Chapter 12
Chapter Twelve
Heather
I want to surprise Lincoln. It’s been a couple of days since he slept at my place and with his schedule, things have been difficult.
If this is going to work, we have to meet each other half way.
So I pick up his favorite meal; hamburger steak and mashed potatoes from the diner in Lawson Ridge and drive to the hospital.
I can’t fault him for dedicating his career to helping sick children.
I mean, hell if anything, it’s what makes me love him even more. Oh, my god. I love him?
We will save that revelation for another time, because I’m walking into the hospital and the nurses are staring at me. They greet me at the front desk and when I let them know I’m here for Lincoln, most of them look twice. “Is he expecting you?”
“It’s a surprise. Is that okay?” Now they have me second guessing this choice.
“He’s just never had a woman show up here, so we are kind of… interested.”
It makes sense. With the hours he keeps, he definitely wouldn’t normally have time for relationships and he doesn’t seem like the guy that would have meaningless one night stands, so yeah that checks out.
“Can you let him know I’m here. I’m Heather, by the way.
Hopefully we will seeing each other a lot more. ”
She smiles and pages Lincoln.
The nurses are whispering in the corner and I know it’s about us. Lincoln is probably the eligible bachelor around here. He’s handsome, kind, loves kids, and hell what else does a woman want? They are probably all pissed because now they don’t have a shot. And they don’t. I love Lincoln Montgomery.
I fidget as I wait, the styrofoam container of food growing warm in my hands.
The hushed whispers of the nurses fade into background noise as my mind races.
What if he's too busy? What if this is a mistake?
But then I see him round the corner, his eyes lighting up as they land on me.
He's wearing blue scrubs and he looks exhausted.
But the smile that spreads across his face makes my heart skip a beat.
“Heather? What are you doing here?”
I hold up the container. “Surprise! I thought you might be hungry.”
He closes the distance between us in a few long strides, wrapping me in a tight hug. I melt into his embrace, breathing in the clean, antiseptic scent of the hospital mixed with something uniquely Lincoln.
“You're amazing,” he murmurs into my hair. “I was just thinking about you.”
I pull back, searching his face. “Good things, I hope?”
He laughs, a low rumble that I feel in my chest. “Always good things.”
I'm aware of the nurses watching us, their eyes burning holes in my back. But in this moment, I don't care. Lincoln's here, in front of me, looking at me like I'm the only person in the world.
“I have about twenty minutes,” he says, glancing at his watch. “Want to join me in the break room?”
I nod, unable to keep the grin off my face. As we walk down the hallway, Lincoln's hand finds mine, our fingers intertwining naturally. And I know, without a doubt, that this is exactly where I'm meant to be.
As we walk, he leans in close. “You have no idea how much I needed this,” he whispers. “How much I needed you.”
My heart swells, and I have to bite my lip to keep from blurting out my newfound realization. Not here, not now. But soon. I love Lincoln Montgomery, and I have a feeling he might just love me too.
We enter the break room, and Lincoln closes the door behind us.
The break room is small but cozy, with a worn couch against one wall and a table with a few chairs. Lincoln gestures for me to sit on the couch while he grabs some paper plates and plastic utensils from a cabinet.
“I can't believe you brought my favorite,” he says, his eyes crinkling at the corners as he smiles. “How did you even know?”
I shrug, trying to play it cool. “I pay attention.”
He sits down next to me, our thighs touching, and I feel a spark of electricity at the contact. As I open the container and start plating the food, I can feel his eyes on me.
“Heather,” he says softly, and I look up to meet his gaze. “This means more to me than you know. These past few days have been... rough.”
I hand him a plate, our fingers brushing. “Want to talk about it?”
He takes a bite of the hamburger steak, closing his eyes in appreciation. After swallowing, he says, “We lost a patient today. A little girl, just six years old.”
My heart clenches. “Oh, Lincoln, I'm so sorry.”
He nods, his eyes distant. “It's part of the job, but it never gets easier. Especially the kids.”
Without thinking, I reach out and take his hand, giving it a gentle squeeze. He looks at me, his eyes shining with unshed tears, and I see a vulnerability there that takes my breath away.
