by Amity Cross
I straightened up at the sound of her voice. “Sparks?”
“Yeah.” She paused on the other end, and there was silence.
“You okay?” I asked once I got my head back on straight.
“Yeah, I’m fine,” she replied, but there was still a hint of uncertainty in her voice.
“How’s things?”
“Good…”
I smiled and shook my head. For a big-time doctor, she sure beat around the bush like a shy little girl.
“Why’d you call, Sparks?” I asked.
“Sorry,” she muttered. “I’m not good at this.”
“What? Talking on the phone?”
“No. Non-doctor stuff.”
“Well, I ain’t judging. Spit it out, Sparks.”
“I’ve got the next few days off,” she said with a sigh. “I worked too many straight, and they told me to go home for a while.”
Leaning against the wall again, I asked, “Yeah? Sounds about right. You were always hanging around while I was there.”
“I was thinking,” she began, but there was a pause like she still was second-guessing herself.
“You were thinking…” I prodded, a smile curling my lips.
“Do you want to get together?” she asked, her words running into one another. “If you’re not busy, that is.”
I laughed, my earlier run-in with Max fading into the background. “I’m not busy, believe me.”
“Yeah?” She sounded hopeful, and I wondered why she cared so much.
“Just tell me when and where, and consider it done.”
“Tomorrow night?” she asked, the tone in her voice picking up. “Dinner maybe?”
I could just imagine dinner being at a fancy restaurant that served tiny portions of handcrafted art, so I said, “Leave it with me, Sparks. I’ll take care of you.”
There was a sigh on the other end of the line. “Should I be worried?”
“Nup,” I replied with a smile. “Just hold on tight.”
“Then how come I don’t believe you, Josh Caplin?”
“So suspicious for a little firecracker.” I laughed and pushed off the wall. “Time to let go a little and live, Holly Walsh. Wear sensible shoes.”
She sucked in a sharp breath, the sound amplified through the phone.
“Tomorrow,” she murmured.
“Tomorrow,” I said forcefully. “Good night, Sparks.”
“Good night…”
I disconnected the call and dropped my phone back into my jeans pocket. Sparks wanted to see me after all. I hoped it was for the right reasons because I really needed something to go my way for a fucking change.
If she was into me, it was going to be because of me, not some mythical version she thought she wanted. Thinking about the sorry state of my life, I wasn’t sure she needed to know about certain things. Those could stay in the past where they belonged.
Sparks better hold on because I was going to take her for one hell of a ride.
14
Holly
When Josh told me to meet him at seven sharp by the Information Kiosk at Federation Square in the city, I had no idea what he’d planned.
I’d spent hours agonizing over what to wear, especially what looked good with ‘sensible shoes’. In the end, I’d settled on a loose tunic shirt made from back chiffon that hung on my lean frame just right, a pair of skinny jeans, and some black lace-up boots that had zero heel. Sensible yet stylish.
I wasn’t even going to linger on the fact that I had spent twice as long shopping for fancy lingerie, and then, when I got home, trying on the five different sets I’d bought when I couldn’t decide. Not that I thought sex was a sure bet, but I could hope, right? It didn’t hurt to be prepared.
I left my hair out but took the time to straighten it, and against my dark outfit, it looked more coppery than usual. Then I topped it all off with a spritz of perfume and a little bit of color on my lips.
Watching the electronic billboard that sat over the pub across the street as it flicked through different advertisements, I let the sounds of the city wash over me. The hum of thousands of people as they surged from the train station opposite, the muffled sound of arrivals and departures from the platform, the rumble of trams as they rolled across their tracks, and the ding of their bells as they came into the stop in front of me. The distant wail of a siren and the thump of music from the bar behind me in Federation Square topped it all off like a cherry. It was a side of Melbourne I hadn’t had time to see outside of life at the hospital. I had no idea any of this was here, and the thought of exploring it with Josh made my skin tingle with anticipation.
“Sparks.”
