9. Chapter 9
“You’re in early,” Midge said by way of greeting when I strolled in forty-five minutes before my scheduled shift.
I shrugged, pushing back the bite of disappointment that Justin wasn’t at the front. Not that he was there often. Well, I mean he kind of was, but I didn’t expect him there every minute of every day.
“Class got out early, so I thought I’d get a jump on things and come in early.”
If Midge was happy about getting free hours of labor out of me, she had a funny way of showing it. Her scrutiny left an itch between my shoulder blades.
Dropping my backpack under the reception desk I slid behind my computer and shook the mouse.
Over the weekend I’d started on the new charting software I’d thought up. It’d been the only thing that could take my mind off Justin’s hands on my breasts for longer than five minutes.
I’d already discussed with my professor that I wanted to change my final project and when I told him my ideas, he was all for it.
It felt like a step in the right direction.
Once I got settled, I plugged my USB in and got to work. Time ticked by fairly quickly as I coded, pulling up the clinics charting software from time to time when I needed to work. I also used it to get ideas on function and intuitiveness.
Midge handled most of the patient interaction during my shift, which I appreciated, disappearing from time to time to deal with patients in the back.
I didn’t even notice she was gone halfway through my shift until a voice spoke from above me.
“I haven’t seen you before.”
The deep baritone made me look up.
Wow.
The guy could’ve been a model. Not completely outside the realm of possibility given the clinics location and clientele list. He had perfect cheekbones, a broad forehead, and a mile-wide smile.
“I’m new.”
“I can see that,” his eyes twinkled, and he held out a hand, “I’m Tanner.”
“Katie.”
His hand engulfed mine, hot to the touch.
He leaned over the ledge and I got a sneak peek at the pecs under his tank top. “Are you new to the area as well? Because if you are, I’m a great tour guide.” The suggestive curve to his lips told me what kind of tours he would provide.
He didn’t release my hand.
“Oh yeah?” I couldn’t help but respond. “You’ll give me a ride around town?”
He was all teeth. “I’ll give you the ride of your life.”
I bit my lip to keep from giggling.
I bet that line works on all the Barbie clones.
I started to gently pull my hand back when movement caught in the corner of my eye.
The door to the patient area opened and Justin strode out, face dark. “Tanner,” his smile didn’t reach his eyes. Scratch that, it didn’t even reach his lips.
His expression was somewhere between a scowl and a strained baring of teeth.
Tanner dropped my hand to shake Justin’s.
Justin’s fingers clapped down on Tanner’s.
Tanner winced.
“I see you’ve met my daughter,” Justin said the word ‘daughter’ like he would ‘my property.’
My spine stiffened.
Tanner’s face paled, his head swiveling between us. “I didn’t realize. She doesn’t look anything like you. I mean, I was just saying hello.”
Justin face told Tanner he saw right through his bullshit. “Your room is ready.”
“Right, nice to meet you.” Tanner wouldn’t even look me in the eye as he slipped past Justin and nearly ran into Midge.
“Hello, Tanner,” she gave him a welcoming smile, “would you like me to show you to your room?”
Tanner’s head bobbed up and down.
They disappeared down the hallway.
No patients remained in the waiting area, and I took advantage to stare at Justin. Indignation burning hot inside me.
“What the hell was that?” I hissed.
“I was collecting my patient.”
“Bullshit. Did you feel good crushing his hand? You going to offer to fix it now? It was just some innocent flirting, what’s your problem?”
“Innocent? You were all but agreeing to ride his dick. That’s my problem. A few days ago, you were wet and ready to ride my cock, or have you forgotten?”
The harsh words summoned the very image of me riding him.
My cheeks flushed.
“Is that what this is about? You want me riding your cock?” An ache started between my legs, as if the words set off a chain reaction in my body.
Not now hormones.
“Don’t be ridiculous.” The cold of his eyes would’ve fooled me, if it wasn’t for the tension coiled through his whole body, ready to snap.
I laughed. “You’re a terrible liar, Daddy. Newsflash, you don’t get to dictate who I talk to, or ride for that matter.”
If possible, his body seemed to swell with suppressed rage. “Tanner is a player.”
