Page 61 of Dr. Off Limits

Jacob

Sutton turned off the radio and dipped her head so she could take in my parents’ house from where we were parked. We’d spent the entire drive to Norfolk listening to her favorite eighties pop songs, with her telling me stories from the salon—the time she cut someone’s neck, the woman who used to come in and insist Sutton massage her feet. We swapped stories of med school, too—late nights, Red Bull, and a lot of anatomy jokes.

Three hours of enforced no touching had been easier than expected. She was just always the best company.

“It’s so pretty,” she said.

“Not as pretty as you.” I cupped her neck and pulled her in for a kiss.

“Did you just compare me to a house?”

“Is that bad?” I grinned against her. It was nice spending so much time, even if the last few hours had been an education in eighties pop.

“Just don’t say it to someone you’re serious about. They may take offense.” She laughed but I didn’t.

“Just so you know...” I kissed her again on the mouth. “If I wasn’t serious about you, I wouldn’t have broken my golden rule.” I winced. I’d not spoken to my father about Sutton. I’d just told my mum I was bringing up a girlfriend. She’d not had a chance to ask me any questions because the new puppy had peed on the floor and she’d had to go supervise Dad clearing it up. It meant I hadn’t had the chance to tell them we worked together.

“What?” she asked.

“I’m not sure my mum and dad will like that we work together.”

“I get why I don’t like it. And why you don’t like it—I think. But why will they be concerned?”

“It will be fine. They just gave me the advice to avoid dating in the workplace when I started as a foundation doctor and it’s advice I’ve always followed... until you.”

She looked concerned. “So they’re not going to approve of me, and you tell me this as we pull up to their house?”

“Sorry, I just thought... I wanted to tell you before we went in, in case my dad says anything.”

She put her hand on her chest and exhaled in a self-soothing gesture.

“It’s going to be fine. It’s not you they won’t approve of—just the fact we work together.”

She shook her head. “This is our first fight, by the way. I need more heads-up than this in future when it comes to... anything.”

“Honestly, it will be fine.”

Mum appeared at the door to the house and a blur of red fur raced through her legs and out to greet us.

I leapt out of the car and rounded the engine to Sutton, who was out of the car before I had the chance to open the door for her.

“Dr. Cove,” Sutton said, holding out her hand to my mum. “It’s an honor to meet you.”

“Call me Carole.” My mum shook Sutton’s hand then pulled her in for a hug. “John, the bloody dog is out again,” she called over her shoulder. “You need to get her.”

“I’ll get her,” Sutton said, and before I could step in and do it myself, Sutton was chasing around the front garden after the dog. “What’s its name?”

I joined her. “Dog.”

“The dog’s name is Dog?” She laughed.

“I know. My mum insisted my father name him.”

“Well, it’s efficient,” she said, then sat down and crossed her legs. “Let’s sit down,” she said. “We’re chasing a dog who wants to be chased. Maybe if we sit down, she’ll come to us.”

As soon as we stood still, Dog realized we weren’t chasing her anymore, turned, and hurtled toward us like a rocket. More accurately, she hurtled toward Sutton and didn’t stop when she got to her, sending her backward.

“I knew you’d fit right in,” I said, as I grabbed Dog’s collar and pulled her off Sutton. “If I didn’t know you were into me, I’d be jealous of that make-out session.”

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