“Bad day?” he asked, with thinly veiled amusement.

She glared at him. “Yes, as a matter of fact it was.”

“What happened?”

“Well, where do I start? When I went to drop Mason off at Papa’s house, there was a woman there with him.”

Pesh’s brows rose in surprise. “Patrick is dating?”

“He claims she’s—”Megan paused to make air quotes with her fingers, “just a friend. But I don’t buy it.”

As he stirred the rice, he glanced at her over his shoulder. “Would it be wrong if he were dating?”

A long sigh escaped Megan’s lips. “No, he deserves to be happy. My nana has been dead for six years, so it’s not like he raced out the moment he was free and started going through women like Kleenex.”

Pesh chuckled at her summation. “Did you not like her?”

Crossing her arms over her chest, Megan replied, “That’s the other part. She seemed really nice. And Mason loves her. I guess she’s been there before when he stayed with Papa.”

After abandoning his place by the stove, Pesh placed his hands on the marble countertop and leaned in close to Megan. “It sounds to me like Patrick has found a good woman who loves him and his family. I don’t think you could ask for a better scenario.”

She stared into his eyes for a moment before she smiled. “You’re right. I don’t know why I got so upset about it all.”

“Because as much as you love your grandfather, you’re still protective of your grandmother’s memory.”

“You’re so wise,” she murmured.

“It comes with age,” he replied, with a wink.

“Whatever.”

He gave her a quick kiss on the lips before returning to the stove. “So besides Patrick’s new lady friend, what else happened to get you so upset?”

When Megan didn’t reply, Pesh turned around. “What else is it?”

“You need to have a serious discussion with Kara.”

His brows rose in surprise. “I do?”

“Yes, you do.”

“Megan, you do remember that I’m not in charge of nurses.”

She rolled her eyes. “Yes, I realize that. But you are in charge of your dick, are you not?”

“Excuse me?”

Crossing her arms over her chest, Megan said, “Kara seems to think that the two of you are an item.”

Pesh chuckled. “Oh that’s nonsense. We’re just friends from working together.”

Megan narrowed her eyes suspiciously at him. “You’ve never seen her outside of work?”

This was one area of questioning he hadn’t bargained on ever having to answer. The truth was something he really didn’t want to admit to Megan. Carefully choosing his words, he replied, “We got together for drinks a couple of times after work a few months back. I hardly think that categorizes us as an ‘item.’”

“It must be enough for her to think she can tell me that you’re only using me for sex.”

Pesh winced at the words. He would have never taken Kara for being someone who was jealous. He put down the spatula and turned off the stove. He knew he couldn’t go forward without coming clean. “Megan, I haven’t been honest with you.”

“What do you mean?” she asked.

“I told you that Kara and I had only had drinks a couple of times. But that isn’t the whole truth.”

Megan’s eyes widened. “What are you saying?”

Defeated, his shoulders drooped a little. “After the night of Noah’s baptism, I couldn’t get you off my mind. I wanted to prove to myself that I wasn’t so enamored by you. So after having a couple of drinks one night, Kara and I went to my car and fooled around.”

“You got drunk?”

He gave a mirthless laugh. “That is what is most shocking to you in what I just told you?”

“Did you think I would be mad at you for messing around with some woman when we weren’t dating?”

“Yes,” he answered honestly.

Megan shook her head. “What you did then was your business. I mean, I’m not thrilled to hear that you fooled around with her, especially since you wouldn’t sleep with me when I asked you to.”

“But don’t you see the difference? I cared for you, and I cared nothing for her. We were barely in the car fifteen minutes if that tells you anything.”

The corners of her lips tugged up in a small smile. “I really don’t need the details of how much you didn’t enjoy yourself.”

He ducked his head. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said that.”

“But at the same time, I’m glad to hear that you won’t be going back for a repeat performance.”

Jerking his gaze up to meet hers, he replied, “Never could I do that.”

“And you really were trying to get me off your mind?”

“Yes, I was.”

“In a warped way, that’s very romantic,” she teased.

“I’m glad you think so,” he mumbled.

“Look, it’s not the fact that she said you were using me for sex that has me so upset.”

“It’s not?”

“She threatened me.”

Pesh’s eyes narrowed. “Physically?”

“Not exactly. She said that if I didn’t watch my back, she would report me to the dean.”

A low growl erupted from Pesh’s chest. “She seriously said that?”

“Yes, she did.”

“I’m sorry that her jealousy and spitefulness is rearing its head. I never imagined she was such a person when I…well, when I got involved with her. I’ll make sure to speak to her. No one should have to work in a hostile environment, and she must understand that just because of her seniority, she is not allowed to harass you.” Pesh watched Megan fidget on her feet while nibbling on her bottom lip. “Do you not want me to speak to her?”

“No, that’s fine. It’s just…”

“Is there something else?”

“You know how much I like you. I mean, the very fact I agreed to date you shows how much I’m committed to you.”

Pesh crossed his arms over his chest. “I’m thinking there’s a ‘but’ coming that I’m not going to like.”

Megan sighed. “But at the same time, whatever it is that is happening between us…” She swallowed hard. “I’ve worked really hard in school, Pesh. I don’t want anything on my record that could hurt my chances of getting a job.”