Turning at the sound of Josh’s voice, I found him behind me just as tall and handsome as I had remembered, and my heart began to flutter. I’d gotten used to seeing him in his hospital gown, and it had hardly registered the other day when he had sat with me outside the ER that he was in his ordinary clothes. Now, he wore a dark gray shirt with the top few buttons undone, so I had a nice view of his smooth chest. The sleeves were rolled up to his elbows, showing off his muscled arms and the white plaster cast that was still on his right. Black washed-out jeans and artfully scuffed up boots completed his ensemble. Simple but sexy as fuck.
“I see you heeded the warning,” he murmured, standing close.
“What?” I asked, my head spinning.
His lip curled into a sexy smile. “Sensible shoes.”
I felt my cheeks heat, and I glanced away, suddenly feeling like a sixteen-year-old version of myself on a first date. I was thirty for fucks sake.
His gaze traveled the length of my body and back up again, making me squirm even more. Raising his left hand, he picked up a strand of my hair and smiled. “You look beautiful.”
Three simple words, but they had the desired effect.
“Are you hungry?” he asked.
“I wouldn’t know,” I replied. “My stomach is churning.”
He laughed and threaded his fingers through mine, giving me a tug forward. “I know a little place down by the water,” he said.
My skin tingled as he tightened his grip. “Sounds good. Let’s go, then.”
Josh led me through Federation Square and down some stairs that led to a hidden path. It followed the length of the Yarra River, which flowed through the center of the city, carving a serene passage below the bustling streets above. Turning back toward the city, I was surprised to see a bar tucked underneath the very place I’d been waiting earlier. It looked like it was some kind of vault, the bluestone facade reminding me of a warehouse or a Victorian era wine cellar. It was tiny, so there were benches and tables out on the foreshore, the sounds of the city rumbling above us.
“Drink?” Josh asked as we stood by the bar that had service through the window as well as inside.
“Please. Beer.”
“Beer?” he asked, his eyebrows rising. “I thought you’d like a martini.”
Slapping him on the arm, I scolded him, “Smartass.”
Laughing, he handed me a menu. “Pick whatever you like. My shout.”
“I don’t mind paying,” I said, scanning the menu. It was simple food like burgers and potato wedges with a few fun sides thrown in to spice things up.
“Don’t emasculate me, Sparks.”
Elbowing him, I returned my attention to the menu. “I want the mac and cheese croquettes.”
“Mac and cheese?” he asked, seeming surprised at my choice yet again.
I shrugged. “It comes with baconaise.” His eyebrows rose. “Bacon meets mayonnaise. Seems like a match made in heaven if you ask me.”
“Fair enough, Sparks,” he replied with a shake of his head and turned to order.
We sat at a table right on the edge of the bar, looking out over the river as boats cruised past. Eating our food in silence didn’t feel awkward at all, and I thought that was a good indicator of compatibility with someone. The ability to just be with another person and not have the inc
lination to fill the void with inane words. What was it called? Companionable silence.
“How were the mac and cheese balls?” Josh asked, lifting his glass of beer to his lips.
“Croquettes,” I corrected him. “And they were brilliant. Very cheesy.”
He smiled, his eyes sparkling in the warm half-light from the bar behind him.
“How have you been?” I went on. “Your ribs not bothering you?”
“Nup. They ache some but nothing major. The arm pisses me off the most.”
I frowned, my gaze dropping to the cast on his arm. “You’ve got pain?”
“Holly,” he said. “Turn the doctor off for tonight.”
My actual name on his lips sounded alien, and I blinked hard. I’d gotten used to him calling me Sparks, and I didn’t realize how much I liked it.
“But if it hurts, it might not be mending correctly and—”
“It doesn’t hurt,” he interrupted. “Tonight is about you and me. Let go of all that shit, Sparks. Just focus on now.”
