"Sophia, we can’t."

  "Yes, we can. I said I was going to seduce you.

  Remember?" Sophia had said and then she'd kissed Katherine again. Katherine had flicked the lock on her door and they had made love right there on her o ce floor. The thrill of having sex at work knowing the risk and knowing that anybody could knock on the door had turned them both on so much.

  They had sex at work many more times after that.

  Sometimes in an on call room or in Katherine’s o ce.

  Whenever they did Katherine would say they were in their honeymoon stage so this behaviour was expected from the both of them. Of course, if they had got caught, that excuse wouldn't have helped them in any way.

  Her roommates were the first people she'd told about her relationship with Katherine. They'd been wondering why she barely slept at home and why she was so happy all the time and she wouldn't have felt right to lie to them so she'd told them the truth.

  Sara had screamed and Jenna had been shocked into silence

  "No way. No fucking way. Dr. Ross!?" Sara had screamed holding her head in her hands as she bounced around the room.

  "You hit the fucking jackpot!” Jenna said finally, joining Sara to jump around then they'd both turned to her and flicked her forehead.

  "That was for not telling us earlier." Jenna had said.

  “This is so great. I'm so happy for you!" Sara had wrapped her in a hug and she felt herself flood with relief.

  She'd been worried that they would take it badly or that they'd think she was only with Katherine so she could use her for her career or that they would think they could use Katherine through her to further their careers. She should have known better. Sara and Jenna weren't like that.

  After she'd told them she'd taken some of her things and headed to Katherine's house where she stayed for the next couple of days. Their relationship was beautiful and there was nothing that made Sophia happier than knowing she was going to go home and be with Katherine.

  BUT THEN, everything changed.

  Sophia could feel that something was wrong. She'd been gossiped about before so she knew how to spot the signs.

  People were whispering around her and when she walked in a room the conversations suddenly died.

  It went on for most of the day. During her lunch break she found Sara and Jenna and asked if they knew what was going on."I haven't heard anything." Sara said and her brows furrowed.

  “Neither have I. Why would they be talking about you?

  You don't think they found out about Dr Ross do you?" Jenna asked her eyes wide.

  It was the first time Sophia considered that possibility.

  Her heart started beating faster.

  "You guys didn't tell anyone. Did you?" She asked and they both shook their heads.

  "You know we wouldn't do that."

  Sophia nodded her head and apologised.

  "I'm sorry. I know you guys wouldn't do that. If you hear anything about what's going on let me know okay?"

  "We will. You should try to calm down. Maybe talk to Katherine. She might know something." Sophia nodded her head and went to find Katherine.

  She was just about to step into the elevator when Travis stopped her.

  "Sophia. Hi. I wanted to talk to you about something."

  She turned to him and he led her away from the elevator and towards a room she guessed was a supply closet. They didn't enter the room, they just leaned on the wall beside it.

  "So um, are the rumors true? You know, the ones about you and Dr. Ross?” Sophia blinked up at him and he shot her a sheepish grin.

  "I already know you're a lesbian and we know she is too and you do seem to spend a lot of time together."

  Sophia was looking at him but she couldn't hear the words coming out of his mouth. How had they found out?

  They'd been so careful. Except for all the times they had had sex at work. Oh God, had someone seen them after all?

  Travis misunderstood her silence and kept talking.

  "It's not like I have a problem with it. I'm not homophobic. Live and let live you know? But I was just wondering, if you could talk to her for me. Maybe she could give me some 1:1 time? Maybe you can get me in on one of her surgeries?”

  Sophia turned on her heel and walked away from him.

  This was what Katherine had been trying to avoid. How did they find out, for God's sake?

  She hurried into the elevator and tried to keep herself calm. Maybe this wasn't all bad. She got o the elevator and walked as fast as she could to Katherine's o ce. She would have run, but she didn't want to draw even more attention to herself.

  “Katherine, I don't know how-" she stopped short, because sitting right there in front of Katherine's desk was a man. Sophia knew immediately that this was the hospital's president. Just leaving the o ce, was another intern. Sophia recognised her. She was the one who had been shit talking Katherine on their first day here. It made sense that she was the one to rat them out.

