Chapter 15
NATHAN
“Excellent.” Zoe looked down at her camera. “Just one more shot.”
Nathan tickled the baby’s stomach, and the infant giggled, her tiny hands fisting then splaying like starfish.
They were at a well-baby appointment, Nathan’s fifth appointment of the day, and everything was going perfectly.
Zoe had gotten shots of him interacting with patients that she said looked great.
She’d also taken pictures and videos at his appointment yesterday, plus a few more on Sunday of him walking around town, eating with his family, and standing at the viewpoint.
Nathan wasn’t sure how those shots made for great television, but Zoe seemed confident, so he was, too.
“Perfect,” she said, smiling at him and the baby. “We’re all good.”
“And so are we.” Nathan handed the smiling, bubble-blowing baby back to her father. “Thanks again for letting us film.”
“No problem. We know we have the cutest baby in Vermont, so we have to share her a little.” The baby’s father winked, and Nathan smiled.
“Officially, I can’t say anything about who the cutest baby is, but she sure is cute.”
The parents beamed, and Zoe leaned forward, cupping her hand beside her mouth as though sharing a big secret.
“As an impartial third party, I can definitely say that she is the cutest.”
Everyone chuckled, and the parents picked up their infant and filed out. Nathan turned to Zoe, who was looking through pictures and videos on the small screen of her camera.
“Well, what do you think?” Nathan asked, leaning against the exam table to look over her shoulder.
She was looking at a shot of him helping an older woman onto the table.
She was so focused on the pictures that Nathan had a moment to look at her.
She was dressed formally again, but her hair was half down and half pulled back in a clip, which made her look much softer and more approachable than when she had the tight bun.
“Honestly, I kind of think we have everything we need,” Zoe said. “I’ll stay for the rest of the day to make sure I have all the right shots, but it’s time to make the pitch.”
“Really?” Nathan chuckled. “All it took was a couple of hours?”
“Well, if you’re willing to smile now and then, it really doesn’t have to be hard,” Zoe said, rolling her eyes playfully.
“Will you need help putting the pitch together?” Nathan asked. Zoe shook her head.
“That would be like me trying to help you diagnose patients.”
“It would make things worse,” Nathan filled in. “Fair enough.” A thought occurred to him, and he took off his glasses and started polishing them. “Will you go back to New York to work on the pitch?”
“No, I’ll stay here.” Zoe’s tone was casual, and her attention was still focused on the camera’s screen. “I might need to get a couple more shots or ask your opinion about something. Next week, we’ll go to New York together to actually do the pitch, but until then, I’ll stay here.”
“Sounds good,” Nathan said. He tried to keep his tone casual too, but he was smiling.
Spending the weekend with Zoe had been fun, really fun, and he’d enjoyed seeing a different side of her.
He’d also appreciated the opportunity to show her around Islingburn and give her a glimpse of how great small-town life could really be.
And yes, in a few moments over the weekend, he’d wanted to kiss her.
When he’d watched her close her eyes and smile as she’d eaten her first farm-fresh strawberry, for instance.
Or when he’d walked her home after dinner.
Or when she’d sat on the log and squeaked as she first put her bare feet into the cold river.
Or when she’d charmed his whole family at their Sunday evening dinner with funny stories about PR work and life in New York.
Or basically when she did anything, because Nathan found her very attractive and it was hard to ignore that.
She hadn't wanted him to kiss her at the viewpoint, though, and he wasn’t going to push her into anything.
If she kissed him or gave him a clear sign that’s what she wanted, he wouldn’t hesitate to take her into his arms, slide one hand into her soft blond curls, perhaps press her lightly against a wall, and kiss her until they were both breathless.
A knock on the door signaled the arrival of Nathan’s next patient. He cleared his head of mental images of Zoe in his arms and went to answer.
The rest of the day went smoothly. Zoe snapped a few more pictures and took some videos. When Nathan asked her not to film a particular appointment with a patient he knew was struggling, she put her camera away without hesitating. Eventually, the last patient of the day left, and he turned to her.
“Shall we have dinner?” he suggested.
“I’m afraid it’ll be a working dinner for me.” She held up the camera. “I’m a bit behind schedule, so I’m going to hole up in the B we’ve barely seen her.”
“Thanks, Iris.”
“Anytime, Doc.”
At Iris’s direction, Nathan climbed the stairs, passed what seemed like hundreds of family portraits, and went to the one room with a closed door. He knocked and waited. Nothing happened, so he knocked again. There was a thump from inside the room, then the sound of footsteps, and the door opened.
Zoe looked, once again, completely different.
Today she wore yoga pants and an overlarge T-shirt that said Sprinkles across the front.
Her hair was in a bun again, but this time it was a loose twist that barely contained her curls.
A pencil was tucked behind her ear, and her feet were bare. When she saw Nathan, her eyes widened.
“Nathan?” She began trying to smooth her hair back. “I didn’t expect to see you here.”
Nathan smiled. “Don’t worry, I won’t disturb you. I just brought some food.” He held up the cloth bag he’d put the cookies and sandwiches in. “I thought you could use something to eat.”
“Iris has been feeding me really well.” Zoe met his eyes and smiled, her hands going still on her hair. “Actually, since you’re here, I could use your help.”
“With what?” Nathan asked, but she just grabbed his hand and pulled him into the room.
He’d expected it to be messy, but the bed was neatly made, and the window was open to allow the fresh evening air in.
The only sign that Zoe had been working hard was the open laptop on the desk, along with several empty coffee mugs.
“Come on, come on.” She pressed him into the desk chair and leaned over him to click something on the laptop.
Her soft floral smell enveloped him, and her arm was pressed against his.
He stole a glance at her, but she was completely focused on whatever she was doing with the computer. After a moment, she straightened up.
“Okay. Watch.” She pressed the space bar, and a video began to play. It started with a panoramic shot of Islingburn from above — Nathan wasn’t sure how she’d gotten that — as soft instrumental music played.