Open Heart One Shots (Choices)

The Glasses Effect

Summary: Cassie can't get enough of seeing Ethan with his glasses on.

Intern year. Somewhere over South Carolina, 30,000 feet up.

It really was unfair. No man should be that handsome. His smile—when he bothered to show one—was already dangerous; his amused smirk, downright lethal. But when he slipped on his glasses, her ovaries melted.

Was it possible to get kicked out of the residency program for lusting after her boss? And if so, could she plead her case on the grounds of Dr. Ramsey's effortless charm and the undeniable, climax-inducing effect of his glasses?

Cassie Valentine could already picture Harper's reaction if she tried to use that excuse to justify her inappropriate behavior. Then again, given that the other woman had been his on-again, off-again lover for years, maybe she'd sympathize with her plight.

Because really, could anyone ever fully recover from witnessing Ethan Ramsey in glasses?

The way his blue eyes looked larger, perhaps even more intense behind the lenses, the dark ring around his pupils standing out in sharp relief. And how, for those few fleeting seconds after he removed his glasses, his gaze was mouthwateringly unfocused before snapping back to its usual laser-sharp intensity.

She knew he only wore glasses when reading or working on the computer. And she'd been lucky enough to catch him doing both. Like now.

After the flight attendant cleared their breakfast trays, Ethan pulled out a thick book from his carry-on—a historical nonfiction tome with a staid cover—and slipped on his glasses. He was so engrossed in his reading that Cassie felt safe stealing glances at him.

She furtively studied his profile in the seat beside her, the hum of the plane's engine masking the rat-a-tat of her heartbeat. They were halfway to Miami, and she really needed a new hobby — one that didn't involve fantasizing about joining the Mile High Club with the unattainable man next to her.

"Something wrong, Rookie?"

Cassie jolted, shaking off the lustful thoughts clouding her brain. Caught staring, she felt the heat creep up her neck as she met Ethan's puzzled gaze.

Omigodomigodomigod. This could not be fucking happening to her!

"No, Dr. Ramsey." Cassie shook her head, her voice husky as she swallowed the lump in her throat. When he continued staring at her, she knew he didn't believe her. She blurted out the first thing that came to mind. "I was just wondering who's looking after Dr. Banerji while you're away."

Peering over his lenses, Ethan looked amused, most likely at the nervous tremor she hadn't been able to hide. He seemed to relish the effect he had on hapless interns.

"No one. He's comfortably ensconced in his brownstone. Why? Did you think he was hidden away in the hospital's unfinished wing twenty-four-seven?"

Cassie pursed her lips at his wry tone and shrugged. "He's always there, so, yeah. What else was I supposed to think?"

"He's been around more lately because we upped his dialysis treatment," Ethan explained, using his index finger to hold his place in the book. "He needed a break for his body to recover, so this trip was well-timed."

She nodded, but Ethan didn't notice, already immersed in his book. Clearly, it was more interesting than talking to her.

Cassie haphazardly pressed buttons on the in-flight entertainment screen, anything to distract herself from him.

Then, suddenly, sunlight streaked across the screen, and there he was — his reflection, glasses and all, staring back at her as he read.

She fervently prayed that he'd keep those glasses off during the rest of their trip. Because if he didn't, she couldn't be held responsible for her actions.

Cassie had found her Kryptonite, and it wore glasses.