“So who was that guy the other day?” Samantha asks as she sits down in a squeaky chair next to me. Samantha and I are usually on the same nursing rotation, thankfully. It helps to have a good friend to rely on when the emergency room starts to take its toll.

“Uh, that was Hayden.” I squint looking at the chart I’m entering into the computer, trying to read Dr. Fallon’s handwriting.

“Hayden, huh? Is he someone special?” She leans back in her chair, making the hinges squeak even louder.

“He’s a friend,” I answer, even though I know we might be more than friends. At least that’s where I think we’re headed. That’s what it feels like, especially after the other night.

Once we finished eating the cake, we didn’t spend much more time outside because it was beginning to get cold, and I was totally beat from the day. My yawns hinted at my fatigue. I helped Hayden pack up and offered him his sweatshirt, but he told me to keep it for now. And I did, no argument from me. After a warm hug, Hayden helped me into my car, shut my door, and sent me on my way with a tap to the top of my car. The entire drive home, I pressed my nose to the fabric of his sweatshirt, taking in his scent, remembering what it was like to be held closely to him. Hard body, strong and powerful, yet soft and gentle when he carefully held me, his thumb stroking along my arm leisurely. It was sweet, a moment I wish I was still in right now, instead of listening to the incessant beeping of machines around me.

And when I woke up at five thirty this morning to get ready for my seven-o’clock shift, I was greeted by a text from him that told me to have a good day.

Simple, yet comforting.

Nursing isn’t an easy job, and to see that little text . . . it put a smile on my face before I had to walk through these sterile halls.

“Just a friend?”

I nod, trying to decipher a word on the chart in front of me. What the hell is that? It looks like a W with something scribbled after it. I don’t even know where to begin with that. “Just a friend.”

“So why is he coming toward us right now with a huge smile on his face and a bag in hand?” My head snaps up to find Hayden striding in our direction, purpose in his every step. Worn jeans clinging to his thick quads, Brawlers T-shirt stretched across his broad pecs, and a New York Yankees baseball cap propped on his head, darkening his eyes way past dangerous.

When he reaches the nurses desk, he places the bag on the counter, and leans forward, his forearms propping him up, hands clasped together.

“Hi, Adalyn.” The way my name rolls off his tongue so effortlessly, so deep and sultry, sends chills down my spine.

Caught off guard, I sit taller and say, “Hayden, hey. What are you doing here?”

He nods at the brown bag next to him. “Brought you some lunch, wasn’t sure if you had a few minutes to spare. If not, I’ll just leave this here for you to pick at when you get a chance.”

“She’s about ready for her lunch break actually,” Samantha cuts in and holds out her hand in greeting. “Hi. I’m Samantha.”

“Samantha, it’s a pleasure to meet you. I’m Hayden. So our girl has a little bit of time to spare?”

“Half hour actually.” Samantha takes the chart from me and says, “I’ll finish this up for you. Why don’t you go take your lunch break?”

She bulges her eyes at me as if to say, “If you don’t leave now, I will take your place.”

Not wanting to mess with Samantha, I thank her and stand, patting down my scrub top. I snag my phone, put it in my pocket, and say, “Do you want to go to the cafeteria?”

“That sounds good to me.” Picking up the bag of food, he gestures down the hallway. “Lead the way.”

We fall in step together, walking past patient rooms and busy medical staff. When we reach the elevator, I press the down button and turn toward Hayden, arms crossed over my chest. “You didn’t have to bring me lunch, you know.”

“I wanted to.” Smiling, he opens up his arm and says, “Give me a proper hello.”

I step into his embrace, and he brings me into his firm chest, his fresh cologne warming me up like a heat wave weaving its way through my veins.

Quietly, I say, “Hey.”

The bell dings and the doors part. Logan is leaning against the elevator wall, checking out his phone when he looks up, spotting me snuggled close to Hayden. Straightening, he says, “Hey, Addie.” Sizing Hayden up, he gives him a once-over. The two are very similar with their dark hair, broad stature, and domineering presence, but with Hayden, there’s a notable softness in his eyes.

“Logan, hey. I didn’t know you were working today.” I separate myself from our warm embrace and walk into the elevator, holding the door for Hayden.

