“Well, I’ll uncomplicate it. This is the last time that I prescribe Plan B, and I’m not putting you on birth control until the two of you have a conversation about what you both want and come to an agreement.” I hold out the piece of paper after tearing it off the pad, knowing that when that conversation happens, my girl will know exactly who’s been breaking into her house. “And I’ll know if you’re lying, Shelby.”
Her brow furrows as she accepts the prescription. “Thank you.” Shelby hesitates before adding, “We talked about condoms . . . kind of. He wasn’t really a fan.”
I chuckle at the memory.
Brushing the bangs off her forehead, I greet her sleepy gaze with a smile.
“I’m late. You should be asleep by now.”
Shelby shakes her head clumsily. “Nope. I knew you would come.”
“Of course. I would have been here sooner, but Riley refused to settle down. Too much candy.” I roll my eyes before turning them to the clock on her bedside. 11:58. I tut when I see what sits beside the digital clock.
“Use a condom?” she whispers, biting her lip, her voice so timid that the order sounds like a plea.
“No,” I answer with a shake of my head and a firm tone. I give her a small smile to take away the sting of myrebuttal. Rubbing my nose against hers, I breathe her in before pressing a small kiss to her now parted lips.
“Happy Halloween, sweetheart.”
Of course, the only memory Shelby will have from that conversation is the consequences. A sliced condom on the table top. A clear message. I’m not interested in using them.
And birth control is out of the question while she remains oblivious to who I am. It’d be giving her a green light to find someone else.Fuck no!
“Well, not everyone likes using them,” I offer unhelpfully.
Folding my hands on my desk, I give a look that says our conversation is over, because it is.
“Okay.” Shelby squirms. “Well, thank you for this.” She waves the prescription.
“Make sure to rest and take baths.”
My stomach twists as she turns to leave.
As I watch her walking out the door, a thought occurs to me not for the first time.Who says I have to wait a year?
CHAPTER SEVEN
Shelby
Well, that could have gone worse . . . not!
Shoving another forkful of frosting-covered cake into my mouth, I groan.
I nearly orgasmed on my doctor’s fingers. My doctor, who also happens to be my hot neighbor. At least one of us stayed professional.
Or not,I smirk.
I hadn’t been the only one affected. Doc just hid it better, but nothing was hiding THAT bulge. Some of my self-loathing and embarrassment melts away.
Get a grip.I mentally slap myself. What would a gorgeous thirty-eight-year-old doctor want with a part-time barista?
Rolling my eyes, I stab a larger piece of cake with my fork and stuff it in my mouth. Besides, how would I explain my yearly visitor? Would my mystery man be jealous?
Raising a brow, I contemplate the thought, but before I can get dragged into what-ifs, a timid knock sounds at my front door. It was so quiet that if I’d had the TV on, I wouldn’t have heard it.
Pushing away from the kitchen island, I place my fork next to the tray of half-eaten birthday cake.
A second knock sounds as I’m crossing the living room, this one a little more insistent.
