Chapter 10 #3
Taylor didn't know if it was the alcohol working its magic, but the lightning bolt of lust she felt looking at the gorgeous cowboy blew her away.
He was her fantasy man come to life. But really, who could blame her?
He was absolutely delicious, from the top of his dark hair down to his well-worn rugged boots.
He was by far the sexiest, best-looking man she had ever seen, a real-life Marlboro Man just for her.
Greer had to give the lady credit. When he caught her staring a hole through him, she had not so much as blinked.
Instead, she devoured him with her eyes.
It had been a long time since anyone had looked at him the way she was now.
He felt the first licks of lust kick start in his belly and then move lower.
He saw a hunger in her eyes that surprised him and turned him inside out.
His jeans began to get tighter by the minute.
Now that he knew who she was, Greer became concerned.
He had just witnessed her slamming back whiskey.
He seriously hoped she was not still taking the pain meds he had prescribed.
Alcohol and pain meds were a terrible combination.
Still watching her eyes closely, he knew the second that she recognized him.
Grinning at her like a Cheshire cat, he said, "Are you stalking me? Because if you are, you won't need to fall out with another panic attack to get my attention this time."
"Oh. My Word." That was all she said. She just sat there with her mouth hanging open in shock. After a second, she closed her mouth, cleared her throat, and said, "You are the doctor from the emergency room, right?"
She had been so mesmerized by his Hollywood hunk looks that she had not recognized him as the sexy ER doc from earlier in the week.
Once she did, her confidence faltered. She knew no one in this town, yet she had picked the one bar where the one person in town who knew her was.
What were the odds? She had almost backed off her plan to seduce him.
Putting out his hand, he said, "Greer. Please, call me Greer."
"Greer, well, um. No! I am absolutely not stalking you. No stalking here." She seemed awkward and unsure of herself. He found that to be at odds with the sexiness with which she had walked in.
Seeing how flustered she was amused and confused him at the same time. Giving her a huge grin that showed all his perfectly formed white teeth, he cooed, "Darn, I was hoping you were. There is nothing better than being stalked by a beautiful lady. Unless it is being caught by one."
Taylor blushed and swallowed deeply before saying, "Um, thank you. And thank you for your help the other day. I was so embarrassed. Nothing like that has ever happened to me."
"Oh, you have nothing to be embarrassed about. I was just glad it wasn't anything more serious," he thought, especially since if it were, I would not be here now talking to her.
Then he said, "Stress can raise havoc with your body. You just can't let it get to you. And, as your doctor, that one time, and hopefully, that one time only, I must say that mixing prescription drugs and alcohol is a terrible idea."
Gesturing to the empty glass on the bar, he added, "I trust that you are not doing that because if you are, I am going to insist you switch to water immediately. Plus, I am about to give you a long lecture about the danger to your liver and body and—"
"No, no, no! I didn't." Taylor rushed to interrupt him, mortified that he thought she looked like the kind of person who would do that. Of course, she had no idea what that kind of person looked like, but she knew it was not her.
Fumbling and falling over her words, she explained, "I never even filled the prescriptions you gave me.
I just took it easy and followed the doctor's orders.
I promise. I'm good." She laughed and said, "I am even running again.
So, it's fine. I'm all fine." Giving him a shy smile, she waited for him to say something.
Eyeing her for a second, Greer assessed whether or not she was being honest with him.
He hadn't spent too many years around hospitals seeing people hooked on all kinds of drugs not to learn a thing or two about their habits and appearance.
He could tell just by looking at her that she was telling the truth.
Even with two shots of bad whiskey, her eyes were still clear.
Letting his eyes take all of her in, he felt desire kick hard in his lower gut again.
She was true perfection. Everything about her was the picture of health and vitality, from her shiny brown hair to her sun-kissed skin.
Not to mention her body! It blew his mind.
If he didn't already know she was a runner, her body would have told him. She was long and lean.
Assured that she was straight with him about the pain meds, he gave her another heart-stopping grin and said, "Well, I am certainly glad you are feeling better, TJ. It is TJ, right?" While he was still talking, Greer scooted down three stools to sit next to her.
