Page 5 of Doctor's Surprise Bride

“Yeah, I’m fine. I’m sorry about—”

Wait.Sorry?

What exactly do I have to be sorry about? I received a message and seem to have showed up to the right place, because this is definitely Ashton Ford. Even so, he doesn’t seem to recognize me, which could mean that he’s either playing mind games with me or … someone played a trick on him. My mind floats to the person that let me into the apartment, some guy named Marcus. Dread trickles down my spine. I have no clue what’s happened here but one thing’s for sure: I have to get out of here.

This time, when I move to get up, a sharp pain shoots up my leg from my knee and I wince before falling back on the couch. I feel tears start to pool in my eyes. How bad is my luck for all of this to happen in a single night?

“Yeah, I thought it might start to hurt. It’s beginning to swell up. Don’t move a muscle, I’ll go grab you an ice pack.”

Ashton’s command sends another shiver down my spine. I watch him get up and walk away, taking in his his massive build as leaves for the kitchen. He’s only gone for a few seconds before he is back with an ice pack wrapped in a kitchen towel. He places it carefully against my knee and the room falls into an awkward silence.

“So, it seems there’s been a misunderstanding,” he says, his eyes fixed on mine. His voice is raspy, his gaze so intense that I have to remind myself to breath. “Forgive me for not introducing myself first. I’m Doctor Ashton Ford.”

Oh, I’m aware.

“What do you mean by misunderstanding?” I ask instead.

“I think the person that linked us together was my cousin, Marcus. I have no idea how he got in touch with you or why. For a grown man, he sure seems to forget we’re not teenagers anymore. I’m sorry you got roped in on his joke.”

“A joke,” I mumble. So … This is a prank for them. My life—the risk I took, swallowing my pride and putting myself out there—was just a joke between family members? I shake my head, feeling very done with the night. I thought Doctor Ford had the reputation of being no-nonsense but fair. I would never have expected him to do something like this. Is this what he does? Toy with women just because he can?

I was right. Someone like him—smart, charming wealthy—would never want someone like me. The makeup and fancy dress I’m wearing can’t camouflage the real me. My chest grows tight, an unseen weight pressing down on my lungs, and I fight the need to take in huge gulps of air.

“I want to leave,” I say, rising from the couch and ignoring the throbbing pain in my knee. I start limping for the door, digging around in my purse for my phone to text Rayne for a ride.

Ashton reaches for my hand and says, “Hey, it’s okay. Why don’t you relax for a bit?”

I move away before he can touch me. I am barely holding onto my emotions right now and if I feel those hands touch me one more time, I might let them spill over. He’s a stranger; it shouldn’t be that comforting to feel his warm hands on me.

“I-I’m sorry for tonight,” I stammer, my hand already on the doorknob and turning it.

“Daisy, hold on a second. At least let me drive you home.”

I don’t wait for him as I rush out of his apartment to the elevator, ignoring the ache of my knee. It’s slowing me down, so he catches up to me immediately. Damn those long legs of his.

“You don’t need to take me home. My friend is picking me up,” I say as he joins me in the elevator. I punch the lobby button multiple times before the door slides closed and we start moving down.

Ashton lets out a sigh before draping his jacket over my bare shoulders. I didn’t even see him grab it. I shudder at the sudden warmth, and shiver when I realize it smells like him. Like good coffee and expensive cologne. I want to shrug it off, but I find myself clinging to the comfort his scent provides.

The second the elevator doors open, I rush out, limping across the lobby and ignoring the stares I can feel getting drawn to me. It’s harder to ignore the looming presence following me closely even as I make for the exit.

I see Rayne’s car the second I’m out in the open air, but before I can run to her, Ashton places his hands on my shoulders and turns me to face him.

His eyes are dark with worry. “You’re hurt. You need to treat your swollen knee with an ice pack and take some ibuprofen before you go to bed, okay? Call me if …”

His voice trails off when I take a step back and away from his hold. His eyes stay on mine as I put some distance between us. He’s just putting on a front, pretending to care now that we’re in public. He’s acting as if he and his cousin didn’t just make me look like an idiot, and I want to call him out on it, but I’m really not one to cause a scene. Maybe someday someone will call him out on his bullshit, but it’s not going to be me. Not today.

I’m too emotionally raw for that.

With one last glance at the handsome doctor, I climb into Rayne’s car, and she drives away.

Chapter Four

Ashton

I see her in my dreams, the flower from the night before. Just as she’s within my grasp, she disappears into thin air.

I wake up with a start. My eyes shoot to the clock on my night stand, and I let out a groan when I realize I’ve only been asleep for four hours. It’s really not enough, but it’ll have to do.

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