Strange Medicine (Dr. Maxwell Thornton Murder Mysteries #1)(53)

After a while, he said softly, “I guess I kind of interrupted your shower.” He moved to open the glass door, stepping carefully onto the bath mat.

I chuffed. “Again, I ain’t complaining.” I turned to dip under the spray. Maxwell left the room as I shampooed my hair and finished cleaning off. I was still in shock that we’d just had sex, but I couldn’t seem to wipe the smile off my face. Maxwell continually surprised me.

Once I was dressed, I made my way downstairs. I found Maxwell sitting on the couch with Grumpy curled up on his lap. His gaze bounced off mine as if he felt shy. I sat next to him and rested my arm along the back of the couch.

“Just like the first time, don’t let it be weird between us.” I leaned toward him as I spoke softly.

He winced. “Okay. I’ll do my best.”

“We’re both adults. No need to freak out.” I hoped I sounded enlightened. Truth be told, this situation was challenging for me too. My feelings for him were stronger than they had been for anyone in a long time.

“Agreed.” He glanced at his watch. “When did you want to head over to my place for our recon mission?”

I peered out the window. The sun had set about ten minutes ago, and it was dark out. “Anytime, I would think.”

He smoothed his palm over Grumpy. “Should we bring the pup?”

I grimaced. “I’m not sure. I hate to leave him alone, but he will complicate things.”

“True.”

“He should probably stay here.” I stood and stretched. I was extra sleepy after our sexy shower rendezvous.

Maxwell rose and went into the kitchen, returning with a bright red thermos. “Hot cocoa.”

I frowned. “I thought you were kidding.”

“Nope. The sugar will help keep our energy up.”

“Coffee works too.”

“Yes, but it’s harder on the stomach.” His tone was lecturing as he moved to the door.

I scooped Grumpy up and carried him to his crate in the kitchen. Then I put the gate in place and followed Maxwell out the front door.

We didn’t talk much on the drive, and when we pulled up onto Maxwell’s street, I was glad to realize it was a crescent moon. Sometimes the full moon was so bright it lit the terrain like it was daytime. In the dark, it would be harder to spot us parked down the road should any unwelcome visitors come calling.

The porch light was on at Maxwell’s home, but it wasn’t very bright because it was one of those ugly yellow bug bulbs. I slid down in my seat, shifting to find a comfortable position. Maxwell stared at the house, his expression difficult to see in the dark.

“Do you think you’ll ever go back to LA?” My voice seemed jarring in the thick silence, and he jumped slightly.

He cleared his throat. “Never say never.”

I didn’t like the twinge of disappointment that stabbed me at the idea of him leaving Rainy Dale. But I couldn’t really say I was surprised. I’d always suspected eventually the boredom of this little town would drive him back to the big city. He’d been traumatized when his patient died, and that was why he’d run here. But he was used to a faster pace of life, and I couldn’t expect someone like him to stay here indefinitely.

“Why?” he asked sharply.

I shrugged. “Just curious.”

“I don’t have plans to go back.” He swiveled toward me. “If that’s what you’re actually asking. But I haven’t ruled it out.”

“Rainy Dale isn’t for everyone.”

“My life here is very different.”

I chuffed. “I’ll bet.”

“I don’t mean that in an insulting way.”

I glanced over at him. His features were hidden in the shadows, and he looked slightly sinister. “If you did go back, would you return to surgery too?”

He sighed. “I don’t know.”

I let a few moments pass, and then I said, “It’s pretty here in the winter.” I leaned my head back. “We usually get a few inches of snow around Christmastime, and it makes the whole place look like a postcard.”

He smiled. “Sounds nice.”

“It actually is. I usually go up in the mountains and cut my own Christmas tree. Most of us around here do.”

“Huh. Sounds… festive. My parents weren’t interested in having a messy tree in their house, and maybe that’s why I never really got into the whole tree-decorating thing.” He stared out the window. “I had one of those metal trees one year at my office. But it just seemed so cold and sad, I felt like not having anything was almost better.”

I chuckled. “You might be right.”

“The first year I had my own practice, I had an office manager who liked to decorate.” He gave a stiff laugh. “Her name was Mrs. Slingleberry.” He laughed again and glanced at me. “I swear that was her name.”

I grinned. “I think I’d change my name.”

His chuckle was throaty. “God, me too. Can you imagine? Dr. Slingleberry?” His grin was visible in the dim lighting.

“It’s a little too close to dingleberry.”

He snorted another laugh. “Way too close.”

His husky amusement made my chest tight with affection. “Maxwell Thornton is a much more sophisticated name.”