With a sigh, she knew that she’d just have to wait until she could call him after work. So she sighed and focused on her patients.
Chapter 7
Three days! She hadn’t heard from Zeke in three days! What in the world was going on? He hadn’t responded to her texts. He hadn’t answered her phone calls. Was this thing between them over before it had really begun?
The thought was so depressing that she pretended she hadn’t thought it. Fighting back the tears, she focused on the stitches she was sewing on a man who had cut himself in a bar fight. With a glass bottle, no less, so the edges were ragged and…and what kind of an idiot gets into a bar fight at ten o’clock in the morning?! Fighting back her anxious frustration, because she knew it was for Zeke, not her patient, she finished off the stitches. “Okay, you’re all set,” she announced.
“Thanks, Doc,” the guy said, starting to slide off of the gurney.
“Hold up,” she cautioned, writing out a prescription. And that action almost sent her to tears. Because the whole situation seemed like a repeat of what she’d done with Zeke just over a week ago. Taking a deep breath, she finished the prescription and handed it over. “Here. You’re going to need to apply this ointment to the wound twice a day and…” she paused, blinking back the tears, “…and change the bandage daily.”
“Uh…thanks.” The man took the prescription, looking at her warily. “You okay?”
Abby nodded. “I’m fine. Thank you.”
At that moment, two military police officers stepped into the exam area. “Are you finished with him, Doctor Fisher?” one of them asked.
Abby nodded at the MPs, knowing that they were there to take the guy into custody. A soldier wasn’t allowed to get into a bar fight. Not even at ten o’clock in the morning. It simply wasn’t allowed. Oh, bar fights happened all the time. But if the military police got involved, then the soldier faced serious consequences.
Taking a deep breath, she scribbled on his chart, then slid it over to the nurse who would file it.
The rest of the afternoon was just as tedious and all she wanted to do was to head home and soak in a hot bubble bath so that she could wallow with a big glass of wine. She wanted to put her headphones on and listen to music while she sipped the wine and thought about nothing at all.
Adding insult to her predicament, it was Friday night and, because she’d been hoping to go out and do something with Zeke tonight, or even better, stay in with Zeke tonight, she hadn’t made plans with her friends. So she had nothing on the agenda for her night, or even her weekend.
How depressing. She felt like a grouchy bear as she unlocked her car door. Driving home, she considered stopping by the grocery store for some ice cream. But the thought of dealing with the crowds was just too much. She didn’t seem to have the energy for that tonight.
So instead, she drove back to her apartment and lugged her bag up the stairs. She’d just locked the door, not intending to head out again, when a knock sounded on the door. A hard, demanding knock!
Who in the world?!
Opening the door, she was ready to lambast the person on the other side for being so rude about the knock when she gasped! It was Zeke! He was standing in her doorway and…nope! Not in her doorway! Nope, he was walking into her apartment. He was pushing her back against the wall and…kissing her!
The melting was almost instantaneous! Zeke’s hard body, his persuasive lips, and…all of him. She even liked the way he smelled and Abby hadn’t ever thought that a man smelled good or bad! But goodness, Zeke smelled delicious! All male and powerful and manly!
His hands! Good grief, his hands were everywhere! Under her skirt and…wait, why were his hands under her skirt! Abby tried to concentrate, pulling her mouth away from his, but he simply moved his mouth to her neck, which felt amazingly good! Yes! When he kissed her there, just like that, she wanted to melt into his arms.
Still, something was bothering her. She couldn’t quite put her finger on what it was, but Abby knew that it was important.
“Zeke!” she gasped. “Wait! I can’t…!”
He pulled away, bracing his hands on the wall behind her head so he wasn’t touching her any longer. Suddenly, she felt…cold. Abandoned!
Staring up into his eyes, she tried to catch her breath but…he looked so delicious! His tee shirt was untucked from his jeans and…had she done that?
“Do you need more time?” he asked, his voice rough with desire. “I can do that. Just say the word. It might kill me, but I will wait until you’re ready, Abby.”
Was she ready? Yes! Good grief, she was so ready! More ready than she’d ever thought possible! No man had ever had her this ready! She felt as if one more touch from him might just cause her to combust.
Pushing her hand through her hair, she realized that he was watching her, his eyes glittering with need. Did he really want her to touch him that much?
More heat sizzled through her with that realization. But she paused, trying to remember…what? What did she need to remember?
“Abby,” Zeke murmured, disrupting her thoughts. “Talk to me. Tell me yes or no. Slow down or keep going. You’re in charge here. Tell me what you want.”
She laughed, still trying to sort through her muddled thoughts. “Zeke, you’re…intense.”
“I want you. You needed a few days. Now we have…”
“Wait. That’s it!” She gasped, stepping back a little and glaring up at him. “Where have you been? You just disappeared! I thought you weren’t
