Open Heart

  OPEN HEART

  City General: Medic 1

  Book 2

  RUBY SCOTT

  First published in 2020 by D&V Publishing

  This edition published in 2023

  Copyright © 2023, Ruby Scott

  This is a work of fiction. The characters and events portrayed in the book are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, businesses and events is purely coincidental.

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, or stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without express written permission. For permissions, contact RubyScott.author@gmail.com

  Edited by Kristin Jacoby

  Proofread by Lisa Caro

  Cover Design by Angela Fleming

  Published by D&V Publishing (Scotland)

  A thought…

  “I’ve learned that whenever I decide something with an open heart, I usually make the right decision.”

  — Maya Angelou

  Chapter 1

  “I promise you. It’s the best place in town. I get laid every time I go,” Jack said, giving Izzy’s hand a tug.

  From the look on her face, she was still just a bit uncertain about this. She hadn’t done much ‘fun’ over the last few years. She had been solely focused on her studies. Now that she had been accepted into the cardiothoracic residency program at City General, she figured it was about time she did something for herself.

  “You’re telling me the minute I step foot in there, girls are going to swarm all over me?” Izzy scoffed. “Unlikely, but thanks for getting my hopes up.” Part of doing something for herself involved having a ‘big night out’ with Jack. They’d been friends for a few years, having met in college, and Jack had called her on her sexuality immediately. “I can just tell,” he had told her with a smirk. Izzy hadn’t even been sure of it herself at the time.

  She was now. But much like fun, love wasn’t something Izzy had time for. Not that she was going to the club tonight to find love. She was looking for lust; she was looking for something that was just fun.

  The club, Parade, was on the corner of a busy crossroads. It was large, taking up most of the block it was on. The exterior was painted a mid-gray with shiny silver detailing at the top of the façade. Sitting overtop of the front door was the name, Parade, in giant silver lettering. Each letter was illuminated with a purple, almost UV light. People were flooding in and out in a seemingly never-ending stream. A tall, muscular chap who seemed to know Jack opened the door for them, and they stepped inside.

  The interior of the club was in stark contrast to the outside. A giant chandelier hung from a deep red velvet-clad ceiling above the circular dance floor. The floor reacted to the energy and pressure of the movement and lights pulsed to the beat of the bass pumping through the speakers. To the right was the first of two bars, which ran halfway down one side of the club. High tables surrounded by groups of animated people were scattered around the area dividing the bar from the throng of dancers.

  Izzy stood, wide-eyed, taking it all in. It was simultaneously just like she had imagined, yet not. She must have looked like a deer in headlights. Luckily for her, Jack was there to pull her out of her daze. He gave her arm a tug, bringing her back into the moment.

  “Sorry,” she said, despite knowing there was no reason to apologize. She hadn’t done anything wrong…she was just slightly overwhelmed. Parade was most definitely out of her comfort zone.

  Jack shook his head, shaking off her apology. “Let’s go get a drink. It’ll help you loosen up a bit.” He didn’t wait for a response before giving Izzy another tug, this time towards the bar.

  The pair squeezed in-between the people surrounding them, waiting to be served. As the people next to them left, Izzy slipped herself onto one of the black curved stools that had become vacant. Twisting around, she turned her back to the bar as she took the opportunity to observe more.

  “Izzy.” Jack elbowed her side.

  “What?” she snapped in response to the nudge. She whipped around to see the blue-haired bartender in front of them. The bartender reminded Izzy of a pixie. She had small, dainty features with a silver hoop nose ring and dark lipstick. Izzy felt her cheeks heat up slightly. She probably looked like a fool. Offering a nervous smile, she apologized. “Sorry. I guess I just kind of zoned.”

  The bartender offered a smile back, however Izzy had a feeling that it wasn’t genuine. It was the type of smile someone in customer service offers when they’re clearly annoyed. “Of course. What can I get for you?”

  “A mojito, please?”