“Timothy called in sick so I’m covering for him.” Glancing at Hayden, who happens to be standing awfully close to me, he asks, “Who’s your friend?”

Before I can answer, Hayden leans forward and extends his hand. “Hayden, nice to meet you. Logan, was it?”

“Yeah.” They shake hands, their grip tight from what I can tell. “You two going to have lunch?”

Hayden holds up the brown sack of food and says, “Chicken Spiedies.”

“Ah, jealous. I love Spiedies. Did you get them from Spiedie and Rib Pit?”

“Is there really anywhere else to get them?” Hayden practically scoffs.

“Nope.” The elevator dings and the doors open to the first floor. Logan is the first to exit. “Well, you two have fun. I’m headed to the geriatric wing to collect some urine samples, stopping by the gift shop to get a Milky Way beforehand. It’s the only way I’ll make it through the next hour. Call me later, Addie. I miss you.” With a wink, he takes off, and for some reason, I let out a low, silent breath of air.

Things still might be a little weird with Logan and me.

Immobile for a second, Hayden presses his hand on my lower back and leans down to my ear. “Where to, Addie?”

When I give him a pointed look, he just laughs and pulls me into his side again as I walk us toward the cafeteria. We pick a table next to a window in the back to give us some privacy.

“You start unwrapping the sandwiches, I’m going to get some drinks. Anything in particular you would like?”

“Water is good for me.”

Giving me the sweetest, sexiest wink, he says, “Be right back.”

His retreating backside grabs my attention, pulling me from my task. I study him. Brawny, wide shoulders that taper into his narrow waist. His shoulders blades tent the back of his shirt, his triceps pull on the threads woven into the fabric draped over his body. The hem of his shirt dances loosely with his waistline, every once in a while showing off the waistband of his Calvin Kline boxer briefs. And his ass, lifted and tight, complements an insanely athletic body I’ve never seen in person.

What would it feel like to grip his ass? To feel it undulate back and forth under my grasp.

What would he feel like on top of me?

Sweaty and driving his strong force into me.

His muscles contracting, his smooth voice draping over me like a warm blanket, his mouth pressed against my burning skin.

“Adalyn, you okay?”

Startled from my little fantasy, I straighten in my chair, hands still posed at the bag of food. Hayden takes a seat across from me, placing the drinks on the table.

“Uh, sorry. I was thinking about something.” When I look at him, those dark eyes shadowed by his baseball hat, I’m sure my cheeks flame with a wave of crimson.

I was picturing him naked, pulsing in and out of me, and now I have no idea how to stop that image from playing over and over in my mind.

“You sure? You’re all red.”

How humiliating.

“Yup, good.” I clear my throat and reach into the bag, pulling out two wrapped sandwiches. “Thank you for bringing me lunch. You’re really scoring some points with me. Cake and Spiedies. Seems you know the way to my heart.”

“Just want to spend more time getting to know you, so I’ll take any stolen moment I can get.”

I twist my lips to the side, studying him. “Racer was right, you’re dangerous. I really should stay away from you.”

“Racer doesn’t know his head from his ass. Don’t listen to him.” Hayden unwraps his sandwich and takes a man-size bite, smiling at me as he chews. I bite into my sandwich as well, but I don’t take nearly as much of the sandwich as Hayden does. Pretty sure I’d choke if that happened.

Swallowing and taking a sip of water, Hayden asks, “So . . . Logan, you two have some history?”

“Could you tell?”

“It was obvious from the tension in the elevator, which was fun by the way.”

I softly chuckle. “Sorry about that.”

Before he takes another bite of his Spiedie, he says, “Tell me about him.”

“Do you really want to talk about another man on our little lunch date?”

He chews a few beats before answering, “If he was a part of your life, I want to hear about it because it involves you. Spill your guts. What’s the dirt with you two?”

Sighing, I glance in the direction that Logan went and turn my attention back to Hayden. “We went through the nursing program together at Binghamton University. It was Logan, Emma—Tucker’s fiancée—and me. We relied on each other, were practically dependent upon one another during those four years because nursing school is no joke.”

“I believe it.” It’s so sexy that he truly appreciates my job, like he believes whole-heartedly it’s one of the toughest out there, because at times, it feels like it is.

