Chapter 15
Amelia looked at him with a critical eye, and after what felt like hours, but only ended up being less than ten seconds. “Would you be offended if I had questions?”
“I would be even more offended if you didn’t.”
“Ah, lawyer double speak,” she laughed as she turned on the sofa so she was facing him. “When was the last time you had a full blood workup?”
“Nine months ago, when my doctor told me to slow down, where I was facing burnout out, or a possible heart attack.”
“Is your heart that bad?”
“No,” he said quickly and held up his hand to ward of anything she might have said. “My heart is fine, it’s all in my medical records, because I questioned my doctor. He said he only told me that to scare me enough to slow down. I swear, it was a scare tactic on his part.”
“Why would he have had to resort to such measures?”
Raymond looked at his empty wine glass, then sighed heavily as he placed it on the side table, then turned to face her fully.
He raised a hand like he was taking an oath.
“I swear, I have never had a heart attack, and that my heart is good. I even went to a cardiologist to ease my own mind. Again, it’s all in my medical records.
Back then, I was working over eighty hours a week.
I had no life outside of work. I took the hard cases, and did most of my own research. ”
“Do you know why?”
“I was lonely. No one to go home to, my marriage to Melissa was over, she and her daughter were in jail, no way to get out for decades. Opal, my own daughter was here at Broken Wheel living her best life. I’m not crying in my beer, I’m not, but as I just said, I was lonely, and I sure as hell didn’t want to start over dating anyone new.
” He shrugged, and sighed heavily. “That’s when I threw myself into my work.
I felt satisfaction in those cases, and not to toot my own horn or anything, but I’m damn good at my job. ”
“I believe you, I was just thinking logically. Thank you for being honest about your medical records.”
“I’ve never lied in my life, and if I want to start something with you, I’m not going to lie to you.” He chuckled and smirked at her. “Besides, you’ll find out everything if I ever see you as a doctor.”
“Why wouldn’t you see me as a doctor?” She was offended in her question and expression.
“Can doctors work with family members or lovers?”
“Oh, well, when you word it like that, then no, it’s not wrong, but highly frowned upon.”
“That’s what I thought.” He grinned when she snorted a laugh. “What about you? When was the last time you had a full blood work up?”
“Oh, god, I can’t remember.”
“This might be a stupid question, but where do doctors go when they need a doctor?”
“If this was in a hospital situation, I would go see one of my colleagues there. But since I’m far away, and working in my own clinic, alone, I guess I would have to reach out to someone in Fool’s Gold.
” She shook her head, then sighed deeply.
“I sure as hell won’t be going back to the clinic or the hospital I just left in Colorado Springs. ”
“Do you know anyone in Fool’s Gold?”
“I do. I’ve had a couple of referrals from them in the past. I can reach out to them tomorrow, set something up for next week.”
“Okay, any other questions?”
“Do you have condoms?” She grinned at his offended look, but she laughed and held up her hand. “Remember, Mom was forty-five when she got pregnant with me. I’m forty-four.”
“Oh, shit,” he said with a hearty laugh. “I never thought of something like that. Then my answer is no, I do not have condoms with me. I can pick some up when we go to your doctor’s appointment together.”
“Excuse me?”
“Wouldn’t it make sense that I go with you, and I can get my own bloodwork done? Get double checked that there’s nothing wrong with my ticker. Give us both peace of mind.”
She nodded, and agreed. “I can get my head around that, I know this isn’t very romantic, but we can go out to lunch or dinner, depending on the time of the appointment.” She grinned again. “Then to the grocery store.”
“See, that’s why I like you, Amelia, not only are you beautiful, but you’re smart and practical also.”
“Thank you,” she said and felt herself blush. They sat there in silence, then he took both her hands in his.
“As much as I want to take you to bed right now, I don’t have any protection, and I’m assuming you’re not on any birth control?”
“No, I’m not, and the practical side of my brain is saying to not chance it. If you can wait until we get the results back, then I would like to start something then.”
“I can wait, and isn’t the saying that all good things come to those who wait?
” He laughed and gathered her into his arms, and they both sighed as how good it felt.
They sat locked in the embrace for a long time, before he gently set her aside, and slowly stood, taking both of their wine glasses to the kitchen.
“Thank you for cooking dinner, I really enjoyed it.”
“I know.” He grinned when she snorted a laugh. “I’ll leave the leftovers here for you.”
“When we get our blood test results, I’ll have to cook for you.”
“I’m looking forward to it. As much as I want to stay longer, I think it would be better if I took my leave, or we might be naked really quick.”
“I understand, and I agree with us getting naked, but it’s best if we wait to do the physical aspect of this relationship once we know we’re good.”
“Correct, can I hug you again, before I leave?”
