Marek (Cold Fury Hockey #11)(35)

I foolishly, stupidly, insanely want him.

I pick up my sandwich and look at it in consideration as I say, “I want peace in my life. I want to be happy. Those things aren’t going to happen with Marek. So that kiss can’t have any meaning to me.”

Taking a bite of my sandwich, I let Josie process those words. She just stares at me, measuring perhaps my silent resolve not to delve into this any deeper. I can see the moment where she decides to push me. It’s a twinkle in her eyes, totally calculating and mischievous.

I swallow my food, prepared to shut her down in case she has starry-eyed notions of Marek and me getting back together, but a voice says from behind me, “Hey, Josie.”

Twisting my neck, I look up and over my shoulder to find a very handsome doctor standing there. Even though he’s said hello to Josie, he’s staring at me. His brown hair is trimmed neat, and his matching brown eyes seem kind and friendly.

“Hey, Aiden,” Josie replies.

I give the guy a smile, and the one he gives back to me is blinding before he steps to my left and takes a seat without being asked to join us. His gaze goes to Josie. “Going to introduce me to your new friend?”

Josie rolls her eyes and then waves her hand in my direction. “Aiden, this is Gracen. She’s an L and D nurse. Today’s her first day. And Gracen, this is Aiden McCune. He works in the ER with me.”

“Dr. McCune, nice to meet you,” I say as I stick my hand out toward him.

Rather than give me a strong, professional handshake, he takes my hand softly, and with the most charming smile I’ve been given in a long time, replies, “That won’t do. You must call me Aiden.”

“Oh geez,” Josie mutters, and while I don’t look at her, I can feel another eye roll being given.

Aiden just chuckles and releases my hand. He sits back casually in the chair and angles his body toward me. “I was just finishing up my lunch and saw you two over here. Thought I’d come introduce myself.”

“And flirt,” Josie adds.

My eyes cut to her and she smirks at me, but I can tell by the amusement in her eyes that this Aiden must be a good guy or she’d shut him down.

Josie then looks to Aiden. “Gracen’s new to the area. Just moved down here from New York.”

Aiden turns to me. “Oh yeah? How are you liking it?”

“It’s a really nice area.” I know that’s not overly descriptive, but what else can I say? I’ve been here more than two weeks and haven’t had a chance to do much other than try to stay away from Marek’s wrath.

“What brought you here?” Aiden asks as he props one ankle over his knee, indicating he’s settled in for some casual conversation.

I don’t hesitate for a moment, because if Aiden is flirting with me in a serious attempt to delve into some good conversation, I’m just going to lay it out there to him. “I had a baby about three and a half years ago and kept it secret from the father. He recently found out and came up to New York, practically kidnapping me and my daughter, Lilly, to bring us back here so he could get to know her.”

Aiden’s jaw drops and Josie starts laughing hysterically. She draws in a deep breath, looks like she’s going to say something, and then starts laughing again.

“Wow,” Aiden says slowly, his lips curving upward. Josie’s laughs turn to snickers. “You’ve got a colorful past. I like it. So are you back with the father?”

“No,” I say quickly. Maybe a little too quickly, and Josie’s snickers go immediately silent as she watches me. My gaze cuts back to Aiden. “I’m single and enjoying myself.”

“Enjoying yourself so much that you’d pass up a nice dinner out with a sincere, good-looking guy like myself?” Aiden asks, his smile going sly.

I laugh and shake my head. “I think I need a little time to get settled into my new life here. Things are a bit hectic and, well, dating would kind of complicate things for me.”

“How about maybe just lunch one day here at the hospital cafeteria?” Aiden presses. “We won’t even call it a date.”

I have to admit, the man is charming in a way I’ve not ever encountered before. He’s not laying it on overly thick, and I’m flattered by his interest. I’ve not felt worthy of a man’s honest attention in a very long time, so it’s a little bolstering to my self-esteem.

I turn to look at Josie and scratch my chin, “I don’t know. Josie…is he really a good guy like he claims?”

Josie’s eyes practically sparkle with mischief as she turns to look at Aiden. I look at him as well and I’m surprised to see him cringe.

“Aiden broke my heart,” Josie says, and I’m so stunned my head whips back toward her. She grins at me. “It’s true. Way back when. But in truth, I can’t be mad, because Aiden’s path and mine weren’t meant to flow together. I was meant for someone else and he’s got someone out there waiting for him too.”

My eyes slide back to Aiden, who has a mixture of regret and embarrassment on his face as he stares at Josie.

“But yes,” she continues, and we both look back to her. “He’s a good guy, and I think you should have lunch with him sometime here at the hospital.”

“Well, that was awkward,” Aiden mutters as he pushes up out of the chair. Josie doesn’t look chagrined in the slightest.