Page 10 of Dr. Scandal Claus

When I hit send, it was like the ignition on a gas stove. It sent waves of anxiety radiating through me. I felt like a middle school kid who wrote his crush a letter and handed it over to a friend to be delivered. The only thing worse than the panic I felt was the dread that clouded my thought process over what her response would be.

No response would be the worst. The anxiety would just linger indefinitely until days passed and I realized I'd been ghosted. But a negative response would gut me. Though, at least I'd know what she was thinking. I was so focused on the negative and preparing myself for her inevitable rejection that I wasn't prepared for her to actually respond almost instantly.

Scarlett 4:14 PM:Hey, Nick! It went great! We sold out twenty minutes ago and I'm just packing up.

The air in my chest deflated like a balloon and I could finally breathe again. It wasn't like she said we were an item, but she hadn't rejected me, and for that I was thrilled but instantaneously challenged again. It was my turn to message her, and I had no clue what to say. When we were talkingthis morning, our conversation flowed so freely, so why was I struggling? I really liked her, and it wasn't because she was the only woman in years to look my way. She was sweet and kind and funny, and my God she was gorgeous too.

Nick 4:16 PM:Need some help?

My text was short but sweet and I watched three dots roll across the screen as she typed her response.

Scarlett 4:16 PM:Sure, come on over.

She ended with a smiley face and I grinned stupidly at my screen. It took me less than thirty seconds to have my shoes and coat on, and in under ten minutes, I was at the square walking to her booth.

As I approached, I noticed one of the women who worked at the bakery was helping her. They were stacking empty bakery trays into the back of the bakery's delivery van. The woman didn't seem pleased to see me. She tucked a strand of her curly hair around her ear and glared at me before turning her back and finishing the last few trays.

Scarlett dusted her hands and gave the woman a hug, then turned to look at me. Had I known they were already finished, I'd have brought some cocoa or something to offer her so we'd have a moment to enjoy. This looked like I was too late and she'd be driving off before sunset, leaving me standing here feeling foolish.

"Hey, Nick," Scarlett said, and she walked toward me. I watched the other woman climb into the van and pull out, and the area where the booth was, now had been cleared of everything. Only the metal and canvas frame was left, which would be torn down by town volunteers later tomorrow afternoon.

"I'm sorry. I came as fast as I could."

Scarlett glanced over her shoulder at the retreating van and then met my gaze again. "Oh, it's okay. Nellie showed up when Iwas messaging you. We finished up just fine…But I could use a ride?" The way her voice rose at the end of her statement made my lips curl up at the corners. She wanted time with me and I wasn't even the one to pursue it.

"Of course, I'd love to…" I extended my elbow to her and she hooked her arm around it, and I guided her back toward my car, parked a few blocks away.

"So you made decent money, huh?" I asked, curious how these things worked. It was easy for me as a doctor. I took a salary from my practice and from the hospital and let the accountants sort it out. Yes, I was a business owner, but with my parents' money left to me when Dad died, and my wealth from my practice, I had enough to pay people to run the business end. Scarlett probably had to do that all herself.

"We did. It was a very profitable day, but I'd rather talk about you…" Her eyes sparkled as she looked up at me. "What did you do all day?" she asked me, and I felt like she was genuinely curious. It really felt amazing to have someone interested in me and my day. It was the littlest thing, but so touching.

"Honestly, I cleaned my house and thought about you." My ears burned and I felt nervous energy zing through me.

"About me?" she said curiously.

"More specifically, about that kiss…And honestly, about that night we shared." It was true. I hadn't stopped thinking about that night since I learned who she was. And no matter how many times I beat off trying to get her from my head, the images in my mind stayed firmly lodged there. I couldn't close my eyes without seeing her body and wanting to touch myself.

"Oh," she said, but it sounded like intrigue. "What were you thinking about that night?"

I opened the car door for her and she climbed in, so I had time to think about what to say to her when I got in. I'd never felt so flustered and excited in my life. When I sat down and starteddriving, I fell into a very awkward and uncomfortable silence. I wanted to spend more time with her, but I didn't know how to ask.

"Oh, turn here," she said, pointing as I rolled to a stop.

I don't know what came over me, but I blurted out: "Would you like to come to my place for a cup of coffee or a beer?" My mind instantly flashed to the last image I stored in my memory of my fridge. I had at least two beers, but I wasn't sure about cream for coffee. And now I was feeling sick in the gut again even in the split second it took her to respond.

"I'd love that," she mewled, and she shifted in her seat to angle her shoulders to face me more.

The entire atmosphere in the car shifted and it wasn't just because the heat had finally kicked in. The temperature rose a thousand degrees, and my dick felt plump and full.

I tried to make small talk about the Christmas market, but every time she responded I got jitters. Butterflies met the maelstrom of uncertain but hopeful emotions swirling in my chest and I pulled up in front of my house and shut the car off. I had no way of knowing if she felt the pull toward me that I was feeling toward her, but I had to know.

I climbed out and started to round the car to open her door, but she was out and met me in front of the car before I could do it. I held my keys in hand and led her to the front door, which in my haste I'd left unlocked. Silently cursing my stupidity, I opened it for her and she followed me in.

"This is nice," she said, smiling at the single Christmas decoration in my home—a poinsettia I purchased to give to my secretary. My house never got decorated anymore. I never felt much like celebrating anyway.

"Scarlett, I have to tell you, I'm feeling a lot of things right now…" I turned to face her and she smiled softly, and I swore she smirked at me. Her eyes fell to my lips, then swept over mybody, lingering on the bulge in my pants before returning to my face.

"I can see that," she said so quietly I wanted to lean closer to hear her say it again.