CHAPTER ONE #5
We head back up to labor and delivery, parting at the elevator with Mathis telling me he’ll wait for me in the waiting room. I head back to get what I wanted to done. I always like to check on my patients a few hours after birth. The hormones and pain can be intense.
Forty-five minutes later, I’ve finished everything and checked on everyone.
I can’t wait to pour myself into bed. This day has been more emotionally draining than I’ve had at work in a very long time, if ever.
I grab my stuff, which Darius brought up from my office for me, and walk out to the waiting room.
I see Ben is sitting next to a couple of the guys in his club, though I don’t think they’re ones I’ve met before, or at least not more than once.
It’s been a long day, so my recollection is crap.
I’m almost over to their group when they all look up in my direction, Mathis giving me a smile.
“You get everything taken care of, Doc?”
I nod. “Yeah, I did. Are you okay to leave?” He stands up.
“I was just waitin’ for you, darlin’. I don’t know if you’ve met these two, but this is Tripp and Wyatt.
Tripp is Shane’s dad, and Wyatt is married to Anna.
” They both stand and shake my hand. “I’m sure I know the people he just mentioned, but it’s been a hell of a day, and all my brain cells are half asleep already.
” That earns me a chuckle from all three men.
Ben comes up next to me and places his hand on my back.
“Well, brothers, that’s my cue to get the good doctor home and to bed.
” I wave goodbye, and we walk over to the elevator.
I’m very aware of Ben putting his hand on my back again.
His slight touch has me wanting his hands on more places… all the places.
Within a couple of minutes, we are walking up to what must be his truck.
It looks pretty new, and it’s definitely higher than normal.
My mouth works without me even thinking.
“I hope a step or something pops out because I’m not sure I’m graceful enough to get up there otherwise.
” I hear chuckling behind me. The door is opened, and a step bar does pop out.
Thank the gods. I really don’t think I have it in me to try and climb tonight.
I start to lift my foot, but all of a sudden I’m lifted up and set in the passenger seat.
Holy hell. Did he just… He did. I look out the open door to see him smile and shut the door.
Just a few seconds later, he opens the driver’s side door and hops in.
“You…you lifted me up…just like that.” He shrugs his shoulders at me.
“But I’m too heavy and you could hurt yourself.
” A scowl instantly comes over Ben’s face.
I don’t have any idea why. “Kimbra. I want you to pay attention to what I’m about to say.
You. Are. Not. Too. Heavy. If I thought I would hurt myself because I couldn’t lift you, I wouldn’t have done it.
You are a woman. A woman who’s had three kids and lived life.
I think all of your curves are amazing, and I can’t wait to explore them all.
Every single one of them. So I’d appreciate it if you’d trust me that I can lift ya.
Can you do that, darlin’?” I'm not sure I can trust my voice at the moment, so I just nod as I reach back for my seatbelt. He wants to discover all my curves…with his hands, or did he mean…oh, I’m so in over my head.
Early on, sex with Brian was...fine. I mean, he usually made sure I came once at least and that I enjoyed it, but I have a feeling anything with Mathis.
..it’s gonna be a ride…and I’m for it. Look at me being all down for whatever happens.
I know I’m tired when not only am I talking to myself, but I’m not questioning things.
It’s a sure sign I needed sleep like an hour ago.
Ben starts up the truck and backs out of the parking spot.
“You gonna give me the address, or just tell me which way to go?” Oh shit, focus, Kimbra .
“Okay, yeah, sorry. Head out the exit toward Fifteenth Avenue.” Ben drives through the parking lot and gets to the exit I instructed.
I point out the window. “Turn that way and go till you hit Dupont Avenue.” Ben follows my instructions till we’re almost to Dupont Avenue.
“Which way do I turn?” I point again. “Go this way and go till you hit Second Street.”
About five minutes later, he’s almost to Second. “Okay, now this time, you're going to go that way, and then almost immediately, you go this way on the very next street.” Ben glances over at me. Shit .
Ben
Can she not tell left or right in a vehicle?
I mean, I know she must know them in other aspects because she’s an amazing doctor, but she’s not told me to go left or right once on this drive.