  Sophia stepped further into the o ce and closed the door behind her.

  "I'm guessing you're Sophia,” the president said.

  “Yes sir. I am.” Sophia replied

  "Good. Well you may not know this but this isn't the normal procedure we take here when there's a personnel issue. There's usually a conference and we talk to the vice presidents as well so we can come to a conclusion. However, Dr. Ross is a good friend of mine so I decided that I'd rather speak to her directly."

  Sophia hoped they weren't going to fire Katherine. It would be terrible if everything she'd worked for her whole life was taken from her.

  "Please don't fire her. I'll leave the hospital instead. Just don't fire her please."

  “I’m not going to fire her,” he said and Sophia nodded her head. Through all this she hadn't been able to read Katherine's expression. She didn't know what she was thinking or what she was feeling.

  “I am, however going to ask you two for a favour." The president said and Sophia's heart beat sped up a little.

  "Relationships between doctors and interns, sometimes are unavoidable and it wouldn't be right to fire good doctors for feelings that are beyond their control so instead of doing that, I have personally decided that my good friend, and exceptional surgeon Dr. Ross, should be able to date who she so pleases.”

  “Thank you so much Mr Ryan. We will be so much more discreet. I am so sorry for our indiscretions.” Katherine answered quickly and smiled.

  “Thank you so much.” Sophia couldn’t quite believe it.

  He waved away their thanks and stood up.

  "Please keep the intimacy between you two away from the hospital.” The president finished and Sophia nodded her head.

  "We will. We're so sorry for any trouble we've caused." He nodded his head and stood up.

  "Thank you for the courtesy you showed me. We will be so much more discreet in future.”

  Mr Ryan left and Katherine smiled at Sophia. “I can’t believe it. I was so sure he was going to tell us we had to end it. Sophia, that’s it. We can be together properly now.”

  Sophia smiled widely. Her intense blue eyes met Katherine’s. This was really the beginning of something special.

  “My surgeries for the day are done.” Katherine looked to her excitedly. “Want to get out of here for a bit?”

  “I’d love to.”

  THE END

  FIND out what happens next for Katherine and Sophia in the next Forest Vale Romance The Doctor’s Rival.

  It is a standalone Enemies to Lovers Romance but Katherine and Sophia feature as side characters. (And they have a couple more really great sex scenes!)

  DR HOLLIS ROMAN is a highly respected army veteran who becomes Head of Diagnostics at Forest Vale Hospital.

  Nobody ever dares to challenge her, until she clashes with the feisty paramedic, Ava Rodriguez. Hollis hates that outspoken paramedic. Doesn't she?

  A hot Age Gap, Enemies to Lovers, Butch-Femme, Medical Lesbian Romance. This is a standalone book, although does include Sophia and Katherine from the book, Surgeon.

  Dr Hollis Roman is a tough and highly skilled ex Army doctor. She is also struggling to know what to do as a single parent of a troubled teenage daughter.

  Before Hollis has even had a chance to settle in at Forest Vale, she has a bolshy and outspoken paramedic challenging her on a pressured medical case.

  Hollis is never wrong, but then neither is Ava, and neither of them will back down.

  They hate pretty much everything about each other, but they can't stop the growing chemistry between them.

  When things start to unravel with Hollis's daughter, can Hollis find a way to stop everything from falling apart, and will she be able to resist the growing desire she has for the di cult paramedic?

  CLICK HERE TO READ NOW:

  getbook.at/TDR

  THE DOCTOR’S RIVAL

  A LESBIAN MEDICAL ROMANCE

  1

  “D r. Sophia Wells, please report to Dr. Miller’s o ce,”

  announced the hospital’s PA system.

  Sophia Wells, surgical intern, almost ran to the o ce, while hurrying through her co ee. Her dark hair was pulled up into a high ponytail as her blue eyes scanned her surroundings. She quickly sanitized her hands at the dispenser located in the corridor, before reaching the door to Dr. Miller’s o ce.

  “Rebecca Miller, M.D.,” read the plate outside the o ce.

