Returning his smile, because she couldn’t possibly respond in any other way, Lauren searched for something witty to say.

Her buzzing phone saved her, but as she retrieved it her elbow pushed several papers off the table.

“Peter Parker,” she said under her breath, as the pages fluttered to the floor like snowflakes.

Andrew immediately joined her on the floor to gather them together. Papers in hand, Lauren straightened and slammed her head on the underside of the table. The grunt that came out of her mouth was exceedingly unladylike, and her cheeks flushed scarlet.

“You okay?” Andrew’s hand brushed the top of her head as they both stood up. Her breath caught at the contact.

She stepped back and sat down. “I’m fine.”

“Peter Parker?” He resumed his seat. “What is it with you and superheroes?”

Lauren recalled what she’d said the day she spilled coffee on him. “I wouldn’t consider Captain Kirk a superhero.”

Andrew raised an eyebrow. “I respectfully disagree.”

Lauren waited a moment. “That’s all you’ve got? You really will be a mediocre lawyer.”

He laughed. “Seriously, what’s with the names?”

“For two years I worked at Children’s Hospital, and for two more I’ve volunteered there, spending time with the kids.” She straightened the papers in front of her. “We have to be careful what we say around them. And just like the regular cuss words, the silly ones become a habit, and they just sort of come out. The nurses and I made a game of it…to see who could come up with the most creative ways to curse without actually cursing.”

“I hope you won.”

“The competition is ongoing.”

They continued talking for a few minutes, and Lauren picked up her coffee mug to find it empty.

Andrew rose and held his hand out for it. “Here, let me. I need to order something, and I don’t trust you with a hot beverage.”

Lauren scowled, and he winked at her before he walked to the front counter.

He returned with two cups full to the brim, and the aroma of freshly brewed coffee drifted across the table.

“What was going on this morning? With that guy?” Andrew asked.

Confusion clouded Lauren’s thoughts for a moment before she realized he must be asking about Zeke. She scrunched her nose in apology. “I can’t talk about it. Patient privacy rules are pretty strict.”

“Oh.” Andrew took a drink of his steaming coffee. “I guess that’s good to know. That you haven’t been going around telling everyone how my mom asked about sex.”

Lauren grinned at him even as her stomach flipped at the word coming out of his mouth. Goodness, what was she, twelve? “Never.”

His eyes dropped to the tabletop, and the sudden silence seemed intensified despite the low hum of nearby conversation surrounding them.