Page 12 of A Very Grumpy Doctor

Being a doctor means taking care of people.It’s what I’ve dedicated my life to.But somewhere along the way, Alexi stopped feeling like just another patient.

She’s become the woman my every instinct wants to protect.

I’ve done my duty as her doctor.Now I’m going to do my duty as the man who’s falling for her.

I’ll make sure she eats.I’ll make sure she rests.I’ll make sure she never has to face another illness, bad day, or hardship alone if I can help it.

She doesn’t know it yet, but she’s mine to care for now.

Now I just have to convince her.

5

Alexi

I wakeup the next morning feeling groggy and still half asleep.

Then I blink my eyes open and see Hugh’s face an inch from mine.That wakes me up real quick.

“Shit!”I hiss.

He frowns, shifting on the mattress next to me, but he doesn’t wake up.

Oh my god!How did this happen?

My mind flashes back to last night.I remember him running into Nosh’s Diner for chicken noodle soup.I remember him driving me home and coming inside.He tried to feed me the soup, and I snapped and told him I wasn’t a child.

After that, things get hazy.I remember feeling kind of loopy from the medicine.I think Hugh carried me to bed, and I?—

Oh.Oh no.I begged him to stay with me.Asked him tosleepwith me.

My face feels like it’s on fire.I tug my pillow over my head, praying for a painless death as I try to smother myself.

“What are you doing?”Hugh asks, his voice deep and raspy.

“Dying,” I grumble.

A second later, the pillow is ripped from my hands.I blink, glaring at the handsome man in bed beside me.

“Well, you look better this morning,” he says, studying my face.

“Gee, thanks,” I say dryly.

He laughs.“You’re beautiful.Always.I just meant you don’t look like you’re praying for death today.”

“Oh, trust me, I am,” I mumble as memories of last night continue to taunt me.

“It’s time for your second pill,” he informs me.

I leap out of the bed.“I’ve got it.Don’t you have to get to work?”

“Trying to get rid of me?”

“Yes.”

He laughs again as I grab a change of clothes and hurry into the bathroom.I lock myself inside and lean against the door, taking a deep breath.

I catch my reflection in the mirror.Hugh is right; I do look better today.I feel better too.I mean, I’m not a hundred percent yet, but I feel way better than I have for the past week.