Chapter 3
Alexi
Daisy takes me straight to the pharmacy. I wait in the car while she runs in to fill it, slumped in the passenger seat as I watch her disappear inside. My body feels both exhausted and wired at the same time, and I have Dr. Hottie to thank for that confusing combination.
I shouldn’t be attracted to Dr. Mercer. He’s the enemy after all. But no one on Earth could resist that man.
Seeing him wasn’t so bad. The exam went by quickly, probably because I spent the whole time trying not to be obvious about the way I was checking him out. My body flushes as I remember how he filled out his white coat. I swallow hard, licking my lips as I imagine his strong hands on my body again.
“Ugh, they were out!”
I yelp, startling in my seat. “What?”
“Sorry, were you sleeping?” Daisy asks as she slides back behind the wheel.
I shake my head. “No, I… what?”
“The medicine is out here. They said they’re getting a shipment tomorrow morning, so we’ll have to come back to pick it up then. In the meantime, I grabbed you some soup.”
She passes me the container of hot and sour soup.
“Thanks.”
“Of course.”
Daisy pulls out of the parking lot and drives toward my place.
I’m dreading picking up the medicine tomorrow because I can’t really afford it.
I’ve been scrambling to make ends meet for a while.
Things have been rough at work for the last few months.
My hours keep getting cut, and I’ll probably be out of a job soon.
I don’t have the money to splurge on doctor’s visits or medicine right now, not with my mortgage payment due soon.
I don’t want Daisy to know, though. She worries about me enough as it is.
“Do you want me to come in?” Daisy asks as we park outside my place.
“No, that’s okay. I’m going to eat my soup, take a shower and some medicine, then head to bed.”
“Sounds like a plan. Feel better, okay? And let me know if you need me to grab that medicine tomorrow. I can do it on my lunch break.”
“I will. Thanks.”
She blows me a kiss, waving as she backs out of my driveway and heads home. I let myself inside, taking a deep breath as I walk into the kitchen. Ignoring the stack of bills on the counter, I grab a bowl and pour my soup into it.
The spicy heat makes my nose run, so I blow it into a paper towel, adding a mental note to buy more Kleenex.
I pop two pills, praying that they fix everything, even though they haven’t in the last week.
My entire body feels heavy as I go to my room, strip, and turn on the shower. I crank the heat, hoping the steam will help to loosen up the congestion.
It doesn’t.
My nose is leaking like a faucet as I pull on my pajamas. With a curse, I stomp to the front door, shove my feet into my shoes, and head out into the darkening night.
The Market is only a few blocks away, so I head there, blowing my nose into some wadded-up toilet paper as I go. I sniffle as I head inside, grabbing a cart and beelining for the Kleenex aisle.
I’m debating how many to get when someone stops next to me.
“You’re supposed to be at home. Resting.”
Turning my head, my gaze collides with Dr. Mercer’s green eyes.
Ugh, why does he have to look so hot when I look like a hot mess?
“I will be. I just need to grab a few things first,” I say casually, tossing a large pack of Kleenex into my cart and quickly walking away.
He catches up to me easily, his long legs matching my strides.
I try to ignore him. Focus on his negative attributes. Like how annoyingly handsome he is. He looks so grumpy with his dark eyebrows pulled low over his eyes. He’s probably a jerk.
Except… during the exam this afternoon, he was respectful and calm. He was almost… gentle. He never once mentioned my weight, and he acted like he actually cared about me. Heck, even now he seems to be worried about me.
Dr. Mercer continues to follow me up and down the aisles, nodding as I toss some vitamin C into my cart, and frowning at the giant bag of peanut butter M&M’s I add next.
“Are you judging my eating habits?” I snap at him.
“No, just thinking that something with more nutritional value might help you feel better quicker. Maybe some orange juice?”
“I’m good.”
He doesn’t get annoyed like I thought he would. He simply smiles and nods, waving me forward.
I need to get out of here before he realizes I’m starting to have a crush on him!
I beeline for the checkout and, of course, he follows, getting into line behind me and helping me load all my things onto the belt. I step to the end, putting some distance between us as I bag up my things. When I move to pay, I realize he’s beaten me to it.
“You didn’t have to do that. I can pay for my own groceries,” I growl at him.
“I know. Just trying to be friendly.”
I grind my teeth together.
He smiles, seeming charmed by my grumpy mood.
“Thanks,” I mumble, grabbing my cart and hurrying out of the store. I force myself not to look back at him as I leave, but I don’t make it far before I hear his footsteps racing to catch up to me.
“Where did you park?” he asks.
“I walked here.”
“Walked? Dammit, Alexi. You’re supposed to be resting and taking it easy!”
“It’s three blocks! I’m fine.”
He grumbles something under his breath and takes my elbow, steering me over to a fancy SUV. “I’ll give you a ride home.”
“I’ll be fine!” I insist, but he’s already loading my things into his trunk.
His hand wraps around my waist, and he leads me over to the passenger door. I see several people in town watching us curiously, and I duck my head, slipping into the seat without a fight.
“I thought that would be harder,” Dr. Mercer says as he climbs behind the wheel.
“What?”
“Getting you to agree to the ride.”
“Well, it was agree or explain to the whole town tomorrow that I’m not dating the new doctor.”
“You don’t want to do that?” he asks, looking unsure for a moment.
“No. I prefer to listen to the gossip, not be a part of it.”
He snorts. “Would dating me be so bad?”
“We’re not dating,” I say quickly.
He frowns, glancing at me. “That wasn’t my question.”
“I don’t even know your first name!”
“It’s Hugh.”
“Great. Can we go now, Hugh?”
He nods, backing out of his spot.
“Left here. Then straight for two blocks, then another left,” I tell him.
He follows my directions, and I try not to squirm in my seat as we ride in silence.
“This one is me,” I say, already unbuckling as he pulls to a stop in front of my house. “Thanks for the ride.”
“I’ll help you with your things,” he says, jumping out of his seat before I can argue.
We make quick work of carrying my things in, and I force myself to smile at him.
“Thanks for everything.”
“Anytime.” He looks around my place curiously. “Call me if you need anything.”
“Yep,” I chirp.
“Alexi,” he growls in warning.
“I will,” I say quietly.
“If you need a ride, call me. You’re going to take it easy for the next few days until you feel better.”
“Got it,” I lie, appeasing him.
He nods once and turns to head out to his car. I watch him climb inside before closing and locking my front door and leaning my back against the wood.
I hate that the first man I’m interested in is a doctor. It seems like some kind of sick joke from the universe.
What am I stressing about? I have a crush on the guy, but so what? It’s not like he’s interested in me or this will go anywhere.
It can’t. Can it?
Taking a deep breath, I push away from the door.
I put my groceries away, grab a box of Kleenex, and go to bed, hoping I don’t run into Dr. Hugh Mercer again anytime soon.