Chapter 19 DAVIE
DAVIE
“Jesse and Davie Madsen?” a nurse calls into the waiting room, and I give a little wave before grabbing Jesse and following her to an exam room.
The use of Cormac’s last name for both of us surprises me. Despite our marriage, I haven’t officially switched from Overland to Madsen. Too many questions hang in the air for me to go through the trouble of paperwork for a legal change that might not be permanent.
Sure, Cormac and I are in a good place.
A really good place if I remember the way his bearded cheeks felt between my thighs this morning as he woke me up with his tongue.
But good things never last.
Not in my experience, at least.
There’s a knock on the door, then Dr. Landish walks in with a smile. “Hello, again!” She sits on a rolling stool and scans the computer monitor with our charts. “Looks like today we’re establishing care, is that right?”
“Yep.” Cormac insisted I get set up with a local GP, too, when I mentioned scheduling Jesse for an appointment.
Growing up, our family relied on publicly funded healthcare, and even then, doctor’s visits were infrequent. It wasn’t until I landed a job offering health insurance that I finally saw someone regularly.
So, Cormac’s concern for my wellbeing is… different.
And way too intoxicating.
Everything about my husband—his gentleness with Jesse, the way he looks after us, the mind-blowing sex—weakens the barricades around my heart.
Decades of protecting myself, of being responsible for not only myself but Jessica, and at times, our mother, dashed to dust because of one rough rancher with a heart of gold.
Dr. Landish adjusts her stethoscope to listen to Jesse’s heart and lungs. “Sounds good. Where’s Daddy today?”
“Dealing with an emergency. He wanted to come, but I told him he can attend the next one.”
“I’m surprised he agreed. Cormac is a good guy, and he seems intent on doing everything possible to be a great dad. He actually called me to ask about what all I’d be doing during this visit.”
A puff of laughter bursts free. “Seriously? Yet he still fought me about staying back at the ranch.” Ugh, the man is impossibly sweet. “Deacon came by right before we left. I’m not sure what happened, but he was adamant that Cormac had to be there.”
“Those three.” Dr. Landish shakes her head.
“Three?”
“Cormac, Deacon, and Briggs. I haven’t actually met Briggs, but I’ve heard the stories about him. I’m not originally from High Ridge, only moved here a few months ago, but my patients love to gossip about that trio. Especially now that news has spread about Jesse’s parentage.”
My brows wing upward. I haven’t officially met Briggs either—outside our brief run-in at the hardware store when I had no clue who he was—but Cormac hasn’t shared anything gossip-worthy about the man.
Jesse, and by extension, me, on the other hand…
“Guess that means they’re probably talking about our quickie marriage, too, huh?” I ask.
Dr. Landish winces. “Yeah… Everyone is curious. I mean, Cormac is a catch. A handsome silver fox who runs a successful ranch? Lots of women were disappointed when they heard about you.”
“Oh, god.” My face drops into my hands as I groan.
“Sorry to be the bearer of bad news,” she jokes, patting my arm. “If you ever want to commiserate over drinks about small towns and the gossip mill, I’m still on the search for local friends.”
“Can a doctor be friends with a patient?” I’m not opposed to hanging out with Dr. Landish. Honestly, I could use a friend, too, since Linnea is hours away in Oregon.
“It’s a bit of a grey area,” she admits. “But this is a small town, and things work differently here. If everyone avoided relationships based on a conflict of interest, then no one would be able to connect.”
“True… Though I should probably call you something other than Dr. Landish outside the office.”
“Ah, good point. Call me Autumn.” She playfully offers her hand in greeting, and I accept with a grin. “Nice to meet you.”
“Now, let’s get you checked out before your husband calls the office wondering what’s taking us so long. I wouldn’t put it past him to drive out here to make sure you’re both okay.”
“Me neither,” I say, shocked by the confidence I feel.
Cormac would worry about us if the appointment dragged on. He’d worry because he’d be thinking about us. We wouldn’t be forgotten just because there’s something more important in his life.
And somewhere in the vicinity of my heart, another brick wall crumbles to ashes.