I cocked my head to the side, my fingers curling around my glass. Tonight was about me and him. Now. This moment. It seemed like a simple enough thing to do, but my brain was hardwired to doctor mode. Stop making excuses, Holly.
Picking up my beer, I downed the rest of it and slammed the glass back down on the tabletop. “I’m ready.”
Josh began to laugh and shook his head. “Then I think we’re ready for phase two.”
“Which is?”
He smiled and picked up his beer to finish it off. Then he stood and pulled me to my feet, wrapping his left arm around my waist. “Come with me, Sparks.”
We ventured back the way we came, through Federation Square and down Swanson Street, weaving our way through the mass of people out and about. He held me close, my body fitting snugly against his side, and I could feel the ripple of hard muscle underneath his shirt. Damn.
There were still so many questions I wanted to ask him, but like he’d said, tonight was just about now. This moment. Those other things would come later…or they wouldn’t.
Josh was guiding me through a door, the bouncer standing out on the footpath giving us the once over.
“What’s this?” I asked, staring up at the sign over the door.
“The Hi-Fi Bar,” he said as we descended the stairs down into the bowels of the building.
“We’re seeing a band?” I asked, my gaze following the people who were going out for a smoke. They looked like alternative rockers with their torn jeans, leather jackets, and band shirts.
“A really good one,” he retorted as we reached the bottom.
He smiled at the girl behind the counter, and she was so pretty I found myself bristling with jealousy.
“We’re on the list. Josh plus one.”
I raised my eyebrows and made a face at him. “Mr. Popular, huh?”
He shrugged, not fussed about it. “I know one of the guys in the band, and he hooked me up.”
The girl checked her list and waved us through. “You’re good.”
Another set of stairs and we emerged into the venue. The bar was bustling with activity, and beyond, the stage was lit with a moody blue light. Instruments, amps, and all kinds of equipment were being set up by furiously working roadies as people lingered around the front of the stage, waiting for the band to come on and play.
“I don’t know if this is your thing, but it works wonders for letting go,” Josh said beside me.
“Letting go?” I asked, wondering how so many people could fit in the darkened space.
Grabbing my hand again, he pulled me through the crowd until we stood in front of the stage, squashed together. Damn, he’d led me right into the mosh pit. I wasn’t sure if this was my thing or what I was meant to do once the band came on, or if I’d get out without suffering a concussion.
I stiffened as I felt Josh’s arms wind around me. “I’ll protect you, Sparks.”
“I sure hope so,” I retorted. “This is unknown territory for me.”
“You’ve never been in a mosh pit?”
I shook my head. “Too hardcore for me.”
He didn’t have time to make fun of me because the lights went up, and the band came out on stage as cheering and clapping erupted around us.
The moment they started playing some fast rock song, we were jostled by jumping bodies. I began to panic at the sensation of losing control—it was like an ocean of people were trying to drag me under—but Josh’s arms held firm even with the cast on his right side. Letting the music wash over me, I allowed the movement to take me away, and soon, I was jumping with them, my arms in the air.
Fuck, I felt free. This was what he was trying to make me feel all night, and as adrenaline coursed through my veins, I felt like turning around and kissing him. I was reckless and daring, the constrictions my job put on my life totally falling away until I was just Holly. Just Holly jumping around like a fucking idiot with eight hundred strangers and one really hot guy.
One song melted into the next, and when the house lights came up, I almost cried in disappointment. I wanted to go again.
Leaning in, Josh kissed me on the cheek, and I stood transfixed. I was so dazed by the whole experience he had to lead me outside like a child. I didn’t mind in the slightest.
Emerging out onto the street, I spun around with a wide smile on my face, and Josh caught me in his arms.
“You’ve surprised me a hell of a lot tonight, Sparks.”
I hesitated, not sure if it was a good thing or not. I’d done my best to be myself and not feel awkward around him—which was hard considering my lady bits were juicy all night—but was it enough to keep him interested now that he’d seen me outside of the hospital? When I really thought about it, I wasn’t sure who I was outside of that place, either. I guess we were both meeting the real me for the first time.
