Darling Little LeeLee (Doctor Darling’s Clinic #2)

Chapter 5

CHAPTER FIVE

Everleigh

As luck would have it, my sister was having some sort of crisis and needed me. I’d texted Leo that he was still welcome to come over, but I had to help her first.

His text from the office had told me to get into the shower and slip into comfy pjs when I got home, but there was no time. When he arrived, I had nothing on but a tank top and sexy panties. Pacing around the kitchen, I barely glanced his way. Swigging wine directly from the bottle was never a good way to greet someone. Leo carefully extracted the bottle from my hand. He put the wine away and leaned against the counter, his arms folded across his chest.

I gestured at my phone as if that could explain why I hadn’t done what he asked. My sister had been crying for twenty minutes straight. Fortunately, I didn’t think it was a serious issue. She had a lump on her big toe but hadn’t been able to figure out what it was. I’d threatened bodily harm if she attempted to search online since nothing good would come from doing so. I was used to my family calling me about medical issues, but Juniper was a bit of a hypochondriac.

“Can you put her on hold for a moment?” Leo set his duffel bag on the floor.

I gave him a thumbs up. “Hey, Junie-bee? Hang on a second.”

“Is everything okay with your sister?”

“Yes, but she’s freaking out about her big toe.”

“Did she send you a photo?”

“Yeah.”

“Let me see it.”

I held my phone out to Leo and he zoomed in.

“What is your professional medical opinion, Dr. Callahan?”

He shot me a look that reminded me why he was here. My earlier bratty behavior left much to be desired.

His jaw clenched and relaxed as he stared. “Did she fall or slam her foot into anything?”

“Nope.”

“Does your sister wear high heels often?”

“Yeah. She’s shorter than me so she’s been in heels since she was a teenager.”

“It looks like a bunion. They can be painful. She needs to make an appointment with her regular doctor, but until then she should ice it and take two naproxen.”

“Thanks, Leo.”

“You’re welcome.”

I returned to my phone call. “Hey!” I said brightly though I didn’t feel particularly happy at the moment. “One of the doctors looked at the pic you sent me. Ice it. Take two Aleve ? and call your primary tomorrow.”

Juniper gave a sigh of relief and finally stopped crying so hard. “Phew. Tell your doctor friend thank you. I can sleep tonight knowing that my foot isn’t gonna fall off.”

“Okay, I will.”

“Are you still working, Leelee-bug? Tell those doctors you need a break.”

I could almost hear her chewing on a fingernail. Despite her own issue, my sister was worried about me. “No, um, I’m at my house.”

She screeched through the phone. “Sissi! Are you dating a doctor ?”

I grimaced. Technically Leo and I were not dating, but we were headed in that direction. “Uh, I’ll talk to you more this weekend.”

“You better explain when you’re alone.”

“I will.”

“I love you.”

“Love you too, Junie-bee.”

“I love you more.”

“Don’t forget to ice your toe!”

“Yes, Sissi.”

“Bye.”

I hated rushing her off the phone especially when she knew something bigger was going on. Something I hadn’t shared. Other than a few awkward first dates, I hadn’t spoken about any of the men in my life since my breakup with Jett. Leo was different in so many ways.

Setting my cell phone on the counter, I wasn’t sure what to say.

“Go take a shower and get into your pajamas.” Leo nodded toward the hallway.

“Do you like ordering people around? I bet you get a rush when others jump to do your bidding.”

He let out a long breath. “I’m not in the mood to battle tonight, sweetheart.”

“I understand. I’m exhausted too.” I did understand what he was saying, but it didn’t make me any happier. It was hard to tame my own brat, which is why I’d been poking at him all day.

“Go on, Everleigh.”

“It’s not easy to do what you want without a fuss. You think you’d know that.” I tried to keep my tone neutral but sass kept spouting out of my mouth.

“If we were in an established dynamic, I’d spank your ass until it glowed pink and then send you to the bathroom. Since we are still feeling each other out, I repeated myself. Don’t make me say it again.”

Though I wanted his attention at the office and had been semi looking forward to whatever he had planned tonight, I couldn’t keep from tossing my brat around.

He was being honest about his state of mind which was as important as my own. It should have been enough. Instead it made me fear that once again I was falling for a man who was unable to handle all of me. Pulling my hand out of his reach I waved toward the door.

“Fine, Leo. You should leave.”

“I’ll go, but we aren’t done. Not when we’ve barely explored a relationship.”

