Julie pressed her hand to the closed elevator and let out a long breath before turning and walking past Cade.

"What's up, Doc? What was that all about?" He moved up beside her and pressed his shoulder against hers.

"Nothing. I need a fifteen-minute break and then we'll get back together and look over the details of our scheduled procedure this afternoon." She turned the corner and slipped into her office, not giving him time to respond.

Cade had an issue with personal space from what she could tell, but it didn't bother her too terribly much. He was a nice distraction from her own shitty situation. Nothing would ever happen between them, which was a great relief. She was too lost to Simon, or she tried to convince herself that she was.

The smell of the lilies hit her in the face before she saw the large bouquet sitting on her desk. A soft gasp left her as she set her clipboard down and moved toward them, leaning in and breathing deeply.

She plucked the small card from the side of them and opened it, reading over Simon's accolades for her brilliance twice before setting it down.

"Thank you," she mumbled and crossed her arms over her chest. There was no better feeling in the world than to know her husband, who she applauded so much within his specialization, thought she was brilliant and accomplished. "For thinking I'm capable."

She forced back the strong emotions that rolled through her and pressed her hands to the desk in front of her. She needed to make a decision and quick. She pulled her phone from her pocket and sent a note to her lawyer, who happened to be a good friend of her Uncle Charlie. He texted back that he would start on the paperwork now.

She and Simon had to draw the line in the sand and separate completely. If they mended the fissure between them over time, or love truly proved to be enough to heal all that had happened, she would be grateful, but standing in the gap was over.

She touched the beautiful flowers and wrapped her hand around the closest one, squeezing it tightly until it wilted.

"I'm sorry I can't do this," she whispered and let the flower go.

Julie stopped by the small bathroom in her office suite and fixed her eye makeup before walking down to the cafeteria for a cup of coffee. She knew Simon was hurting after seeing her and Cade together, but they were business associates and nothing else. He could imagine what he wanted to. Most people who were unfaithful were quick to assign that characteristic to their faithful spouse just because it helped to ease their own distain with themselves.

She poured the black liquid into the biggest cup she could find and added a few sugars and a touch of cream. The deep voice beside her caused her to jump.

"Elijah. You scared me." She smiled over at him as she worked to get the top onto her afternoon pick-me-up.

"Sorry. I just wanted to warn you that Simon was in my office a few minutes ago and he's less than pleased that I've assigned you an intern that I guess looks like him when he was younger." Elijah rolled his eyes and let out a long sigh. "I'm sorry if this causes you trouble."

"It’s good. Cade does remind me a bit of Simon, but it’s nothing to be concerned with. I'm not my husband. I'm here to do a job, and though the kid’s a little flirty, what college-aged guy isn't?" She shrugged and tried to play off the fact that her insides were turning to mush. Simon had reacted to her and Cade because in his mind, she was no better than him.

"Right. I just wanted to give you a heads up." Elijah reached out and squeezed her shoulder. "You hanging in there? Charity asked me to touch base with you today. She's worried."

"I'm good. Simon got his stuff out of the house this morning and I've contacted my lawyer, so things are going as best they can." She shrugged and smiled at Cade as he approached behind Elijah.

"No hope left?" Elijah asked.

"I'm not sure, but I can't just stand still in a storm. I have to run. It's the only thing that makes sense." She turned to Cade. "I grabbed a cup of coffee. Get something and I'll pick it up."

"And let a pretty lady buy my stuff? Never." Cade smiled and extended his hand. "Dr. Bennet! Sir! Good to see you again."

"You as well, Cade. I just spoke with your father. He's quite happy to hear you're managing so far." Elijah smiled professionally.

Julie cringed internally. It had to suck to have to be politically correct all the time and snuggle up to people, no matter how you might truly feel about them. Good thing Cade really seemed to be a relatively good guy.

"I love it here. Dr. Paulk is an excellent teacher. I feel like I could learn more here than any other place I've visited." Cade smiled and turned. "I'm getting a Coke. You guys want anything else? It's on Julie, so..."

Julie laughed and shook her head. "All right, funny guy."

He walked off and Julie turned to face Elijah. "I'm doing okay. Tell Charity that I'll call her tonight. It's not me you need to be worried about, but Simon. I'm not sure he's doing okay at all."

"I'll find him and touch base with him. Call if you need me. I'll be here for a little while longer today." He reached out and touched her shoulder again. "I think you should really reconsider on the divorce. Those things have a mark of finality that is hard to come back from."

