Chapter 2
CHAPTER TWO
Paige
Wow.
Just….wow.
I was not expecting to see such a good-looking patient today.
But there he was. Waiting with his daughter for treatment.
Dark brown hair, dark brown eyes, and an even darker beard stood out among his handsome features, with full lips and straight white teeth. His defined muscles flexed underneath his clothes, and his hands? Sexy, strong, calloused, and large.
And I wanted them all over me.
Not only was the little girl cute, but him? Holy smoke show.
He was younger than me. I could tell by the smoothness of his skin, no visible wrinkles or lines. But that didn’t matter. Age was merely a number to me. And my God, he was hot. Like throw me down on an empty bed in this hospital somewhere and fuck the shit out of me out.
Okay, I needed to relax. It’s been way too long since I’d had a decent lay. But when you’re busy studying to become a doctor and moving all around the country for different positions in different hospitals, it left little time for fun.
Until I landed this temporary job in Appleridge, working at the local hospital.
I planned on opening my own practice with the little nest egg I saved up, I just needed to get on my feet first. I bought a small cabin in town that included commercial space attached on to it and planned on settling down for good, with my practice in my home, like I’d always dreamed of.
My parents were only a couple of towns over, and I wanted to be close to them, hoping to help as they got older.
I was covering doctors who were out due to sicknesses, vacations, maternity leaves, and I would be until they no longer needed me.
Or I left. Whichever came first. And today I just so happened to be covering in the chaotically busy emergency room.
But at least it made the day go by. Plus, it was more exciting than some other departments.
Now if only I could find someone to settle down with.
During a break earlier, I heard a few women talking about how hot the men were around here. Guess they weren’t lying too much because wow. The guy in front of me should be in a magazine, for God’s sake.
“So, tell me what happened, Savannah. You fell is that correct?”
The little girl explained the afternoon in great detail, from how she fell, to how her uncle then carried her off the ice and to the hospital.
Uncle? Her uncle? So, he’s not her dad…
“Good thing your uncle was there to save you.”
Savannah nodded, clutching the elephant to her chest. “He’s the best.”
I glanced over at the handsome man in the corner seat, a sexy smile resting on his lips. I could see the love he had for this girl just radiating out of him. Swoon. I need to know this guy.
“I think we should take a picture of your arm and see what’s going on in there, and then we’ll see if you need a cast or not.”
“A cast? What’s that?” Savannah’s eyes grew wide.
“It’s like a big band aid for your arm, but it’s hard like a rock and doesn’t come off. It helps keep your arm in place while the bone heals.”
“That’s cool.” She whispered, but then tears filled her eyes again. “It hurts and I want Mommy!”
“I know, sweets. She’ll be here any moment.” The sexy guy in the corner finally spoke, and even his manly voice turned me on.
I need to stop and get myself together. I’m at work, taking care of an injured child, for goodness’ sake. What the hell is wrong with me?
“The nurse will be in shortly to take you for your X-rays, then I’ll come back and discuss the results and treatment options.” I said to both of them, more so the uncle.
“Thanks, Doc. Appreciate it.” He said, his voice deeper than I expected, an almost growl to it.
My heart fluttered in my chest. “Anytime.” I smiled at him before turning back to Savannah. “Hold on to your elephant real tight. I’ll be back soon.”
As I moved onto the next patient and checked on a few that I was waiting on test results for, I couldn’t get his handsome face out of mind. It was like he followed me around everywhere. I wanted to ask him out. How crazy was that?
It was stupid, I know, but I wasn’t one to shy away from feelings. If I liked someone, I pursued them, whether at work or anywhere else for that matter.
I even asked my prom date out, much to the dismay of my friends.
When I set my mind to it, there was no stopping me, like with everything else in my life.
I didn’t have time before, but now I did.
And I vowed to make him mine.
Less than thirty minutes later, the little girl’s arm was x-rayed, and the results were in. She broke her arm in two places, and it would need to be in a cast. I explained the situation to her uncle and requested a nurse to help with the casting.
“Is it going to hurt?” The little girl looked up at me with big, wide eyes.
“No, sweetie. The cast itself doesn’t hurt. Your arm is going to ache for a while, though. So, lots of medicine, okay? And lots of rest.”
As I cast her arm, the nurse distracted her with silly games and funny stories, while I couldn’t stop sneaking glances at the man in the corner. He watched his niece intently, and I wondered how he was feeling.
While the first part of the cast dried, I walked over to him. “Your niece is adorable.” I smiled. “The break is pretty clean. She should heal up nicely.”
“Perfect, thank you Doc.”
“Listen, I know this may seem a little weird, but are you single?”
The handsome man looked taken aback by the question. “Excuse me?”
“I know, sorry, it’s a bit forward of me.”
“It is. But yes, I am single.”
I went for the plunge. “Would you like to go on a date with me?”
His mouth fell open. He glanced over at his niece, than back to me like he couldn’t believe I was asking him, right here, right now. “Uh,” He muttered while scratching the back of his head. “Isn’t this a little inappropriate to be asking me out while your own the job?”
“No. We don’t live in the stone age anymore. Women ask men out all the time. What’s it matter where we are?”
“I’m not so sure—”
“Doc, it’s ready for the second casting.” The nurse called, breaking the moment.
Looks like it’s a no, but at least I tried.
I finished up with the cast and after giving care instructions, I handed her uncle my business card. “Her parents, or you, can call with any questions, but you should be good to go.”
“Thanks. I appreciate it.” He took the card from me and our fingertips brushed against the other. An electrifying chill rolled down my back, the mere touch sending my hormones into overdrive. My ovaries, the ones I abandoned long ago, screamed out in agony.
“Great job, Savannah. You’re awesome.” I said to the little girl before turning back to her uncle. I winked at him before walking out the door.