  Sophia knocked somewhat nervously. It wasn’t every day you were called in to see the Chief Medical O cer—the woman in charge of the entire hospital.

  “Come in.” A strong, female voice answered, and Sophia entered the o ce. It was the biggest in Forest Vale hospital, though still modern like the rest.

  “Hello, Sophia. Have a seat, please,” Rebecca said, and Sophia sat on the chair in front of Rebecca’s desk.

  Rebecca Miller had shoulder-length blonde hair, brown eyes, and a well-structured face. She was an exercise fanatic who looked younger than her fifty-two years, and her demeanor screamed authority and discipline. Rebecca had done an amazing job of maintaining the hospital’s rating as

  one of the best in the country. A phenomenal woman, she was adored by her hospital sta and followers around the country.

  She didn’t look up as Sophia seated herself.

  “You wanted to see me, Dr. Miller?” Sophia was polite, as usual, and waited for Rebecca to finish viewing some documents.

  “Yes, how much time is left in your current Surgery rotation?” Rebecca asked, taking o her glasses and looking at Sophia.

  “It’s almost done,” she replied. Sophia was a little perplexed as to why the hospital’s chief would be concerned with an intern’s rotations.

  “As you know, Dr. Ahmed is about to retire. Dr. Roman will become the new Head of Diagnostics and will also handle some exclusive referrals. I was thinking you might like to shadow her. It will give you a more rounded medical education,” Rebecca explained, leaning back in her chair as she crossed her arms.

  “Dr. Hollis Roman? The army veteran?” Sophia asked excitedly, as if she couldn’t believe what she’d heard. After all, Dr. Roman was the reason she’d wanted to become a doctor in the first place! Sophia looked up to the woman like an idol, although she’d never met her. Sophia was determined to be like Dr. Roman one day, even though the woman was controversial.

  Which gave rise to another question. Sophia lowered her voice. “But I thought she’d gotten into some trouble, and now not many hospitals want to work with her,” Sophia said, confused.

  “Well, Dr. Roman is something of a hard taskmaster and she does like things her own way. I am well aware that her demeanor isn’t always appreciated, but she is one of the best diagnosticians around and we would love to have her here,”

  Rebecca replied, smiling. “And I’d heard she was your idol, Sophia. I want you to take this opportunity. There will be a lot to learn.”

  Sophia beamed. “Thank you so much, Dr. Miller. I can’t tell you how much this means to me.” She still couldn’t believe this was happening! Sophia was so excited.

  “Yes. Now get your cards signed from Surgery and then you can shadow in Diagnostics next. You can go now,”

  Rebecca replied, looking through some files. Sophia left, buzzing with exhilaration.

  “YOU WON’T BELIEVE WHAT HAPPENED!” Sophia called to Katherine, who was just heading out of Surgery. Katherine smiled, even though she was tired—her grey eyes lighting up at Sophia’s excitement. Sophia ran up to her girlfriend.

  Dr. Katherine Ross, Head of Cardio-Thoracic Surgery, was one of the best surgeons in the world. And she loved Sophia.

  The connection that had started on a dating app had progressed to a secret relationship, kept that way due to their professional status. But recently, the couple had made their status o cial.

  “Dr. Hollis Roman is joining the hospital and I get to shadow her!” Sophia said, before Katherine could ask the reason for her excitement.

  “That’s great news, but other people around the hospital might not be as excited,” Katherine replied. “I’ve heard she is a borderline narcissist and wants results at all costs. She can be pretty hard to work with,” Katherine told Sophia, a bit concerned.

  “I know, but she is also really good at her work. Yeah, she may not follow all the rules, but Dr. Roman is exceptional.

  And you know how much I love exceptional doctors,” Sophia

  teased, giving Katherine a wink. “You know she is my idol,”

  Sophia continued enthusiastically, not letting anything dull her excitement to meet Dr. Roman, whom she perceived as possessing all the best virtues.

