyebrows together. "I highly doubt that's true. Tell me what's wrong."

I swallowed, eyes flicking towards the sidewalk again only for a second, before looking into his eyes again. "Um... well, do you remember that night when you showed up at the hospital and took me home?"

He nodded, waiting patiently for me to continue.

I took a deep breath. "Something strange happened... when I stepped out of the hospital, a man came up to me and insisted I come with him to his car, saying his sick daughter was inside."

He instantly frowned. "Instead of bringing her straight into the hospital, he asked you to come to his car?"

"I know, right? Isn't that so strange? Who does that? He looked too calm for someone whose daughter was apparently sick. I had a bad feeling so I rushed back to the hospital, had a stretcher rolled out, but the man had disappeared like he never even existed." I explained.

His frown deepened as he listened.

"And right now... um, minutes ago, I... I thought him saw outside." I told reluctantly.

His mouth parted, eyes darting to the sidewalk for a second. "That's not a good sign. Is this man following you?"

I blinked, letting it register as a shiver ran down my spine. "I... I don't know... what could anyone possibly want from me?"

His face which was relaxed and smiling minutes ago, now appeared distraught and pensive. "There's a lot of bad people out there with millions of evil motives."

He shifted closer to me, subtly but deliberately, his body angling in a way that felt instinctively protective.

He reached out slowly, giving me time, and placed his hand over mine. I felt that spark immediately, even through the fear that I felt in the moment.

"Has anything else happened? Anyone else approached you? Messages, calls, anything unusual?" He asked.

I shook my head. "No. Just... that. And this feeling like something's off."

"It's unsettling," he agreed. "Especially the part where he vanished."

I nodded, wrapping both hands around my cup even though it had gone lukewarm. "I keep replaying it in my head. Wondering if I overreacted."

"I don't think you did," he replied. "If someone asked one of my executives to follow them to a parking lot under those circumstances, I'd call it suspicious too."

I glanced up at him. "You don't think I'm being dramatic?"

A corner of his mouth lifted. "You're a resident who runs toward emergencies for a living. Dramatic doesn't seem like your brand."

That earned a small, relieved smile from me.

"Did he say his name?"

I shook my head, clearing my throat. "I didn't mean to dump this on you... everything was going so nicely and now—"

"It's still nice," he interjected. "You're here, across from me, confiding in me. You're not ruining anything. In fact, I appreciate that you trust me enough to let me know."

I smiled softly.

Silence fell for a couple of minutes as we had our coffees, then Daxton cleared his throat.

"Okay," he said. "Enough ominous men in parking lots."

I laughed softly, grateful. "Agreed."

"So," he continued, eyes glinting, "you've told me about emergency C-sections and creepy strangers. My turn."

"Oh?" I raised a brow. "What are you offering? Corporate scandals?"

"Tempting," he said. "But no. A stalker story. One time a fan followed me to a top-notch business event."

"Fan?" I laughed.

"Yes. I'm a public figure. I have fans." He said with mock-arrogance.

I giggled. I know. I'm one too.

I arched a brow, interested to know more. "Define followed. Like 'crashed the event' or 'knows your deepest, darkest secret'?"

He chuckled. "She had a badge with a legit company logo. Easily fooled security."

"Okay, that is... unsettling."

"She quoted an interview I gave years ago. Word for word." He continued.

I laughed in disbelief. "Very dedicated fan."

"She walked up to me when I was alone, quoted another interview to my face," he said. I leaned forward, putting my chin on my palm as I listened. "Then pulled out a printed copy of that interview," my jaw dropped. "My quotes were highlighted," I laughed. "And she asked me to sign it."

I threw my head back laughing. "Oh my God. That is so funny, yet creepy at the same time. Did security finally remove her or not?"

"I haven't even told you the creepiest part yet." He said.

My eyebrows shot up. "There's more?"

He nodded. "She grabbed my face and tried to kiss me."

My jaw dropped open. "Poor you! You basically got harassed."

He uttered a short, nervous chuckle, running a hand through his hair. "Yeah, thank God my reflexes were quick, so I pulled away. Imagine losing your first kiss to someone who crashed your event."

I stiffened slightly, my heart doing somersaults.

Losing your first kiss? Does he mean what I think he means? Has he never—

"Doesn't beat creepy parking lot men though." He joked.

I blinked, clearing my throat. "Have you never—" I stopped abruptly before I could utter the whole sentence.

Are you insane? That's so weird! You can't ask him that.

"Have I never what?" He inquired calmly.

"Uh... um... encountered creepy stalkers in parking lots?" I blurted stupidly.

"What?" He uttered a short laugh. "No, not that I can recall."

I pressed my lips together, nodding quietly.

He leaned in, a relaxed smile playing on his lips. "Tell me something normal about you. Something that doesn't involve blood, creepy men, or magnesium sulfate."

I giggled, thinking. "Oh there's this very normal detail about me."

He leaned closer, eyes gleaming with fascination. "I'm all ears."

I grinned. "I love horror movies."

He sat silently for a few seconds, brow arched. "You? Short, cute, lifesaver likes horror?"

