Page 8 of Summer with a Doctor
When we arrive at the hospital, several employees turn and look back at us walking in together. I slip my hand behind her back, lightly touching the fabric of her dress, and lead her inside the elevator. The scent of her perfume fills my nostrils and I must admit, there’s nothing any better than a woman who smells nice.
Mr. Hillman seems in good spirits despite the condition he’s in. I can tell by the way he talks, though, that he’s on some powerful pain medication. I excuse myself after a few moments and allow him and Liz some alone time.
“I’ll be out in the hallway. Take your time,” I whisper into her ear then wave goodbye to Mr. Hillman.
I stroll down to the window at the end of the hall and stare out at the ocean. The Atlantic is actually calm today, considering the storm we had blow through over the weekend.
I jump when Liz walks up behind me. “What are you looking at?”
“Want to take a walk on the beach?” I ask.
“Sure. It’s crazy to live this close to the water and I can’t recall the last time I’ve had my feet in it.”
“Same for me.”
We get back into my car and I drive down to one of the public beach access points. Liz takes off her sandals and drops them down into the floorboard of my car.
“Be careful that you don’t step on anything.” I tell her as we walk down to the shore. I’d be pissed if she got something in her foot and needed stitches like the young man yesterday.
“I will,” she says and wiggles her toes in the sand. “Hey, what are all those?”
I turn my head to see what she’s pointing towards. “They’re the shells from horseshoe crabs.” I kick one with my shoe, noting the pointed tip on the end.
“I guess they washed up during the storm we had, huh?”
“Along with all those shells.”
“Holy crap. There’s hundreds of them,” she exclaims.
“More like thousands.” I lean down and scoop up a handful of broken and mismatched pieces. Though most are dull gray in color, a few are actually kind of pretty.
Liz sticks her feet in the water and it swirls around her ankles. “Ohh, it’s really cold,” she says and rocks back on her heels. “Which way should we go?”
I point to the right and pull her along.
Chapter Seven
Liz
“I’m sorry if I talked your ears off.” Leaning her head back, the wind sweeps her hair away from her face.
“I’ve actually enjoyed getting to know you better.” Dean stops then takes my hand in his.
I’d felt a little awkward earlier when he’d done it, but now it feels kind of nice. While I’d love to pretend that we’re more than just friends, I know it’s crazy for me to even think such a thing. I’ve known him, what, a whole day? If there was ever such a thing as the perfect guy, he’s certainly the one.
His gaze travels from my eyes to my lips, leaving me wondering what he’s staring at. “Is there something on my face?”
He looks away as though I’ve caught him doing something. When he looks back, he lowers his mouth to mine. His lips are soft against my own and I open my mouth enough that he slips his tongue inside.
Well damn, I wasn’t expecting that.
“I’m sorry,” he apologizes then pulls away.
I lace my fingers through his, taking him by surprise, then lean into him. My mouth quickly finds his again and I make the mistake of looping my leg behind his. A soft moan escapes his mouth causing my body to respond to his in a way that it shouldn’t.
“We should probably be heading back soon, don’t you think?”
“Hmm?” I pretend I didn’t hear him and wish we could go on like this forever.