Total pages in book: 59
Estimated words: 55458 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 277(@200wpm)___ 222(@250wpm)___ 185(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 55458 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 277(@200wpm)___ 222(@250wpm)___ 185(@300wpm)
“I was hoping for sexy. I would have even taken seductive or manly, ruggedly handsome. But I’ll take cute because I know you meant it as a compliment, Suzie.”
I frowned and looked around at the smiling faces so intrigued by my interaction with Gavin. “I did not.”
“You did,” he retorted and winked at the dumbfounded cashier. “And it’s okay because I think you’re cute, too.” Gavin set his muffin on my tray and carried it to one of the tables near the wall, away from the windows. “You know, Suzie, I liked the pink glasses better than these blue ones.”
“Yeah? Why?” I prepared myself for any number of answers since men always seemed to think their opinions were necessary on all matters.
“Because the pink brought out the shades of green in your eyes.”
Holy shit, was Gavin Ross flirting with me? It was impossible. No, I wouldn’t let myself believe in those kinds of fantasies because that would be madness. It wasn’t possible. He was feeling vulnerable and I was a friendly face, and the only one who knew why he was hanging around town. Yep, that was it.
“Thank you.” I was glad he’d taken a seat in the cafeteria because there was no way I could be closed up in my office with the scent of that expensive, masculine cologne all around me.
Gavin reached for the muffin and slowly peeled the wrapper away. “Why aren’t you doing my exam today?”
“Because I am not an ENT or a medical doctor.” It was a common mistake and, given that I worked in a hospital, I shrugged it off.
Gavin’s blond brows rose in surprise. “Ph.D.?” I nodded and he whistled. “Beautiful, a fan and accomplished. Color me impressed.”
“I was always good at school.”
“Do you mind if I ask how come you didn’t become a doctor, or are you sick of that question?”
I shrugged. “No, it’s a fair question. I’m better at running things and organizing them, keeping everyone on track, than I am at practicing medicine, or at least how I imagine I might be at practicing medicine.” I had given it a lot of thought, but medicine just wasn’t my passion. “Planning. Organizing. Budgeting. Those were the things I excelled at in high school and college. And grad school. When this job opened up right here in my hometown, I knew it was the one I’d been looking for.”
“And what were you doing before this place opened up?”
“You really want to know?”
He gave a short nod, his overgrown blond hair falling into his eyes. “I really do.”
“I worked for the mayor, helping to streamline city services, coming up with ways to make the tax dollars go further.” It had been interesting, but it wasn’t running a hospital.
Gavin stared at me for a long time, as if trying to figure me out. “I went to school too, you know. Got a degree in business management.”
I did not know that, and I knew a lot about this man. “Now who’s the impressive one?”
He shrugged off my compliment and I noticed a small circle of red on each of his cheeks. “It was kind of a necessity to avoid getting scammed by unscrupulous agents, managers, and record execs. I was in my mid-twenties by the time I started making real money and that’s when I truly learned to value my degree. It makes it difficult to screw me over when I know everything they do.”
I finished my salad with a sigh, staring at the man across from me who, in a few short words, had gone from gorgeous rock star to a man of substance. “Thank you for sharing that with me, I promise to keep your secret accomplishment to myself.”
He laughed. “I’m surprised a super fan like you didn’t know.”
“To be fair, I only know the things you choose to share with your adoring public.” I didn’t read the tabloids, but I did watch or record every interview he gave, soaking up all the information he was willing to share with his fans.
“Dr. Wright, you’re needed in Pediatrics. Dr. Wright, Pediatrics.”
I ignored the pang of disappointment that shot through me at the sound of Melanie’s voice and smiled at Gavin. “Duty calls.”
He sat back with a smile and a wave. “See you soon, Dr. Wright.”
Soon? That was just something people said, right? Probably. I walked away on wobbly legs, feeling a rush of something new, something exciting, something different that previous interactions with men. Was it just because he was a rock star and gorgeous? Or was it just that it had been too long since I’d spent time in the company of a good-looking, interesting man?
More importantly, did it matter?
No. Gavin would be here just long enough to get his diagnosis and he would likely run back to Hollywood, where a TV doctor would treat him and where he could recover surrounded by servants and beautiful women.