“Whatever.” I threw yet another sassy comment in his direction. He’d made it clear that he wasn’t staying, so there was no reason to be polite anymore. Leo grasped my chin in between his thumb and pointer finger. His eyes darted back and forth between mine.

“I don’t like that word. Regardless of where we are at, I came over here as I promised. My intention was to help you unwind from the mountain-sized buckets of stress you’ve been carrying around. However, you don’t seem to want my help tonight.”

“I can’t accept it.”

“Can’t or won’t?”

“I am not able to explain right now.”

He released his hold before bending down to retrieve his duffle bag. “When you’re ready to take things further, text me.”

“I may not ever reach out.” My voice broke as tears pricked the back of my eyelids. I was playing hot and cold because deep down, I was scared. Scared to be vulnerable again. Scared to let him in completely. Terrified of falling in love with him.

It was like I had built up this imaginary romance but at the first chance of it happening for real, I bailed. Bailed before I was head over heels without any means of retreat. Especially after he called me the sweetest term of endearment I’d ever heard in my whole life.

Leo jabbed his free hand through his hair looking as frustrated as I felt. “Try and get some rest, sweetheart. I’ll see you at the office tomorrow.”

He shot me another longing glance before walking to the front door. Tiny pieces of my heart seemed to crack as he reached for the handle.

“I’m sorry, Leo.”

“You have nothing to apologize for.”

“I’m not telling you the entire truth.”

He leaned against the doorjamb studying me for a moment before twirling open the knob. Leo stepped into the night air, pausing on the stoop.

“I know you haven’t told me everything, sweetheart. You’ve said you’re not ready to share. When you are ready you know how to get in touch with me.”

“If,” I corrected.

Leo pivoted on his heel. “When.”

“Kiss me.” As badly as I wanted to taste him, to feel his lips while his body pressed fully against mine, I was scared. I could not make the first move. Not this time. Leo swallowed hard, probably deciding that it was a colossally bad idea to give in to my plea. I was not above begging.

“You said you’re not ready, Everleigh. I’m doing what you’ve asked for.”

“Please kiss me?”

The duffel bag hit the concrete with a thud. Leo suddenly had his hands in my hair, his tongue caressing mine, claiming me possessively. It was the most incredible kiss of my life. His lips were soft and full. I moaned into his mouth, aching for more. The way he held me, kissing me like I was the only thing in the world that mattered, buckled my knees. We made out on the stoop as if we were lust-filled teenagers in a cheesy movie. And yet, everything seemed perfect. Leo broke away first, breathing heavily. We were inches apart. I didn’t want to be far away from him again, and yet that’s exactly what I’d asked for.

“I am so utterly drawn to you,” he confessed as his hands held my face. “I’ll give you space, but we are not done.”

“You said that before.”

“Yes, because it’s important for you to understand. Do you?”

I fought back tears and it felt like an elephant was sitting on my chest. It was hard to agree even though he was honoring my choice. “Yes.”

“Good.” Leo dropped his hands and gathered the almost- forgotten bag.

“Night, Leo.”

“Goodnight, little lionheart.”

Watching Leo walk down my steps was like a hammer hitting my chest.

Fuck my life.

I understood office policies and why they were in place. It made sense to squash any potentially unwanted romantic gestures, but I wanted him to stay.

Tears slipped down my cheeks. I should have explained that I needed something slower than baby steps. I should have done what he said no matter what was going on with my sister. I could have put the phone on speaker as I showered. Could have done anything other than brat at him the moment we were alone together.

I was equally afraid that he would respond like I secretly desired. Well, not so secretly. And the other part of me was afraid I’d push him away. Instead I’d done it before he had the chance to leave me. I touched my lips, my fingers lingering as I played our kiss in my mind on repeat.

Stupid. I was stupid.

I glanced at my cell phone, wanting to send him a message. Beg him to come back. No. It was better we break things off before either of us got hurt.

It was another lie fabricated to convince myself that I wasn’t worthy of happiness. I wasn’t worthy of love. I played matchmaker at the office because it was easier to arrange other people’s happy endings rather than find mine and lose it.

Oh well. It was great while it lasted. I was pretty sure I’d never speak to Leo again unless we were at work and maybe not even then. But even as I had the thought, I knew it was untrue. I wanted his lips on mine again and next time it would be while we were naked in my bed.

Fuming inwardly, I stomped up the hallway and headed to the bathroom. A shower would clear my head and help me relax. The fact that Leo had told me to do so, and I was following his order was not lost on me.