“You mean turn left then right, Doc?” I look over at her since we’re at a light, and I watch a deep blush come over her face right before her hands come up and cover all of it.
She lets out a groan. “I was hoping it would be longer before you realized it.” The light turns green, and I turn left, then immediately right.
“I’m the next-to-last house on this side.
” I don’t give her any more grief at the moment, but we will be revisiting this again.
If for no other reason than so I can see that blush on her face. Lord, this woman is something else.
I pull up to the house, and I park and hurry to get out so I can open her door because I have a feeling she’s not had someone do that before, or at least for a good long time.
I open the door and hold out my hand. Kimbra takes it and steps down out of the truck, her other hand full of her work bags and purse.
She looks up at me, and I can’t hold back anymore.
I lean in and kiss the lips that have lived in my dreams for the last few weeks.
I can tell she’s surprised and tentative in kissing me back until she opens her mouth to let a moan out.
I take that as an invitation to deepen the kiss, my tongue demanding entrance.
Fuck me. I get what people mean when they talk about electricity when they kiss their person.
Kimbra gives back just as strongly. I love that she’s not a wallflower and not afraid to take what she wants from this kiss.
I break the kiss before I find myself carried away.
I want her, but I want her to understand this is more than physical for me.
I think mauling her in her front yard and carrying her inside before we’ve technically had a first date won’t help my case.
I look down. Between the light from the truck and the streetlight, I can tell her pupils are blown.
Always good to know she’s as affected as I am.
“Hell, Doc. Didn’t know kissing you would be that earth-shattering.
” There’s that blush I’m starting to really love.
“Well, um…yeah. I guess I should go in and go to bed. Morning will be here before we know it.” Seeing her off-kilter warms my soul.
“Keys.” She looks at me with a questioning look.
“What?” I hold out my hand. “Keys. I’m gonna walk you to the door and make sure you get in fine.
” She looks like I’m speaking a foreign language.
“You are?” I nod and nudge her in the direction of her front door as she hands me her keys.
“Yep, I am. I won’t ever just pull up to the curb and drop you off, Kimbra.
I will, if nothing else, walk you to your door, kiss you goodnight properly, and make sure you’re home safely, waiting till I hear the front door locked in place.
If I get a weird feeling or you do, I’ll sweep the place before I leave.
Need to know you’re safe, babe.” I squeeze her hand that I haven’t let go of since she handed me her keys.
We walk up to her front porch, and the first thing I notice is that it’s not light enough for my liking.
Sure, there’s a porch light, but it just doesn’t seem very bright.
I see a lone roller skate and something made out of Legos.
It tells me her kids are allowed to be kids, and they play outside, too.
I unlock the door and open it, taking a peek inside before turning back around to face Kimbra.
I hand her keys back to her. “Why don’t you text me when you wake up?
That will give me time to take a shower and stop for coffee.
I’ll drive my truck here to meet you for the morning so you can drink your coffee on the way to the hospital.
We’ll grab my bike from my place after you're done at the hospital. What do you say?” She gives me a tentative smile.
“That works for me. Thank you for giving me a ride home, and thank you for making sure I ate. I’m not used to someone looking out for me like that.
” I watch her bite her lip like she’s trying to figure out what she’s going to say next, so I wait her out a bit.
“Um, I know I need to get to bed and all, but I need you to know that I’m really looking forward to spending time with you tomorrow.
I gotta be honest, outside of work, I don’t get to have many adult conversations these days.
” Her confession makes me smile, and I bring my hands up to lightly grab hold of her face and lean down to kiss her, this time ever so gently.
“I’m looking forward to it too, darlin’.
Now you go inside, lock the door, and get yourself to sleep.
You need your rest. If we stand out here together much longer, I’m gonna pick you up and take you inside, and then neither of us will be getting any sleep all night.
” I kiss her one more time just because I can and take a step back.
I get a smile, and she walks inside and turns and waves at me.
“Doc, I’m not heading back to my truck till I hear the door is locked.
” That earns me a roll of her eyes, but she’s still smiling as she closes the door.
I hear the lock engage, and the porch light flips off and on.
I head back to my truck. Tomorrow is going to be a good day and, hopefully, the start to something I’ve been too afraid to hope for in at least twenty-five years.