With Ivy’s enthusiastic praise still ringing in his ears, Jamison was practically glowing with pride. How could he possibly resist kissing her, right then and there?

He leaned in and captured her lips, stealing her breath away. Ivy endured the kiss for a few seconds before she started to protest, pushing at his chest and whispering urgently, “Stop it! We’re right by the school gate—security’s watching us!”

“Mm… Jamison, that’s enough!” She gave him a firm shove and glared, half annoyed, half flustered. “Where’s your self-control?”

Dr. Ludwig, utterly unrepentant, grinned. “Why would I need self-control—especially with my own wife?”

Ivy didn’t answer, but suddenly her nose twitched and she started sniffing the air.

“What is it? You look like a puppy,” Jamison said, confused.

“You’re the puppy!” Ivy shot back, but she stretched her neck to sniff closer, her expression shifting. “Why do you smell like perfume?”

In all the time they’d been together, Ivy had never once caught the scent of women’s perfume on him. He wasn’t one for cologne either; usually, he just smelled like fresh soap or the faint, sterile scent of the hospital.

Jamison lifted his arm and sniffed himself. “Do I?”

Ivy turned to study him, her eyes narrowing. “You warn me every day to keep a respectable distance from other men, but what about you? We haven’t seen each other for a few days—feeling lonely, were you?”

Jamison didn’t answer right away, his brow furrowed as he tried to recall the source of the scent.

“Oh, right. Today, one of the nurses in my department was trying out a new perfume she ordered online. She sprayed it in the office—I must have picked some up by accident.” He sounded completely sincere.

Ivy raised a skeptical eyebrow. “Really? First Celeste Quinn leaves, and now there’s someone else? Another pretty nurse, maybe?”

“No way—and even if there was, it wouldn’t matter,” Jamison chuckled, amused by her suspicion. “Is that how little you trust your husband? If I was up to something, I’d be busy right now—not driving over an hour to see you at school.”

He’d spent two straight days and nights at the hospital. That afternoon, once his patients finally stabilized and were out of critical danger, he couldn’t wait another minute before coming to see her.

“What important business would you be busy with, exactly?” Ivy teased, giving him a pointed look.

Jamison’s smile turned sly as he leaned in again, his tall frame closing the distance, lips nearly brushing her cheek. “What do you think? Or… maybe we should just head back to the apartment and take care of some ‘important business’ of our own?”

The warmth of his breath sent a flush across her cheeks. Ivy shot him a mock glare over her shoulder. “Don’t even think about it. I’m starving—I need food!”

“No sense of romance,” Jamison sighed dramatically, retreating to the driver’s seat. Still, his voice softened with affection. “Fine. I’ll take you to eat first. Once you’re fed, then maybe I’ll get to eat you.”

Ivy shot him a look, speechless.

“So, what do you want to eat?”

“Barbecue,” she declared. After so many bland meals in the university cafeteria, she was craving something bold and flavorful.

“Perfect. I know just the place—a classic old spot downtown.”

It was a thirty-minute drive, and as they hit the road, Ivy couldn’t help but notice the dark circles under his eyes. He must not have slept much these past few days. She asked about his patients.

Jamison gave her a quick update.

When she heard the patients had finally pulled through, Ivy looked at him with open admiration. “You really are the best. That reputation as a surgical legend is well deserved.”

Jamison basked in her praise, grinning from ear to ear. At a red light, he leaned over for another kiss, only for her to block him with a laugh.

The barbecue place was packed, with a rustic charm and a buzz of conversation. Instead of sitting across from one another, they squeezed in side by side, as inseparable as a pair of teenagers in love.

Once they ordered, the food arrived quickly. Jamison, seeing how hungry Ivy was, immediately manned the grill for her.

“Oh, by the way, do you remember last Saturday night? We ran into Emma at the mall—I mentioned I thought she might be coming down with something…”