Page 93 of Craving Cooper

She nods her head and gives me a smile, like she knows exactly what I’ve been doing since she left, but she doesn’t say a word and heads for the ladies’ room while I check the voicemail.

It’s been a horrible afternoon.

Obviously that’s mostly because I’ve missed Mallory, but it’s also because I’ve had some particularly difficult patients to attend to, and by the end of the day, I’m more than relieved when I hear her lock the front door.

“You have remembered my doctor’s appointment on Friday, haven’t you?” Greta says, as she wipes down the countertop and I turn from my seat at the computer.

“Doctor’s appointment?”

“Yes. I told you about it last week.”

She may well have done, but a lot has happened since then.

“Remind me?”

She rolls her eyes. “I need to leave early.”

“How early?”

“No later than five.”

I check the diary and nod my head. “The last appointment is at four-thirty and it’s just a check-up, so that’ll be fine.”

“Good. Because I’m going anyway.”

I chuckle, blocking out the five pm slot, so no-one can book it. It’s something I ought to have done when she told me, but I guess I’ve been preoccupied, and I smile, thinking about that perfect preoccupation, who’s sitting out at the reception desk. I won’t object to finishing a little early on Friday myself, and my smile widens as I contemplate an entire weekend with Mallory.

“You’re looking very cheerful,” Greta says, and I nod my head.

“I’m feeling very cheerful.”

“Might that have anything to do with Mallory?”

“It might.”

She smiles. “So things are working out okay?”

“Things are working out spectacularly.”

“Then don’t screw it up.”

Her reply makes me laugh, and she shakes her head, still smiling, as she leaves the room, her work completed for the day.

I’ve just got a few more notes to finish, and once that’s done, I shut down the computer and head out to the reception. Mallory’s sitting there, her desk clear and her computer already switched off. The blind has been pulled down over the front door, and I can’t see any reason for her to still be here… except…

“Are you waiting for me?”

She nods her head, getting to her feet, and I hold out my hand, waiting for her to take it, and then lead her to the stairs. This feels less frantic than at lunchtime, but still so gloriously normal, and I wonder how we can have slid into such an easy-going relationship so easily. I also wonder why the thought of being in a relationship doesn’t bother me in the slightest… although I’m not going to waste too much time thinking about it.

I’m just going to enjoy it.

Once we get to my apartment door, I open it, surprised when Mallory pulls back.

“I need to go upstairs.”

“What for?”

“I have to feed Saffron.”

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