AllFreeNovel
Share Us
She cocks her head and eyes me speculatively. “You’re a doctor? Is that how they know you?”
“Yes, ma’am. Among other reasons. This is a very close-knit community.”
As if on cue, a couple waves at us from across the street. “Hey, Cade!”
I lift a hand back in greeting.
“What’s your field of study?” Aspen wants to know.
I give her a sidelong look. “Plastic surgery.”
“Oh.” She shrugs nonchalantly, and I feel a pang of defensiveness at her response.
“You may not believe this, but lots of people depend on my work,” I shoot at her as if she had attacked me. She frowns at my response.
“I’m sure they do,” she agrees quietly.
“It’s not just tummy tucks and boob jobs,” I say, “because that’s what you’re thinking, right?”
She nods.
“Okay, well, I also perform reconstructive surgeries on accident victims, skin cancer removal and reconstruction, cleft lip and palate repair…”
Understanding colors her face. “Ah, I didn’t think about that. Sorry.”
“No worries,” I tell her.
She smirks. “But you also do tummy tucks and boob jobs.”
Relenting, I shrug. “Yes, you’re right. And that is actually the majority of my business.”
She laughs, and the sound awakens something in my core. “Sometimes I think about what I might have done if I had the money,” she says, as if she’s thinking out loud.
Stopping in my tracks, I stare at her. “Are you kidding?” I ask, shocked as I study her perfect features. “You’re gorgeous. Don’t touch a single hair on your head. That’s my professional opinion. In fact, if anyone ever tells you differently, send them to me, so I can personally kick their ass.”
A pink tinge touches her cheeks, and she turns away. “Oh, look, an ice cream shop,” she murmurs. “Does Lily like ice cream?”
“Do you know a four-year-old on the planet who doesn’t?” I chuckle, resuming my walk with her. “This is actually where I was taking you first. This is one of her staple spots—but after the playground to meet with her playgroup.”
“Noted,” Aspen replies, and I can tell she’s genuinely taking my advice to heart.
I can’t stop sneaking glances at her now, wondering what she would ever want to change about herself. Or why I ever switched to plastic surgery.
We turn the corner, and Aspen exhales in awe as I point across the street. “And that is the park. Playgroup meets every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at noon, but don’t expect to make those times every week.”
The huge, interactive playground boasts every apparatus a child could want, from swings to monkey bars and four different levels of slides. There’s a pirate ship and rock-climbing wall, as well as a zipline for the older kids. It’s just another perk of living in Cypress Gardens. Only the best for our children.
“Right at lunchtime?” Aspen remarks. “That’s silly.”
“You’re preaching to the choir on that one, but I don’t organize these things.”
“Who does?” Aspen asks.
“There’s a group of stay-at-home moms and nannies. You’ll probably meet them when you take Lily.”
She purses her lips. “On that note, we really should get back, Dr. Taylor.”
Disappointment I have absolutely no reason to feel sweeps over me, but I don’t argue with her.