"How sweet. You remembered my name." Taylor was shocked this was happening. One minute, she was wishing her dream guy would show up and start talking to her, and here he was. The doctor was as fabulous as she had first thought. She could not believe he remembered her name.
With a wicked grin, Greer responded, "Well, that's because I am a sweet kind of guy."
Nodding, Taylor let her eyes sweep over him before giving him a sexy smile as she purred, "I can see that. I may have to start calling you Dr. Sweetness."
At that, Greer threw his head back and laughed as he roared, "Dr. Sweetness, my ass!"
They laughed at that and then just sat for a moment, looking at each other.
Greer could feel the hum of physical attraction between them growing stronger and more intense by the second.
Every part of her as a woman was calling out to him as a man.
The smile on his face grew even bigger. He suddenly let himself hope that if he played his cards right, he might get to play doctor with lovely Miss TJ before the night was over.
After a few minutes of just eating each other up with their eyes, Greer, Dr. Delicious, as Taylor had begun thinking of him in her head, suggested they get a table. Pointing to the last booth in the back, he said, "How about we continue this over there?"
"Sounds like a plan, cowboy." Taylor was trying hard to sound flirty and sexy, which felt strange and out of character but also empowering.
She loved seeing the effect her words and actions were having on Greer.
Looking at the way his eyes twinkled and danced when he looked at her made her feel desired and sexy.
These were two uncommon feelings that she was very much enjoying feeling.
Laughing, he replied, "Oh, it's cowboy now. Well, at least that is better than Dr. Sweetness." Motioning her toward the booth, he added, "While you grab that booth, I'll get us another drink."
Walking across the bar to the back booth, Taylor snickered to herself, wondering what he would say if she called him Dr. Delicious. She would just bet he would hate that one for sure.
A few minutes later, Greer joined Taylor at the back booth with a beer for him and another whisky for her. She practically grabbed the drink out of Greer's hand and slammed it back in the same manner as the previous two. This whiskey was quite strong, and once again, she began to cough and sputter.
Greer reached across the table and patted her on the back, trying to help her catch her breath. Giving her a measuring look, he said, "You aren't much of a whiskey drinker, are you?"
Shaking her head, Taylor choked out, "What was your first clue? But, I am trying to expand my horizons." She hoped that sounded sexy and worldly.
He gave her another measuring look and asked, "Is that why you ordered whiskey? To expand your horizons?" If that was what this was all about, it was starting to make sense. Greer knew this woman had never been in a bar like the Rat. She was a mystery but one he would thoroughly enjoy solving.
Taylor shook her head and said, "No, I ordered that because I didn't want to be stereotypical and order my standard white wine.
I wanted to be bold and daring, but I don't know any drinks that fit that description.
Then, I remembered that my father and brother drank McCallan, so I ordered it.
But, next time, I think I will stick with the wine. "
"What, no more Southern Comfort?" He could not believe he had this incredibly beautiful woman's attention and was wasting time talking about whisky. He must be losing his touch.
She laughed at this gentle teasing. And, as easy as you please, he took the hand that had been on her back and moved it to her face. Caressing her cheek with the back of his hand, he asked, "How about I order us a nice bottle of wine? They have one or two decent wines here. Would that be okay?"
Taylor gave him a shy smile and nodded.
"Good, be right back." Then Greer went to the bar and returned shortly with a bottle of white wine and two glasses. Pouring them each a glass, he asked, "So, tell me all about yourself?"
Trying to appear mysterious and not revealing too much, Taylor replied, "Well, what do you want to know?"
Swallowing a quick sip, Greer replied, "Oh, you know. The normal things. Where are you from? What do you do? Things like that."
Knowing she had to be cagey in answering his questions, Taylor took a page out of Joules's book. She was as honest as possible but didn't always tell the whole truth.
Holding her wine glass up and twirling it around in her hand, she said, "I am staying nearby. I am a teacher."
"Really, what grade?" The interest in his eyes was evident.
"Well, I am not currently teaching, but I hope to be soon. I taught second grade for years. I love it. Children are like little sponges; they soak up so much. I love being a part of that."