“It’s a good thing,” he murmured, running his hand over my waist.
Shit, he was edging closer. Did I want to kiss him? Yeah, but not on a street corner. If he kissed me, I’d throw him down right here, and we’d be arrested for public fornication.
“Do you—” I swallowed hard, trapped in his gaze.
“Do I what?” he prodded, his mouth quirking.
“Do you want to come to my place? I have beer.”
“Only beer?” he asked, his fingers tightening on my waist.
I nodded. “To begin with.”
He stared at me like he was waiting for me to change my mind, and when I didn’t bite, he let his hand fall and grasped mine again. “Lead the way.”
As we walked hand in hand through the city, I wondered what he’d make of my little slice of Melbourne and the boxes that were still piled up unopened months after they’d been delivered. Pretty mediocre after what he’d just shown me.
“This is your place?” Josh asked, staring up at the apartment building I kind of called home. I say kind of because I still hadn’t unpacked.
At twenty-six stories high, the modern apartment block, which sat on the edge of Melbourne’s Docklands development, looked pretty impressive from the outside. It was smack bang on the edge of the city center—the skyscrapers marking the heart of the city a stone’s throw away.
I paused on the footpath, shyness creeping back into my psyche. “So?”
“I just imagined…” He trailed off and sighed. “I don’t know what I imagined.”
“I do what I do because I want to,” I said, bristling at the realization he was put off by my paycheck. “I don’t do it for the money.”
He snorted and stared back up at the building.
“What?”
“Somehow, I believe that,” he said, his gaze returning to mine. “New York to Melbourne. Must’ve been a hell of a pay cut.”
I shrugged. “Who cares? It brought me to this moment, didn’t it?”
We rode the elevator up to my floor in silence. He stood next to me, our arms touching, and when we got to my front door, he stepped aside to
allow me to unlock it.
Venturing into the apartment, I didn’t bother turning on any lights. It was dark and moody, the glow from the city shining enough on us to keep the feeling of the night we’d had so far intact.
“Nice boxes,” Josh said as he stepped in behind me and closed us in.
“Shut up. I’m a busy person.” I stuck my tongue out at him. “Take a seat,” I said, opening the fridge and pulling out two beers.
Turning, I found he’d already made himself at home, so I kicked off my boots and padded over to the couch. I handed him one of the beers and sank down beside him.
“How have you been?” he asked, twisting the top off the bottle. “After the other day?”
I’d hoped he wouldn’t bring up the moment he found me crying over Sammy out the front of the hospital. This entire night had gone so well, the weight of Sammy’s loss had seemed to lift from my shoulders. Archer was a cold bastard, but in some ways, he’d been right. We’d done everything we could in that moment.
I shrugged. “Some patients never leave you. It gets easier over time, but it’ll always be there. No matter what I do or how much I know, I can’t save everyone.”
“It sucks,” he said, glancing at me. “But I reckon you save a fair few as well.”
Drawing in a deep breath, I glanced out of the windows and across the city. Skyscrapers dominated the scene, and orange and white lights sparkled across the horizon as Melbourne stretched off into the distance.
“Can we not talk about that?” I asked. “It’s depressing, and it’s been such a good night.”
“I’d rather not talk at all.”
Shit. Ninety-nine percent of me wanted to launch myself on him, but a small part of me was afraid, and it was that slice that stopped me from diving in headfirst.
“You know so many things about me,” I began, staring into his eyes. I tried not to flinch when his expression began to close, but I did.
“Sparks…” He swallowed hard.
I knew he didn’t want to talk but the more time I spent with him, the more this attraction forced me to wonder, and if I was going to do something about it beyond tonight, I needed to know something. I wouldn’t fall into another relationship that was all about the man and what he wanted. I knew how that story ended, and honestly, I couldn’t survive another heartache like that, and this thing with Josh was dangerously close to becoming more.
