Hotshot Doc(48)

When I admitted that it made me jealous to see her arrive at the wedding with my brother, she looked terrified. Her reply said it all.

“Oh…”

Her face paled. Her eyes widened. I wanted to shout quickly, Oh, HA HA. Just kidding! like a fool.

Now, she pushes her food around, not really eating.

“Do you not like it?”

“Oh, no. I do!”

I watch as she takes a big bite and forces it down.

I don’t think it’s a good idea to continue discussing my feelings at the moment. She’s tired. There are bags under her eyes, and I feel bad that she’s still in her dress from last night. I offer her clothes to change into and she acts as if I’ve just proposed marriage.

“No! Oh my god. No. Thank you though…”

Right.

Then, let’s just sit here in silence.

After a few more tense, awkward minutes, we finish eating and I load the dishes. When I’m done, I turn to find Bailey standing at the threshold of the kitchen holding her purse and jacket. She’s ready to go.

“Would you mind taking me home? I can get an Uber, but I thought I’d ask just in case…”

I frown. “Of course. Yes. Let me just grab my shoes.”

I hate that I seem to be fumbling this. She doesn’t have to rush out, but it’s not really appropriate for me to ask her to stay either. It’s not that shocking that she’s ready to bolt when I consider the timeline of events from last night. She showed up to my cousin’s wedding as my brother’s date. I told her it made me jealous. Then I got rip-roaring drunk and rambled on and on about my depressing divorce and loneliness. She didn’t come to my house willingly. She had to attend to a drunken idiot. It’s no surprise she’s counting the minutes until she’s out of my presence.

I lead her outside and open the passenger-side door of my car for her. She thanks me and hurries to get out of the cold. I move to the driver’s side, but when I sit, my knees collide with the steering wheel. It’s like my car shrunk three sizes overnight.

Bailey stifles a laugh. “Oh yeah, sorry. I had to shift your seat up so I could reach the pedals.”

Her laughter eases the knot in my stomach and I’m reminded that this doesn’t have to be so bad. Sure, a part of me wants to turn to her at the first stop sign and speak candidly: Bailey, I find you attractive and I want to ask you out on a date.

Simple as that. Unfortunately, I don’t think she’d say yes.

I’m watching her out of the corner of my eye. She’s drumming her hands on her legs, ready to leap from the car at any moment.

When we arrive outside her house, she turns and thanks me for the ride. “I truly appreciate it.”

I drag a hand across my chin. “It’s the least I could do after you took care of me last night.”

“It wasn’t as bad as you think. I’m the one who begged you to kiss me in my sleep, remember?”

Her cheeks redden at the recollection.

I have to fight back a grin. “Like I said, it was cute. I knew you were dreaming.”

“Yeah.”

Her gaze flicks down to my mouth. She should get out and walk up to her house. We have nothing else to say to one another, but she doesn’t move. She turns to face me and I furrow my brows in question.

She’s a tiny thing and yet her presence fills up my car. Her jacket is so ridiculously pink and puffy. Her cheeks are rosy from the chilly air. I inhale and catch a whiff of her perfume. Her eyes are drowning in emotions she’s not giving voice to. I want to order her to speak, but she’s nibbling on her bottom lip and I don’t want her to stop doing that either.

She turns to her door and fingers the handle, like she’s thinking about getting out. Then she glances back to me.

The next few milliseconds pass like small eternities. My heart beats painfully in my chest. My hands leave the steering wheel and she leans an inch toward me. It’s barely anything, really. I think she might not even realize it, but that inch is a plea and I don’t hesitate. I slide one hand into her hair and bring her toward me.

This is insane.

I need to release her and let her go.

I’ve done enough.

“Matt.”

My name is a spell and there’s no hope now.

My voice is hoarse when I speak. “I’m going to…”

Kiss you.

And I do. Our lips meet ever so gently at first, and I brace for the inevitable shove to my chest, the jerk of her head as she turns and offers me her cheek, but then she sighs against my mouth and I am a man without self-control. I want this girl and at this moment, she’s sitting in my car, fisting my shirt, and pulling me toward her. My head tilts to the side and our lips fit like they were made for each other. Her mouth opens just enough so I can test the waters. My tongue touches her lips and my stomach tightens in response.

One of her hands glides up and around my neck. She strings her fingers through my hair and moans like she’s been wanting to do that for weeks.

An innocent kiss turns into more and I want to haul her up and over onto my lap, but this space is too tight for those kinds of extracurricular activities. Fuck the environment—next time, I’m buying a Hummer.

We’re kissing and hungry for one another and she’s trying to speak, but I’m not letting her.