Page 52 of The Doctors Will See You Now

“Well, that’s what it was. And I’d know if I’d seen it here. Trust me.”

“But I talked to him. Hinted about what an interesting night last night was. He didn’t object,” Marlene interjected again.

“Like he was gonna actually address it? He doesn’t like office gossip.”

Okay. Bad news… I apparently looked like I was fucking jerking off on the show last night? Jesus Christ!

My brain felt like it was bleeding, but I fought desperately against going full aneurysm.

Silver lining…think of the silver lining. Well, I guessed they didn’t know Mel and I had slept together last night.

Is that even really a positive? my brain questioned doubtfully. I didn’t know.

I did know, however, that I didn’t want the women I worked with on a daily basis thinking they’d seen me engaged in a little self-love and fucking blabbing about it!

Stepping forward and around the corner, I did my best not to speak with any of the actual rage I now felt. “He sure doesn’t.”

Especially not with a waiting room full of patients. Or ever.

“Crap,” Marlene huffed.

“You three,” I addressed them. “My office.”

They looked down at the carpet but pushed out of their chairs, and Marlene pushed away from her spot against the wall, to follow me, but none of us made it more than a foot before the door opened and Melody walked in.

She got one look at our faces, and her eyebrows pulled together.

And then, unfortunately, accusing eyes shot to me. Does she actually think I told them about us?

“Melody,” I snapped, far harsher than intended. She jumped at the sound of my voice, and she wasn’t the only one. I cleared my throat and worked to smooth out the line between my eyebrows. “Sorry,” I apologized. “Just…sorry. But as soon as you’re settled, bring back the first patient.”

“Sure, Dr. Cummings,” she said softly. She sounded fucking hurt, and I felt nearly helpless with the direction this day had taken. And I was in such a good mood when it started.

I looked back to Marlene, Beth, and Melissa, but all I could say was, “Later.” Even I couldn’t tell if it was a promise or a threat.

But just as before, none of us made it even a foot before the main office door opened again, and something we’d never seen before walked in.

A man.

Okay. Obviously excluding myself, the other male physicians in the practice, and the occasional husband. Otherwise, no men whatsoever.

Shut up. Obviously, lots of men walk through these doors, but that’s not the point, okay?

This one, I didn’t recognize.

Unfortunately, someone else knew him…and by the looks of it, she knew him well.

“Eli?”

I stared in shock—and maybe a little bit of horror, too—first at his face, then down at the bouquet of flowers held out in his hand, and then back into the chocolate hues of his eyes.

“Hi, Melly,” he said, standing tall and proud in a sleek black suit with a white button-up shirt. He looked handsome, albeit a tad overdressed for the reception area of a medical office, but just as attractive as ever.

Of course, his looks had never been the problem.

“W-what are you doing here?” I stuttered. My voice wasn’t strong, but inside, I was yelling. What the hell was he doing here? In New York? At my place of employment?

“I wanted to surprise you.” He smiled.