1
Ruby
I take one last quick look back at my grandmother lying in her hospital bed, give her a quick smile, and hurry from her room.
I’m late for work. I knew stopping in to visit her early in the morning was a bad idea, but I also knew nobody else would. My mom, her middle child, died ten years ago in a car accident. Her oldest son lives out in California, and her youngest son never bothers to come around.
As far as I know, I’m her only family in the area. I feel a little responsible for her, especially these last few years as her health has slowly declined.
My mind’s full of worry as I rush into a stairwell and start down. I keep my eyes on the steps, not paying attention to where I’m going, too preoccupied with my worries to notice anything going on around me.
That’s when I run into him.
I come around a corner, moving way too fast, and smash right into a big, broad chest. I stumble back and trip over the stair, turning my ankle in the process.
“Oh, shit,” I gasp, stumbling down onto my butt. “Ow, oh, shit.”
“Oh, damn it,” the guy grunts. “You need to be more careful.”
I glare up at him, ready to tell the guy to fuck off. I’m not in the mood to take shit from someone right now, even if he is totally right.
But instead, my words die in my throat. Staring down at me is the handsomest doctor I’ve ever seen in my life.
He’s older, hair starting to gray slightly, but still thick and full on top. His eyes are piercingly blue, and there’s a well-groomed and trimmed beard on his handsome, square jaw.
His body is muscular and the way his shirt fits against him only accentuates his build. The lab coat, clipboard, and stethoscope all tell me exactly what this guy is.
He’s freaking Doctor Sexy.
“Uh, I’m sorry,” I manage to say after staring at him for an awkward amount of time.
He sighs. “Are you all right?”
“I think so.”
He reaches out and helps me up. His grip is firm but his hands are rough, like he’s used to touching things.
I get to my feet but as soon as I put weight on my ankle, I wince in pain.
He frowns at me. “That hurts?” he asks.
I nod. “It’s nothing. Just twisted.”
“Come on. We’d better look at it.”
I’m trying to object, but he’s already tugging me in through the door onto the second floor. His hand is firm on my arm, supporting my weight as he half drags, half leads me down the hall.
“Really, this isn’t necessary,” I say finally, finding my voice. “I’m totally fine.”
He grunts in response. Finally, he finds an empty room, throws the door open, and steers me inside.
“Sit,” he says.
I frown at the bed. “I don’t think so. I really need to go, I’m late for work.”
He glares at me. “Sit.”
I hesitate. Dr. Sexy’s eyes stare into mine and I feel a chill run down my spine.
“Your bedside manner sucks,” I say as I climb up onto the bed.
“I know.” He kneels down in front of me and gingerly slides my shoe off. I wince a little as his fingers probe my ankle. “How bad?” he asks.
“I don’t know. Four, maybe.”
He nods and stands. “Get undressed.”
I blink, surprised. I watch him for a second, heart hammering. “Uh, undress?”
“Take off your clothes,” he says, as if his phrasing is the issue.
I don’t know what he’s getting at. I mean, clearly he wants me to get naked, and I’m really tempted. Calling him Dr. Sexy is probably an understatement. He’s the most gorgeous man I’ve ever seen in my life, and I think I’d be willing to undress for him anytime, anywhere.
But I really am late for work, and this guy’s a total stranger.
“I need to X-ray your ankle,” he says finally, realizing that I’m not moving.
Understanding floods me, understanding and a little disappointment.
“Right, of course. Okay. But seriously, I have to get to work.”
He grunts again. “We’ll skip the line. Just strip.” He walks over to a little cabinet and pulls out a hospital gown, tossing it over to me. “Put this on. I’ll be back in a minute.” He leaves the room without another word, shutting the door behind him.
I get up and hobble over to the curtain, pulling it around the bed before taking off my clothes. Dr. Sexy may be gorgeous, but he’s definitely an asshole.
As I pull on the gown, I wonder how the hell I ended up like this. I mean, I know I was barreling down those stairs way too fast and not paying any attention at all, but I don’t know how I let this doctor pull me into this room. And now he’s getting me naked, or at least mostly naked. I leave my underwear on as I close and tie the gown shut.