Page 6 of Dr. Danger

Her words are kind, but they still dim my spirits. ”You have nothing to worry about, Mal.”

She smiles and helps me settle into bed. ”If you say so. Now, let’s get you some rest. I’ll bring you a cup of tea."

My mind drifts back to Dr. Deathweather. His sharp tongue, and the way his touch sent shivers down my spine. I close my eyes, trying to deal with the conflicting feelings he stirs in me in a healthy way.

But there’s nothing healthy about this.

Tomorrow, he’ll be back. I’ll get to see him again, talk to him, be close to him. And those cruel green eyes of his? I don’t think they’re as cruel as they seem.

4.

Darren

Next morning, I’m back at Weston Manor, standing in the grand foyer, tapping my foot impatiently as the butler approaches.

"Dr. Deathweather," he greets me with a nod, "Miss Weston is out in the garden.”

”Did she forget about our appointment?” I clip.

The butler thinly smiles. ”I think she has been distracted by the bird song.”

I suppress a flare of annoyance. Birds? Who has time for birdsong? I was expecting her to wait for her doctor, yet now I have to share her attention with…birds.

Feathery things that shit on you from the sky. That’s what distracted her. If that’s not a blow to a man’s ego then I don’t what is.

"Very well," I reply, curbing my temper and I follow the butler through the manor to the garden entrance.

I step outside—glaring at the enemy’s habitat. Hedges sculpted into whimsical shapes, vibrant flower beds in full bloom, stone paths that lead to secluded corners. The air is thick with the scent of lilies and fresh earth. Overhead, the sky is a clear blue, and the sunlight filters through the trees, casting frail shadows on the ground.

How annoyingly lovely.

Following the stone path, I feel a biting reprimand on my tongue. I’m ready to give her a piece of my mind about her memory loss…but come to a sudden stop.

Avon’s sitting on a stone bench, her head tilted slightly upward. Her eyes are closed, and a soft smile plays on her lips as she listens to the birds in the trees. Her posture is relaxed, her hands resting lightly in her lap. She looks so…tranquil.

I’d feel like a monster if I disrupted her now.

Something clenches in my chest at the sight of her serene face. The words I had ready to scold her die on my lips. Instead, I find my initial annoyance ebbing. I’m not used to thinking about anyone other than myself, unless I get paid but right now that’s exactly what I’m doing.

I lurk in the shadow of a large oak tree, just observing. There's a need to be taken care of in her, that stirs something deep inside me. And I no longer see her as a patient but a girl whose body I want to cover with mine. She’ll probably faint underneath me of course, won’t even be able to withstand having her legs bent around my head.

Fuck, she’s become more than just a case to handle. And she’s managed to pierce through the icy exterior I have so carefully maintained. But maybe she’d be horrified if she knew how I felt. Especially considering she doesn’t like my ”bedside manners.”

I take a deep breath, steeling myself and the thought of rejection makes my heart feel cold again.

"Enjoying your little fairytale?" I say, my voice cutting through the birdsong.

Avon flinches, her serene expression shattering as she snaps out of her daydream. Her eyes fly open, but then, to my surprise, she fires a wide smile in my direction as if she’s happy to see me and couldn’t care less about my lack of decency. The sheer brightness of it makes me feel as if my clothes are suddenly too small, constricting and uncomfortable.

"Good morning, Dr. Deathweather," she twitters, as if I hadn't just rudely disrupted her little hobby.

She rises from the bench, her movements unsteady. I step forward, ready to grab her in case she caves.

”It is a good morning, isn’t it?” she breathes, her eyes widening a little at the lack of my response. ”Even you have to agree with that.”

”Do I?” I clip, shoving my hands into my pockets. ”Get inside the house. We need to start the tests," I add brusquely.

But Avon shakes her head, still smiling as if she refuses to let me shake her. "Please, just a little while longer. I don’t feel as bad today, and I want to savor the moment."

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