Page 11 of Examining Ella

But work was going to be calling him sooner than expected.

“We need the doctor!” someone shouted.

“Where’s the ships doctor?” another person called.

Bryan ran toward the commotion, ready to help. When he arrived at the seating area around the pool, he saw several folks had gathered around a woman who looked to be passed out in one of the chaise lounges.

“I’m one of the ship’s doctors,” he said. “Please stand back and give me some room.”

His first thought was this was heat related. But one of the first rules of medicine was to never assume. He’d examine the patient and let the data speak for itself.

But he was the one who nearly fainted when he saw the unconscious woman’s face.

Surely not! It can’t be her! Am I so preoccupied with her that I’m imagining this person to be Ella?

But a closer look told him that his eyes were not deceiving him.

Ella Grant was on the Little Star.

And she needed his help.

Chapter Nine

Ella’s eyes fluttered open and then closed again.

She finally settled on a half-awake, half-dreamy state. She slowly brought her head up and looked around. A moment later, she realized she was in an exam room.

She wasn’t surprised to see Dr. Bryan Kirk standing there.

She had this dream often.

“Mmm. Dr. Kirk,” she said, smiling as she reached out her arms. “Take me, Daddy. Take care of me and just…take me.” She giggled and fell back.

She finally opened her eyes all the way to see him grinning down at her as he stood near the padded exam table where she lay.

“You’re not drunk,” he said.

“No.”

“I thought perhaps that was why you passed out.”

“I never drink in this dream.”

“Oh. I see.”

“What?”

He cleared his throat. “I have some news for you. Brace yourself.”

She giggled. “You’re going to take me right here on the exam table? I freaking love this dream!”

He chuckled. “No. You’re, eh, not dreaming.”

“Mmm. If only that were true.”

He cleared his throat again. There was something about it that got her attention. She sat up quickly, but the room spun just as the world had out on the deck, and she felt woozy all over again.

She laid back down and groaned.

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