Kissed and Conquered

“Jake? Jake Callahan?” Emily Harper’s jaw dropped as she spotted her boyfriend of four years strutting through the hospital lobby like he owned the place. Four years of long-distance love—him in New York, her in med school across the pond in London—and she’d just flown back to the States yesterday. She’d planned to surprise him after her first shift at St. Mary’s, but here he was, looking like a deer caught in headlights. “Emily… uh, when did you get back?” Jake stammered, his face flashing panic like a neon sign. He clutched a piece of paper like it was the nuclear codes. Emily’s Spidey-sense tingled. She snatched the paper from his hand—a pregnancy test report. “Jake, what the hell is this?” she demanded, her voice sharp enough to cut through the hospital’s antiseptic hum. Before Jake could muster a response, a voice dripping with designer perfume and attitude cut in. “That’s my pregnancy test, you homewrecker. God, Emily, I’ve never met someone so desperate to cling to another woman’s man.” Emily’s eyes flicked to the source: a woman decked out in Gucci from head to toe, smirking like she’d just won the Mean Girls audition. “Another woman’s man?” Emily’s smile froze. Jake was her boyfriend—since when did he get a side gig? Jake’s guilty puppy-dog face said it all. Emily’s stomach churned like she’d swallowed a bad burrito. Cheated on. Betrayed. And in her own workplace, no less. She’d been played harder than a fiddle at a country hoedown. “Jake dumped you ages ago,” the Gucci queen, Brittany Baxter, sneered, looping her arm through Jake’s like he was a Prada handbag. “Yet here you are, stalking him to the hospital. Pathetic.” “Stalking?” Emily scoffed, gesturing to her crisp white lab coat. “Honey, this ain’t a costume. I work here.” Her coat hugged her curves just right, and her toned legs peeked out under the hem, making her look like a cross between a runway model and a brainiac surgeon. Even Jake, who’d seen her in sweats and no makeup, did a double-take, his eyes glued to her like she was a limited-edition action figure. Brittany noticed and pinched Jake’s arm hard enough to make him yelp. “Eyes off, Callahan! Regretting your upgrade already?” she snapped. Jake flinched. “No way, babe! You’re the whole package—way better than her,” he groveled, practically kissing Brittany’s Louboutins. Brittany smirked at Emily. “I’m carrying Jake’s kid, so back off, loser. Find your own man.” Emily’s laugh was colder than a Minnesota winter. “Oh, sweetie, you can keep that dumpster fire. Thanks for taking out the trash for me.” “Trash?” Brittany gasped, clutching her pearls (probably real). “You’re just bitter Jake upgraded to first class.” “Upgraded? Please. I should send you a thank-you note for saving me from that walking red flag,” Emily shot back. “Besides, I’ve already got a new guy. Sweet, loaded, built like a Greek god, and—get this—he doesn’t cheat. Jackpot.” Jake frowned, his ego clearly bruised. “Em, don’t make stuff up to save face.” “Yeah, right,” Brittany cackled. “Like anyone’s buying that you snagged a unicorn boyfriend overnight.” Emily’s eyes darted to a group of doctors striding down the hall, led by none other than Dr. Nathan Brooks, the hospital’s resident heartthrob and her new boss. With his chiseled jaw and eyes that could melt glaciers, he was practically a walking rom-com poster. Without missing a beat, Emily grabbed Nathan’s arm, yanked him close, and smirked at Brittany. “Exhibit A: my boyfriend.” “Emily, what—” Jake started, but Emily wasn’t done. She tugged Nathan’s tie, pulled him down, and planted a kiss on his lips right there in the hospital lobby. The world slowed as their lips met—his were cool, hers were warm, and the sparks could’ve powered the entire ER. Nathan’s eyes widened, but instead of pulling away, he wrapped an arm around her waist and leaned into it, deepening the kiss with a confidence that made Emily’s knees wobble. The hospital gasped in unison. Nurses froze. A janitor dropped his mop. Emily’s brain screamed, What are you DOING? But her body had other ideas, melting into Nathan’s embrace as his tongue teased hers in a way that was definitely not workplace-appropriate. When they finally broke apart, Emily was flushed, breathless, and half-convinced she’d just starred in a rom-com. Nathan’s lips curved into a mischievous grin, his eyes locked on hers. She spun to face Jake, whose face was darker than a storm cloud. “Any questions?” she taunted. Jake shook his head, looking like he’d swallowed a lemon. “Em, you don’t have to fake a boyfriend to prove a point. This is beneath you.” “Faking?” Emily laughed. “The only thing fake here is your loyalty. You knocked up Miss Gucci over there—talk about lowering your standards.” “Watch your mouth!” Brittany shrieked, stomping her foot like a toddler. “As a doctor, I’m all about hygiene,” Emily quipped. “My standards are sky-high—unlike some people’s.” She shot a pointed look at Brittany’s towering stilettos. Jake grabbed Brittany’s arm, his face a mix of guilt and anger. “Apologize, Emily.” “Apologize?” Emily snorted. “Buddy, you need a brain scan if you think I owe you anything. I know a great neurologist—want a referral?” “You’ve changed,” Jake muttered, his voice dripping with disappointment. “You used to be reasonable.” “Reasonable? Oh, you mean when I was blind enough to date you?” Emily fired back. “You loved my sass back then—called me your ‘firecracker.’ Guess you can’t handle the heat now.” Brittany’s face turned tomato-red. “You’re shameless!” she screeched, tears welling up. “Jake, are you just gonna let her talk to me like that? You used to sweet-talk her like that!” She spun on her heel and stormed off, wailing, “I’m telling my dad!” “Brittany, wait!” Jake bolted after her, tossing a final glare at Emily. “You’re unbelievable, Emily.” As Jake vanished, Emily’s bravado crumbled. Four years of love, down the drain. She’d been so blind, she might as well have been navigating with a white cane. But screw it—Jake wasn’t worth her tears. She’d rather eat hospital cafeteria food for a year than take him back. She turned, ready to bolt, and nearly collided with Nathan’s unfairly perfect face. Oh, crap. She’d forgotten about her impromptu kissing partner. And damn, was he gorgeous—think Chris Hemsworth with a stethoscope. “Uh… sorry about that,” Emily mumbled, her cheeks hotter than a summer barbecue. Nathan’s lips quirked, his eyes twinkling with amusement. “My first kiss, stolen in broad daylight. You owe me big time, Harper.” Emily’s jaw hit the floor. “Your what now?” “You heard me,” Nathan said, leaning closer with a grin that could charm the scrubs off a nun. “That was my first kiss, and now you’re responsible for me. Dinner tonight? I’m thinking Italian.” Emily blinked, torn between laughing and running for the hills. Had she just kissed her way into a relationship with her boss? This was either the best or worst first day ever—and knowing her luck, it was probably both.