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“Doctor Knight?” I call, surprised when I get no answer.
When I peek in the little kitchenette, I find him with his head on the table passed out cold. I hesitate. He looks so peaceful. So much younger. So much more handsome.
I shake my head, wondering if I’ve lost my mind. There’s no way in hell this man is good-looking. He’s too angry and hard.
I shake his shoulder lightly and then harder when he groans and tries to swat my hand away. “Doctor Knight, your patient is here!” I growl loudly.
He sits up quickly, rubbing his eyes and glaring. “I wasn’t sleeping. Did you take them back yet?”
“You told me not to,” I say, feeling a tug in my belly when he smiles slightly.
“Good, good. I’ll go to my office and check her charts. Take her into Exam Room B and let her know that I’ll be right there.”
“Right.” I nod my head and try to push whatever the hell that little niggling pulse in my lower regions was to the back of my mind. Absolutely not. I will not be attracted to Satan.
But his sleepy gray eyes and soft smile linger even after I get Mrs. Cartwright situated. I growl and stalk over to the cabinet to pull out my phone. Before I can call her, Spring comes in, carrying a sandwich and my favorite coffee drink.
“Is that your infamous ham and salami sandwich?” I whisper, hunger ripping at my belly.
She grins and plops it down on the chair before she pulls off her light coat. For August, it’s unseasonably cool today. I can see the trees whipping around outside and the sky has a green cast to it that screams unstable storms coming!
I eye her huge belly. “Did you come by yourself? You’re due soon. And it looks like we might get one hell of a storm tonight.”
“It’s alright. Clay brought me to town. He just ran down to check on the new deputy. It’s his first day on the job alone and even though he’s not a rookie and fully capable, Clay just can’t help himself. He’s got to go check.” She rolls her eyes. “I hope you and the Doc know that he’s probably gonna be looking over your shoulder the entire time I’m in labor.”
I grin and shrug. “I know Clay. He likes to be in charge. I’d expect nothing less.” I lean closer and whisper, “I have a feeling that Doc will get a little pushy right back.”
Spring’s tinkling laugh makes me smile. “Trust me. I know this is gonna be interesting. Two alpha males used to being in charge. Who’s going to win?”
I grunt. “I hope that Clay tells him off.” I pick up the sandwich and coffee and put them on the reception desk.
“Still having trouble?” she whispers loudly. Spring has no filter and even less of an inside voice than I do.
“Yes. He’s impossible.” The flash of humor and another emotion that I refuse to look into too closely when he woke up? I’m not even thinking about that. That was a fluke. He’s an asshole.
She leans closer and whispers, “I’ve got to say this but you didn’t hear it from me. He’s a widow. Did you know that? He talked to Clay the other day and accidentally mentioned it.”
My head whips around to stare back at the closed exam door. “He lost his wife? But he’s so young.” I shake myself angrily. “And who the hell would marry him?”
“My college sweetheart. The prettiest girl I’ve ever seen,” he grits out between clenched teeth.
I wince and turn back, groaning when I see Mrs. Cartwright standing there, her mouth hanging open.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean anything by that.”
“I’m sure. Perhaps you could drop the gossip and get Mrs. Cartwright taken care of and get Mrs. Castle in the exam room.” Without another word, he spins on his perfect heel and stomps to the back.
“I’m sorry, Poppy. I should have been more careful about the gossip.”
I smile even though tears are pushing at my eyes. “It’s alright. He’ll get over it.”
I get Mrs. Cartwright taken care of and send her on the way with the last-minute instructions from the doctor and another appointment and turn to Spring.
“Let’s get this over with,” I sigh.
Dropping her off, I clean the waiting room with disinfectant again and putter around, straightening up the table before stepping inside and shoving the sandwich into my bag to take home. There’s no way in hell I can eat that now. I jump when Clay walks in, smirking. “Got somebody hiding back there with you, Poppy? You look guilty as hell.”
“Do not.”