“Absolutely,” she said, and they walked toward each other and wrapped their arms around the other. Again, they stayed like that for several minutes, until Raymond stepped back, tipped a non-existent hat, and opened the door.
“You’ll make an appointment for me?”
“Yes, but I’m going to need your previous doctor so the new office can get your records.”
Raymond turned away from the door, ripped off a sheet of paper from the pad on the refrigerator, grabbed the pen he’d used earlier, and wrote down the information. He handed it to her, and asked, “Would you need anything else?”
“No, this is great, thank you. I’ll call you when I get a time and date.”
“Thanks,” Raymond said, and unable to resist, hugged her again, then stepped back with his hands in the air, and a grin on his face.
“I better leave or I won’t go.” They shared a laugh, and when he was on the porch, Amelia stopped at the entrance and watched him climb into his truck.
She didn’t step back inside until she didn’t see his taillights any longer, then once the door was closed and locked, she hugged herself, and danced around the kitchen.
As soon as she saw the time on the microwave, she got the coffee ready for the morning, and was in bed an hour later.
Because just hugging Raymond had her motor running, she decided to dust off BOB and relieve some of the pressure that had built.
It wasn’t the way she wanted, but it took the edge off enough for her to sleep.
When she finally fell asleep, her dreams were filled with what she would do with Raymond when she had him naked and alone.
Two and a half weeks later, Amelia looked over at Raymond as he parked his truck, and she asked, “You ready for this?”
“I am, are you?”
“Actually, to be perfectly honest, I’m kind of nervous.” She wiped her hands on the thighs of her jeans. She gripped the hand he laid over hers like a lifeline.
“May I ask why?”
“It’s been so long since I’ve had sex, I don’t know if I’m ready.”
Raymond kept his hand over hers, unbuckled his seatbelt, and turned toward her. With his free hand, he took her chin in his fingers, lifted her face to stare into his eyes, and didn’t speak until she looked at him.
“No pressure, I promise. I’m not even thinking about sex tonight, or tomorrow. We’re here to get check-ups, and blood drawn. Tell me I’m wrong, but doesn’t it take a few days to get the results back?”
“You’re right, it does, we won’t know anything today.”
“Well, there you go, when we discussed this, we said we would get checked out, and we also agreed not to do anything until the results come in. I’m not some young buck that can’t wait.
” He chuckled, and gave her a smirk. “I might even have to take that famous little blue pill.” His chuckle turned into a full-blown belly laugh at the look on her face.
“Tell me you’re joking.”
“I am.”
She looked at him skeptically. “How do I know that?”
“Because if you see me after I’ve spent any time with you, you’d know that the manhood works perfectly fine.” He waggled his brows at her, and laughed again when her cheeks turned bright red.
“Oh.”
“Yeah, but like I just said, I’m not a young buck that can’t wait. Besides, don’t the best things come to those who wait?”
“You’ve said that before, I’m beginning to think that. I know this next question probably isn’t appropriate, but I need to ask it.”
“What’s that?”
“Do you want me to be in the exam room with you?”
“I have nothing to hide. This is just me speaking from the gut, but I believe if you went into this visit with me, you would know what my doctor back home told me, and learn what this new doctor will tell me.” At her confused look, he tightened his grip on her hand.
“Amelia, if we’re going to start a relationship, and I want to, I don’t want to keep any secrets from you.
Yes, you are a doctor. Yes, I told you about my past and what my doctor told me back home.
However, if I get stressed with this case, or get frustrated, I don’t want you to hover and keep asking me if I’m okay.
Regardless of me telling you I’m fine. I’m not saying it will happen, but I think if you’re in this exam with me, you will know exactly how healthy I am, and what I can tolerate.
” He squeezed her hand again. “I’ll even give you permission to read my previous medical files.
However, I’m stating this right now that I will not be your patient at your clinic. ”
“Can I ask you questions if I see you’re stressed?”
“Only if I look stressed.”
“I can deal with that.” They exited the truck and walked hand in hand into the clinic. Three hours later, they were sitting at a table in the local diner, and Amelia shook her head at him.
“What?”
“You’ve come a long way. You were right, based on what I read, you were a walking heart attack or stroke, but based on what I saw today, you are the picture of health and the poster boy for what diet and exercise can do for you.”
“Thank you, and I’m going to continue working with the horses when I’m not working on your case.”
“It won’t be too much for you?” She immediately shook her head and held up her hand. “Sorry.”
“Thank you, but I’ve read everything, and I’m in a hurry up and wait situation. As much as I want to have them arrested, we can’t do anything until something new comes up.”
“Because, everything we have was obtained illegally.”
“Correct, I’m not too worried though, the way those two work, I’ll give it less than three months before something major happens.”
“Yeah, I was going to give it six months.” They shared a laugh, then picked up the menus to see what they would eat before going grocery shopping, and going back to get on with their lives.