Page 143 of The Doctors Will See You Now

“I know you’ll tell my dad,” I retorted, and his smirk turned into a full smile.

“You’re just going to feel some tugging as I pull these out, okay? It might feel a little strange, but it shouldn’t hurt,” he instructed as he started the removal process.

I nodded and shut my eyes in preparation. Even if it wasn’t supposed to be painful, it still wasn’t fun having a doctor remove fucking stitches from your head.

“Whoever did these did a fantastic job. You’re probably not even going to have a scar once it’s fully healed,” he updated as he tugged gently on the sutures, and I grimaced from the odd sensation.

“It was Dr. Shepard at St. Luke’s.” I opened my eyes as I spoke. He focused as he finished up.

“Wait…” He quirked that brow again. “The ER doc that’s on that reality show?”

“Yep. That’s him.”

“My wife loves that guy,” he muttered. “She never misses an episode. Every Tuesday night she’s in front of the TV waiting for that stupid Dr. Erotic.”

I giggled. “He’s quite the character. A lot of women love him.”

“Uh-oh…You think I should be concerned?” he teased, and I shook my head.

“Nah,” I responded with a smile. “You’ve got that older distinguished gentleman thing going for ya. Plus, you’re a hot doctor too, so I think your marriage is safe.”

“Thank God,” he joked and set his instruments on the metal tray beside the exam table. “There. All set, Harlow. It healed nicely and shows no signs of infection, but just keep an eye on it over the next few weeks and give me a call if you have any issues,” he instructed and headed toward the counter to scribble something down on my medical file.

“Okay. Sounds good.” Tingly needles shot up my legs as I jumped down from the exam table and came to a jarring stop on the ground. Ow. Twenty-nine years young and already ailing. I was going to be fucked when I got older.

“Oh, and tell your dad I’m going to kick his ass next month at the charity event.”

“Will do.” I grinned and grabbed my purse from the floor. Before stepping out of the room, I snagged my phone out of the front pocket and turned it back on. Amanda could send as many “boner texts” as she wanted now that good old Barry wouldn’t be within eye shot. “See ya around, Dr. Williams,” I called over my shoulder as I headed out of the exam room and toward the exit.

Fifth Avenue buzzed with traffic and the smell of grease as I jogged toward the subway entrance en route to my office at Gossip. I panicked briefly as my phone started ringing inside of my purse, thinking it might be my boss calling to ream me for missing some sort of scoop, but I smiled once I saw the caller ID.

“Give me the good stuff, Claude.” His soft chuckles fed some sort of hole deep in my soul.

Claude was my dealer. Well, not of the drug variety, but when it came to juicy pictures for my Gossip column, he was the guy with the goods. Paparazzi weren’t normally a source of good karma and soul replenishment, but Claude was different—likeable. I couldn’t even explain exactly what it was about him, but that intangible something was there all the same.

“Would a certain monsieur on The Doctor Is In be of interest to you?” he asked through his thick French accent.

Jesus. Scott Shepard strikes again. I felt like this guy was following me everywhere, even though the one and only time I’d seen him was over two weeks ago inside of his ER.

Hmm. I guess it could also be Dr. Obscene, but last I heard, he was settled down in a pretty serious relationship.

“Are we talking Dr. ER?” I asked to double-check.

“Oui.”

Immediately I perked up, my eyebrows lifting toward my hairline. “Color me intrigued.”

“Ah, Mademoiselle Harlow,” he responded, and I could hear the smile in his voice. “I have a few shots you’re going to love.”

“Fantastic. What’s the story?”

“Dr. ER at Club Indigo last night enjoying drinks with not one but four lovely women.”

That charming son of a bitch. I grinned. “Do you know who the women are?”

“I believe one is an up-and-coming actress from Spain, two are famous Russian models. The other woman he spent the majority of his evening with, I’m not so sure who she is, but she is quite stunning.”

“Did they leave together?”