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Reed’s eyes widen and he flashes Dr. Erikson a knowing look. “Oh. So this is the girl you can’t stop harping on.” His eyes slide up and down my body appreciatively. “I can definitely see the appeal.”
“For fuck’s sake, Reed,” Dr. Erikson hisses. “Can you keep your damn mouth shut?”
My lips twitch, enjoying the tint of red that comes back to his cheeks.
He swivels his eyes to me. “I’m sorry about my friend here. He talks when he shouldn’t.”
Reed shrugs. “Just telling it like it is.”
Dr. Erikson ignores his friend. “I want you to know, I don’t talk about what we discuss in our sessions.”
A grin stretches my lips. “What else could you possibly talk about then?”
“Well, you see. My friend here—”
Before he can finish, Dr. Erikson slaps him in the gut with the back of his hand. Reed doubles over, a mixture of a grunt and laugh leaving his lips.
“It was nice seeing you again, Charlotte, but I’m afraid my friend and I have somewhere to be. I’ll make sure to cancel your appointment.”
Reed straightens, mirth lighting his eyes. “I have nowhere to be, and Charlotte looks like she’s going to need help loading her groceries. It’ll give us time to talk and get to know each other. You know, talk about all things Bryan.”
“You do have somewhere to be. My grandmother was just asking about you the other day. Now’s the perfect time to say hi.”
“Mrs. B asked about me?”
“Yes,” Dr. Erikson grits out.
“Is she making her famous ginger snaps?”
Dr. Erikson looks about ready to explode. “I’m sure she will if you ask her.”
Reed’s head swings my way. “Sorry, Charlotte.” He looks sincerely remorseful. “Mrs. B’s ginger snaps are too good to pass up. Our conversation will have to wait.”
I laugh. “I believe I’ll survive.” I hold out my hand. “It was nice meeting you, Reed.”
Taking my hand, he lifts it to his mouth and kisses the back of it. His dancing eyes slide to Dr. Erikson as he says. “Believe me. The pleasure was mine.”
With a muttered “Charlotte”, Dr. Erikson grabs a laughing Reed by the shoulders and turns him away, shoving him forward. Grabbing his cart, he also turns and pushes it toward the front of the store.
My eyes slide down to his delicious backside, and I watch it as he walks away.
What an extremely enlightening encounter. I can’t keep the smile from my face when I think about Dr. Erikson talking to his friends about me.
He doesn’t know it yet, but Dr. Erikson will be getting an eyeful during our next session.
Chapter 7
BRYAN
Closing the door behind me Friday evening, I go straight to the kitchen where my father should be finishing up supper. I find him at the sink rinsing his hands while gazing out the window that overlooks the backyard. Fridays are our weekly family night, so he’s not surprised to see me.
“What’s up, old man?” I ask, heading straight for the fridge to take out a beer.
“One of these days,” he whips off the hand towel from the handle on the stove, “I’m going to teach you a thing or two about calling me old.”
I chuckle as I pop open my bottle. “And that’ll be the day you realize just how old you are.”
He grunts, and before I can take the first pull from my bottle, he snatches it from my hand. “Thanks for this. I needed it.” He tips the bottle back and downs half the contents.
