I added to the end of Chapter 3, so if you haven't read the extended version you might want to do so before you read Chapter 4. It's not critical to the story, so not totally necessary, but it's fun. ;) You can thank my fabulous friendly neighborhood editor for the addition, I have.
...
Mike pulled into the hospital parking lot just in time. It had been a long shitty day and he was irritable and exhausted. After being called in early that morning to help deal with an emergency he'd just barely gotten off duty with enough time to pick Katie up. He hadn't even had time to change and felt a little awkward showing up in his uniform, but her car was broken down and she was expecting him to give her a ride home so he didn't want to be late.
He parked his truck and was walking toward the entrance when he saw Katie walking out of the door with a tall, well-dressed man, laughing at something he'd just said. Mike couldn't help but smile at the sound of her laugh, but when he saw the smug, almost proprietary way the man was looking at her his smile faded.
Though they'd never discussed whether they were seeing other people, he'd assumed that after dating for a little over a month she would have mentioned it by now if she had been. But when he saw the man reach out and put his hand on her back, guiding her toward the parking lot as they walked, he suddenly felt unsure.
Katie stepped away from the man almost immediately and when she looked around and saw him coming the way her face lit up pushed Mike's concerns aside. She was obviously glad to see him and clearly wasn't worried about letting this guy know it the way she moved toward him, leaving the man looking annoyed at her back. He smiled and waved back as they approached each other.
"Hey! You made it. I didn't think you would after your last message. I was about to call and tell you to just come to my place."
"Hi sweetheart," he said, bending to give her a hug and kiss on the cheek before glancing up and giving the man with her a quick nod to acknowledge his presence. "I wasn't sure I'd make it either, but I got off just in time."
Katie turned, gesturing at the man behind her and said, "This is Dr. Bernsen- or rather Ben, as he was just reminding me to call him. Ben, this is Mike Cooper."
"Nice to meet you, Ben," Mike said, extending his hand. The other man took it firmly and they met each other's eyes, understanding passing between them with a look. Mike couldn't help tightening his grip just a bit.
"Likewise," Ben said, covering his wince with a subtle, but contemptuous sneer.
"Ben was nice enough to offer me a ride home, but it looks like he's off the hook."
"Not at all, I'm at your service anytime. You've got my number," he said, with a quick glance at Mike. "If you ever need a ride don't hesitate to call."
"Thanks Ben," she called after him as he strode off toward the reserved parking. They turned and walked in the other direction and even though he knew the man probably wasn't watching, Mike couldn't help pulling Katie close against him with an arm around her shoulders just in case. She reached over and flicked one of his buttons, grinning up at him.
"What?" he asked, giving her a suspicious look.
"I've never seen you in the uniform before. I like it."
A smile tugged at the corners of his mouth as they approached his truck. "Do you?"
"I really do. I might have to come speeding through Knoxville just so you can pull me over."
Mike rolled his eyes and dropped his arm from her shoulders to retrieve his keys from his pocket. "Come on, now. There's no need to make fun."
"I'm not making fun," she said, laughing and turning toward him. "Okay, maybe I am just a little bit, but you do look good. Really, really good." She smoothed her palms up the black fabric covering his chest and took his collar in her hands, pulling him close for a kiss as she leaned back against the door of his truck.
Mike relaxed a little bit more, leaning into her as she wrapped her arms up around his shoulders. "Now that's the kind of hello I like."
"Speaking of hellos can I ask you something?"
"Mmhm," he said, nuzzling her neck.
"I was just wondering if you were... or well, really I wanted to know if we... oh that feels..." She shivered in his arms and pushed gently against his chest, saying," Can you stop for just a second? I can't think when your tongue is in my ear."
Mike grinned and pulled away, looking down at her. "Sorry. What were you trying to say?"
"Are you...um...seeing anyone else?"
"What? Why?" His mind immediately went back to its earlier train of thought and he must have had an alarming look on his face because she suddenly looked worried.
"I'm not trying to pressure you or anything, it's okay if you are, or well, I guess I'd want to talk about it. But I'm only asking because I'm pretty sure Ben was trying to ask me out and-"
Mike stepped back and dropped his hands from where they were resting on her hips.
"No! God this is coming out all wrong," she said, covering her face with her hands. "Never mind, can we just forget it and pretend I never said anything? Just go back to that tongue in my ear thing."
Mike reached out and pulled her hands down so he could look her in the eye. "Look, whatever you want to say, just spit it out," he said, resigned.
"All I'm trying to say is that I didn't know how to introduce you. I kind of wanted to tell him you were my boyfriend, you know to send him a clear signal. But we'd never really talked about...what the deal is between us and I wasn't sure if it would be okay with you."
He stared at her a moment before breaking into a wide grin and laughing in relief. "Is that all? Good grief, woman, you actually had me worried there for a minute. Of course that's okay with me. I mean, to be honest I kind of already think of you as...you know." He shrugged, feeling uncharacteristically awkward.
"No, I don't know. Tell me," she said, the beginnings of a smile touching the corners of her mouth.
He leaned close brushing his lips gently against hers and decided to just go for it. "You're my girl." He looked in her eyes and could see the mixture of emotions there. She was still smiling, so that was a good thing, but there was also amusement and a touch of hesitation. He lifted his eyebrow and narrowed his eyes at her. "Is that funny?"
"No, it's sweet. In a cave-manish kind of way. I guess I'm alright with being your girl."
"You guess it's alright? Nice," he smirked and rolled his eyes.
"Yeah, I guess it's alright," she said with a giggle. "If it'll make you feel better I'll make it official by having t-shirts printed up. That way it'll be clear to Ben next time I see him."
"Fuck that, let's go find him right now. I'll set him straight myself," Mike said looking around the parking lot.