“We were all really close, we still are, but after we graduated, we might have tested the waters with our friendship, and I hooked up with him.” I glance up to see Hayden’s eyes sharpen, his jaw become tight. Yeah, I didn’t think he wanted to hear that.

Looking at his sandwich, he says, “Well, that explains the tension.”

“Only a part of the tension.” I put my sandwich down and start playing with the cap of my water bottle. No girl wants to talk about her insecurities with a handsome, interested man, but I have a feeling Hayden isn’t going to let this go.

“There’s more?”

I slowly nod, feeling massively insecure. “The next morning, we woke up and the first thing he said to me was”—I bite the inside of my cheek and take a deep breath—“that was a mistake.”

Hayden’s hands grip the table, his forearms dangerously flexing. “He said that to you?”

“Unfortunately.”

“What a prick.” Hayden glances toward the gift shop, but of course by now, Logan is long gone. Thankfully. From the look in Hayden’s eyes, I fear what would happen to him.

“It’s over now. We’re friends, and we keep it that way.”

Still tense, Hayden sits back in his seat. “Still, friends don’t treat friends like that. It was shitty of him to say something so harsh and immature.”

“You don’t have to make it sound any worse than it was. Believe me, he isn’t your competition.” I smile shyly while Hayden interestingly raises his eyebrow, a slow, devilish smile replacing the former scowl.

“Not competition, huh? Is there anyone else I need to worry about?”

I pick at the wrapper to my Spiedie and slowly shake my head. “None.”

Leaning forward now, he takes my hand in his large, calloused palm. Those blue eyes peeking out from under the brim of his hat. Seductive, and yet mysterious. I know practically nothing about this man, but even with that, there is this crazy pull I feel when he’s near, like I was meant to meet him.

“What are you doing Friday night?”

Turning my hand in his, he weaves our fingers, his palm so warm. “I work until seven, but I don’t believe I’m doing anything after that. Why?” I smile, looking through my eyelashes, feeling so freaking shy with the way his thumb is running along the back of my hand. “Did you have something in mind?”

He nods slowly, eyes never leaving mine. “How about I text you with the details later?”

“Do you have to text me later because you don’t technically have any plans of what to do?”

The corner of his lips tilt up, his straight white teeth peeking past his lips. “Way to call a guy out.”

“Just keeping you on your toes. Can’t make you believe I’m an easy catch.”

“Nah, we couldn’t have that at all, could we? You’ve got to play hard to get.”

“Exactly.”

Chuckling, he releases my hand with a quick squeeze and picks up his sandwich. “Well, your secret is safe with me.” Winking, he takes a big bite out of his sandwich and casually chews while his eyes study me from across the table. Observant, casual, yet one of the sweetest men I’ve ever met. Whatever he comes up with Friday, I’m game, which is unusual. By Friday, I will have worked far too many hours, and I know I’ll be exhausted and probably prefer a night in to veg in front of Netflix for a few hours. Yet if it means I get to spend more time with this man by accepting a date on Friday night? I’m in. In fact, it’s practically all I care about at the moment.

“So, who was the guy?” Logan takes a seat next to me at the nursing station, sitting backward in his chair, arms resting on the seat back.

After lunch, Hayden walked me to the elevators, gave me a warm, comforting hug, his chin resting on the top of my head, and then sent me back to work. I can still feel his strong arms tightly insulating me, giving me a brief reprieve from the stress of my job. When I arrived at the nursing station, there was already a text message from him, waiting to be opened.

Smiling like a fool, I opened it up and read it at least five times before responding.

Hayden: Thanks for stealing a moment with me. Seeing that smile of yours gave me the energy I needed for the day. Can’t wait for Friday. Have a good rest of your day.

I’ve been on cloud nine since, and I think it’s showing, because I’m not normally this peppy at work.

Typing away, I focus on the computer in front of me, pushing back the giddy smile wanting to take over my controlled and neutral lips.

“Come on,” Logan pokes my side. “He looks familiar, do I know him?”

A lot of people know him, especially a little south of Binghamton. I’m surprised we haven’t run into any fans yet.

“He’s a friend,” I answer, being as vague as possible.

“Really? Because he seemed like a lot more than a friend.”

Sighing, I turn in my chair and cross my arms. “We’re, you know . . . getting to know each other. That’s all. Nothing serious.”