"Thanks. I'll think about it a little more." She smiled sadly and adverted her eyes to her coffee.

Elijah walked off and Julie let out a long breath, turning and yelping as Cade stood directly behind her.

"What's going on? You seem upset all of a sudden. Something to do with that guy in the hall?" His brow lifted as his hand moved to touch the side of her face. "I don't like the sadness at the edge of your eyes."

Julie reached up and carefully removed his hand from her face. "No touching, okay? It's not professional."

He chuckled. "I'm not being professional right now, Julie. I want to know what's wrong."

"It's nothing. Stick to the script, okay? We're not friends. We're business associates." She crinkled her nose and forced a smile, trying to help him accept the truth in a non-threatening way.

"What if I want us to be friends?" He smiled and lifted his cup to his lips, his warm brown gaze watching her closely.

"Then take a ticket and get in line, mister. Everyone wants to be friends with this." She flipped her hair and walked to the checkout counter as he chuckled behind her.

"Why am I not surprised?" He extended his badge and pushed at her hand as she tried to pay. "No. I got this. You pay for our steak dinner."

"Steak dinner?" She laughed. "That ain't happening."

"I bet it is." He pressed his arm against her shoulder as they walked back down the hall. "Let's review the procedure and go kick some ass together."

"All right." She nodded and forced all of the negative emotion from her thoughts. It would be fun to teach Cade how to work through the procedure they were schedule for with methodical precision. She glanced over at him and hated the subtle flutter of butterflies in her stomach as he glanced over at her.

"What?" He held the door to her office open.

"Nothing. I'm just excited to teach you what I've learned." She moved into the room and picked the flowers up, putting them on her file cabinet and almost feeling guilty about being excited.

"Me too." He nodded to the flowers. "Got an admirer?"

"Lots." She smirked and pulled out a file. Was she seriously flirting with this guy?

"I'm not surprised. You're the most beautiful woman in this whole place. Believe me... I've been comparing you guys." He chuckled and moved up to stand behind her before leaning over and pressing his hands on the desk.

"You’re comparing me to the guys? That’s probably why I’m winning.” She decided to err on the side of teasing and then frowned. “That’s tacky, by the way. You're showing your age." She pulled out a few pictures of the surgery they would be performing and glanced over at him, which put their faces a little too close together.

"How is that tacky? I'm a single guy with a lot of love to give. I'm just seeing who's available to accept it. I'm twenty-four. Shallow is part of the initial criteria for being effective in picking the right woman." He licked his lips and glanced down toward hers.

"Well, I'm not available, so mark me off your list if I happen to make the cut." She shook her head and turned to stare at the file.

"Make the cut? You're at the top of it, standing alone by a mile or two." He reached out and ran his finger down the various cuts made in the left side of the skull she had on display for them. He rattled off the names of the incisions and the various instruments that one might use to make them.

She stood. "Impressive."

"I do try and keep up my end of the bargain, Julie." He moved to stand in front of her as she turned. "Have that steak dinner with me. The lack of a wedding ring and hostile attitude tells me that you’re available, or soon to be. I want a shot."

She laughed and pushed passed him as she tucked the folder under her arm. "I'll meet you in room twenty-five for the operation. Fifteen minutes. Don't be late and don't talk to me like we're anything other than instructor and student in front of my staff. I'll give you the pleasure of commonality when we're alone, but no other time. Got it?"

He crossed his arms over his thick chest and nodded, the look on his face sensual and full of welcomed challenge. "Absolutely. Dinner... me and you."

"No. See you shortly." She walked out and sucked her bottom lip into her mouth as her heart raced.

The image of going to dinner with the handsome intern rolled across her vision and she let it push past dinner into a night of dancing.

She could almost feel his strong hands on her hips, her dress being thin so she could feel every touch, experience every sensation.

He pressed against her, his lips dragging by her neck, leaving her breathless and needy for his attention.

"I want you." His tongue ran from the base of her throat up to her ear. "Now. Take off your dress for me."

"Yeah," she whispered and moved back, the dance floor having turned into an elaborate bedroom.

He reached for her as the dress slipped from her fingers. He growled softly and turned them, pressed her back on the bed as he crawled on top of her and settled himself between her thighs.

A low moan left her at the thick press of his cock against her need. She lifted her hips and rubbed against him before pulling him down and kissing him long and hard. The soft press of his tongue deep into her mouth sent chill bumps racing across her skin. She broke the kiss and looked up, her heart stopping in her chest as fire burst through her.

Simon.