“That’s not even possible. Daniel’s an NP at the Hopkins ER...” Annika trailed off, as some realization kicked in. She turned to him. “Or maybe it is? It’s such a big place—it didn’t even occur to me that you might’ve been working the night I came in.” Her voice was small, disbelieving. Like she didn’t want to believe what she already knew was true. “Were you? Were you working that night?” Horror colored her whisper.

He opened his mouth, nothing came out.

“Daniel!” she said, her voice gaining strength as his silence put things together for her. “Were you in my room that night?” Her eyes darted all over his face, searching for the truth but begging him to deny it.

He managed a nod.

She shook her head as if it couldn’t be true. “No, that can’t be.” She glanced at her cousin, who watched her with a grim expression. She took a few steps away from him, then walked back to him. “No, there’s a mistake. You would’ve told me.”

Daniel brought himself up to his full height, as if doing so would protect him from her wrath, however deserved it may be. He was stiff and unmoving, his insides roiling with dread, the taste of her still on his tongue. “It’s true.”

She shook her head, and the confusion in her eyes turned to anger, those beautiful brown eyes that he imagined diving into turned to coal.

“You knew—this whole time—about Steven’s and my—” She whispered the next word, baby. Her good hand fell to her belly, as if her baby were still with her, and Daniel’s heart broke for her. “You knew.” Her voice got stronger as anger settled in. “You knew, and you let me go on and on—I haven’t opened up to anyone about—” Her voice hitched. “And what the hell was that kiss? What do you do? Stalk the most vulnerable patients and see if you can get them into bed?” She was almost screaming now.

What had he been thinking? That he could find her, and she would have feelings for him? That he had any right to have feelings for her? What had he done, really, anyway? Holding her that night was as much for him as it had been for her. He had no business being in any kind of relationship anyway. Guilt and fear paralyzed him.

“You couldn’t just say, Hey, I was there that night. I’m sorry for what happened?”

“What difference would that have made?” He found his voice, but he barely recognized it, he sounded so weak. Though she seemed to have a point.

“None! You’re right. It’s creepy either way.” She advanced on him, eyes narrowed, her mouth twisted in a sick smirk. “What the fuck were you doing in my room if you weren’t assigned to me?”