  The bartender nodded before moving away from them to make their drinks. Jack turned his attention back to Izzy, leaning back against the bar just like she had been. “So, what do you think?”

  “It’s amazing.”

  Jack laughed, shaking his head. “Not about the club, dumbass. I’m talking about the people. Do you see anyone interesting?” And by interesting, he clearly meant attractive.

  While she had been scanning the crowd, Izzy hadn’t exactly been checking anyone out. Now that Jack mentioned it, though, half the people in the club were drop-dead gorgeous. There were a number of different women she wouldn’t mind going home with. “I mean… I’m not complaining about my options if they’d have me,” she said, grinning at him.

  “They’d be a fool not to want you, Izzy!” He gave her a wink. “You’re fresh meat.”

  Izzy cringed, knowing she was giving Jack exactly the reaction he was after. As their drinks were placed on the bar, she swung around and grabbed the glass, bringing it to her lips as soon as it was in her hand. She took a sip before glancing up at Jack.

  He clearly knew what was on her mind. He grinned back. “See? Not only is this place filled with hot and horny people, they also do the best cocktails.”

  Izzy was really starting to see the perks of this place. She took another sip and stared out into the crowd. She wasn’t quite sure where to go from here. She was a bit out of shape when it came to flirting. It was embarrassing how long it’d been for her.

  When she looked back at Jack to ask him about it, she noticed him making eyes with a blonde guy wearing a blue shirt and jeans tighter than the ones that she was wearing. She took another sip of her drink and reached out, giving Jack’s arm a shove. “Go,” she said. “Go and talk to him.”

  Jack turned back to her, his facial features softening. “But it’s our night out. I’d feel like an ass if I just ditched you here, especially as we have just arrived.”

  “And I’d feel like an ass if I stopped you from hooking up with him,” she said, gesturing with her head towards the guy.

  Jack laughed and downed what was left of his drink. “All right, then.” He hopped off his stool and started to walk away before he turned around to face Izzy once more. “I’ll see you tomorrow morning,” he said with a smirk.

  “Stay confident!” she called with a laugh. Once Jack was out of sight, she let out a sigh before turning back to the bar and taking another sip of her mojito. Now she was left on her own, in unfamiliar territory. Before she did anything, she was going to need another drink. Refueled with another mojito, she felt herself start to ease into the night. At this point, she was damn near certain she could walk up to anyone in the club and start to flirt.

  However, Izzy didn’t get the chance to. Two sips into her second drink, somebody had taken the seat next to her that had previously been occupied by Jack. Izzy turned to look at the stranger and was instantly in awe.

  The woman was gorgeous, with short mahogany brown hair that was slicked back and large, dark eyes to match. She was slender, with broad shoulders and slightly tanned skin. Her entire body was turned to Izzy, a smile toying at the corners of her lips. “I noticed your friend just kind of left you alone here. I thought you could use some company,” she said with a laugh.

  It was almost instantaneous that Izzy felt comfortable with this woman. Either the alcohol was making her confident, or the rust was wearing off. “If you’re offering to be my company, how could I not accept?” she said with a grin.

  The other woman smiled before signaling to the blue pixie behind the bar. The bartender appeared to like her new friend, and the smile on her face actually seemed genuine. The dark-haired woman ordered a JD and Coke before turning back to Izzy. “I haven’t seen you around here before. And trust me, I think I would remember somebody like you.”

  Izzy could feel the heat in her cheeks and knew she was blushing. She only hoped that the neon lighting of the club would hide the color. “That’s because this is my first time here.” She paused, taking in the firm biceps and tattoos which peaked from under her short sleeves. “Do these lines always work on women?” she added, finishing off her second drink.

  “Are they working on you?” She paused long enough to take in Izzy’s soft smile. “If this is your first time, then I feel lucky,” she replied. The bartender returned with her drink, but before she could leave, she stopped her. “Can you get my friend here another…mojito, right?” Izzy nodded in response. The bartender didn’t hide her annoyance, sighing before walking off.