“And?” Like I hadn’t figured that out myself when he flashed those pearly whites and eyed my chest for a good ten seconds.
“I was looking out for you.”
“Again, I call bullshit. Where were you for the past four years then, huh?”
Shock rippled across his face, but footsteps announced Midge’s return.
I whirled away from him. Done with his alpha bullshit.
I avoided Justin the remainder of my shift.
It helped that his afternoon had a constant flow of patients.
I’d just finished scheduling another appointment for a woman whose lips looked ready to float right off her face and pulled up my new programming when a sugary coffee drink appeared right in front of me.
I spun in my chair, my mood only slightly improving at the prospect of quick sugar. It would’ve lifted more if the hand holding the drink wasn’t attached to one Justin Kingston.
“What’s this?” I knew better than to blindly reach out and take it.
He was back at his usual perch, leaning against the wall. It looked as if he’d had a long day and needed the coffee more than me. He’d removed his lab jacket, the sleeves to his button up pushed up his muscular forearms. Scruff dusted his jaw and his hair had at least two pieces out of place.
“Consider it a peace offering for acting like an insensitive asshole.”
“You mean an apology?”
Justin winced. “Perhaps.”
“Perhaps?” I arched my brow, crossing my arms over my chest for good measure.
Justin exhaled. “Very well, I apologize for my earlier behavior.”
I made sure to stare at him in an exaggerated manner. “Wow, look at that, you didn’t explode. The great surgeon, Dr. Kingston has successfully removed his head from his own ass.”
The corner of his mouth lifted, and he thrust the drink at me. “Are you always so crass?”
I shrugged. “Sometimes,” it wasn’t like I spent all day talking to nice people.
Most trolls on the internet were dickbags and the only way to tolerate them was to become them.
It was that or be eaten alive. I accepted the drink and took a long pull on the straw.
“Consider yourself lucky, I’ve been on my best behavior here. ”
“Lucky, huh?”
“Mmhmm,” I slurped down another quarter of the drink. These things were addicting.
Justin shook his head before his eyes landed over my shoulder on my computer screen. “What’re you working on?”
He’d taken the seat next to me before I could direct his attention elsewhere.
The heat and scent of him teased me and I busied myself by downing more of my drink, causing a brain freeze.
Ow.
At least the pain tampered the response of my body perking up to him being so close to me.
“A program?” Justin asked upon closer inspection when I didn’t respond fast enough.
“Your charting program is shit—uh, I mean awful.”
His azurite eyes sparkled at me, sending my skin tingling.
I turned to my monitor. “As a senior I’ve been working on a final project for the quarter and decided to build my own medical charting software, something more user friendly with faster processing, seamless transition and loading, and something way easier on the eyes.
I figured I could test it out here, um, if you wanted. ”
I thought I saw a brief flash of surprise. “I think that’d be a great idea, I’m more than happy to support you with this. You’ve been working on this between patients?”
His voice gave no indication that he was digging at my work ethic, but my back went up anyway. “Only between patients,” I stressed, “I haven’t been ignoring my tasks here, if that’s what you’re asking.”
“I’m not. Just curious.”
I relaxed.
“Your work ethic has been well above average Katie, the only thing I’d mention is that in an effort to remain professional, I’d avoid flirting with clients.”
I dropped the pen in my hand and whirled on him, ready to rip his face off, but the smirk on his face told me he’d done it on purpose.
He’d wanted to get a rise out of me.
Well, well. Looked like Dr. Kingston got his kicks at my expense.
I couldn’t even be mad, considering I enjoyed the hell out of our little sparring matches.
Though I’d take that secret to my grave.
They did nothing but waste time and turn me on, but that wouldn’t stop me from initiating or engaging in them.
“So that’s how it’s going to be, huh?” I quirked a brow. “I can’t be friendly—”
“Flirting.”
“As I was saying, friendly toward clients, but Midge can thrust her breasts at them, and touch your hand and arm and it’s fine?” I’d seen her do it more than once, a touch here, a touch there. Sometimes lingering for longer than necessary.
And now I sounded like a jealous girlfriend.
Justin frowned. “Midge doesn’t mean anything by it.”
“Oh no?” I put my hand over his, like I’d seen Midge do countless times.
Big mistake.