Total pages in book: 85
Estimated words: 80651 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 403(@200wpm)___ 323(@250wpm)___ 269(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 80651 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 403(@200wpm)___ 323(@250wpm)___ 269(@300wpm)
The heat of my blush crept up my neck and over my cheeks. It was barely a compliment. I just didn’t want to think about swimming. About Jacob almost-naked in the pool just a few feet from me. About all the things I was missing out on because of Jacob and our stupid rules.
“Don’t you think, Jacob?” Gilly asked.
“About what?” Jacob asked.
“We should do this kind of offsite every year.”
Jacob chuckled. “Nice thought. I had to sell two fingers to get the hospital to agree to this one.”
Gilly gasped and grabbed Jacob’s hand. Something primal in me stirred. She better get her hands off of him.
Jacob took it in his stride and pulled his hand away and held up both, wiggling his fingers. “A figure of speech. It’s the least impactful on the hospital to have FY1s out this early in their program. There’s no way we could repeat this.”
“Is this the first time there’s been an offsite for FY1s?” I asked. I was forced to look at Jacob.
He met my gaze and nodded. “Yup. If it’s successful, I hope it will be an annual thing.”
“How are you measuring success?” I asked.
A small grin tugged at the corners of Jacob’s mouth.
I couldn’t stop myself from asking him about it. “What’s funny?”
“Nothing. It’s just a very typical question from you.”
“Typical?” Gilly and I chorused.
He shrugged. “Insightful. Probing. But to answer your question, we’re measuring success a couple of ways.” His voice shifted slightly into that authoritative timbre he had that told everyone around him he was in charge. I squeezed my legs together. “Firstly, the results of the participant survey. Second, whether we can successfully workshop an issue for the medical staff that will make life better and make the hospital run more effectively and efficiently. And then thirdly, if the consultants responsible for the foundation doctors notice a shift in the approach of the doctors coming out of these couple of days.”
“I’m definitely shifting my approach,” Gilly said.
“Time will tell,” Jacob said.
“So all this was your idea? The offsite I mean?” I asked.
“Yeah. This year is sort of a trial run.”
I nodded. Doctors weren’t famous for enjoying soft-skills training. It must have taken a lot of effort to convince the hospital to put this on, not to mention taking twenty-five doctors off the rotas. He must feel passionately about the benefits of taking us offsite like this.
“Don’t worry,” Gilly said. “We’ll give you a really high score.”
There was no doubt Jacob Cove scored highly. On every measure.
“Okay, I’m going for more drinks,” Lucy said. “What can I get everyone?”
“I’ll have another cosmo,” Gilly said.
I caught Jacob’s eye. Was he sticking around? If I couldn’t have him, I didn’t want anyone flirting with him. It was completely irrational and immature, but I wanted him to go up to his room. I didn’t want Gilly having any piece of him.
“Another red wine?” Lucy asked me.
“I’m okay for now, thanks.”
“Jacob?” Lucy asked.
He shook his head. “I’m going to head up in a minute.”
“Oh, stay,” Gilly said. “We want to hear all the hospital gossip.”
Jacob uncrossed his legs and leaned forward, sliding his beer bottle onto the table. “I’m the last person to come to for gossip. I never hear any.” He stood. “Have a good night. Make sure you’re fresh for an 8am start.”
I was part relieved and part disappointed. It was good that he was going, but at the same time, I wanted him to stay.
A couple of minutes later, the scent of musk and fresh linen crept up on me and I turned to find Jacob leaning over the sofa.
“I left my phone,” he said. Our faces were just centimeters apart. “Can you get it for me?”
Gilly grabbed it before I had a chance.
“When I leave, check your phone,” Jacob whispered under his breath so quietly I barely heard him. Gilly wobbled around the table to hand the phone to Jacob.
“Thanks, Gilly.” He glanced at me once and then headed back out.
Check my phone?
Had I imagined that he’d just said that?
“He’s so hot,” Gilly said. “And he has the biggest hands.”
I pulled my mobile out from my jeans pocket and saw a new message. Jacob and I hadn’t texted since the day I started at the hospital. But now there was no mistaking a brand-new text from him.
Room 124
My stomach somersaulted, dived, crashed and somersaulted again.
His intention was clear. He wanted me to come to his room. His self-control had finally disintegrated. I just needed to figure out if I had enough left for both of us.
Twenty
Jacob
I pulled off my t-shirt and tossed it onto the bed. I couldn’t decide whether I should jump in the shower and try to cool off or wait to see if Sutton acted on my message.
I’d had enough of denying myself. I wanted her. Yes, it was wrong. Yes, if anyone found out, it could be catastrophic to my plans of taking over the foundation program, but I couldn’t bring myself to care enough. Sutton was clever and insightful and patient and funny. And she was sexy as hell. I couldn’t pretend I didn’t want her anymore.