Page 6 of The Doctor's Surprise Family

“Now, you kids go on. Rest for your drive back.”

Our walk up was crisp, a chill in the air. I breathed deep and smelled fall, dried leaves and woodsmoke. Lights lined the drive, mellow against the backdrop of colorful leaves. I got that sense again I’d stepped into a postcard, and then Claire stopped at the steps of the guesthouse. She turned to me and the light caught her hair, bringing out highlights like in a painting. Her apple cheeks dimpled as she smiled up at me. I had time to think,is this where I kiss her?Then she fished her keys out.

“Now, which one… Ah, here.” She picked out a silver one and gave it a jingle. “If this were a movie, I’d probably drop these.” She dropped them and caught them in her other hand. “Then you’d pick them up for me, and on your way up, we’d kiss.” Her cheeks turned pink. “I can’t believe I just said that.”

“I could make like I didn’t hear. Or maybe I did?” I took her keys from her, then took her hand. She didn’t pull back, and I moved closer. Claire tilted her head back, and just like that, I kissed her.

CHAPTER 3

CLAIRE

I’d had just enough wine to dare Blake to kiss me, but not enough to dull the sensation. I felt it all when our lips met, his hot mouth on mine. His hand in my hair, then on my shoulder. A flutter of excitement deep in my belly, the promise of bright bursts of fireworks to come.

“Wait,” he said, “wait. We’ve both had some wine.” He stepped back and I followed him, chasing his warmth.

“I’m not drunk. Are you?”

He laughed. “No, I’m not. But, are you sure?—”

A light came on in the big house, and I plucked back my keys. I worked the lock without looking, behind my back, and winked up at Blake. “I’m sober, just happy. And, if I’m honest…” I looked away.

“If you’re honest, what?”

“You know you’re good-looking.”

Blake hooked a finger under my chin. He tilted my face up and I felt my cheeks redden.

“What are you saying?”

I took him by both hands and pulled him inside. The door slammed behind us, and we both jumped, then laughed.

“I’m saying this isn’t, it’s not just tonight. It’s not just an impulse because you’re here and you’re hot.” Blake’s brows shot up, and I rolled my eyes. “That’s right, I said it. You’re hot. You’re a snack. Don’t pretend you don’t know it.”

“Pretend I don’t.” He cupped my face with his hand. I pressed my cheek to his palm, cool from the night.

“You’re tall,” I said, and hid my face in his hand. “And you have those huge hands, and, you know. Muscles. But the first thing I noticed…” I bit my lip. “You’ll laugh.”

“Promise I won’t.”

I pulled back to look at him, right in his eyes. Hewasa prime specimen, a hot slab of man. But it wasn’t his gray eyes that had caught my attention, or his square jaw, or his scratchy gold stubble. It wasn’t even his smile, though that had its charms. What had grabbed me that first day he walked into class was something more subtle, but to me, more endearing.

“Remember that first day of Hargreaves’ class?”

Blake frowned. “He was late. We thought he was sick.”

“And everyone had their phones out, checking for updates, or they were whining how busy they were. How they paid for Hargreaves’ class, or more like their folks did, and blah blah blah. How very dare he. But you were just sitting there reading a book, like you’d be fine if he never showed up. You’d be happy to sit there and read your book. Nobody’s like that in med school— relaxed — but you were there like this island, this calm in the storm. And you’re always like that. You’re always cool.”

“The first day.” Blake smiled. “You noticed me then?”

I ducked my head, embarrassed. “You’re hard to miss.”

He pushed up my chin again. “I noticed you too, and way before that.”

“You’re just saying that.”

“I’m not. I’ll prove it.” He took a deep breath. “First year, first week, I was buying my books. You walked by all in white. White head to toe. Even your shoes were white, not a speck of mud on them, and I couldn’t believe it, because of the rain.”

“Shoe covers.” I glanced down. “You noticed my shoes?”

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