Page 24 of Burned By the Broken Doctor

She throws me a look that could curdle milk. “Don't,” she snaps, her voice tight.

“But…” I stammer, the word hanging unfinished in the air.

“Don't,” she repeats, her voice even sharper. Without another word, she turns on her heel and storms out of the grocery store, her exit a silent explosion of pent-up frustration.

I watch her go, the anger slowly draining out of me, replaced by a dull ache of regret. I rake my hands through my hair, a frustrated groan escaping my lips.

“Goddammit, Liam,” I mutter to myself. What have I done?

My head throbs in rhythm with the receding taillights of Emma's car. The echo of her engine fades into the afternoon hum of Harmony Creek, leaving behind a hollow emptiness that mirrors the ache in my chest. I can still feel the imprint of the kiss—the soft press of her lips against mine, the way her body had momentarily molded against mine. A jolt of electricity shoots through me, a memory of that night in my New York apartment flashing before my eyes.

What the hell did I just do?

Running a hand through my hair, I squeeze my eyes shut, willing the image away. Did that really happen? I’ve always prided myself on rational control, especially when it comes to women. And I just grabbed Emma Cole in broad daylight and kissed her in front of the entire town?

Maybe I need to find a good psychiatrist. There’s something wrong in my head. That’s the only answer to these impulsive actions and questionable judgment.

Stealing a glance around, I notice several curious faces staring my way, muttering among each other. Their eyes prickle me with a dozen half-formed questions as I shoulder my bag and head to my car, which is parked haphazardly at the curb outside the grocery store.

Halfway there, a cheerful voice calls out to me. “Dr. Miller's son, isn't that right?”

I look up to see a woman who’s surely in her seventies. She stares at me with kind eyes and a warm smile.

“Uh, yeah,” I mumble, unsure where this is going.

“Heading downtown?” she continues, her voice bright. “My son just called. Says he can't pick me up anymore, and who knows how long it'll take to get a cab?”

I hesitate for a moment, and then a sigh escapes my lips. “Hop in.” I walk to open the passenger seat for her.

As we pull out of the parking lot, I catch her stealing glances at me. Finally, she speaks up. “You're a very handsome young man,” she whispers in a conspiratorial whisper. “I'm glad our jewel is safe with you.”

My brow furrows. “Jewel? Safe?” What in the world was she talking about?

Her smile widens. “Oh, honey, don't play coy. I saw the whole thing. Your passionate kiss and lover's tiff with Emma Cole.” She bobs her head. “It's about time she found a decent man.”

My jaw clenches. “We're not…dating,” I protest.

“Nonsense,” she cuts me off with a chuckle. “Now, pull over here, dearie. This is perfect.”

I glance around. This isn't a neighborhood, just a dusty stretch of warehouses on the outskirts of town. “There's nowhere to go here.” I frown in confusion.

“My son is coming to pick me up here,” she replies, her voice unwavering.

“Oh!”

She leans toward me. “Emma just needs a little time, that's all. This drive was a test to see if your eyes shine with love for our Emma. You passed the test, son. A fine-looking young man like you, full of passion… You'll do just fine.”

My mouth hangs open in silent shock as she unbuckles her seatbelt and practically hops out of the car. Squeezing my eyes shut, I grab the steering wheel with white knuckles, desperately trying to control the storm of emotions brewing inside me.

This is the nightmare Emma warned me about. Now, not only had I completely messed things up with her, but the entire town is already gossiping about a non-existent relationship.

Taking a few deep breaths, I force myself to open my eyes. The car behind me blares its horn, shattering the silence. Slowly, I merge back into traffic, my head pounding. The memory of the kiss lingers on my lips, a bittersweet reminder of my recklessness.

There were two reasons behind that kiss. The first is to unsettle her infuriating friends. Normally, I don’t meddle in someone's personal business unless they’re a patient on my table. But the way they tore into her, their smug smiles and thinly veiled barbs, ignited a protective streak I didn't know I possessed.

The second reason felt like a secret simmering beneath the surface. Since that day at Damon's house, I can no longer ignore that there’s a spark between us that unsettles me whenever we’re in the same room. The kiss was a test, a way to see if the feelings I felt were real.

And they were. Real enough to leave me wanting more.

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