In The Market For Love. Joy Avery

for me.

      Sadly, their connection now didn’t reflect the one they’d shared earlier—at least judging by his expression. In fact, now he seemed downright bothered by her presence. Vivian thought she even detected a hint of a scowl on his gorgeous face. But why? The only interaction they’d had before this moment had been a glance—a look—okay, a heat-packed, center-stirring stare, which at the time he’d seemed to appreciate just as much as she had. Obviously something had changed.

      “Ta-hee-hee. Just as I expected,” came from Hamilton’s direction.

      Vivian wasn’t sure what Hamilton’s comment meant, but it was enough to draw Tempered’s demanding eyes away from her. A good thing, too. Another second and she would have needed an IV. This man’s presence was draining. And to make it worse, though they hadn’t spoken a single word to one another, he had her body in a tailspin.

      Chocolate had always been her weakness.

       Chapter 2

      Alonso Wright stopped dead in his tracks the second he entered Hamilton’s room. Her. The beautiful nurse he’d caught staring at him earlier. Okay, he couldn’t confirm for sure she’d been staring, but she’d certainly appeared guilty when his eyes had met hers. He was pretty sure she’d gasped, too.

      Normally he would have appreciated the fact he’d been given another opportunity to admire the way her brown hair dangled in the ponytail every time she moved her head, or how her pecan-toned skin shimmered under the fluorescent lighting, or the hungry way her innocent-looking brown eyes drank him up. Unfortunately, the way the rude nurse who’d been here earlier had darted from the room overshadowed it all.

      From the moment the other nurse had entered the room, she’d acted as if Hamilton’s mere existence disgusted her. Recalling the way the woman had rushed from the room, while Alonso was in midsentence, angered him all over again. She’d disrespected him, but more important, had disrespected Hamilton.

      Was this her replacement? This one was probably just as unsympathetic as the one before. He’d hate to have to make a phone call about her, too. In a dry tone, he said, “I buzzed for someone over fifteen minutes ago. I’m glad you finally decided to grace us with your presence.”

      “I apologize, sir. But I’m here now.”

      “Well, we don’t need you now. I handled your job for you.” He lifted the can of soda he’d been holding, then neared Hamilton’s bedside.

      She moved beside him with the speed of a cheetah. “Uh, what are you doing?”

      “I’m making sure my friend doesn’t dehydrate, since I’m the only one who seems concerned about his well-being.” He normally wasn’t this sour, but a mixture of worry, stress and thin patience with the staff had him not his usual self. Maybe he needed a Snickers.

      The bold woman confiscated the can of soda before he could pass it to Hamilton. “Hamilton can’t have this. We’re trying to lower his blood sugar, not increase it. Which is exactly what this would do.”

      Hamilton? Were they on a first-name basis? “Well, if I could have gotten one of you to actually respond, maybe we would have had a more viable option. And it’s Mr. Price. He deserves the same respect you’d give any other patient in this hospital.” Alonso shook his head. “You people are something else. And for the record, he has good health insurance. Great insurance, actually. Probably better than yours. So you can stop treating him like a second-class citizen and do your job.”

      When her jaw muscles flexed and her brown eyes turned a shade darker, Alonso knew he’d hit a nerve. But he wasn’t backing down.

      “Ta-hee-hee. Uh-oh. I think you done poked the hornet’s nest, boy.”

      Yep, it appeared so. After a couple seconds more of boring a hole in him with those mesmerizing eyes, she slid her attention from Alonso to Hamilton. A warm smile curled her lips as she addressed him.

      “Hamilton...”

      Alonso didn’t miss the fact that she’d cut her eyes at him with the use of Hamilton’s first name again.

      “Sodas aren’t a good option. They may be okay every once in a while, but they’re loaded with sugar. Which I’m sure you know wreaks havoc on your diabetes.”

      “Yeah. I tried to tell that knucklehead.”

      Alonso’s brows furrowed. What? Hamilton had thrown him under the bus. He’d been the one to ask for the damn soda. At the smirk on Hamilton’s face, Alonso shook his head. When the nurse tossed a disapproving glance in Alonso’s direction, Alonso folded his arms across his chest and remained silent. That seemed like the best option.

      Rolling her eyes away, she wrapped a blood pressure cuff around Hamilton’s thin arm.

      “Don’t worry. Once I check your vitals, I’ll get you something more suitable.”

      Hamilton smiled so wide Alonso thought the corners of his mouth would split.

      “Thank you, darling. Smart, pretty and accommodating. You married? Now, you’re a little too young for me. What are you, twenty-five, twenty-six?”

      “Thirty-four, actually.”

      Alonso was just as stunned as Hamilton appeared. The woman didn’t look anywhere close to thirty. Obviously good genes. At the mention of genes, Alonso’s eyes lowered to her ass. Yeah, definitely good genes. And he wouldn’t mind being the pair of jeans that got to cup all of that. Something stirred in the pit of his stomach, but he chose to ignore it.

      “You’d be perfect for—” Hamilton cut his eye to Alonso “—someone else I know.”

      Alonso flashed him a scowl. The man never missed an opportunity to play matchmaker. Even if Alonso were interested in her—which he wasn’t—he didn’t see her being a no-commitment type of woman. Thanks to his ex, commitment no longer interested him.

      She chuckled. “Say ‘ahh,’ Hamilton.”

      Neither Hamilton’s scent nor tattered clothing seemed to bother her. Her gentle manner with Hamilton forced Alonso to consider the fact he may have pegged her all wrong. Her compassion toward Hamilton appeared actually genuine. Or maybe it was because Alonso had called her out earlier. Either way, he was glad Hamilton was getting the respect he deserved.

      Alonso recalled the way he’d treated her earlier. Damn. He regretted the fact he’d been such an asshole. Maybe he’d get the chance to make it right.

      “All right. We’re all done here. Quick and painless. Now for that drink. Water, unsweetened tea, coffee, diet soda?”

      Alonso rocked back on his heels. “So many delicious choices.” It was his chance to smirk when Hamilton eyed him. Payback for the earlier jab. If the nurse wasn’t in the room, Alonso was sure Hamilton would have flipped him the bird. That was their relationship. They gave each other shit, but Alonso trusted the man with his life. Hell, he had Hamilton to thank for his life.

      “Can I get you anything?”

      Her voice tore into Alonso’s thoughts, snatching him from the past. “I’m sorry?”

      “Would you like something to drink?”

      The offer surprised Alonso, until he considered she probably planned to poison him. Despite their earlier confrontation—if you could call it that—her manner toward him wasn’t hostile. Quite the opposite, in fact. He noted kindness in her expression. Yeah, she planned to poison him. “Ahh...no. I’m good. Thank you, though.”

      “Sit tight, Hamilton. I’ll be right back.”

      With that, she turned and headed toward the door. Alonso couldn’t help but observe the sway of her shapely hips. It’d been too long since he’d held on to curves like hers.

      “Put your tongue