  “Well, I guess in order to be that brilliant, you have to be a little weird. Sometimes those things go hand in hand,”

  Katherine replied, with a little shake of her head. “Good news on my end, too. I’m o all weekend and I was thinking we could spend this weekend at home, in peace. Just me and you. We can sort some of your stu out, now that you are o cially moved in.” Katherine looked lovingly at Sophia as she took her hand and gripped it firmly.

  “Great! Yes, this has been such a hectic week for you, Katherine. I’m excited to actually live with you and to begin our future together. I can think of some very exciting ways to spend this weekend that don’t just involve unpacking!”

  “HOW IS THE ANGIOPLASTY PATIENT NOW?” Katherine asked a resident, some weeks later.

  “He had some post-op vomiting, Dr. Ross, and has been put on Ondaserton. Otherwise, he’s stable,” the resident replied as Katherine checked the patient’s file.

  “Okay, keep an eye on the catheter site for infection,”

  Katherine instructed before taking a look around. She noticed the frantic interns. “Why is everyone rushing to Diagnostics?” she inquired.

  “Oh, Dr. Roman is here, and she is probably mad about something that went wrong,” the resident replied wearily.

  Katherine knew that it was normal for the residents to be a bit afraid of their supervising doctor, and doubly so since it was Dr. Roman. But they had become quite wary when Dr.

  Roman was mad about something. Which was, well, almost all the time. It was exhausting.

  “Yep, I guess this is the new norm now,” Katherine mumbled to herself before getting back to the task at hand.

  “SO YOU SUSPECT it’s Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia?”

  Dr. Roman said in a stern voice as she looked at the residents. Sophia moved in to get a better view—still in awe of Hollis.

  Dr. Hollis Roman was a well-built and tough woman, in both appearance and personality. She had taken on di cult jobs all her life and succeeded at each of them. She had served for years in the army and was very disciplined. Hollis was a woman of character and utter resilience.

  And she was also breathtaking. Hollis’s sharp jawline and high cheekbones were striking, while her forest-green eyes were intense, though often accusatory. Her short blonde hair and strong face gave her a slightly masculine appearance.

  “Yes, Doctor,” the resident calmly replied, trying not to let Dr. Roman intimidate her. “The patient was started on Heparin five days ago for a DVT and now complains of weakness. There is also a bruise, so I suspected HIT. The labs are yet to come.”

  “Did you switch to Argatroban?” Hollis asked, checking the patient file once again, to be sure no mistakes had been made.

  “Yes, I did, Doctor, but there is no improvement so far,”

  the resident answered, her voice expressing concern. The patient was not showing any sign of recovery and it was beginning to worry her.

  “Monitor the patient and let me know when the labs are back,” Hollis ordered, and the resident nodded. Sophia made

  a couple of notes, determined to make a good impression on Dr. Roman—who hadn’t even noticed she existed.

  Hollis went to her o ce and shut the door as the residents released a collective sigh of relief. Working for Dr.

  Roman was not easy.

  2

  “Oh, this is so exciting! I always wanted this. Dr.

  Roman is such an amazing doctor, Emma. Her presence just screams knowledge and authority.” Sophia sighed dreamily as she looked at her friend. Sophia was still in another world, star-struck by Dr. Hollis.

  Emma Brown was a new transfer to Forest Vale hospital.

  The two women had been at medical school together and Sophia was delighted to have Emma working with her again.

  “You realize you are the only one happy here, right, Sophia?” Emma couldn’t match her excitement and pouted her lips in annoyance. No reaction from Sophia. Rolling her eyes, Emma looped her arm through Sophia’s and changed the subject. “Anyway . . . Luke kissed me last night!” Emma let the words out slowly for e ect.

  Sophia looked at Emma, her eyes widening before she squealed. Emma tried to appear nonchalant as she kept her eyes on her nails, pretending to check them out.

  “Spill!” Sophia ordered. Emma laughed and began her story.

  “Well, last night was our first date, as you know,” Emma said, and Sophia nodded hurriedly, wanting her to finish.

  “So, when Luke dropped me back at my house, we stood at

  the front door and then he grabbed me by the waist and swooped in for a kiss! It was so good, Soph!” she said with a sigh, as her best friend gave her a hug.