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“Another dud, huh?” Juniper says sympathetically as I stop at her desk.
“Yeah, maybe the next one will be it.”
She gives me a smile, handing me the mail from yesterday as I head back to my office. I flip through it, throwing out the junk and setting the rest aside.
I look over to the flowers, wondering if I just tossed aside a good candidate for Gracie’s flowers. Even if I did, it was worth it. I plan on keeping flowers in every room of the clinic if it means that I get to see Gracie.
I swear under my breath, pushing those thoughts aside before I can get sidetracked by them again. I force myself to focus on the paperwork from last night and crossing that off of my to-do list.
It takes me close to an hour and when it’s done, I stand, stretching out the sore muscles in my back and shoulders. I should hit the gym, work off some of this tension.
I head out to the lobby, intending on dropping off some things I need filed but I stop when I see Gracie standing there, a bouquet of flowers in her hands, an adorable smile curving her lips, and a bag of pastries from Cherry Falls Coffee under her arm.
God, she’s so fucking sweet. Visions of my filthy dream and even filthier fantasy in the shower flash across my mind, but I manage to get it under control. Barely.
“Hey,” I say, stepping over to her to help with the things in her arms. My fingers graze her skin and she shivers, goose bumps traveling up her arm. I bite back a groan at how warm and soft she is.
“‘Morning,” she murmurs, taking a step back. “I went to grab myself something to eat and was worried that you were going hungry.”
“I grabbed a banana but that can’t beat the coffee shop’s pastries. Thanks for thinking of me.”
“No problem,” she says and I take the flowers from her, leading her back to my office and adding the second bouquet next to the first.
The words come tumbling out of my mouth before I have a chance to think them all the way through. “You know,” I say slowly, “with all of the food that you’re buying me, it’s probably only fair that I buy you a meal in return.” I shouldn’t be asking her out. I don’t have space in my life for a relationship, but one look in those clear blue eyes and all my doubts fall away. I can’t let this precious little fairy slip through my fingers.
“You don’t have to do that. I’m happy to help any way that I can.”
“I want to,” I insist and she starts to blush.
She shifts on her feet, her hips swaying slightly and I can’t help but picture my fingers digging into them as I pound into her from behind. With her in my office, this is starting to remind me a little too much of my dream last night.
“What do you say, Gracie? Want to go out with me sometime?” I realize I’m starting to come off a bit desperate, but that’s where I’m at. Possessiveness roars through me at the thought of her turning me down because she has another man in her life.
“Yeah,” she says shyly and I grin.
Thank fuck.
“Let me get your number.”
She pulls out her phone and we exchange numbers before Juniper pages me to let me know that my first patient of the day is here.
“I’ll let you get back to work.”
“Yeah, thanks for the flowers and the pastries. I’ll call you later,” I promise and she smiles and waves as she heads for the door.
This might be a terrible idea, but Gracie is too sweet and thoughtful for me to be able to resist her. It looks like I’m just going to have to get better at making time for myself.
I head up front, smiling politely as I nod at a few patients in the waiting room. I call the first one back, sighing as I think about everything that I need to get done today and wondering just when I’ll have time to call Gracie.
Man, I really need to find a nurse.
FIVE
Gracie
“I’m soexcited for you! Do you know where he’s taking you?” Caroline asks over the phone.
“No, just that we’re going to dinner. I was more worried about what to wear.”
