Boxer smiled, his hand cradling my cheek. And then he kissed me soft, gentle, like he hadn’t just told me he wanted to screw me into oblivion.
“Good night, Doc.”
He kissed me one last time and then he left, taking his heat and promises with him.
* * *
“Linden? Earth to Linden,” Peyton said, waving her hand in front of my face.
I absentmindedly stirred creamer into my third coffee of the day as I looked at her. “Sorry? Did you say something?”
Peyton grinned. “What’s with you?”
“What do you mean?” I took my cup of coffee to the staff couch, glad to have a few minutes between patients.
“I mean, you don’t even look like you’re on this planet.” Peyton quickly made herself a cup of coffee and took the seat next to me. “Are you going to tell me what’s gotten into you?”
I debated confiding in Peyton. I didn’t want my personal business to spread throughout the entire hospital. I’d sworn Amanda to secrecy about running into Boxer at The Rex and so far, she’d kept her mouth shut. Not that I thought Peyton would blab on purpose, but there was always chatter between nurses.
“Does it have anything to do with that hot, yogurt-loving biker?” Peyton asked in delight.
My cheeks flamed. “How did you know it was him?”
“Because I know for a fact it wasn’t that stuffy lawyer you pretended to give a chance a while back.”
“He wasn’t stuffy,” I protested, but then immediately recanted. “Yes, yes he was.”
“So, I’m right then? About Boxer?”
“You might be right about him. We went out the other night.”
“Did you, now? Well, well, well, the plot thickens. Did it turn into something dirty?”
I snorted. “No.”
“Will it?”
“Eventually.”
“When?” she demanded.
“My love life is not a create your own adventure book,” I said with amusement. “If you’re so hard up for it, find yourself a hot guy. I hear home improvement stores are great places to find men with tools.”
“Thanks. I’ll think about it,” she said, her tone dry. “But seriously. Is it going to get physical?”
I paused and then nodded.
“Are you seeing him again?”
“Yes.”
“When?”
“Don’t know,” I admitted. “He kissed me outside my condo door and then left. He has a habit of kissing me and walking away without making any plans.”
“You mean he’s done this before?”
Whoops.