Until Autumn - Sheridan Anne Page 0,50

as I’m finishing off my meal, a pager sounds through the restaurant, and regret filters through Thorne’s eyes. “I’m so sorry,” he murmurs, almost looking sick with himself. “That’s the hospital. I have to go.”

Devastation pours through me but I put a lid on it. It’s not like I didn’t know this was a possibility. “Oh, okay. Sure,” I tell him, trying not to let my emotions show as I reach down and grab my purse off my lap.

I start pulling out some cash and Thorne looks at me as though I’ve just grown a second head. “What do you think you’re doing?” he asks, his brows dropping and almost looking offended.

I look up at him in confusion. “Umm … paying,” I explain. “What does it look like I’m doing?”

He shakes his head as a fond smile spreads across his face. “No the hell you’re not,” he tells me. “I appreciate the gesture but there’s no way I’m about to let you pay, especially on our first date. That bullshit won’t be coming back to haunt me.”

“But—”

“Nope. Besides, it’s already been taken care of.”

My mouth drops as I think back over the night. “When … how? You haven’t moved all night.”

Thorne winks before rubbing his hand over his face. “How do you want to do this? Do you mind stopping by the hospital with me and then I can take you home after that? Sorry, I should have thought this through before bringing you here without a way home in a situation like this.”

I shake my head. “It’s completely fine,” I tell him. “Don’t worry about me. I’ve been getting myself home from nights out for years. I know you knocked Uber earlier, but it’s my main form of transport. I can’t live without it,” I tell him with a stupid grin. “I’m actually close to becoming a platinum member.”

He shakes his head. “I don’t know whether to be horrified or impressed.”

“Definitely impressed,” I laugh. “Now get out of here and save someone’s life already. Besides, I’ve been dying to call KC and gossip about you all night.”

“Only good things,” he tells me, walking around the side of the table as I stand.

“Promise,” I whisper, turning to face him so I can meet his eyes. “I’ll be sure to tell her all about your Ferrari, though she’s going to claim that you’re overcompensating for something.”

He shakes his head before curling his hand around the back of my neck and gently pressing his lips to mine, finally giving me exactly what we’ve been craving since the last time I got to feel his lips on mine.

Thorne’s lips linger a moment longer than necessary, showing just how much he wishes he could stay. “I’ll make it up to you.”

“I don’t doubt that,” I tell him before he pulls away and walks out of the restaurant, leaving me sitting alone, and for only tonight, wishing that things could have been different.

CHAPTER 15

THORNE

After confirming that my domestic abuse patient, Ashleigh, isn’t actually in labor and just experiencing Braxton Hicks contractions, I walk out of the examination room and instantly fall back against the wall.

Fury tears through me. I cut my first date with Autumn short for that. Heads are about to roll. Whichever nurse or midwife decided it was a good idea to page me for a case of Braxton Hicks is about to take a long trip up shit creek without a paddle.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m thankful that Ashleigh was brave enough to come in and allow me to examine her. It’s only been two weeks, but I can already see how much better she’s doing. The baby has been putting on weight and is looking good, but damn. Those mother fucking Braxton Hicks.

I can’t understand why the nurse on duty wasn’t able to determine that it was false labor and happily send her on her way, just as she would have been trained to do.

Poor Autumn. I left her at that fucking restaurant all by herself. I walked out, and as I looked back in through the window, her bottom lip was slightly pouted and the devastation in her eyes nearly killed me. I couldn’t have been more thankful to the waiter who came by with the dessert menu. Given he was probably trying to get in her pants and take advantage of the sad woman whose date just bailed. Nonetheless, I’m happy she took that menu and I hope to God that she ordered something good.

I hope she got home