Page 73 of Doctorshipped
Duke’s voice carries in behind her, “Goodnight, ladies! Take care of my bride!” Then he shouts at the top of his lungs, “I’m madly in love with you, Shannon! You make me the happiest man in the world!”
He’s so out there—bold and shameless. It’s endearing and sweet. He’s the polar opposite of Grant. I can’t imagine Grant ever telling someone he loved them, let alone shouting it for all the world to hear. Except for Fiona. He’d do anything for her—probably even shouting that he loved her under the right circumstances.
Shannon glances around at each of us, her grin irrepressible. At the risk of sounding cliché, I’ll tell you Shannon’s glowing. Her eyes literally have a sparkle to them and a rosy hue flushes across her cheeks. You couldn’t wipe the smile off her lips if you tried.
Shannon shuts the door behind her, leans back on it and sighs. The room is suffused with heart-eye-emoji vibes.
“You two are putting the rest of our marriages to shame.” Laura teases.
“It’s that wedding day bliss,” Lexi says.
“Nope. It’s Duke,” Shannon says. “Always was. Always will be. And I’m about to become Mrs. Satterson!”
She gives a little squeal of joy and bounces on her toes. I can’t help but smile watching her.
“I know what you mean,” Em says. “Real life kicks in—laundry, dishes, homework, bedtime tantrums, sometimes fights and disagreements, but when all is said and done, I still love Aiden in a way I never knew I could love a man.”
“The hard times make love grow deep roots,” Laura says.
I have nothing to say.
Ella Mae’s words echo through my mind.Face it. You’re a single woman writing romance. That doesn’t sell.
I’m a good romance author. I write it well, and I write it in the context of creatures and heroes going on quests and fighting epic battles. But, in real life, Ella Mae’s got a point. I’m a single woman writing romance—not only a single woman, but a woman averse to matters of the heart when it comes to my own life.
I love watching my friends find their happily ever afters. But I’m committed to staying on the sidelines, never intending to jump in the pool. Always watching them splash around and enjoy what they’ve found.
Shannon plops onto the bed and conversation flows between all of us as usual.
After a while, Laura says, “So, did you all hear Meg asked Grant out?”
I nearly swallow my tongue. After the lie I foisted on my parents yesterday, I’ve been all twisted up about Grant. And, while I know we won’t ever date, the idea of him being romantically involved with someone else never occurred to me. He flat out said he’s never dating anyone. Will he date Meg?
Thankfully Em asks the question I can’t seem to eek out. “What did he say?”
“He turned her down. Told her he doesn’t date patients,” Laura says. “Cherry Blanchard spilled all the details at the salon this week. And Cherry said she’s so glad Hazel’s her nurse practitioner so she’s not officially a patient of Grant’s. She said, and I quote, it makes Grant fair game for her.”
Cherry and Grant? No. It won’t happen. Though, she’s beautiful and way sexier than I am. She literally oozes sex appeal. While I ooze something like a couch-potato crossed with a quirky free-spirit. It’s my chosen ooze. I don’t want to ooze anything but what I ooze. Enough about oozing.
Is Cherry Grant’s type?
Oh gosh. Fiona would never deal with Cherry as a mom. That would be a disaster. Cherry might appeal to Grant—he’s a lonely man. He may want companionship. And she’d be more than happy to give it any way he wants it. But, Fiona needs a mother figure. Cherry’s a single mom. Whenever an eligible man is within a ten mile radius, Cherry’s maternal instincts fly out the window faster than Aiden’s Llama Lily can spit. Which is pretty fast, if you are wondering.
My overthinking kicks into overdrive.
I barely hear my name being called.
“Jayme?” Shannon’s looking at me with a concerned and amused expression on her face.
“Huh?”
“Do you think Grant’s looking to date anyone?”
“Definitely not.”
My words come out a little more rapidly and absolute than I intended. And now all eyes in the room are on me.
“He basically said as much to me. He’s just focusing on being a dad and a doctor. He’s not interested in romance at all.” At least that’s what I’m telling myself tonight.
