“Your own special kind of Call of Duty,” she muses, then slaps her palm to her forehead. “I’m feeling every bit like a single mom of an eleven-year-old boy, complete with bad video game jokes.”
“I like it. A lot.” My grin widens.
“I stopped by Daisy’s flower stand earlier and thought I’d bring you this to brighten up the place.” She steps into my office and sets the vase on my bookcase along the wall. Her gait is confident, much like the Clara I once knew. The Clara I wasn’t sure I’d ever see again after last year.
She’s as breathtaking as a bird stretching its wings to fly.
I come around the desk and cross my arms over my chest, wrinkling my white coat. Leaning on the edge of the desk, it looks like I’m about to give her a consultation.
“No jeans today.”
“I’m sorry?”
She gives me a once-over. “You’re in a button-up and slacks.”
“Haven’t had time for laundry, and these were my only clean pants.” I shift. Her hungry gaze does funny things to me. “From the looks of it, you like what you see?”
She nods slowly, licking her lips.
I pause to study her flushed cheeks and dilated pupils. “You can tell a lot about a person by their heartbeat.”
She tilts her head to the side like she’s pondering my statement. “I’ve heard that before.”
“I predict your heart rate to be ninety beats per minute and rising.”
She nods again, lifting her eyes to meet mine head-on.
I push off the desk and stand in front of her, sweeping her hair over her shoulder.
“What if I lean in close? Like this?” My nose barely grazes her jawline, and sparks fly between us. “I’d say your heart rate is over one hundred now.”
“Sounds about right.” Her eyelids flutter closed. “Would you like to check me out, Doctor?”
“I’d like nothing more.” I trail kisses up her neck, squeezing her hips, inhaling her floral perfume. It’s intoxicating. It reminds me I have a life outside these sterile walls.
Her body relaxes into mine, and I fight my urge to groan.
To bend her over my desk.
To watch her come undone for me—it’s heady, the way she responds to me.
“I, for one”—I move my lips against her neck, letting her feel my hot breath there—“am loving our new friendship.” Cupping the back of her head with my hand, I capture her lips with mine for a kiss that’s better than the last.
Every time with Clara is better, because it’s one more time I get to have her like this after so many years of yearning.
Gut-wrenching yearning.
I can kiss her now. Touch her. Hold her.
I’m getting to know her in a different way, and I crave it. I crave it all from her.
My phone rings, pulling us apart.
I sigh as I walk to the phone. “Dr. Pearson,” I answer.
“Maxine Lowe is ready for you.”
“I’ll be right out.”
Running both my hands through my hair, I turn to Clara, who straightens and walks toward me. She fixes my collar, then smooths my white coat down. The small gesture makes me imagine what it would be like to share a bedroom. For her to help me get dressed in the mornings. To crawl into the same bed at night.
I fight my urge to bite my knuckles out of frustration.
I want her.
My God, do I fucking want her.
But I need to take things slow.
“When can I see you again?” I kiss her lips.
“I was thinking”—she gulps, tracing the cursive letters of my name on my coat with her fingertip—“we could go on that date we never got. Tonight?”
I lift her chin to study her clear eyes. “I’d love to.”
“I won’t bail this time. I promise.”
“I know.” I smirk.
She shakes her head. “Are you always going to be arrogant? It’s not a good look on you.”
“I’m just saying, you can’t help yourself after you’ve had me a couple times. I’m your nucleus now.”
“Oh my God.” She buries her face in her hands against my trembling chest as I laugh. “How can you make freaking chemistry sexy?”
“It’s the charm, baby.”
Her lips part like she’s in shock that I called her baby.
I kiss her lips once more. “Get used to it, baby.” Winking, I lead her to the door, avoiding Patty’s knowing glances. Her smirk is the size of her big hair, and Tinsley snickers behind her.
I wave goodbye to Clara, then roll my eyes at the ladies. “Are you ready, Tinsley?”
She drops the sly grin and follows me, iPad in hand.
I only completed my fellowship last year, so I’m still getting my feet under me, but I’m good at compartmentalizing.
Which is what I do—Clara is in my personal life box, and my patients are in my professional one.
That’s the only way I successfully complete the next few hours.
Because I’m ready for tonight.
For my real first date with Clara.
“What can I get you to start?” our server asks. She’s a middle-aged woman with her hair tied back in a low bun like a cadet.
We glance at each other from behind our menus. Even without seeing her entire face, I know we’re thinking the same thing.
“Shrimp cocktail, please,” we both say.
Our server doesn’t even flinch before nodding and walking away.
“She seems delightful.” I grab a piece of bread from the basket. “How many times do you think we can get her to roll her eyes at us tonight?”
“With you here? Probably twenty-two.”
“That’s specific.”
She snorts into her water, then wipes her mouth with her napkin, her cheeks red. “Can’t believe I just snorted. That was so inappropriate for a date.”
“It really was. I think I’ll be going now.” My smile is slow.
She shakes her head, grinning at me.
I reach out to caress her hand—I can do this now. I can touch her like this because my feelings aren’t a secret anymore. We’re on a date, and I’ve seen her naked, and this is Clara.
She can snort, burp, or scratch her ass, and I would still want her. Hell, I’d marry her tomorrow if she was ready.
I pause, tamping
