The One He Dismissed Became The One He Died For novel Chapter 16

Jared grinned widely. "That sounds fantastic!"

The medical interns trailing behind them instantly perked up.

"Thank you, Ms. Jenner!"

Miles's expression darkened noticeably.

"Have you all finished your assigned rounds? Are you fully prepared for your afternoon exams?"

The interns immediately scattered like frightened mice.

"They were just joking, so don't take it seriously. And don't bother making anything. The thermos is in my office. Follow me."

Miles picked up his pace, walking briskly ahead, and Claire had to jog slightly to keep up.

He had already washed the thermos clean and handed it right to her.

But Claire didn't leave. Her eyes looked completely innocent, but her expression shifted to one of deep apology.

"Dr. Zimmerman, there's actually one more thing. I accidentally left the shirt you lent me in the back of a cab yesterday."

"It's just a shirt. Don't worry about it."

"I can't do that!" Claire stepped forward, her tone insistent.

She placed both hands firmly on his desk and leaned in slightly, closing the distance between them.

The same sweet, intoxicating scent from his living room last night drifted straight into his senses.

He frowned slightly and subtly leaned back in his chair.

Claire's eyes were bright. "Since I lost it, I absolutely have to replace it. Dr. Zimmerman, how about... I make a custom one just for you?"

Miles stopped flipping through the medical file, his voice completely flat. "No need."

She fully expected him to reject her, so she smoothly pulled a measuring tape from her purse.

"It's no trouble at all. What would really be trouble is if I can't get your exact measurements."

Claire paused, leaning even closer, dropping her voice to a softer pitch. "Should I wait for you after work and measure you at your place?"

"No," he rejected instantly.

Letting her back into his apartment? Absolutely not.

"Shoulder width... nineteen inches," Claire muttered softly.

They were entirely too close. Her warm breath fanned softly against the nape of his neck.

A sudden shiver traveled straight down his spine, and his breathing hitched for a fraction of a second.

Claire held the tape, completely focused on the measurements, seemingly oblivious to his reaction.

She stepped around to the front, wrapping the tape around his chest and crossing it over his back. "Chest... forty inches."

Her arms were wrapped around him in what was practically an embrace.

He looked down, his gaze catching on her soft hair, then drifting lower to her long, fluttering eyelashes.

All he could smell was that same maddening, sweet fragrance from the night before.

It forcefully dragged up the memories he had been trying so hard to suppress.

Her damp dark hair, the oversized white shirt, the collar slipping down to expose her bare shoulder...

Despicable, uncontrollable thoughts began to claw at his mind.