Page 13 of Dr. Sexypants

He waited until I stepped inside and turned on a light before backing out and driving off.

I dropped onto my couch in a heap and mused out loud, “What a crazy day.”

That must’ve woken Dora, my twelve-year-old beagle who slept like the dead. Her full name was Dora the Exploring Beagle, after she’d found a hole in my fence and taken off on an adventure within two hours of me bringing her home from the shelter ten years ago.

Her idea of exploring these days consisted of finding the treats I hid around the house and yard whenever I left, then taking a nap.

“Hey, sweet girl,” I murmured while scratching her ears when she jumped onto the couch next to me. “You won’t believe what happened tonight.”

I was so grateful Lainey was safe, but I was worried about Brian and wished Justin would have gotten one more update before bringing me home.

Then there was the sex on his kitchen counter.

How the heck had that happened?

I mean, I knew how. But now that I had a second to reflect on it, I couldn’t believe it had. Especially considering who it was with.

I had no regrets—it’d been amazing, but I think I’d offended him when I said we couldn’t go on a date. I didn’t think casual hookups were his style—which is why I’d thought he’d be a good candidate to date Lainey.

Although maybe I’d been wrong about that because he’d had no problem hooking up with me, and it hadn’t taken much for him to drop the idea of dating. He didn’t even want to give me his phone number.

It’d kind of stung how easily he’d given up.

Which pissed me off.

I’d told him it wasn’t happening, and he accepted it—like a gentleman is supposed to. I had no business getting butthurt he didn’t try to change my mind.

Maybe it was because I’d seen the not-so-gentlemanly side of him—and I’d liked it.

****

Justin

I did rounds before heading to the ER. Small town doctors didn’t have the luxury of working solely in the emergency room.

There were only three admitted patients who weren’t in the Labor and Delivery wing: Gladys Caldwell had fallen after a dizzy spell due to dehydration and was on an IV. Frank Sheffield had an emergency appendectomy last night and was now resting comfortably, and Brian, whose surgery had gone “perfectly”. I only needed to check his incision to make sure there was no infection and prescribe more pain meds.

It should have been easy.

But treating a gunshot wound took me back to my time as a doctor in the field with the Marines.

When I’d lost my legs.

Well, the parts below the knees, anyway.

Brian had attempted small talk and jokes when I’d checked on him, and I’d been awkward as hell.

I’d gotten out of his room as quickly as I could and escaped to the bathroom where I did the breathing exercises my shrink had taught me. Thankfully, it didn’t take long for my heart rate to return to normal. I quickly splashed cold water on my face, patted it dry, and unlocked the door.

Who did I run into the minute I walked into the hall? Lainey and Kristy.

“Hi, Justin,” Lainey said with a sheepish smile. “I’m so sorry about dinner.”

I chuckled and replied, “You had a pretty good excuse.” I didn’t ask about rescheduling. “How are you feeling?”

“Still a little shaken up, but I’ll be okay. I’m just worried about Brian now.”

“He’s going to be out of here before you know it.” I glanced over at Kristy and asked, “How are you feeling?”