  “And why do you feel lucky?” Izzy asked. She was glued to this woman. She turned to face her; her entire attention was on this gorgeous enigma sitting next to her. She slid into place next to her like a perfect fit, and she was hardly complaining.

  “Because we happen to be here on the same night. Must be my lucky night since I get to sit and enjoy a drink with y
ou—and you haven’t asked me to leave yet.”

  Izzy grinned. “Why would I ever do that?”

  After another drink, the dark-haired woman (who Izzy had learned was named Cara) pulled her out to the dance floor. Without a care in the world, Cara’s hands found their way to Izzy’s hips and pulled their bodies flush against each other. Izzy felt heated, but not just from the alcohol.

  As the two of them danced, it was like there was nothing in the world except the two of them and the thumping bass. Cara’s hands slid over her body, and she certainly wasn’t complaining. She wrapped her arms around Cara’s neck, allowing her body to move to the beat.

  Whatever wave of nervousness that had washed over her earlier was gone. She was confident and completely into this. Cara looked like fun. The type of fun that Izzy could get behind…or under.

  She knew where tonight was going, and the very thought of it made her stomach tighten as excitement started to curl up in her gut and bubble up towards her chest.

  Cara’s hands found Izzy’s behind. She gripped tentatively at first, but when Izzy didn’t object, she tightened her grip. As the rhythm of the music changed, Cara slowly pulled her body away from Izzy’s.

  Izzy wanted to object. She wanted Cara’s warmth once more. Cara didn’t pull too far away, her forehead pressing against Izzy’s. “Do you want to get out of here?” she asked, her voice low so only the two of them could hear.

  Izzy didn’t hesitate to answer. “Yes.”

  Chapter 2

  Izzy ordered an Uber outside of the club and the pair climbed in the back. Even inside of the cab, they could barely keep their hands off each other. They weren’t obnoxious about it. They sat with their thighs touching, Cara’s hand gripping onto Izzy’s slender thigh in a possessive way. The heat from her hand radiated up, and Izzy was growing desperate to get her home.

  She leaned forward to the driver and told him the address of her apartment building. It was only a few blocks from the club. It would be the quickest way to get the two of them alone, and Izzy could finally give into all the urges she was feeling.

  Sitting next to Cara like this, all Izzy could think about was kissing her. She wanted to know if she tasted like the JD and Coke she had been sipping on earlier or something entirely different. She wanted to see how her body looked under the pair of jeans and the tight gray tank she was wearing. Cara was exactly what she needed.

  When the cab came to a stop outside of Izzy’s apartment building, she swung open the door, grabbed Cara’s hand and practically pulled her from the car. They all but ran into the apartment block, the eagerness between them building.

  Izzy hit the button to call the elevator ride, and the doors opened immediately. As the elevator climbed up the floors, Izzy couldn’t resist the urge to kiss Cara for a second longer. Her fingers were intertwined with Cara’s and she pulled her in for a long, slow kiss. Cara’s response told her she wasn’t alone in building anticipation for what was about to follow.

  Finally, the elevator dinged and the doors opened. Izzy almost skipped through the doors, pulling Cara behind her and towards her apartment. With one hand, she fumbled with her keys and got the door unlocked. They went inside together, the door slamming behind them.

  As soon as it was closed, Cara let go of Izzy’s hand. She turned so she was facing her and, without a moment of hesitation, she pressed their lips together. The kiss sent shock waves through Izzy’s entire being. In the beginning, all she could think about was how soft Cara’s lips were on hers. But the kiss progressed from the soft, tentative start to something deeper. Cara’s lips parted and Izzy could taste the JD and Coke she had been wondering about since the cab ride.

  Cara stepped forward, pushing Izzy back against the front door. One of her hands rested on Izzy’s hip while the other worked its way up, tangling in her dark waves. She moved her hand until she was cradling the back of Izzy’s head, pulling her back into a kiss.

