Chapter 8
Xander
Eight Months Earlier
My flight just landed in Columbus, Ohio. I remove my suitcase from the overhead bin and make my way off the plane and through the airport.
The air is warmer than it usually is in May, and the cab driver has all the windows rolled down.
“Hyatt Regency, please,” I tell him.
“You in town for the medical convention?” he asks.
“Yes.”
“You’re arriving late. Most of the doctors came in yesterday.”
“I was in surgery all day yesterday.”
Plus, I had to rearrange my entire schedule over the next two days.
We continue to chat until we get to the hotel. I quickly check in, take a quick shower then open the pamphlet the registration lady gave me regarding the conference.
I scan through it and find the breakout session I want to attend.
If I go now, I’ll catch the last fifteen minutes.
I throw on the lanyard with the conference badge I also received at check-in and quickly maneuver through the hotel and conference room.
When I enter the session, Charlotte is at the front of the room, using the laser to point out different pus pockets that can occur from orthopedic surgery.
I slide into a seat in the back of the room.
The conference is for doctors going through their residency. I’m way beyond that and would never be at it.
But she is here.
Yesterday, Charlotte texted me. “Guess who gets to spend three days in Columbus for two presentations.”
“How did that happen?”
“The regional is sick, and they said I know it best.”
“Who is it for?”
“Residents.”
I replied, “When do you leave?”
“My flight leaves at noon.”
“Staying until Wednesday?”
“Yes.”
“I haven’t been to Columbus, but I heard it’s fun,” I texted, as I went over my schedule for the next few days in my head.
“I’m sure it’s great. Guess I’ll have lots of time to sightsee.”
All I’ve been dying to do over the last month is see her again. So I figured out how to get out of work on Tuesday and Wednesday, paid the thousand dollar conference fee, and booked the first flight out and hotel room.
We’ve spent the last month texting, emailing, calling, and seeing each other on FaceTime, but our schedules have been crazy, and I miss her. And she also paid three grand for me in a charity auction over FaceTime.
What girl does something that awesome?
I only saw Charlotte once. Well, twice if you count a fifteen-minute car ride to drop her off at work.
Seeing her in the flesh has my pants in a stir.
She’s the most gorgeous woman on earth, I thought when I met her, and she’s living up to that theory today.
Her long, blonde hair she’s wearing straight.
The clearest blue eyes I’ve ever seen are shining bright, and her pink lips are just as inviting as ever.
The blue pencil skirt hugs her hips just the right way, showing off her killer calves, and the button up, form-fitting yellow top reminds me of sunshine.
That’s what she is. Sunshine.
And I knew she was smart, but watching her present reiterates how intelligent she really is. She’s leaps ahead of any medical device rep that I’ve had assist me in surgery.
At the end of her presentation, she asks if there are questions. I let the residents ask, and when there seems to be no more, I sit up straighter in my chair and hold my hand up.
She points in my direction. “Yes.”
I stand up. “What do you rate the pus factor in slide 28?”
Surprise passes her face. Then a big grin takes over. A faint blush creeps up her neck. “From my experience, I’d give it an eight point three.”
My eyes don’t leave hers. “Hmm. You’ve seen worse than that?”
“A few stand out in my mind.”
“What about the smell factor?”
Her smile grows wider. “Too hard to tell by pictures. You never know until you’re fully in there, but judging by the color, I’m assuming it isn’t as bad as it appears.”
The administrator rings a bell. “Sorry to cut you off, doctor, but it’s time for the general session,” a woman’s voice says. I don’t know what she looks like, as I’m still staring at Charlotte.
The doctors trail out of the room, and I stay in my spot as a few residents form a line to ask Charlotte questions. When it’s just us, I close the door, lock it, and head to the front of the room.
Charlotte meets me halfway. “I can’t believe... What are you doing here?”
I lace both my hands in her hair and tilt her head back. Dipping down, I part her lips with my tongue and roll it around her delicious mouth.
Her fingers grip my hair, and she pulls me closer, deepening our kiss.
I put my palm on her back. “Tell me you still feel our heat.”
“Smoldering,” she breathes.
“I missed you.”
“What are you doing here?” she repeats.
I continuing kissing her. “I thought three grand deserved two dates.”
“Two, huh?”
“Mm-hmm. One in New York and one in Columbus.”
“Columbus, huh?”
“Yep. We’ll figure New York out,” I promise.
Someone bangs on the door, and we pull back “I guess I shouldn’t lock people out.” I wink at her and open the door.
A woman is standing in the hall. “Oh, sorry, Dr.”—she glances at my badge—“Dr. Kane. I didn’t mean to interrupt?”
“No problem, the door must have accidentally locked. I was just trying to get more information from Ms. DeVoe.”
Charlotte joins me with her laptop bag on her shoulder and her purse.
“Thank you again for presenting at the last minute. Do you need anything else in the room for tomorrow?” the woman whose name badge says Kayla asks.
Charlotte tilts her head, considering. “Everything was perfect. I’ll see you tomorrow?”
“Sure. But we hope you’ll join us at the happy hour for presenters tonight at six in the main bar of the Hyatt.”
“Okay. Thank you.”
We say our goodbyes, and when we get to the escalator, I grab Charlotte’s laptop bag.
“What are you doing?”
“Carrying your bag.”
She laughs. “Aren’t you chivalrous.”
“You’re done for the day, right?” I ask her.
“Yep. Two o’clock tomorrow is my next commitment.”
“So, I get you till then?”
“If you want me till then, yes.”
I slide my arm around her waist. “Is that really a question?”
“So where are we going?” she asks.
“To my room so I can show you how much I’ve missed you.” I cockily lick my lips.
Her sexy blush creeps across her face again. “Have you missed me a little or a lot?”
I turn to her. “I’ve missed you more than I ever thought possible. I can’t wait to get to Chicago so I can see more of you.”
She rests her head on my shoulder. “Feeling is mutual.”
I lean down and brush my lips across hers. “I’m taking you out for a proper date tonight, but you get your first serving of dessert before.”
She giggles. “So, I’ll be having lots of desserts today?”
I wink at her. “You will if I have anything to do with it.”
We spend the next two days having multiple orgasms, exploring Columbus, and learning more about each other and all the things we have in common.
Everything is easy and fun with Charlotte.
She’s real, honest, and the sweetest girl I’ve ever met.
I’m more infatuated with her than before I left New York.
When we have to part ways, the only thing I can think about is how to see her again soon.