My grimace reflected back at me from my computer screen. Ellie was sweet, but her crush on Josh was so obvious it was painful.
“It looks good,” Josh said. “Short hair suits you.”
“Thank you.” Another giggle.
I typed faster, the click-clack of my keyboard adopting a furious tempo as the sound of footsteps neared. They stopped next to me.
Clack. Clack. Clack—
“Jules.”
I waited several beats before I lifted my head to meet Josh’s eyes. The first thing I noticed were his scrubs. It was my first time seeing him in his doctor’s clothes, since he usually changed out of them before arriving at the clinic. The blue uniform was too shapeless to be objectively flattering, and yet…
Something in my chest stumbled.
Oh no. Oh no, no, no.
My stomach knotted with horror. I couldn’t possibly feel…attraction toward Josh Chen. Not here, in D.C. I could chalk up my momentary loss of good judgment in Vermont to the mountain air, but here I had no excuse.
Any butterflies, flutters, and skipped heartbeats were unacceptable. Unthinkable. Downright disgusting.
“I see your desk has arrived.” Josh’s gaze flitted from my face to my favorite fluffy pink pen. A hint of a smile filled the corners of his mouth. “Looks like we’re neighbors. Lucky you.”
He angled his head toward the desk across the aisle from mine. I’d wondered who it belonged to, since its sparse decorations provided no clue as to its owner’s identity.
“I’m thrilled,” I said flatly. I leaned back in my chair and narrowed my eyes. “I didn’t realize volunteers had their own desks.”
“They don’t. Only I do.” His voice took on a familiar cocky lilt. “I’m beloved around here, Red.”
Sadly, it was true. The rest of the clinic staff fawned over him like he was the second coming of the messiah. It was enough to make a girl want to hurl.
“I can’t imagine why.” Keep to the truce. “Well, as lovely as this conversation is, I have to get back to work. Lots to do,” I chirped with false pep.
Josh’s eyes glinted with amusement. “Of course.”
He settled in at his desk, and we didn’t speak again for the rest of the afternoon.
By the time the clock ticked toward five, I was bleary-eyed from staring at the screen so long, and my wrists ached from typing. I might’ve been a little aggressive with my keyboard, but it was a good release for my pent-up tension.
“What a day.” Ellie yawned. “I could use a drink. Anyone else down? The Black Fox has a great happy hour special.”
The Black Fox was the bar across the street and a popular watering hole for hospital staff.
“I am.” Marshall was the picture of eagerness. Like Ellie, he was a full-time research associate, and if Ellie’s interest in Josh was a flashing neon sign, Marshall’s interest in Ellie was a full-blown billboard complete with floodlights and ten-foot-high letters spelling out I LOVE ELLIE. “I mean, I’ll go with you.”
“Great,” Ellie said. “Josh?”
“Sure. I’ll never turn down a cheap drink.” His dimple made a quick appearance. “You in, Red?”
I hesitated. I had to study for finals and pack for my upcoming move, but I could use a de-stresser. “Sure, why not?”
No one else at the clinic could join us, so half an hour later, it was just the four of us who crowded around a table at The Black Fox, nursing watered down but insanely cheap drinks.
“I propose we play a game.” Ellie was technically speaking to the whole table, but her eyes were fixed on Josh.
His lips quirked. “What kind of game?”
He sat beside me, one arm draped over the back of the chair next to him while his other hand held a half-empty glass of Coke and whiskey. He’d changed out of his scrubs, and his pose, combined with his tousled dark hair and new outfit—navy blue cashmere sweater with the sleeves pushed up, watch glinting on his wrist—made him look like he was posing for a men’s fashion magazine.
I drained the rest of my drink in an attempt to douse the heat blooming in my stomach.
“Truth or Dare,” Ellie decided.
“El, I don’t know if that’s a good idea.” Marshall shifted in his seat. “We work together. It’s inappropriate.”
I suppressed a wince. Marshall was only a few years older than Ellie, but lecturing someone on propriety in the middle of happy hour wasn’t the best way to spark a girl’s interest.
“It’s just us. It’s not like Lisa’s here.” Ellie waved a dismissive hand in the air. “So? What do you think?”
Josh lifted his glass to his lips, his eyes dancing with amusement. “Let’s do it.”
“Great.” She beamed and turned to me. “Jules?”
“Sure.” In normal times, I would’ve been the one who suggested a game first, but all my worrying over the past week had drained me of energy and the best I could do was go with the flow.
“Marshall?” Ellie nudged him, causing his cheeks to flush red.
“Okay.” He sounded resigned.
To no one’s surprise, Ellie chose Josh for the first round. “Truth or Dare?” she asked.
“Truth.”
Huh.I tamped down my surprise. I’d expected him to choose Dare.
Ellie leaned forward so he had an unimpeded view of her cleavage. She’d tossed her blazer long ago, and her breasts practically spilled out of her tank top.
I glanced at Josh, whose gaze remained fixed on Ellie’s face. His expression didn’t so much as flicker.
The same couldn’t be said for Marshall, who looked like he was about to burst into flames.
“Are you interested in anyone at the clinic?” Ellie asked.
Subtle.
Josh’s eyebrows winged upward. “A volunteer or staff member?”
I shifted in my seat, and the vinyl released an embarrassing squeak when my thighs unstuck from the material. Josh flicked his eyes in my direction, his amusement visibly deepening. I lifted my chin defiantly in reply.
“Either or,” Ellie said, bringing his attention back to her. “But let’s say it’s a staff member.”
“I’m interested in everyone at the clinic,” Josh said. “You’re all great.”
She deflated, obviously realizing she should’ve been more specific.
“Jules.” Josh shifted his gaze to me, and I straightened in anticipation. “Truth or Dare?”
“Dare.” I answered without hesitation.
A slow smile spread across his face. “I dare you to kiss someone at this table for thirty seconds.”
I recognized the satisfied gleam in his eyes; he expected me to back down.
Too bad for him, I’d never backed down from a dare in my life.
I kept my gaze fixed on his as I leaned forward, closing the distance between us inch by agonizing inch until his smile slipped and heat flared in his eyes.
I waited until our faces were only inches apart before I swerved abruptly and kissed a startled Marshall instead.
“Mmmphng,” he squeaked.
“You okay with this?” I whispered against his lips.
“Mmmphng,” he repeated, higher pitched this time. He didn’t move away, so I took that as a yes.