  The heat between them was building to the point of desperation. Izzy’s hands moved without hesitation, coming to rest on Cara’s hips. She pulled, making sure there was no space between the two of them.

  The kiss made Izzy’s knees weak, which she chalked up to not being kissed for a while. When they broke apart, Cara rested her forehead against Izzy’s like she had earlier in the club. “Fuck, I want you.” She sighed.

  “Why don’t you show me how much?” Izzy responded, a tiny smirk growing on her lips.

  Cara didn’t need to be told twice. Their hands intertwined again as she turned around, looking over Izzy’s open plan apartment. “Wow!” was the only word that Cara could utter as she looked around the sleek, modern apartment. “This place?”

  It was a gift from her parents for graduating from John Hopkins and for pursuing her cardiothoracic residency, and she had barely moved in, so the entire place still had that showroom feel.

  “If you’re looking for the bedroom, it’s the first room to the right.” Izzy raised an eyebrow, showing the slightest bit of impatience. Cara took the hint graciously.

  “Oh yeah, sorry.” Grabbing Izzy’s hand, she pulled her towards the bedroom, as her head whirled around taking in the glossy white cabinets, marble floors and large flat-screen TV. In the back of her mind, Izzy wondered what she thought of her. Did she think she was bedding some wildly successful woman? Or just a trust fund brat?

  Swinging open the bedroom door, Cara turned to face her, taking both of her hands in her own. She walked backwards, pulling Izzy towards the large king-size bed with its crisp, starched white linens in the center of the room. No words were exchanged when Cara came to a stop and pulled Izzy to her before turning the pair of them around.

  Izzy felt herself being gently pushed down onto the bed. As Cara slowly climbed on top of her, she felt her excitement rise again. Bringing her face to just above Izzy’s, Cara whispered, “I’ve been waiting for this since the moment I saw you.”

  “I’m yours to do exactly what you want with me.”

  A pulse of electricity shot through Izzy as she watched Cara’s eyes darken with want. There was no hesitation this time as Cara’s hands slid down Izzy’s body. They came to a stop at her waist, where her jeans met her top. Undoing the buttons, she slid under the fabric, caressing her skin. The touch of her fingers caused Izzy to inhale deeply, rasping with anticipation. She had no idea who this woman was, but she was everything she needed right now. The only thing she cared about was getting rid of the last layer of separation. She wanted to feel her skin against Cara’s.

  Cara’s hands traveled up, stopping at Izzy’s bra. They moved over the lace fabric, grazing Izzy just enough that a little pleased noise left her lips. Cara looked up at her with a smirk. “Someone’s eager,” she commented, and Izzy’s cheeks heated up in embarrassment.

  It had been so long. Cara didn’t say anything else. Her hands moved down to the hem of Izzy’s shirt, giving it a tug. Izzy sat up to assist her with getting it off. It was quickly tossed onto the floor.

  It was Izzy’s turn to get Cara undressed. She mimicked the other woman’s movements, her fingers wrapping around the hem of her shirt and pulling it over her head. Cara was built. Not like a bodybuilder, but it was clear she was a woman who prided herself on her body. She was solid and muscular. All Izzy wanted to do was get her hands on every inch of her.

  Their lips crashed together again; this kiss was one that was deep and passionate the minute their lips collided. Hands were no longer tentative and unsure. They both knew they were doing this; they knew where they wanted tonight to go.

  When their lips parted, Cara’s lips moved downwards. She pressed soft kisses down the side of Izzy’s neck, down her shoulder, then to her collarbone. Beneath her, Izzy sighed, stretching into the kisses.

  Izzy expected Cara to get right down to it. She expected her bra to be off right after Cara’s lips kissed a trail down her cleavage. Instead, Cara stopped with the kisses. Her hands went back to Izzy’s waist, this time pushing down her jeans. Izzy lifted her hips to help get them off and Cara tugged them down to her ankles, letting Izzy kick them off onto the floor.