“You're incredible, you know that?” I say. “The work you do, the lives you touch... it's amazing.”
He brings my hand to his lips, pressing a soft kiss to my knuckles. “Having you here, it makes everything brighter. You make me want to be better, to do more.”
My heart is pounding so hard I'm sure he can hear it. We're so close now, I can see the flecks of gold in his brown eyes. The air between us is charged with tension, and I find myself leaning in, drawn to him like a magnet.
Just as our lips are about to meet, there's a sharp knock at the door. We jump apart, and Lincoln clears his throat.
“Dr. Montgomery?” a voice calls. “We need you in pediatrics.”
Lincoln sighs, running a hand through his hair. “I’m sorry, I have to go.”
I nod, trying to hide my disappointment. “Of course. Go save lives, Doctor.”
He stands, but before he leaves, he turns back to me. “Heather, I... Thank you. For everything.”
As he walks out the door, I'm left with the lingering warmth of his almost-kiss and the certainty that what we have is something special. Something worth fighting for, no matter how busy our lives might be.
I pack up the remaining food, but then my phone vibrates.
Lincoln: If you don’t have plans tomorrow, I’d love if you would come stay with me tonight.
I squeal like a schoolgirl.
Me: I’m off tomorrow. Should I wait here? I’m still in the break room.
Three dots appear.
Lincoln: Yes. My last surgery was cancelled. I’ll be there in about ten minutes or so. See you soon =)
I can barely contain my excitement as I wait in the break room. The minutes tick by slowly, and I find myself pacing, straightening the cushions on the couch, and checking my reflection in the small mirror above the sink. When I hear footsteps approaching, my heart races.
Lincoln appears in the doorway, slightly out of breath. “Sorry that took longer than expected,” he says, his eyes searching mine. “Are you ready to go?”
I nod, grabbing my purse and the leftover food. As we walk through the hospital corridors, Lincoln's hand finds the small of my back, guiding me. The touch sends shivers up my spine.
We reach the parking lot, and Lincoln leads me to his car. “I’ll drive us to my place if that's okay,” he says. “You can leave your car here overnight.”
The drive to his apartment is filled with comfortable silence, punctuated by stolen glances and shy smiles. When we arrive, I'm struck by how neat and minimalist his living space is. It's clear he doesn't spend much time here.
“Make yourself at home,” Lincoln says, gesturing to the couch. “I’m just going to grab a quick shower and change out of these scrubs.”
While he's in the bathroom, I wander around, taking in the few personal touches - a framed photo of what must be his family, a small collection of medical textbooks, a potted plant that's seen better days. I find myself imagining how I could fit into this space, into his life.
When Lincoln emerges, wearing grey sweatpants and a white t-shirt, his hair damp and tousled, my breath catches. He looks younger, more vulnerable somehow.
“So,” he says, a hint of nervousness in his voice. “What do you want to do?”
He just worked like eighteen hours straight. “You need to rest. I did agree to stay with you, but you are exhausted.”
He grabs the belt loop of my jeans and tugs me toward him. My face just inches from his. “You think I’ll be able to sleep?”
My heart races as I look up into Lincoln's intense gaze. “I… I don't know,” I stammer, suddenly feeling shy despite our closeness.
He brings a hand up to cup my cheek, his thumb gently stroking my skin. “Having you here, Heather... it's all I've been able to think about.”
I lean into his touch, my eyes fluttering closed for a moment. When I open them again, the longing I see in Lincoln's expression makes my knees weak.
“Lincoln,” I whisper. “I…”
But before I can finish my thought, his lips are on mine. The kiss is soft at first, tentative, as if he's asking permission. I respond eagerly, wrapping my arms around his neck and pressing my body against his.
Lincoln groans softly, deepening the kiss. His hands move to my waist, pulling me even closer. I can feel the heat of his body through his thin t-shirt, and it sets my skin on fire.
When we finally break apart, we're both breathless. Lincoln rests his forehead against mine, his eyes closed.
“I might be able to sleep but after I’ve tasted you and heard you moan my name at least two times. Let’s go!”