Always(Time for Love Book 4)(19)
He walked to reception and gave instructions to the temp regarding his patient, then gave Brenna a small nod. She followed him to his office.
“Ready for your break, Doc?” she asked.
“Sure am. Why don’t you have lunch with me in my office?”
“Really? You won’t be working?”
“I noticed I have an hour until the next patient comes in. I’m sure I can spare about forty-five minutes for a little break.”
Brenna halted him, her face alight. “In that case, why don’t we go across the road and enjoy the sunshine while we’re having lunch?”
He smiled. It had always been at the back of his mind to walk around the Royal Botanic Gardens whenever he found some time. In the three years he’d worked opposite the public gardens, he’d only visited it four or five times. He’d simply been too busy.
“Sounds good,” he said.
“Great. Let me tell Dora.”
*
“Dora almost fell off her chair when I told her we were heading out here for a lunch break,” Brenna said as they sat on a bench amongst the rose bushes.
“She’s not used to me taking a proper break,” he said, then laughed when Brenna gave him a censuring look while she took contents from out of the bag.
“I got us some sushi.” She handed him a big plastic container filled with one of his favourite foods.
“Yum. Thanks.”
“Look what else I got,” Brenna said, holding up a magazine with familiar faces on the cover.
“Hm. They’re moving on to Sarah and Jeff’s wedding, huh?”
“Yes. I think they’ve used up all their photos from Zach and Bec’s wedding, so they’re now talking about the next big celebration. But of course, a little intrigue is to be expected. They’re wondering if all is well with Sarah and Jeff, since there hasn’t been any news on their actual wedding date.”
Ash snorted, shaking his head.
“And look who else is on here,” Brenna said, pointing to a smaller photo on the cover.
“Greg and Gemma,” he said with a laugh. “What are they saying about them?”
“Well, they still reckon these two are an item. I’ll have to talk to Gemma later and see what she thinks of all this. But unfortunately, Ash, there’s still nothing about you in here. Sorry,” Brenna added teasingly.
“Ah, my time will come,” he joked.
“Yeah. And wouldn’t it be great if it would be about you and me?”
He glanced at Brenna, who was staring at him with wide eyes, her lips parted. She placed her palm on his cheek, making it hard for him to breathe. In the next second, he found himself leaning towards her, pulled by some power he had no hope of resisting.
He fitted his mouth with hers and revelled in the soft feel of her lips. They kissed, slowly at first, then more passionately, tongues eagerly stroking each other.
Joy blossomed inside of him. Just how long had he waited for this moment? How often had he dreamed of this? He was kissing Brenna—and she was kissing him back.
He could have stayed like that for hours. He wanted to, but he was getting hard—too hard—and they were in a very public place. Reluctantly, he pulled away.
He was already breathing hard from their kiss, but seeing Brenna’s flushed, smiling face—looking up at him with desire—took his breath away. God, she was beautiful. In hindsight, perhaps they should have stayed in his office, with the door locked.
“You should eat,” Brenna breathed, running her thumb on his bottom lip.
He chuckled. “After that kiss, that’s what you say?”
She giggled. “You’ve rendered me almost speechless, Dr. Payne.”
He grinned and gave her a short peck before opening the container holding his lunch. He would have loved to sit here with her for the rest of the afternoon, but work awaited them.
They ate their lunch and talked about the usual things, laughing and enjoying an easy conversation. Only this time, they sat closer together, with Brenna occasionally dipping her head on his shoulder, and him kissing her hair. It was pure bliss, and he knew he was in deep trouble. But this time, he didn’t care.
*****
Ash plonked himself on his bed and stared at the ceiling. He didn’t get to have dinner with Brenna tonight because of an after-work function he had to attend. Damn, he was missing her. After their magical lunch at the gardens today, all he wanted was to be by her side all day. Just how bad had he got it?
It was almost eleven, and he wondered what she was doing now. She’d said she was going to have a quiet dinner at home and relax. She did offer for him to come around for coffee if he wanted to, no matter what the time. So what was stopping him from heading over to her place?
He sighed. He knew that if he went there tonight, he wouldn’t want to go home until tomorrow. Wouldn’t that be going too fast?
“Hell, I’ve already waited long enough,” he muttered, getting up and getting dressed.
*
Ash pressed the call button for Brenna’s apartment.
“Ash?” she asked through the intercom.
His heart skipped merely from the sound of her voice. “Yep,” he said, smiling in anticipation.
The building front door clicked and he walked in—well, more like rushed in, really. Everything about him was excited. And right now, his cock was competing with his heart as to which one was more eager to see Brenna.