My cheeks flushed. "Did you have to mention the short part?"

He smirked. "You deal with blood, emergencies, and people screaming for a living. Of course you'd unwind by watching fictional terror."

I laughed. "First of all, rude. Second of all, horror is comforting."

"Comforting." He repeated skeptically, raising his brow again.

"Yesss," I grinned, feeling completely at ease. "Now your turn. Don't tell me you like rom-coms."

He chuckled, shaking his head. "I like horror too."

A laugh erupted from my throat before I could stop it. Raw and unfiltered. "For real? Or are you copying me?"

His eyes gleamed with admiration. "I'm serious."

I grinned. "What kind of horror do you like?"

He leaned in a little. "Psychological horror. Possession. Atmosphere. The kind that messes with your head long after it ends."

My excitement spiked. "Wait... have you watched Turkish horror?"

His brow lifted, impressed. "Dabbe."

I gasped. "NO WAY."

"Siccin." He added.

I nearly knocked my cup over. "You're kidding."

"I'm not," he said, clearly enjoying my reaction. "They're disturbing in a way Hollywood doesn't quite get."

"Yes!" I said a little too loudly, then lowered my voice, grinning. "They don't rely on gore. It's the build-up. The religious undertones. The way it crawls under your skin."

He watched me animatedly explain, eyes bright. "You've clearly thought about this."

"I've felt about this." I corrected.

He laughed softly. "I didn't expect this from you."

"What, that I can save a baby and still willingly traumatize myself with jinn possession stories?" I grinned.

He smiled back. "Exactly that."

Our eyes held for a moment, something warm settling between us—shared laughter, shared interests, something quietly forming.

"Well," I said lightly, breaking the moment, "if you ever want recommendations..."

"Oh, I will," he said, smiling. "Fair warning though, I don't scare easily."

I arched a brow. "Challenge accepted."

The sky cracked open just as we stepped out of the café.

Not a polite drizzle. Not a warning shower. A full-blown storm.

Rain slammed against the pavement like it had a personal vendetta, wind howling between buildings. The temperature dropped instantly, and my chest tightened before I could stop it.

"Oh," Daxton muttered, glancing up. "That escalated quickly."

I stiffened, heart pounding in my chest.

First that creepy man, now a storm.

Why were these things ruining such a beautiful day for me?

By the time we reached his car, the rain was coming down sideways. Thunder rumbled overhead. I slid into the passenger seat, my hands already curling into my lap.

The moment the door shut, the sound of rain amplified, drumming violently against the roof.

I swallowed.

Daxton noticed immediately. "You okay?" He asked, starting the engine.

I nodded, lying.

"I remember you don't like rain." He mumbled, driving down the road.

"I remember you don't either." I replied softly.

"It reminds me of..." he stopped instantly, shaking his head.

I watched his face. A mask of emotionlessness slipped on, but his eyes... his eyes seemed darker than the night.

"Storms remind me of loss and fear." I whispered, unable to hold the words back.

He stiffened, glancing my way for a second before returning his attention to the road.

But the roads were chaos; cars barely inching forward, brake lights glowing red through sheets of rain.

Ten minutes passed. Then twenty. The traffic barely moved. My breathing grew shallow. My fingers dug into the hem of my dress.

Another crack of thunder echoed, closer this time. The car jolted slightly as rain flooded the road.

I sucked in a breath.

Daxton made a decision without hesitation. He signaled, turning off the main road. "We're not getting anywhere like this."

"Where are we going?" I asked quietly.

"Shelter," he replied. "There's a small hotel a few blocks from here."

I blinked rapidly, registering the words. "You're suggesting we spend the night at a hotel?"

"Unless we want to stay stuck in flooded roads." He answered.

"Okay." I agreed quietly, taking deep breaths in an attempt to calm the anxiety I was feeling.

We arrived at a small hotel shortly after, only to find that it was fully booked.

So, we ended up in Daxton's car again.

"There's a covered service road a few blocks back," he suggested. "We can wait it out there."

"Okay." I agreed.

We made it there soon enough. Daxton parked in a corner, the engine humming slowly before he turned it off.

Silence settled for a few minutes, until the thunderous roar of the sky broke it.

I sighed heavily, rubbing my forehead. "I can't believe we're stuck in a storm."

Daxton turned towards me. "No one else I'd rather be stuck with."

My heart fluttered, warmth slowly settling in. "I guess it isn't so bad because you're here."

He smiled. "How about we attempt to associate storms with nice memories for a change?"

I smiled automatically, turning fully towards him. "What do you suggest?"

He pointed with his head to the backseat. "I suggest we move backseat so we can get more comfortable."

I swallowed, glancing backseat. "I suppose that's not a bad idea."

"After you."

We climbed into the back, the space immediately smaller, cozier. He pulled out a blanket and put it around my frame, giving me instant butterflies.

Our knees brushed as we settled.

My cheeks flushed as I realised that my dress had ridden up. Before I could make a move to fix it, he pulled the hem down before covering my lap with the blanket.

It caused my pulse to skyrocket instantly. Every passing second, I felt like throwing myself onto him and kissing him senseless.

