Doctor Charmer (Doctors of Eastport General)

13. Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Thirteen

Ivy

T hey’re adorable. I adjust the earplugs in my ear, my music so low I forgot I have it streaming. I eavesdrop on the conversation taking place four feet in front of me, but to them, I could be on the moon.

Griffin is sitting on Chelsea’s bed, their hips practically touching as she taunts him with the card in her hand.

“Ace of hearts,” she repeats between giggles. “You have to tell me the one thing you love the absolute mostest in the whole wide world.” She’s beaming. Outside of the fact that her leg hangs in a sling, this conversation could take place back on campus, on the quad, or in the dorm. Well, maybe not the dorm, not with the way she’s looking at him right now.

“Hmmm, let’s see.” He milks the moment, a playful tap of his finger on the tip of his chin.

“Oh.” Chelsea gives him a playful push, practically knocking him off the bed. “You can’t say your mom because everyone knows that goes without saying.”

Griffin recovers, scooting back onto the bed, their thighs definitely touching now. She leans back to admire his profile, and he twists, elbow to the bed, his gaze locked on her.

From this angle, it looks as if they are moments away from kissing. I lean forward and pause my music. I don’t want to miss a thing.

The door to the room swings open, and a breathless and frazzled Dr. Morgan appears in the doorway. His sudden appearance snaps me away from the kids. I remove the earbuds and unwrap myself from the contortion I’ve folded into on the unforgiving hospital chair.

His eyes sweep the room but quickly settle on me, a strange look on his face.

“Is everything okay?” Dalia and Victoria were released just over two hours ago. They’re already back at the dorms. They are the first thoughts that jump to mind when I see his face. Did they miss something? Did they release them too soon?

I push up to stand and glance over my shoulder. Griffin has two feet on the ground as if he’d hopped off the bed like a kid caught by his early returning parents to find him on the couch with his girlfriend in the dark.

I turn to face Reggie with three questions on my lips, all of which fade away when I see the sheer look of desperation on his face.

“I need you.” It’s just three words, but the way he barks them makes my heart flutter. His intense stare, the way he squeezes the door handle as if it’s the only thing keeping him from floating away—this calm, charming man is coming unraveled right in front of me.

“Me?” I don’t give him what he wants, not right away. Not until I know what he is asking. What he needs.

He grits his teeth, and I half expect him to grunt next. “Say good night to the kids. You and I are getting out of here.”

I cue up three smart retorts but bury them when I see the heat in his eyes. I scoop up my phone and wave to the kids, who stare at us like we have three heads. I know the minute the door closes behind me, they are going to burst into laughs and gossip the night away.

Reggie waves for me to hurry, and for this, I do give him attitude. “Visiting hours don’t end for another twenty minutes.”

He directs me toward the elevator. “I know we’re going out tomorrow night, but…” The vein in his neck pulses with every word. I’m no doctor, but even I know his heart is racing.

I place my hand on his chest. “The answer is yes.”

Instantly, I feel the tension release from his body, his muscles going slack. “Really?” he asks, his tone filled with surprise.

“I so want to toy with you at this moment, but that look you just gave me back there warned me you might not appreciate my humor right now.”

He surprises me, wrapping me in a tight hug. “Thank you.”

“Where are we going?”

He shifts his weight from one foot to the other. “I have no idea. Hadn’t thought that far ahead. I just had an overbearing need to see you. To be with you… to…”

Hand back on his chest, I struggle to breathe. I have totally rocked his world. Tomorrow, I’ll make fun of this moment, but right now, I’m touched. My heart is full.

I think back to my advice to Chelsea. “What’s your favorite place to go in Eastport?” I watch as the wheels spin in his head. “The one place that is special to you but which you don’t share with many people.”

The elevator beeps, and he places his hand on the small of my back, directing me through the small crowd until we’re inches from one another in a corner of the suspended box.

He purses his lips, wanting to share but choosing to wait until we’re off the elevator. I use the time to stare at him. He’s ridiculously handsome, those damn blue-gray eyes practically hypnotic. He’s clean-shaven, not a hint of a five o’clock shadow even at this late hour, and I wonder if he shaved midday. He grinds his teeth as if he’s fighting to keep back a lifetime of secrets from spilling out.

Our silly bet flashes in my head, and I feel the tug on the corner of my lips. He is so going to lose, maybe even tonight.

He mirrors my smile, his lips mouthing the word what?

All I offer is a snicker and mouth the word you.

We both go silent, content to ride the remainder of the trip staring into each other’s eyes like love-struck teens. This I could get used to.

***

The car’s vents work overtime cranking out heat in the idling car. We’re parked on a slight incline on a mountain road overlooking a snow-covered, tree-lined valley that could be on a Christmas postcard.

This was not what I had expected when I asked Reggie to show me his most favorite local spot. We’re sitting in the back seat of his SUV, an Eddie Bauer blanket across our laps. Two cups of hot cocoa with marshmallows and candy cane stirrers sit in the cup holders in front of us. The only thing missing from this picture-perfect moment is if he’d wrap his arms around me and pledge undying love.

He lifts his hand, pointing to my right, and I squint to see through the darkness. “Up that way is a tiny trail. It goes up about half a mile. There is a rock that overlooks the entire valley. From there, you can see forever.”

