“I really have to go.”
“So if I asked you out, you’d say no because you aren’t attracted to me.”
She’d have to be dead not to find him attractive. He was tall, with thick black hair. His eyes alone could compel any woman to drop her panties, and the dark glasses gave him that Clark Kent/Superman vibe that definitely gave her the quivers in all the right places. She’d seen more of his body than she had a right to, considering they weren’t sleeping together, and the parts she had seen?
A-number-one amazing.
The fact he was an athlete? That did nothing for her.
“My dad bought the team when I was little. I’ve been around guys like you my whole life. I’m over the whole ‘jock-and-awe’ thing.”
He let out a laugh. “Okay, so points against me because I’m a player. And when I say player, I mean sports. Not the other kind.”
She opened the door to the exam room, waiting for him to walk out. “I’ll have to take your word on the other kind.”
“If you went out with me, you could find out.”
She passed the chart to the clerk at the desk, then turned to him.
“Not going to happen, Tucker.”
“You’ve discharged me as your patient, right?”
“Yes.”
“So no conflict of interest.”
“Thirty seconds ago you were still my patient.”
“That was thirty seconds ago. Now I’m just a guy asking you out.”
They stood at the round desk where the other doctors, nurses and clerical staff wandered in and out. Currently, there were several people milling about, which meant those several people heard him ask her out. And heard her turn him down.
She was going to hear about that later.
“Don’t waste your time on me. I don’t have time to date—anyone.”
“Here’s your paperwork, Mr. Cassidy.”
He smiled at Marie, the desk clerk. “Thanks.”
Then he turned back to Aubry, picked up her hand and gave it a little squeeze. “I don’t think you’re a waste of time, Aubry. And thanks for the stitches.”
“Try not to come back.”
“Oh, I’ll be back, but it’ll be to ask you out.”
“Give it up, jock. It’s not going to happen.”
“We’ll see.” He grinned, gave her a quick kiss on the cheek, then walked away.
She couldn’t help staring at him as he left. The man had a very fine ass.
She heard Marie sigh behind her.
“Not happening, Marie.”
“He’s smooth, Aubry. And hot as hell,” Marie said.
“I’m not going out with him.”
“Are you saving yourself for someone in particular? Because last time I checked, Channing Tatum was married.”
She pulled herself away from checking out Tucker’s ass, then turned to face Marie. “Ha-ha. And no. You know I’m always here.”
“Not twenty-four/seven, honey. And you should always make time for hot sex with a young stud.”
“He plays for my dad’s team.”
“So?”
“No, Marie. First, it’s some kind of conflict of interest. Second, I have my hands full just managing my residency.”
Marie stared at the closed door. “Then can I have him?”
Aubry gaped at her. “You’re married. You have four kids.”
“I’ll make time for him. I’m sure Jose won’t mind. Hell, he’d probably like to get rid of me for an hour or two a week. He says I’m a pain in his ass.”
“Jose adores you. He brings you flowers.”
Marie leaned back in her swivel chair. “On my birthday.”
“Every freaking year, Marie. He also brings you cupcakes. I would die for a man who brought me cupcakes.”
Aubry looked over at her friend Katie Murphy, a fellow resident and one of her best friends since medical school. Katie loved cupcakes.
Marie shook her head at Katie and Aubry. “That’s because you skinny bitches burn off everything you eat. I sit on my ass all day, and that bastard brings me cupcakes.”
“And you love him for it,” Aubry said.
Marie sighed. “This is true. But I’ll still take your boy toy Tucker for an hour, if you decide you don’t want him.”
Katie pivoted, her laser sharp eyes focused entirely on Aubry. “Who the hell is Tucker and why didn’t I know you had a boy toy?”
Aubry pinned Marie with a glare before turning her attention back on Katie. “I do not have a boy toy. Tucker was a patient of mine who came in tonight for stitches. He also happens to be a pitcher on my dad’s team.”
“Do we have anything on the board at the moment, Marie?” Katie asked.
“Nope. Board’s clear. No new patients at the moment. Tests and labs are ordered and discharge papers have been filed.”
“Perfect.” Katie grabbed Aubry’s lab coat sleeve and hauled her away from the main station, dragging her into one of the break rooms. She shut the door behind her, then faced her with a scowl.
“Okay, Dr. Ross. Spill all the details about—what’s his name?”
“Tucker Cassidy. And there are no details.”