Page 73 of Paging Doctor Grump

“I have other reasons to keep you around.”

The heated look she gives me is enough to make me want to drag her to the nearest on-call room and strip her down. We wouldn’t stop until she was begging me to come.

But now is not the time or the place. No matter how much I want her.

“Later,” she says, her voice soft and sultry like she knows exactly what’s on my mind. “I’ll make it worth your wait.”

Heat surges through my body and straight to my cock. “I’m sure you will.”

She hums and rubs her eyes. “I swear, one more night shift is going to be the end of me. I can’t wait for the day when I can work mostly days. That fellowship is going to be so nice.”

A thousand different thoughts race through my mind. Even though I know she’s comfortable with her decision to stay here, I don’t want her to regret anything.

“And you’re still sure about applying to the fellowship here?” I cross my arms, hating the way there’s a slightly strangled tone in my voice. “You know I would follow you anywhere. If you want to go overseas for a fellowship, I would chase you there too. You don’t have to stay here just because I’m here.”

Jessie pats my shoulder. “I love that you would follow me to the ends of the earth, but I’m sure about this. You want to start the rural ambulance service here, and I want to be around to help you.”

“I don’t want you to stop chasing your dreams because of me.” My chest constricts as I twist to face her. “Jessie, I can start an ambulance service anywhere.”

“And you’re going to start it here. I’m sure about you, and I’m sure about what I want. We’re going to build our life here.”

“Jessie.”

“Nope.” She cups my jaw, her thumb drifting across my cheek. “I want to stay here and do this with you. I want to be part of the legacy that we’re building here.”

“I don’t want you to resent me in a couple years when you could start thinking that maybe you should have applied for the other fellowship.”

She leans forward, ghosting her lips across mine before pulling back fully. “That’s not going to happen. I love you, and I’ve thought a lot about this over the last couple months. Colorado is where I belong.”

I open my mouth again, ready to ask her if she’s sure. I know her and I know that she would have thought about every angle of her fellowship, but I’m still worried.

“I’m making the choice that’s right for me.” Jessie leans back in her seat and stretches her legs in front of her.

I have to make my peace with that. Jessie is an intelligent woman and she knows what’s best for her, even if I have my doubts.

“Mom is going to be here soon.” Jessie changes the subject, the easy smile on her face fading. “She wants to see us for a little bit and then she wanted to talk about helping with some of the basic first aid training for farmers’ spouses.”

“I’m sure they would love to learn from someone who has experience with that kind of thing.” I finish off the coffee and push the cup to the side. “How are you feeling about her coming out here?”

“Never thought I would see the day, honestly.” She sighs and takes her ponytail down, running her hand through the strands. “I want to believe that it’s going to be a good trip. The weekly calls we have are helping our relationship, but it’s still a little tense at times.”

“She staying with us or in a hotel?”

“Hotel.” Jessie’s smile wavers again. “Does it make me a bad daughter for not allowing her to stay with us? She didn’t ask, but it feels like one of those things that I probably should have offered her.”

“Do you want her to stay with us?”

“No. I don’t think that would be comfortable for anyone.”

I shrug a shoulder. “Then she stays in a hotel. She wouldn’t have booked one if she wanted to stay with us.”

Before Jessie can say anything else, our pagers go off. I pull mine from my pocket, glancing at the incoming emergency flashing across the screen.

“Guess we better get going.”

That beautiful smile is back on her face as she pushes back from the table and gets up. I stand with her, and we take off at a run through the hospital halls and to the emergency room.

Nurses and other doctors are calling codes and orders as several gurneys flood into the room. Charred skin and burn marks greet us.

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