My gaze dropped to his lips. They did look very inviting.

He reached forward, rummaging through a compartment.

I watched him, confused.

Then he pulled out a pack of cookies, some chocolates and a bag of crisps.

I uttered a surprised laugh. "No way you eat those."

He presented the snacks to me. "I do, occasionally. I'm only human."

I laughed, popping open a bag of crisps. "Does that not mess up your gym routine?"

He tilted his head to the side. "You know about my gym routine?"

My cheeks reddened instantly. "I-it's obvious, and um, you've talked about it in an interview."

My eyes widened the moment the words left my mouth.

He had an amused smirk on his face. "I see I've got another creepy stalker."

I rolled my eyes, trying to fight the flush creeping up my neck. "The interviews are public. Anyone can watch them, you know?"

He nodded, the smirk never leaving.

"If you're expecting me to pull out a printed copy of the interview, I haven't unlocked that level of creepy yet." I joked.

He laughed, throwing his head back.

I shifted closer without thinking, pulling the blanket over him as well. His eyes stared down at me in a way that made my heart skip a beat.

I opened the pack of cookies next. "I still can't believe you're just carrying these."

He took a cookie, giving me a solemn look even though his eyes gleamed with playfulness. "You never know when you'll be trapped in a car with a beautiful doctor during a storm."

I blushed. "I can't tell if you're flirting with me or—"

"I'm flirting with you." He confirmed, a very serious look on his face.

I swallowed, stilling in place as my heartbeat sounded loud in my ears.

He said it so plainly that it stole the air from my lungs.

"Oh." I breathed, my fingers tightening around the crinkly packet in my lap. "Is that something you do often or—"

"It's a new development." He interjected.

My cheeks warmed up. "I see... that could beat some gay rumours about you."

He threw his head back laughing. "You've heard a lot about me."

I donned a small smile. "You're the talk of the country."

"Then you would know why that rumour exists." He said.

"Because you've never been seen with a woman." I said softly, breaking eye contact for a couple of seconds.

"Exactly."

I looked back up. "But no one ever knows what goes on behind closed doors, right?"

He rested his head on the backrest, smiling gently. "If I told you I've never been with a woman, would you take my word for it?"

My breath caught in my lungs. "R-really?"

"Really." He nodded.

I licked my lips, heartbeat erratic. "Why is that?"

He shrugged lightly. "I've never liked anyone. Never had the time, honestly. All I've ever been focused on is establishing and growing my business. Especially after my parents' death—" he stopped abruptly, a sadness creeping into his eyes that I had never seen before.

My mouth parted. "I—I'm sorry."

He shook his head, averting his gaze. "It's okay."

I sucked in a breath. "I... I can understand your pain. I also lost both my parents. At only five years."

His head snapped towards me, eyes instantly searching mine. He stayed quiet, as if deeply assessing something.

It seemed like an eternity until he finally spoke. "I'm sorry, Ayra. That must have been hard."

I nodded, looking down at my lap, before looking back up. "You're not as cold as everyone says. I realise that more and more with every minute spent with you."

His lips curled up into a smile. "Don't tell anyone. It would ruin my reputation."

I snickered. "Your secret's safe with me."

My breath held as he reached down and interlaced his fingers with mine, pulling our joined hands onto his thigh. He picked up one of the chocolates with his free hand and gave it to me.

"Now," he whispered. "Tell me why Turkish horror is superior to Hollywood. I want to see you get all fired up again."

I laughed, subconsciously shifting closer to him until a significant portion of our bodies was touching. I felt too warm, too comfortable to move away.

As I launched into a passionate defense of Turkish cinematography, Daxton watched me with a look that belonged to a man who was falling.

Or at least, that's what I hoped. Because my crush for him was transforming into something more profound.

After my speech ended, I asked him a question I could no longer hold back. "Did you really come to the hospital for the systems?"

He smiled, closing his eyes for a couple of seconds. "I think we both know the systems are working perfectly. I came because I haven't been able to focus on a single contract since the conference."

My heart fluttered. "That's surprising coming from a CEO."

He hummed, smile still in place.

"I think you're someone who hides behind a lot of expensive fabric," I said, my hand traveling of its own accord to his chest, feeling the solid muscle beneath his dress shirt.

I started to unbutton the top button of his shirt, my fingers trembling.

"There. Now you look a little less like a CEO and more like. .. a man."

Daxton's breath hitched.

Before either of us could say something, thunder struck so loudly, I practically jumped into his arms.

I gasped, attempting to pull away. "I'm sor—"

His arms wrapped around my waist, stilling me against his chest. "It's okay... why don't you make yourself comfortable?"

My heart ran a marathon in my chest, my breathing uneven. The closeness was driving me crazy, yet it felt like a luxury I wasn't prepared to give up.

I rested my head on his chest, feeling the steady rhythm of his heart.

He adjusted the blanket, tucking it more securely around my shoulders, and rested his chin on top of my head.

His thumb traced an absentminded line along my upper arm, slow enough that I was certain he didn't realize he was doing it.

I definitely realized.

And now that I'd known what being in his embrace felt like, I couldn't help but desire him more than ever.