Never to Keep (Accepting Fate #1) by Aimie Grey

gruffly.
    “Madison, will you please get a tetanus booster for Mr. Ramsay?” He pulled off his gloves, typed the order into the computer, and then gloved up once more before continuing with the procedure.
    “Of course, Doctor.” I bolted from the room, relieved to have some distance from Sawyer and his current mood swing.
    I took my time walking to the pharmacy cart to retrieve the vaccine, even though I was only delaying the inevitable. On my way there, I found the charge nurse to unlock the cabinet for me again. I walked slowly back to the room once I had the vial and a syringe.
    “Mads, did he have this rash when he came in?” Ethan asked when I stepped through the door.
    I leaned over to take a closer look at Sawyer’s hand. “No, that’s new.”
    Ethan pulled off his gloves and examined Sawyer’s hand and wrist. “It looks like a mild latex allergy. Do you have issues with condoms?”
    “I’ve never used one,” Sawyer said as he smirked at me. I would never have been with him had I known how unsafe he really was. It was too late to do anything about it now.
    “As a doctor, I’m required to tell you that you should always use condoms unless you are in a monogamous relationship. That being said, if you use condoms in the future, you’ll want to avoid latex. Polyurethane condoms are just as effective as latex and shouldn’t cause a reaction.” Ethan had no idea how much tension his speech was causing. “The skin on the penis is very sensitive, and a rash down there would be extremely uncomfortable.”
    “Noted. I’ve had reactions to Band-Aids. I thought I was allergic to the adhesive.” Sawyer held up his hand. “I’ve also had a few weird rashes that looked like that over the past couple of years.”
    “It’s probably the latex. Bandages also come in latex-free versions. It probably wouldn’t hurt to see an allergist to run some tests. You should also let your primary care physician and dentist know about the allergy, so they can use latex-free gloves.” Ethan turned his attention to me. “Give him the vaccine and dress the wound. I’ll have his discharge paperwork ready by the time you’re done. Find me after you finish, and we’ll go eat.”
    I nodded and watched him leave. Sawyer looked me over from head to toe and grimaced. Ignoring the anger I felt at his judgment, I gave him the shot with as much care as I gave every patient. The hum of the printer on the bottom of my computer cart did little to ease the awkward silence as I carefully wrapped his finger in a bandage and put the splint in place.
    “You’re all set. You’ll need to have your primary care physician remove the stitches in seven to ten days.” I said while handing him the discharge instructions I’d plucked from the printer.
    He grasped my wrist as I turned to walk out of the room. “Can’t you take them out when you come to pick Peyton up from school?”
    “I’m not allowed to perform any medical procedures outside of the hospital. If you don’t have a family doctor, you can stop by the clinic down the street, and they’ll do it for you.”
    “It’ll be less hassle if you do it. I won’t tell anyone.”
    “Sorry. I’m not willing to risk Peyton’s future to save a few minutes of your precious time. They have these rules for a reason, and I’ve already compromised my ethics enough for you.” Shit, I hadn’t meant to say that out loud.
    “You mean sleeping with a stranger? If memory serves, that was all your idea. You basically said so yourself a few minutes ago.”
    The blood rushed to my face as the humiliation set in. I needed to get the conversation over with; even if the hospital was the least appropriate place in the world to have it, it was on my turf. Shutting the door, I whirled around to face him, wanting to slap the smug grin clean off of his face.
    “No,” I growled in a shouting whisper. “I meant sleeping with an engaged man!” I slammed my hands on my hips. The smug look on his face