“And he brought you lunch?” Logan thins his lips and nods, his eyes trained on something above me, not able to look me in the eyes. “He likes you. Not just because he brought you lunch, but I saw the way he stepped closer to you when he saw me in the elevator. I saw the way he looked at you, and he really likes you.”

My cheeks heat up, my skin breaks out in a light sweat. It’s hard to believe a sweet and caring, not to mention extremely popular, man like Hayden could like me. And yet, he keeps coming around, searching me out, making me feel valued. I’ve never felt this comfortable around a man this quickly before. Even with Logan, I kept my distance until I realized he was a good guy and I could trust him. Maybe because for my entire life my brothers told me I couldn’t trust any man. And my sister’s life has practically proven that point as well.

“I mean, there might be something more than just friends . . .”

“Yeah?” Logan wiggles his eyebrows at me. “Have you been out on a date?”

I shake my head. Logan isn’t going to let up, so I turn completely toward him, one leg crossed over the other now. “But he did ask me out at lunch today.”

Logan nods knowingly. “He’s totally into you.” Chewing on the side of his lip, he looks to the ceiling for a second before asking. “How come I feel like I know him?”

Probably because his face is all over commercials and billboards.

“Uh, you might have seen him around. He’s Hayden Holmes.”

“Hayden Holmes? Who the hell is Hay—?” Realization hits Logan hard as his mouth falls open and his eyes widen. “Hayden Holmes . . . as in the hockey player?” I nod slowly. “Holy shit, Adalyn. Where the hell did you meet him?”

“Racer is good friends with him. They grew up together. I was at Racer’s house the other night for a little gathering. He said his childhood friend was coming back home for a few weeks, and it happened to be Hayden. I didn’t think we hit it off until Hayden showed up here the other day, looking for me.” I chew on the side of my lip and glance at Logan, a wince in my eyes. “Racer told me to stay away, and he also told Hayden to keep his hands off me.”

“Which of course only makes you want to get to know each other even more,” Logan says.

“Kind of, yeah.”

Nodding, Logan tilts his head and asks, “And what happens when his little stint in Binghamton is over?” Leave it to Logan to be the sensible one. “Are you going to continue to date him when he’s in Philadelphia? Isn’t the hockey season super fucking long, one of the longest out of all the sports? That’s a lot of away trips and days on the ice. Are you up for that?”

I twist my lips to the side, never actually thinking that far ahead. “I mean, I guess I never thought about his profession since I don’t pay attention to hockey. I only see him for who he is: a sweet, interested, and extremely good-looking man.”

A questionable, yet playful brow is raised in my direction. “Extremely good-looking?” Logan asks.

“Uh, yeah. Have you not seen the jaw on that guy? And his eyes.” I sigh. “Like a clear windowpane straight to his soul.”

“Oh, Jesus.” Logan scoffs. “Okay, so you have a crush on the guy.”

“How could I not? He’s dreamy and thoughtful and . . .” I lean forward and squeeze Logan’s arms. “Did you see the forearms? Rock-solid boulders, that’s what those were. Every time he shifts, it’s like a wave of sinew rolling up and down.”

“Okay, so you have a crush on him, and he has muscles. What does that mean about the next few weeks? What happens when he leaves?” I shrug my shoulders, not wanting to think about it. “I want you to be careful, okay, Adalyn? I don’t want you to get hurt.”

Like you hurt me?

I want to say it, it’s on the tip of my tongue, but before I can put those searing words between us, Logan pulls me into him, the rolling chair I’m sitting on making it incredibly easy. Encasing me with his strong embrace, he hugs me tightly to his chest and kisses the top of my head.

“I care about you, Adalyn.”

Relenting, I fall into his embrace and say, “I know you do, and I appreciate it. But this is just, you know, a little date. Who knows, we might actually hate each other and not know it yet. Maybe he thinks Zack Morris is more superior than AC Slater?”

Logan chuckles quietly, the rumble in his chest warming me. “That would be a fucking game changer.”

“A quick kick to the curb if you ask me.”

“Personally, I think you should lead with that question on your date. Who is more superior: Zack or AC? If he answers Zack, you walk right back out that door, you hear me?”

“Oh, believe me, I would hightail it so fast. That is a deal-breaker for sure.”