Total pages in book: 99
Estimated words: 93267 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 466(@200wpm)___ 373(@250wpm)___ 311(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 93267 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 466(@200wpm)___ 373(@250wpm)___ 311(@300wpm)
“Don’t worry about it.”
“But I want to make you something.”
Salem grabbed his winter coat off the hook and pulled it on. “Hey, you’re super busy. I understand and I’m not upset about you not cooking, okay? Don’t worry, today there’s going to be real food at the hospital. Nurse Cutler is taking a cooking class, and she’s been bringing in enough food to share.”
He hadn’t even finished speaking when he could feel a six-foot-two dragon looming over him, breathing out little puffs of frosty air. “A nurse has started cooking for you?”
“I wouldn’t say she’s cooking for me. She told us she wanted to try out some recipes on us.”
“And would you say she’s a good cook?” Gregori’s voice dipped lower, just a hair away from threatening. Not that Salem felt like he was in danger at all. No, just the opposite. Gregori’s low, grumpy voice was sending all the blood to his dick.
Bad dick! He didn’t have time for a quick fuck. He needed to get to work.
But that didn’t stop the little devil on his shoulder from goading Gregori.
“A good cook? Yeah, I think she’s doing a great job. Yesterday she made a green curry that was some of the best I’ve ever had.” He spun on the balls of his feet, smiled up at Gregori, and gave his cheek a little pat. Why was it so fun to tease him? Salem really shouldn’t, but the jealousy was warming. “Have a good day! I’ve got an early surgery to prep for.”
He was out the door before Gregori could reply or even ask any more questions about the food he’d been eating recently.
Was he stirring up trouble for no reason?
Maybe.
Was he an evil little shit?
Definitely.
Salem forgot all about his conversation with Gregori as soon as he arrived at the hospital. He had one surgery to prep for and two new patients who’d been brought in during the early morning hours. He’d be taking over their cases from the doctor who’d been on call overnight. Things were brisk, but there wasn’t anything too unexpected or that had him running from one end of the hospital to the other. There was even enough time for Alexis to get in a few shots about stealing away his hot dragon.
He walked toward the lounge to grab a refill on his coffee and to see if Nurse Cutler did have a new lunch to share. Otherwise, he needed to pull up the delivery app and place his order now.
“I was just looking for you.” Gregori’s cheerful voice echoed down the hall.
Salem turned toward him, and his mouth fell open far enough to nearly bang his chin on the floor. The man was carrying two very large bags of what he was willing to guess was food. What. The. Fuck.
“I thought you said you didn’t have time to cook. Did you order all this?”
“I got to thinking that I could postpone my time with the kids to this afternoon, which gave me enough time to run to the grocery store, make you lunch, and throw a pot roast in the slow cooker for dinner tonight.” Gregori paused long enough to press a kiss to his temple. “Do you think anyone else is hungry?”
Salem snorted. The amazing people he worked with were bottomless pits. If there was free food, they were hungry.
He followed Gregori into the lounge and hovered at his shoulder as he unloaded both hot and cold food from his two bags. Caprese salad, beef stroganoff, short ribs, mini fried chicken drumsticks, and more. It was an eclectic hodgepodge of foods, but every one was a favorite of Salem’s.
His mouth watered while his brain frantically pulled up his schedule. Thank freaking god he didn’t have any procedures scheduled for the afternoon. If he dared to gorge himself on all of this, he was going to be lucky to waddle through his rounds. Fuck. He was going to need a nap.
“How did you have time to make all of this?”
Gregori flashed him a wide grin. “You should never doubt my skills. And did it escape your attention it’s Valentine’s?”
Salem blinked up at him. “Uhhhh…it is?”
“Is this a plausible deniability thing?”
“Uhhh, no, I genuinely had no clue.”
Gregori’s smile didn’t waver, but any response was stopped by the appearance of Alexis, Nurse Cutler, and several others.
“How?” Salem demanded, holding his hands up at Alexis.
“Jeremy texted me. He spotted Gregori heading for the elevators carrying some heavy bags that smelled good. And oh god, he was right!” Alexis batted her long eyelashes at Gregori. “This is amazing. Did you happen to bring enough to share with this poor, withered soul who doesn’t have a dragon to love her?”
“Of course. Let me fix a plate for Salem, and then you can dig in.”
Nancy Cutler whistled and fanned herself as she came to stand next to Alexis. “Is this the infamous dragon I’ve heard about who has won over the kids and is making you such amazing food?”