I squint through the window, and all I see is snow and ice. “We’re not going out there. You can whisper all the sweet nothings in the world to me right now, but it ain’t gonna happen.”

His warm chuckle bounces off the cabin, and he lowers his hand back to his lap. My hands are underneath the blanket, and I wish he’d do the same. I want his hand in mine. His hands on my legs. His hands on the back of my head. His hands all over me.

“So, my sweet nothings won’t work on you? Duly noted.” He juts his chin back toward the invisible trail. “My first year of residency. We had lost patients before. Ones that arrive and their outcome a foregone conclusion. Others with long histories of illness who have won many battles, not realizing they’ve been losing the war the entire time.”

He lowers his head, hiding his eyes. “We had a regular that came into the ER, an elderly, sweet woman, Emily Cartwright. I’d hide out in her room between shifts studying. Her family lived on the other side of the country and couldn’t always make it back east every time she got admitted. I’d keep her company.”

He shrugs as if it’s no big deal, but it is. He must’ve been in his twenties. What twenty-year-old spends their free time with seniors? Special ones with big hearts—that’s who.

“One day while visiting with her, she slips into my hand a hand-drawn map to this trail. She said it was a special place that always helped her clear her head. Told me to go there that afternoon.”

Reggie fights back a tear, and I whip my hand from beneath the blanket to take his hand in mine. “It took some doing to find the trail, not like her shaky scribble was drawn to scale. But I found it, and she was right. The second I stepped to the clearing and sat on the boulder I felt an eerie calmness I had never experienced before. I sat there that day by myself for nearly two hours. All the pressure I felt on my shoulders seemed to melt away.

“I raced back to the hospital to tell her about it, and when I arrived, the charge nurse stopped me in the hall and told me she was gone. Her time of death was the exact moment I sat on that boulder.”

The tear that threatened to escape now rolls down his cheek. I reach for him and pull him into my chest. We remain like that for minutes, the sound of the heat blowing on high the only sound in the car.

“She knew she was about to die and wanted to pass along the secret trail. She didn’t want me to see her die.” He sniffs, and my heart breaks a little for him. “Now every time I come here I feel a connection with her. Like she’s looking over my shoulder.”

“Like an angel.” He nods, and I press a kiss to the top of his head.

He raises his head, his gaze locking on me. “I’m sorry if my most favorite place is so morbid. I’m sure when you asked, you thought I’d take you to a sex dungeon or a circus.”

I scoff. “We’ll circle back to that sex dungeon comment another time,” I snicker. “This is exactly what I was hoping to hear, Reggie. When you burst through that door and said I need you, I didn’t know what to think.”

He straightens up, putting some distance between us in order to see my reaction.

“I didn’t know if this was another horny guy who I’d riled up too much, and they were looking to score. Or… this.” I dangle the last word, knowing he’ll understand the weight behind it.

“It was always… this.” His hand slips to the back of the car seat behind me. I lean back and let my shoulder press against it, hoping he moves it to rest on my shoulder. He does.

The temperature in the car rises with this simple movement. A heat that makes me want to whip the blanket away, but I don’t.

“Thank you for sharing.” I let my gaze fall to his lips. “For being brave.” I prod him, hoping he remains brave.

His hand on my shoulder squeezes, and I twist to face him. His arm remains wrapped around my shoulder, and I lean forward.

“I haven’t forgotten our bet,” he whispers, and I freeze.

“What bet?” I hear the playful tone of my voice.

His gaze lowers to my lips, and I so want this man to kiss me right now, right here. The moment is perfect.

He removes his hand and leans back. He’s just opened up and shown me a part of himself I suspect he rarely shares with anyone. “Come spring, will you take me up the trail?”

His brows quirk, and I’m not sure if it’s from the ask or the timing. The implication that we’ll still be in contact past this week, after the kids are released from the hospital.

“If that’s okay. I’d understand if it’s a place you want to keep to yourself.” I give him an out to save him from saying no.

“That’s not it. It is a special place, and I’ve always planned on sharing it with someone special in my life.”

“And I understand you’ve reserved it for someone else. Angie?” I don’t know why I ask the last part. He’s hinted at a past relationship with her.

His headshake is sudden. “That’s not it. I was reacting to you saying next spring. I didn’t…”

“One day at a time, I know, but I’m enjoying the hell out of this, whatever it may be. If you are game…”

“I’m game. Remember, I’m the one who burst through the doors and dragged you out of the room.”

“Every woman loves it when their guy goes all caveman on them.” Crap. Did I just say their guy?

“Duly noted.” The glint in his eyes lets me know he’s heard me perfectly fine. He reaches in front of him and grabs the cup of hot chocolate. With his other hand, he taps the button on his stereo. “The Christmas Song” by Nat King Cole streams through the speakers, and Reggie twists, pressing his shoulders to the back of his door. “Come here. Scoot your back to my chest.” He holds up the hot chocolate, and I do as instructed, adjusting the blanket across my lap.

Back to chest, he hands me the cup and wraps his arms around me tight. We both stare out the side window as snow falls like it’s a movie at the drive-in.

The only thing that would make this moment perfect would be if he’d kiss me. He won’t do it. Not tonight, and I’m okay with it. Because apparently, I have all winter and next spring.

I settle against his chest, and he whispers, “Perfect.”

And he is so right.

It is.

We are.