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“No, she is visiting a friend who is in the hospital in Vancouver. I’m covering the bakery.”

“Which hospital?”

She named it and I nodded. “I did my residency there. Good doctors.”

“You didn’t stay on?” she asked, surprised. Many doctors remained at the location of their residency.

“No,” I said shortly.

“You wanted something different?”

I swallowed before answering. “Something like that.”

I got out of the car and rounded it, opening her door. She smiled as I held out my hand. “Such a gentleman.”

“My father drummed that into my head. You always treat a lady well.”

I followed her up the stairs, and at her door, I cleared my throat, suddenly anxious. “Tonight was great. I’d like to do it again.”

She paused then smiled. “So would I.”

“I’m working days this week, but sometimes⁠—”

She cut me off. “I know. You get pulled into a double. I understand.”

“Could we plan a day and hope it doesn’t change?”

“Wednesday,” she responded. “It’s a quiet day at the bakery, and I have help so we get ahead with orders for the next day.”

“Wednesday is perfect.” I paused. “I’ll call. Or text.”

“Okay.”

I hesitated, wanting to bend and kiss her. Hold her for a moment. Once again, she solved my dilemma and rolled up onto her toes, pressing a kiss to my lips. I tugged her closer, tracing the shape of her mouth, how her plump lips felt pressed to mine. She drew back with a frown. “I wish I hadn’t eaten shrimp and so much garlic,” she muttered.

“The anise candies we had worked,” I replied, pulling her back and kissing her again. I flicked my tongue on her bottom lip, dipping inside as she opened for me. I groaned as our tongues touched, and her grip on my neck tightened. We explored each other slowly, deeply, tongues delving and learning. Pressing. Retracting. Tasting. She felt right pressed to my chest, her softness cradling my harder angles. She wound her arms around my neck, and I spread my fingers across her back, holding her as close as I could. Her hair brushed my skin, and I fisted the curls in one hand, keeping her against me with the other. The tresses were like silk that slid between my fingers.

Desire tore through me, hot and greedy. A sensation I hadn’t felt in a long time wrapping around every fiber of my being. Lighting every nerve ending and awakening thoughts and passion I hadn’t allowed in months.

She gasped as she felt me, hard and needy against her. She whimpered, the sound turning me on even further.

Then my phone rang from my pocket, loud and shrill. Stepping back, I pulled it from my pocket while cupping her face with my free hand and stroking her swollen bottom lip.

“Dr. VanRyan.”

I listened for a moment, disappointment flooding me as I knew I would have to leave her now. I nodded as I responded. “I’ll be there as quickly as I can.”

I hung up, meeting her eyes. “I have to go. A patient I was concerned about⁠—”

She cut me off. “I understand. Go.” She rose up and kissed me quickly. “Call me later.”

I caught her around the waist and kissed her back. “I will.”

Then, regretfully, I left her.

Wednesday felt as if it were forever away, yet the hours slipped by quickly. I was constantly busy in the ER, always on my feet, never enough time to handle all the patients and problems we saw daily. In the few spare moments of quiet I had, I found my mind returning to memories of my date with Maddy. Her smile, the easy conversation, our shared laughter.

The taste of her that lingered for hours. The scent of her supple skin. I liked how it felt to hold her. How well her hand fit into mine.