Chapter 154 FAR MORE DEFENSIVE

Chapter 154 FAR MORE DEFENSIVE
GABRIELLA

I swallowed and tried my best to look unaffected by the question. "Well, I would've done the same for anyone else." I folded my arms. "That's just who I am."

He studied me for a moment before nodding slowly. "Alright."

My eyes narrowed immediately. "What's that supposed to mean?"

A small smile tugged at the corner of his lips. "What do you think it means?"

I frowned harder. "That's not an answer, Dr. Samil."

He pushed himself up from the couch slowly, clearly still weaker than he wanted to admit, and walked over until he was standing beside my chair.

For a second, we both didn't say anything. Then he reached out and rested one hand lightly on the back of my chair, slipping the other into his pocket. I leaned back on instinct, my pulse jumping instantly as barely inches remained between us. My heart stumbled traitorously against my ribs. This was exactly the problem with Dr. Samil Ashford. The man could turn standing still into a threat.

His eyes stayed locked on mine. "I told you already," he said calmly, his breath fanning against my face. "I prefer Samil.”

"What on earth has gotten into you?"

A tired chuckle escaped him. "Fever apparently makes me honest."

I rolled my eyes. "That's terrifying."

"No," he corrected quietly, his eyes settling on mine. "What's terrifying is that you spent the last five hours taking care of someone you supposedly can't stand."

I opened my mouth and closed it again. Because annoyingly enough... he had a point and secondly, I didn't have anything to say to counter that.

He noticed my silence immediately. "See?" His smile deepened slightly. "Exactly my point."

I frowned. "What point?"

He tilted his head slightly, studying me in a way that suddenly made me feel far too aware of myself. "That you like me," he said simply.

My eyes widened but he didn’t let me say anything before he added. "And you're far too stubborn to admit it.”

I forced a smile that didn't quite reach my eyes. "I guess this works on every girl you use it on." I leaned forward. "Tell me, have you always been this obnoxious narcissist or have you just gotten too used to women falling for this little act of yours?"

I met his stare with one of my own this time. To my utmost irritation, he smiled.

"You're probably the last person who should think I flirt with women."

I frowned. "And why exactly is that?"

He tilted his head slightly. "Because you've worked with me long enough to know I don't."

Liar. A complete and utter liar.

I scoffed. "Right."

His brows pulled together. "Right?"

"Because you've been too busy sneaking them into your office instead." I crossed my arms tighter against my chest. "Like the blonde from earlier today."

His expression shifted slightly.

"I bet she was too busy having fun to notice you were running a forty-degree fever."

The words left my mouth before I could actually stop them. But it's fine, I actually want him to hear it. Serves him right for being so full of himself.

His face went blank for a second as though he was replaying the conversation in his head. Then understanding dawned on him.

Slowly, the confusion disappeared and a smile appeared instead. Then, to my complete disbelief, he laughed. Not the small amused huff he usually gave. An actual laugh. The kind that reached his eyes. The kind I'd never seen from him before.

"What?" I demanded, somewhere between offended and confused.

He shook his head, still trying and failing to stop smiling. "God, Gabriella."

My frown deepened. "What?"

His eyes locked onto mine. "Are you seriously jealous right now?"

My eyes widened instantly. "What?" The word came out far more defensive than I intended.