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Ben
“Dr. Handsome! What are you doing here? You’re not supposed to be in until Friday.” Catalina gives me a wide smile. “Not that I’m complaining…”
I roll my eyes. “Peter called in sick so here I am.”
“Oh, that must mean he found another tourist to bone.”
I freeze, knowing that most of the people in the waiting room heard her. “Yes, well, who do we have first?”
“Exam room three, drunk girl. Twisted ankle.” She hands me the file and shakes her head.
Without opening the folder, I walk down the hall and into the exam room where I find a very pale brunette passed out on the exam table. It takes me a moment to say anything. I’m too overcome by how lovely she is to speak. She’s wearing a blue coverup but I can see the outline of her bikini through the flimsy fabric. She’s all soft curves and her flowing wavy hair falls across her ample chest. The sight of her stirs something deep inside me, something primal that has been dormant for a very long time. Remembering where I am and who I am, I open the file and read her name. Lila Yates. Lila. A voice pops into my head and says, ‘here she is.’ Telling myself she’s just another drunk girl, I decide to get on with it.
I clear my throat but she doesn’t move. “Lila?”
Nothing. I place my hand on her shoulder and gently squeeze her arm, feeling a jolt of heat work its way through me. “Lila, I’m Dr. Stone. I need you to wake up so I can examine your ankle.”
Rolling away from me, she waves one hand in the air and mumbles, “Not now. So sleepy…”
I raise my voice a little. “Yes, now, Ms. Yates. You’re in the hospital and I need to take a look at your ankle.”
Her eyes slowly open and she manages to focus on me, then smiles. “Did Gina find you for me?”
I sigh, thinking of all those years of med school going to waste. “I don’t know a Gina. Can you tell me what happened to your ankle?”
“Okay, I’ll play along.” Lila grins and giggles. “You’re a stripper, right? Or a gigolo? Gina told you I have a thing for doctors, didn’t she?”
“Ms. Yates, sit up, please. I assure you I am a real doctor and your ankle is very swollen. Even though I’m sure you can't feel it right now because of all the alcohol you’ve ingested.” I grip her upper arms and lift her to a seated position.
She sways a little and laughs, then runs one finger down my chest. “You’re not a real doctor. Doctors don’t look like you.” She smiles. “You’re too hot to be smart. You’re too hot to be real, actually. This must be some funny dream.”
“Not for me, it isn’t. Now focus. How did you hurt your ankle?”
She tilts her head forward to look toward her feet and almost falls off the table. I steady her and then roll a stool over to me with one foot and sit down. Taking her right foot, I prop it up on my thigh.
“Oh,” she says. “That looks bad.”
“Yes, it does. I’m guessing from the shape you’re in, that you have no idea how this happened.” I tenderly touch her ankle and she winces in response.
“Sorry, I’m not normally this drunk. I recently had a bad sexual experience and flew here with a friend to forget about it.” She hiccups. “But I doubt you know what it’s like to fall for someone then have them leave you right after they sleep with you.” She leans toward me a little and whispers, “It really hurts.”
“Your ankle?"
“No, being used and thrown away.” She looks up at the ceiling and says, “My ankle, too, now that you mention it. What happened to it?”
I can no longer contain my smile. She’s not just another drunk. She’s cute and funny and very vulnerable. “If I had to guess, I’d say you fell.”
“I fell all right. I fell for every lie. He just seemed so sincere, you know?”
“Lila, your friend wouldn’t happen to be here, would she? The one who came with you to St. Lucia?”
“Oh, you’re probably interested in her. She’s a real beauty. I don’t think she’s here, actually. She went back to Ryan’s room with him so he could show her his ‘shell collection.’” She makes little air quotes and giggles, then holds one hand next to her mouth, palm out like she's about to tell me a huge secret. “I don’t think he has any shells. I’m pretty sure they’re screwing right now.”
“I imagine you’re right.” I gently put her foot down, then stand. “Let’s get an x-ray of this and see what we’re dealing with. I’ll have an orderly come in and take you down to imaging in a few minutes.”
“Okay, Dr. Gorgeous.”
“It’s Dr. Stone.”
