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He sent me a text message, asking me to call him when I get a chance and I add that to my to-do list.
I push open the door of The Flower Patch, looking around at all the different colors and kinds of flowers that are artfully set around the room. There’s more in the coolers behind the front counter and I inhale deeply, smiling at the sweet scent. I realize I don’t remember the last time I stopped to smell the roses, or any other flower for that matter. It’s nice. I make a mental note to appreciate flowers and their smell and beauty when I hire a new nurse and have free time again.
Looking around the shop, I see there’s no one in here. Reality comes careening into my peaceful moment. I don’t have time for this. Rolling my eyes, I sigh, growing frustrated that this is taking longer than I thought it would.
I set the flowers down on the counter, dropping them a little harder than I meant. I’m startled when a squeak comes from behind the counter.
“Oh! Sorry, I didn’t hear you come in,” Gracie apologizes as she straightens from where she was bent over, dusting some shelf.
She looks like a dainty pixie among all of her flowers. She’s curvy and precious, and practically glowing with the sun coming in from the windows. She’s like a modern-day Tinker Bell and my heart does something funny at the sight.
I’m a doctor, and I know my heart didn’t really just skip a beat. But tell that to the organ rioting against my ribcage. Bright blue eyes blink up at me, and for a crazy moment, I have the urge to reach across the counter and plant my lips on hers. Need courses through me at the thought of claiming her, feeling her soft curves, her heat, her skin on my skin as we move together, seeking our end.
I must be more sleep deprived than I thought.
I shake my head, trying to clear those thoughts as I remember why I’m here in the first place.
“Hi, these were delivered to my office by mistake,” I explain. She frowns, the tiny smile that was on her lips slipping.
“Um, actually, these were for you,” she whispers, nibbling on her bottom lip.
“What?” I ask with a little too much shock. Her shoulders stiffen at my sharp tone, and I want to kick myself for being a brute. “I mean, who sent them?”
The prettiest pink blush stains Gracie’s cheeks and she gathers her long black hair up, slinging it over her shoulder and twisting the strands, almost as if she’s nervous. When her gaze meets mine once more, I have to hold in a groan. She looks so sweet, so pure in this moment.
“I did. I saw you this morning at the coffee shop and thought you could use something to brighten up your day and maybe make you smile.” I’m too shocked by her words to form a response. Her blush turns from pink to crimson, and I realize I’ve embarrassed her. “I can see now it didn’t work,” she says, mumbling that last part as she looks down at the bouquet that I just brought back.
“Oh,” I say lamely, trying to think of something else to say.
It’s the single most thoughtful thing anyone has done for me in… God, I can’t even remember. She really just thought I could use cheering up? How do I even handle someone that precious? I’m too much of a scatter-brained mess to figure out something to say, but I’m saved by my phone ringing. I give Gracie an apologetic look as I answer it.
“Dr. Coleman.”
“Hey, it’s Juniper. Mr. Miller is here. He cut his hand and I think he needs stitches.”
“Okay, put him in the exam room. I’ll be back in ten minutes.”
“Got it,” Juniper says before we hang up.
I shove my phone back into my pocket, already regretting that I didn’t grab lunch. My stomach growls again and Gracie looks down at it then back up to me.
“I missed lunch. Uh, thank you for the flowers. That was really nice of you,” I say as I awkwardly grab the bouquet and head for the door.
“Um, Ken?” Gracie calls as I pull the door open and I turn back to her.
She heads my way and I can’t help but admire the way her round hips sway with each step.Don’t look at her chest. Don’t look at…
Too late. My eyes drift there momentarily before I reel in my inner caveman. She’s perfection. Big, round breasts, hips I want to grab onto, and thick thighs that would feel incredible around my neck as I lick her until she’s screaming my name.
“Here,” she says, startling me from my dirty thoughts. Gracie passes me a box from Cherry Tree Coffee Co. “It’s pastries. I was going to give them to Caroline since she’s craving them but I think maybe you need them more. It’s not the best lunch, but it’s something,” she says, a rose color staining her cheeks.
“Thanks, Gracie,” I say sincerely. Seriously, how is she this kindhearted? I’m nobody to her. I realize quickly, I want to be something to her. I want to beeverything. And I will, once I have more time.
She just nods, helping me with the door and I give her one last smile before I hurry back to my clinic.
I spend the rest of the afternoon trying to get the pretty florist out of my head but she keeps popping up.
I close up the clinic, waving goodbye to Juniper before I head back to my office to catch up on paperwork. My eyes snag on the flowers sitting on my desk and my heart does that weird racing thing again.
