When she took off, my feet were on the move, following her into the supply closet. “A little cramped for my tastes, but I like it.”
She turned with an admonishing finger. “Work, Dr. Henderson. It’s time to work.”
“Oh, I plan to put in some work. Some very hard work,” I said, making her laugh.
“Cheesy,” she accused with a laugh and I took my moment, fusing our mouths together in a long, hot kiss that would have steamed up all the windows if the supply closet had them. Her lips and her tongue mingled with mine and something happened. I couldn’t possibly explain it, other than to say it felt like it was a lot more than fun. It was absolutely fun and exhilarating, but it had turned into something more.
“You like cheesy,” I growled and pulled her in for just one more taste. My hands fisted in her thick black locks, fingers twirling around the heavy waves to pull her closer, to get more of her. For a better taste.
Just one more taste.
One more taste turned into two, and then into three before we were interrupted by the sound of the next appointment arriving.
Luckily, we had plenty of time to pick up where we’d left off later.
Stevie
Picking up lunch for Scott while I was out on my own lunch break had become kind of a habit—and one I wasn’t all that comfortable with, thanks to a past relationship. But the man worked hard and he refused to even consider adding another doctor to his practice until he’d repaid Eddy and started operating fully in the black, something that could happen sooner rather than later if he wasn’t so damn stubborn.
“Hey, Stevie!” Ginger’s smoky voice sounded across the diner, her wide smile always a welcome sight. “Your order will be up in a minute. Want some coffee?”
I shook my head. “If I have any more coffee today, my heart will explode.” She laughed, and I joined in with her. “But tea sounds good. Earl Grey, please.”
“Coming right up!” Ginger bounced from table to table wearing a wide smile that might make some customers think her shift had just started when the truth was, I saw her almost every morning on my way to the clinic. She took the morning shift at Big Mama’s and then headed over to the newspaper office for the rest of the day. She worked hard and had somehow made a life for herself, though no one knew her story, which kind of reminded me of… myself.
Tulip was such a good place, a nice place, the kind of place a certain type of city folk moved to so they could raise a family and live a simpler life. I didn’t belong in this town any more than I belonged anywhere else, especially with Scott, but somehow, both had wrapped tightly around my heart. Somehow, this place and this man had me floating instead of walking, humming and smiling instead of scowling and complaining. I wasn’t just happy, I was satisfied. And constantly aroused.
And it was all Scott’s fault. “Here ya go.” Ginger dropped off the bags and took my cash before flashing a hurried smile and dashing off once again.
My thoughts returned to Scott and this damn postcard of a town. Last night, I hadn’t been able to sleep, even though my body was exhausted and wrapped in Scott’s arms. I’d realized that this was the first time since my mom died that I’d actively reached out and tried to be happy. There was something about this place that allowed you to just be happy without a lot of effort, it was so organic you hardly realized it was happening until you were one of those people who stopped in the middle of the sidewalk to hold a full conversation with a random person.
Instead of yelling at them for screwing up the flow of traffic, I was now that person. Even though, now, I was reluctantly that person. “Elizabeth. Eddy. Fancy running into you ladies.” Not really, since I knew they saw me go into Big Mama’s and had then maneuvered themselves into my path before I reached the office.
“Seems like you plan on sticking around, after all.” Eddy folded her arms and tried hard for a scowl, but it never materialized.
Here we go. “I’m not sure,” I told her honestly, refusing to tell the old lady what she wanted to hear simply because I was sleeping with her grandson. The truth was that Scott