Page 5 of A Very Grumpy Doctor

I know exactly why I want her to have my number, and it has nothing to do with medicine.

Professional boundaries exist for a reason.

Reluctantly, I tuck the card back into my pocket before I do something stupid.

“Feel better, Alexi.”

Alexi hops off the table and darts around me.

“Thanks, doc,” she wheezes, bolting out the door like her ass is on fire.

“Welcome to Wolf Valley!”her friend calls, chasing after her.

I watch them leave, feeling as though Alexi has taken a piece of me with her.

Ridiculous, right?

I’ve never dated.After witnessing my parents’ marriage, I swore I never would.They cheated on each other so often that I’m not convinced they ever loved each other at all.Their marriage was built on convenience and status.My mother wanted the prestige and comfort that came with marrying a doctor.My father wanted a young, beautiful trophy wife on his arm.It worked—until it didn’t.

They’re one of the reasons I came here.I couldn’t bear another day surrounded by their bitterness.I needed distance.A fresh start.A chance to take the next step in my career somewhere that felt meaningful.Wolf Valley seemed like the perfect place to begin again.

But until today, something had still been missing.

Or maybesomeone.

I never wanted the kind of relationship my parents had.Plenty of women showed interest in me through college and medical school, but it never felt real.Too many of them seemed captivated by the idea of me rather than the man himself.They saw a future surgeon.Security.Status.A comfortable life.

Alexi didn’t.

When I walked into the room, I caught the brief flash of appreciation in her beautiful eyes before her nerves got the better of her.It wasn’t calculated or practiced.It was honest.Genuine.As though for one fleeting moment she actually saw me.

No one has ever looked at me like that before.

Maybe moving to Wolf Valley was the right decision after all.

I grin as I finish up for the day and lock the clinic behind me, already wondering when I’ll get to see my girl again.

3

Alexi

Daisy takesme straight to the pharmacy.I wait in the car while she runs in to fill it, slumped in the passenger seat as I watch her disappear inside.My body feels both exhausted and wired at the same time, and I have Dr.Hottie to thank for that confusing combination.

I shouldn’t be attracted to Dr.Mercer.He’s the enemy after all.But no one on Earth could resist that man.

Seeing him wasn’t so bad.The exam went by quickly, probably because I spent the whole time trying not to be obvious about the way I was checking him out.My body flushes as I remember how he filled out his white coat.I swallow hard, licking my lips as I imagine his strong hands on my body again.

“Ugh, they were out!”

I yelp, startling in my seat.“What?”

“Sorry, were you sleeping?”Daisy asks as she slides back behind the wheel.

I shake my head.“No, I… what?”

“The medicine is out here.They said they’re getting a shipment tomorrow morning, so we’ll have to come back to pick it up then.In the meantime, I grabbed you some soup.”

She passes me the container of hot and sour soup.