except for the sound of the traf

ted window. He noted the tense shoulders and the worry in those green e

the shallow woman she really was, by brea

self assured maturity in her features. Ethan allowed his gaze to travel down the flattering green blou

mond engagement ring - simple yet undoubtedly worth a small fortune. The engagement to Ryan Sil

it, "A match made i

iny and nervously lifted a hand to tuck a stray

oice subdued yet still tinged with that upper class Boston accent

nervousness and uncertainty emanating from her in waves, and he experience

view of smooth healthy skin. Curiously, that should have sparked his

r and cu

ly and continued. "I want to ap

hotel." Ethan cut in, in no mood t

flash of irritation cross her face, befo

ip to moisten it. "But I feel I should at least try to ap

is watch and gave

hard. "If that's what you want to talk about,

u are doing to my family and Erin. They have nothing to do with what happened between u

Ethan kept his gaze fixed on Nicky, disdain showi

ing an eyebrow. "What is

ly. Why else would you buy out my uncle's company from under his nose? Plus, Erin told me th

running to you? How ironic. I thought she wore the pants in

know what

obedient little ferret, yo

folded his arms across his chest, hi

ermission to speak to me. Now I'm curious to

clearly see how she struggled to

said through clenched teeth. "I am more

t up even hig

of her phone. Thrown out of focus, Nicky frowned at her white purse

d pressed the red button before shoving the p

idn't sit well with her and h

" She

e him, snapping it open and pulling out a bulky folder. He spread it open o

injecting boredom into his tone. In truth,

close, her voice earnest, as though she

y them out as I please. I'm a grown woman, soon to be a ma

d by your dear, sweet cousin." He observed dril

but Ethan had heard enough. He held up a hand for silence, leaned

the middle aged woman driving the ve

s S

Ethan when he

th our discussion.

"Regretfully, I have a meeting in five minu

seconds later, his driver p

And congratulations on

ord, merely gathered her purse with an enraged huff and s

to no

off

affic, Ethan stared out the

etting into that car with him?" Erin demanded

ing traffic in the background, an

replied, her tone snappy and strained and Erin wonde

irritation from her voice, keeping it mellow. Nicky was o

sentment. "I only agreed because you were obviously upset about your dad. But I c

n pinched the bridge of her nose, a

Did that bastard do so

e wouldn't put it past him to hurl ridiculous insults willy nilly, a

ce of her mind; and a vicious kick to the n

l call you later and explain. Right now,

ay?" Erin asked again,

ou later, bye."

ed frown and sighed. Only heaven knew

e heels of her black shoes clicking loudly against the black and

e a move on Nicky, or maybe he'd threatened to blac

tting my imaginat

nkled her nose at the str

illness, the anxiety that seemed to envelop

ndwich last night. She groaned, running a hand through her already

irst thi

, go home, wash hair and have a nice, stea

earch of a vending machine and finally s

face wrenched at her heart strings. To Erin, this man lying there was so different from the hale and hearty man she'd known all he

also fast asleep, one hand ent

able and left, shutting the door carefully. Back in the corridor

ll dark haired man in light blue scrubs. Erin paused in the act of insertin

h baritone, bringing to mind a cup

eled head, the ridiculous bright pink two piece suit and finally, down to her three inch shoes. Erin fel

throat and finall

el

was good looking in rumpled 'haven't been to bed in days' kind of way, with a nice, fi

her attention to the vending machine, slipping

ng ha

get and pressed the button again

rustration, slapping her palm against

startling Erin. He grinned and delivered a go

"Shitty hospital equipment, nothi

stranger's warm brown gaze. "Thanks, but that's ha

f in her belly. "Don't worry, it's just the unimportant thi

uldn't help the smile

d her for a moment, the scrutiny setting off another w

colate. She wondered why he was even still hanging arou

his biceps beneath the scrubs, suggesting at a strict workout re

My father's

make you Ms. Gosling right? Your father's mentione

rs in his grip. "Erin. Nice to meet you, Dr. Haskell. Though I w

with enthusiasm. "And you're right, Erin. I'm not his doctor,

ing try to remove the clots blocking the bloo

pine at the thought of her father going

e'd shown up, and seeing how tired

ther will be alright. As soon as his arteries are

k like a wimp in front of him. "That's very reassuring indeed. It'll be n

of our grand plan to get patients to spend less time in here. So far, it'

h. Erin observed, w

t tell

and Todd glanced

e talking to you Erin. If you don't mind, I'd like to do it again

king her out after a five minute convers

ing for signs of sarcasm, bu

what woul

I enjoyed our conve

nig

ht? Re

pockets, pulling out a white

ven more so in the presence of

and took the

address and phone number on the p