Page 57 of Paging Dr. Hart
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Present, Orlando, Florida
You belong with me. It echoes in my head the next day as I get ready in my room. When I’m showering.You belong with me. When I’m brushing my teeth.You belong with me.When I’m getting dressed.You belong with me.
Did Ethan really say that last night, or had I been dreaming? What would it be like? To belong to someone? To be part of something greater than myself?
When I woke up this morning, Ethan was already gone. A note on the nightstand read:
Off to the gym.
Pick you up at 8 am for the conference.
Can’t wait to go to Epcot with you today!
Ethan
The last line of the note raised a thrill through my body—excitement over Ethan or Disney or maybe both, I wasn’t sure. It was hard to sort out all the strong feelings I was having this morning.
Plus, how cute is it that Ethan had signed his name? Like, who else would leave notes next to my sleeping head? A silly smitten smile broke out whenever I thought of that signature. God, he is adorableandhot. Like catnip for women.
A knock on my hotel door is followed by Ethan calling through it, “Tiffy? You alive in there? We gotta get going before registration closes.”
“Coming,” I yell back.
When I step out of the bathroom, a cloud of steam and perfume follows. I’ve made sure to look extra nice today, curling my hair until it falls into smooth shiny waves away from my face and taking time to get my makeup just right. I’m wearing a form-fitting gray pencil skirt and an ivory blouse with low black heels to complete my ensemble. It’s professional with a feminine kick. A sexy librarian look was my goal.
“Ready,” I sing out and open the door to let him in. I sashay across the room to get my purse, feeling kind of proud of myself. I’m not normally a sashaying kind of woman.
It’s satisfying to see Ethan’s eyes widen and to hear him say, “You look nice. All those khaki-wearing radiologists downstairs won’t be able to concentrate on the many causes of cardiomegaly with you around.”
Suddenly self-conscious, I clutch my chest. “Is it too much? I can change.” I’m about to wheel around and sprint back into the bathroom when Ethan hastily says, “No. No. You’re perfect. This conference just got a whole lot more interesting, is all.”
His appreciative gaze rakes over my body, so heavy it’s as if he’s just reached out and caressed me. The slow, sexy smile he gives me lets me know he likes what he sees.
“Come on, then. Let’s go. We wouldn’t want to keep them waiting.” I bat my eyelashes and deliberately brush my arm against his as I walk by, enjoying the way it makes Ethan suck in his breath. It’s been a long time since I flirted. Those skills are so rusty they’re almost nonexistent, but today I might refresh them.
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Ethan and I join the long line that leads to the registration table. After I’m signed in, the registration woman hands me an ID badge. It hangs on a long red lanyard. I turn it over in my hands, inspecting it.
American College of Advanced Radiology (ACAR)
22nd Annual Conference
Dr. Tiffany Hart
Columbus, OH
An extra green ribbon along the bottom says,Guest Speaker. It’s only given to doctors who are giving lectures. I slip the lanyard over my head and take in my surroundings. We’re in the conference area of the hotel. A wide lobby has beige carpet and paneled walls. Plump leather club chairs with small end tables line the room.
Other doctors, mostly dressed in khaki just as Ethan predicted, mill around chatting with each other or cluster around the breakfast buffet. This is one of the largest annual radiology conferences, so the lectures will be held in the hotel’s main ballroom. Large wooden double doors stand open, offering a view of the room filled with rows of uncomfortable-looking chairs.
Before we go in, I want breakfast and coffee. Ethan places his matching red lanyard over his head, messing up his hair. I almost reach up to smooth down the unruly spikes but catch myself at the last minute. “Want to see what they have to eat?”
“Yes, please. I’m starving.” Ethan heads to the buffet, his long legs eating up the distance between him and the food.
“You’realwayshungry,” I say with an affectionate eye roll as I follow him.
