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Shame colored her tone and the urge to pound on something tightened his abdomen in a response he understood and accepted. “And he wanted you. Did your relationship with him have anything to do with your sister’s death?” The spasm of grief that turned Lillian’s eyes watery cut Mitchell to the quick. He knew how a casual inquiry could stir up the misery of loss. Maybe he wasn’t the one to get her to open up and face her demons.
The doctor couldn’t have asked a better question to defuse Lillian’s heated response to seeing him again. Every cell in her body had gone on high alert when he’d taken a seat next to her, his large body so close all she could think about was when he’d set aside his irritation long enough to help her cope with her sorrow. She blinked back the tears before they fell and strove to get herself under control. His question hit too near to the truth for comfort. Brad might not have been directly responsible for Liana’s death, but she would always blame him for taking advantage of her sister’s medical condition to get what he wanted from Lillian. She’d caved to his blackmail because he’d left her no choice, but that didn’t lessen the shame of putting up with his abuse for those four weeks instead of telling him to go to Hell.
“I don’t want to discuss him, or Liana.”
Mitchell was diverted from answering when Ed, one of the cooks, called out, “Order up!” Gertie plucked the plate off the shelf and set it in front of him without a word before shuffling down the counter to another customer.
Cutting into his meat, he nodded, saying, “Good enough, but you should talk to someone.” She opened her mouth to retort it was none of his business but he cut her off with a piercing look. “Eat before it gets cold.”
“I see you’re as bossy as you were at the cabin.” Nonetheless, she was hungry and turned her attention back to her food.
“It comes with being responsible for people’s health.”
Thanks to Nan telling her about their private club, Lillian knew that wasn’t the whole of it. That bossy dominance extended past his patients’ wellbeing. Wasn’t it bad enough her imagination had run rampant the past few days with picturing this man at a kink club dishing out erotic torment on trussed up women? Must she suffer his close presence and those narrow-eyed, probing looks that stirred her in odd, new ways again? She supposed if she was going to stick around Willow Springs for another few weeks she should get used to running into the well-liked doctor. With the town population just over seven thousand, there would be no avoiding him unless she planned to stay holed up in the motel room. After visiting all the local shops, meeting the friendly, welcoming townsfolk and sharing afternoon tea with Nan the last four days, the thought of keeping to herself held no appeal.
“That might be part of it, Doc, but not all. I’m not your patient now,” she said before diving into the creamy mound of potatoes. If she kept eating in the diner every night, she was going to have to buy a whole new wardrobe soon.
“Yes, you are. In fact, since you intend to stay longer, why don’t you come to the clinic on Monday? I’d like to confirm my diagnosis by getting x-rays of your ribs. Are you still at the motel?”
“Yes, but I suppose it would be cheaper to find a short-term rental until I make some decisions. And I’m fine,” she insisted. “I don’t need x-rays.”
What I don’t need is his hands on me again. So far, she couldn’t forget that one hour and the multiple orgasms he wrung from her, or the surprising stimulation of those butt slaps and nipple pinches. That wasn’t like her. There’d never been a man she couldn’t walk away from, or a sexual encounter she couldn’t easily forget once it was over. That he was the first man to leave a lasting impression made her uneasy since he was so far removed from the type she was usually drawn to.
“I’ll make you a deal.” Don’t do it. Mitchell’s inner warning voice had him pausing, but only for a second. Lillian still winced when she moved, and that worried him, but admitted that was no reason to offer her the apartment above his garage while she was in town. So why was he opening his mouth to do just that? “I have a small studio apartment above my garage. You’re free to use it in exchange for coming by next week and getting those x-rays. What do you say?”
He held his breath as she looked at him with suspicion. “You couldn’t wait to get me out of your cabin.”
“That was my private retreat during some much-needed alone time. The garage is separate from the house. You won’t have to see me except for one visit to the clinic.” He shrugged with a sigh, as much in wonder at himself for the offer as to convey it was no big deal to ease her mind. “It’ll save you some money and maybe make it easier to take your time deciding where you want to go from here. But, I’ll hold you to coming by for a checkup.”
Lillian toyed with her green beans, took a drink of water and then finally nodded her head. “Okay, it’s a deal.”
Reaching into his back pocket, he pulled out a note pad and jotted down his address and the easy directions to his place from the motel. He handed the paper and a key to her. “I’ll be gone until early afternoon tomorrow, so if you come on over after one, I’ll help you upstairs with your things.”
“This is nice of you. Thank you.”
He could tell she was as unsure about accepting the offer as he was about making it. Maybe that was why he found it easier to justify his uncharacteristic gesture. Or maybe it was time he quit letting his grief keep him from putting himself out for others.
“You can thank me by getting those x-rays.” Mitchell was sure he could put Lillian and the need she didn’t know was reflected on her face every time her sister or the ass that abused her was mentioned out of his mind once he confirmed her physical well-being.
Chapter 6
Nan’s eyes widened in surprise as she handed Lillian the steaming teacup and then settled on the chair across the table from her. “Are you honestly going to sit there and continue to insist there’s nothing between you and Mitchell?”
“I think she is,” Avery answered when Lillian shook her head. “Deny it all you want, Lillian, but for a man who doesn’t get involved on a personal level with anyone, an offer to stay in his apartment from our sexy doctor is huge.”
“It’s only for a short time, and the apartment is above his detached garage. I haven’t seen him all week, so it’s not like we’re bumping into each other all the time.” Lillian sipped the cinnamon flavored black tea, enjoying the flavor more than her new friend’s inquisitiveness. She winced as she realized she hadn’t kept her side of their bargain yet by making an appointment with Mitchell for a checkup.
Last Sunday, she had moved into the apartment without waiting for his help. Not only did it go against her independent nature to idly sit back at his insistence when there was no need, but every time she was around the man, her libido took over her common sense and threw her emotions and her body into turmoil. Didn’t she have enough on her mind with coming to terms with the loss of her twin and the degradation of sharing Brad’s bed after his abuse to keep Liana safe from his threats? It still baffled her how she could have responded without hesitation to Mitchell’s touch so soon after walking away from that jerk. Still, she would have to find time to stop in at the clinic and keep her promise to get those x-rays.
“Just the invitation to stay on his property is enough to tweak our curiosity. He’s friendly and all, but so far he’s kept himself at arm’s length from the members at the club he’s scened with, and hasn’t accepted any invitations to socialize outside of the club,” Nan said.
Uncomfortable with the way her stomach knotted at the mention of Mitchell with those other women, Lillian shifted on the seat and toyed with the dainty teacup handle as she replied, “Sorry to burst your bubble yet again, but we’re just friendly acquaintances.”
Avery and Nan exchanged a look and Avery shrugged, saying, “That’s too bad. We were hoping you might be the one to he
lp him get over losing his wife.”
Lillian sat back, releasing her breath on a sigh. That was a turn in the conversation she could relate to and felt the need to defend Mitchell. “Having just lost my twin sister and only relative, I can tell you it’s not easy to move on. I can’t imagine losing a spouse, but you two should understand how he might feel.”
