Hold on. He sounds out of breath, like he does after sex. The image of us together, our limbs entangled and him rocking into me at a leisurely but intense pace sends a flash of heat through my body. Just as quickly, the mental picture of him fucking someone else in his bed right now dispels the heat, leaving me frozen.
“Are you busy?” My tone is more hostile than I intended. “I can call back later.”
“Never too busy for you. I was just working out.”
Relief washes over me. It’s so intense that I feel weak, much like an energy crash after a bout of adrenaline. What this man does to me should be illegal. All the more reason to stick to my guns.
“What were you thinking?” I grit out, glancing around to make sure I’m not overheard.
“About what?” he drawls. “You have to be a little more specific.”
I clench my teeth. He knows exactly what I’m talking about. “Sending the whole hospital flowers.”
“Not the whole hospital. I was told flowers aren’t allowed in the ER.”
“Cut it out, Alex.” I take a paper towel from the dispenser and dry my hands. “I don’t have time for games.”
“Since you seem to have a tendency of donating your flowers to the patients who don’t have any, I’m just making sure you keep yours this time.”
“What do you mean?” I say, making my way out the door.
“If every patient has their own flowers, you don’t need to give yours to them.”
The soles of my shoes squeak on the floor as I walk down the hall with fast, angry steps. “You can’t keep doing this.”
“Doing what?”
“Don’t play ignorant with me.”
“You have to say it, Katyusha.” The gruffness of his tone strokes over my senses. “I’ve done a lot of things that are out of character for me since I’ve met you. Be specific.”
“Sending me gifts and lunches.”
“Isn’t that how the game works?”
A doctor walks past, nodding in greeting. I return the nod and lower my voice. “This isn’t a game, Alex.”
“No.” Seriousness creeps into his tone. “It’s not a game.”
“Then stop it,” I hiss.
“I thought this is what you wanted—the hearts and the flowers.”
I pause in front of the doors giving access to the emergency room. “I never said that was what I wanted. That’s what you assumed.”
“Come on,” he says with a hint of humor, “you have to help me out here. I’m new to this. I’ve never done dating. Except for the flowers and hearts, Google isn’t much help.”
Despite myself, I can’t help the smile that tugs at my lips. “You’re into dating now?”
“If that’s what it takes to get to see you.”
That’s not dating. That’s manipulation, a way of getting me back into his bed until he tires of me. “I have to go. My shift is about to start.”
“Can I see you tonight?”
“No,” I say firmly. “It’s better like this.”
“Better for whom?”
“For me.”
“I’m not so sure about that. I know I can make you feel good, better than any other man you’ve been with. You’ve admitted as much yourself.”
Dammit. I should never have told him I had more orgasms with him in one night than in all my time with Tony. That’s only fueled his ego and given him ammunition against me.
“I’m not giving up, Katyusha.”
I take a deep breath. “You should.”
I end the call just as I catch June’s gaze through the window in the door. She waves me in, her manner saying it’s urgent.
Putting everything else out of my mind, I slip my phone into my pocket and go inside.
“We have a victim with multiple stab wounds,” she says in a strained voice. “I need you with Dr. Miller.”
“Got it,” I reply, already running.
* * *
After dodging Yuri, who’s waiting outside the hospital in the car again, I come home with the big box of flowers under my arm, only to find another one waiting on my doorstep. I’m about to pick it up when Yuri speaks behind me.
“Refusing my service isn’t helping either of us.”
I jump, almost dropping the box. “Shit. You scared me.”
“Sorry,” he says, not looking one bit sorry. “If I don’t drive you, I don’t get paid.”
“What?” I gape at him. “Alex can’t do that.”
“He’s my boss,” he says in a dry tone. “He can do whatever he wants. So either you pay me, or you let me drive you. I have mouths to feed, you know.”
“You have a family?” Now I just feel awful.
“What?” he says, lifting his shoulders up to his ears. “A man like me can’t have a family?”
“What? No!” Balancing the flowers in one arm, I bend to pick up the box on my doorstep. “That’s not what I meant. I’m just shocked that Alex would stoop that low.”
“He’s not a bad man. He just wants to save you the trouble of commuting in the cold.” He raises a brow. “What can it hurt?”