Page 2 of Yes, Doctor
The hours flew by while they were busy and by afternoon, she was ready for time to slow.“Well, it’s just you and me, kid,” Dr.Drake said when they passed in the hall.
“Yep,” she chirped.
Yep.Brilliant, Chloe.That was the best she could do?She wished she had the ability to pop out witty replies.Or somehow impress him with her amazing CNA skills, but the tasks in a gyno clinic didn’t really give her the opportunity.She had a friend who worked at the hospital as a nurse assistant and received free movie passes every time she saved a life.Now that would be exciting.Cleaning up puke, not so much.
They continued through the afternoon and by four o’clock, she found a chance to slip out the back door.She had a pack of smokes she and her best friend Leigh Ann had bought to share at the bar that weekend.She didn’t consider herself an addict—more of a social smoker, particularly when she drank, but having them knocking around in her purse made the temptation too great.She should have given the rest of the pack to Leigh Ann.
She pulled out a Natural American Spirit and lit it.Only organic tobacco when you’re trying to get lung cancer.Smoking made her think of Leigh Ann, so she dialed her number at work.
“This is Leigh Ann,” she said in her very business-like tone.She worked as a graphic designer for an ad agency.
“Hey, girlfriend.”
“Hey, what’s up?”
“I’m just taking a quick smoke break at work.”
“You better not let those doctors catch you smoking, they’d probably fire you on the spot.”
She giggled.“I know.I’m so bad.And I’m working alone with Dr.Dreamy today.”Somehow the idea of being naughty while under his watch gave her more of a high than the nicotine.
“Ooh, lucky you.What’s his scoop, anyway?Is he married?”
“Divorced.I don’t know if he has a girlfriend, though.All I know is I’d get in the stirrups for him any day.”
The sound of a deliberate throat clearing nearly made her throw the phone down with her cigarette as she sprang to her feet and whirled around.
Dr.Drake stood with his arms folded across his chest and eyebrows raised but she thought she detected amusement flitter over his face.
“I-I’m sorry,” she stammered.“Are you finished already?”She dropped her phone in her purse and pulled out a little bottle of rose water, spritzing herself to remove the smoke smell.As if it wasn’t already too late to hide the evidence.“That was the last patient, right?”
“I don’t know,” he said.“Whose job is it to keep track?”
“Um...mine?”
“Yeah,” he said slowly, turning around.“That’s kinda what I was thinking.”
“I’m sorry,” she said, trotting after him.“I was just taking a quick break.”
He went into an examination room and she followed.“I didn’t know you smoked,” he said, sitting down on a stool and opening one of the drawers.
“I-I don’t.I mean, I know you just caught me smoking a cigarette, but I’m not a smoker.That was totally a...one-off,” she said breathlessly.
He turned and pinned her with a blue-eyed gaze.“I see.”
She had the notion he was toying with her—playing stern just to watch her panic.Which was better than him being actually annoyed with her because then she would worry all weekend about her upcoming performance review and, hopefully, raise.
He pointed at the sample birth control pills in the drawer he had opened.“These need to be re-stocked.”
“Okay, I’ll get right on that,” she said, whipping around and practically running to the supply closet.
Darren had always foundChloe adorable.He loved how easy it was to reduce her to blushes and stammers, the way she scurried around to please him even though it seemed like everyone else got on her nerves.
He stood up from the stool when she returned, standing back with crossed arms to watch her stack the sample pills in neat rows.“So,” he drawled.“Who’s Dr.Dreamy?”
He shouldn’t go there, but he just couldn’t resist.
She stilled, not turning around.When she began stacking again, her fingers fumbled, the boxes scattering across the drawer.She mumbled something.
