Page 16 of Fourteen of a Kind

“How did the lecture go?” he asked.

“It went great.”

“Hi, sweetheart.” My mom’s smiling face appeared on the screen.

“Hi, Mom. I love you both, but I’m really tired. Grandma took me shopping all day, and I have to be up early.”

“Okay. Get some sleep, and good luck tomorrow,” my dad said. “I love you.”

“I love you too.”

It was Saturday morning. I got up early, put on my running clothes, and went for a run in Central Park. My grandma was meeting a friend for breakfast, which made me happy because I got to spend the time alone I craved.

After running for a while, I sat on the bench to catch my breath. A man jogged by me, then stopped and turned around.

“You’re the girl who tried to buy the tuna fish sandwich at the hospital cafeteria.” He grinned.

“Dr. Malone.” I smiled.

“I don’t think it’s fair that you know my name, and I don’t know yours.”

“Ella.”

“Beautiful name for a beautiful woman. Do you mind?” He pointed to the bench.

“Not at all.” I smiled.

“Graham.” He extended his hand.

“It’s nice to meet you, Graham.” I placed my hand in his as my belly fluttered.

I thought he was sexy in his hospital scrubs, but seeing him in jogging pants and a tight t-shirt took his sexiness to a whole new level.

“So, Ella. Did you like the ham and cheese sandwich?”

“I did. Thank you for the suggestion.”

“You’re welcome. I try to save whoever I can from the nasty tuna fish the hospital provides.” A handsome smirk crossed his lips.

I laughed. “It’s that bad?”

“It’s that bad.” He grinned. “Were you visiting someone there?”

“Uh, yeah,” I lied.

I didn’t want to tell him who I really was and why I was there because, for once, I just wanted to be Ella Kind and not twenty-two-year-old Dr. Ella Kind. I’d never see him again, so telling a little white lie was safe. Guys had been a problem for me since I was old enough to start dating because they were always intimidated. Besides, I couldn’t stop thinking about what Landon said about me being too much.

“I hope whoever you were visiting is okay,” Graham said.

“Yeah, she is. It was just a friend who had minor surgery.” I smiled.

“Are you finished running? If not, maybe we could finish together,” Graham said.

I stared into his smoldering blue eyes. He was hot, and the fluttering in my belly wouldn’t cease.

“I’d like that.” I smiled.

“Great. Let’s go.” He extended his hand and helped me up.

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