The Forbidden Throb Chapter 78

Emma's POV:

I met their gazes and felt suddenly at a loss, heat creeping up my neck.

I'd been so focused on Morrison that I'd completely forgotten we had an audience.

"Oh my God! Mrs. Prescott, that was *incredible*. Do you know how many people are terrified of Dr. Morrison? And you just—" A nurse made a gesture that seemed to encompass my entire performance. "You stood right up to him!"

Sarah added, practically bouncing. "You fed Dr. Prescott grapes right in front of him. Like she was marking territory or something."

"And did you see the way Dr. Prescott defended her?" another nurse spoke up from behind the computer.

Her dark eyes were warm with approval. "I've worked with him for three years, and I've never heard him speak about anyone like that. The pride in his voice when he talked about her work..."

"You two are absolutely perfect together."

My face heated.

I glanced at Daniel, unsure how to respond to this enthusiastic chorus.

His expression was carefully neutral, but there was something in his eyes—amusement, maybe, or resignation to the fact that we'd just become the hospital's favorite love story.

"Shall we?" he murmured, and I nodded, grateful for the escape even as my heart continued its unsteady rhythm.

The door to Daniel's office clicked shut behind us, muffling the excited chatter from the nurses' station. The sudden quiet felt almost jarring after the intensity of the past fifteen minutes.

I released Daniel's arm and took a step back, putting some necessary distance between us. My hands felt oddly empty without something to hold onto.

"How did I do?" I managed, trying to keep my own voice steady. "The grape thing—was that too much? "

Something flickered in Daniel's eyes that might have been amusement. "No," he said. "It was perfect. Very convincing."

Relief flooded through me, loosening the tension in my shoulders.

"Oh. Good. That's... good." I let out a breath I hadn't realized I was holding. "I just—I couldn't help it. Morrison was being so condescending."

"It's fine," Daniel said, his voice low and carrying a hint of something I couldn't quite name. "Are you happy?"

The question caught me off guard.

I thought about Morrison's face when I'd fed Daniel that grape. The sight of his retreating figure.

A smile tugged at my lips. "Actually? Yes. I did enjoy it."

The atmosphere in the office had shifted into something almost comfortable, the tension from earlier dissolving into an unexpected ease.

Then the door swung open without warning.

"Daniel, you said your secret wife was coming this afternoon, but I still haven't—"

The man who appeared in the doorway was tall, maybe in his early thirties, with sandy hair. He wore a white coat similar to Daniel's, a stethoscope draped around his neck.

His words cut off abruptly the moment his gaze landed on me.

His eyes widened, his mouth forming a perfect O of surprise as he took in the scene—me standing there in Daniel's office, close enough that the intimacy of our conversation was obvious.

Then, just as quickly, his expression shifted.

The surprise smoothed into professional composure, and he stepped fully into the office with the practiced ease of someone accustomed to recovering from social missteps.

"Mrs. Prescott," he said warmly, extending his hand with a smile that transformed his entire face. "I apologize for barging in like that. I'm Dr. Luke Richardson, Daniel's best friend. It's truly wonderful to finally meet you."

His handshake was firm but not overwhelming, his hazel eyes friendly. There was genuine pleasure in his expression now.

"Emma," I said, finding my voice and returning his smile. "It's nice to meet you, too, Dr. Richardson."

"Luke, please," he insisted. "We don't stand on formality among friends. "

I could feel the genuine warmth radiating from him—none of the wariness Morrison had shown, none of the calculated politeness I'd encountered from other hospital staff.

Luke's enthusiasm seemed entirely authentic.

"So I'm the first one to meet the famous Mrs. Prescott, right?" Luke said, turning to Daniel with obvious pride. "I mean, I know you wanted to keep things low-key, but—"

"Actually," Daniel interrupted, and there was definitely amusement in his voice now, "we've already done a full tour of the cardiac wing. "

Luke's face fell slightly, but he rallied. "Well, okay, but at least I'm the first attending physician—"

"And Dr. Morrison," Daniel added, his tone perfectly casual.

"*What?*" Luke's voice cracked slightly. "*Morrison* got to meet her before me?"

"He happened to find us in the corridor," I explained, trying not to smile at Luke's theatrical dismay.

"This is unacceptable," Luke declared, pressing one hand to his chest.

"I've been sitting in my office for *hours*, checking my phone every five minutes, practically camping by my door—and for what? To be the *last* person to meet her? "

"And you didn't get to try any of the fruit Emma brought," Daniel added, his tone perfectly neutral but with that subtle undercurrent of amusement I was learning to recognize.

He turned back to me with a rueful smile. "Emma, I apologize. As you can see, Daniel takes great pleasure in torturing his colleagues. I hope you know what you've gotten yourself into."

Despite everything, I felt a genuine laugh bubble up. Luke's dramatics were so over-the-top, so completely different from Daniel's reserved composure, that it was impossible not to be charmed.

Though I had to wonder how these two had become friends.

"I'll bring you some next time," I promised.

Luke's entire demeanor transformed instantly, like a puppy being offered a treat. "Really? I'm not picky—anything fresh is great."

Daniel glanced at his watch. "It's nearly half past five," he said. "We should head home."

"Of course." I turned to Luke with a smile. "It was really nice meeting you, Luke."

"The pleasure was all mine, Emma. Don't be a stranger." He shot Daniel a pointed look. "Some of us would appreciate more frequent visits."

"I'll keep that in mind," I said, meaning it.

There was something genuinely likable about Luke's open warmth.

---

The parking garage was quiet. Our footsteps echoed against the concrete as we made our way to Daniel's car.

He unlocked it with a soft beep, and I slid into the passenger seat, grateful to finally sit after the afternoon's performance.

But Daniel didn't immediately start the engine. He sat there, hands resting on the steering wheel, staring straight ahead through the windshield at the gray concrete wall.

"You seemed to like Luke quite a bit," he said finally, his tone carefully casual.