Page 38 of The Grumpy Doc's Surprise Delivery

All of a sudden, I realize that I don’t want to let go of what’s right here beside me. For once, I think I might have found something worth holding on to.

I’ve felt this kind of passion before, this deep want inside my chest, but it hasn’t been so strong in years. In fact, I don’t think it’s ever been this real.

“Does this have to end?” I whisper.

“When is your flight?”

“In the morning. Early in the morning. Probably only in a few hours now.”

“Oh,” he says, his breath hot on my skin. “Right.”

“When’s your flight?”

“Later. I don’t know. I don’t even remember if I booked it yet.”

“You didn’t? That doesn’t seem like you.”

He hums quietly under his breath, as if he’s thinkingHow do you know anything about what I’m like?

But he doesn’t say anything. Instead, he wraps his arms tightly around me, squeezing me to him, like he’s trying to figure out a way to never let go.

“Let’s meet again,” he says eventually, just as I feel I might be falling asleep again.

“What?” I breathe. “You and me again? How?”

“We live in the same city, don’t we?” he says. “We’ve had a great time together, haven’t we?”

“Yes, and yes,” I say. “I would really like that.”

“Good,” he says. “Because…” His breath catches in his throat like he doesn’t quite know what he’s trying to say. “I would like that too,” he manages to get out. “I’ve had more fun with you this week than I’ve had in a really, really long time.”

“Me too,” I say. “I don’t remember the last time I had time off. I didn’t expect to actually enjoy it.”

He hums again, and I feel his voice grumble inside his chest. “I’m not saying we should be anything serious,” he says, “but…”

“But?”

“Well, it’s not that I don’t like you. Because I do.” This is the most I’ve ever seen him floundering, and it’s almost cute to see. “I just am not looking for a real, intense relationship, and I want you to know that now, okay?”

I don’t want to say to him that I am because I don’t want to scare him off, but I also don’t want him to feel any pressure. “Let’s just see where it goes,” I say. “We’ll only know if we try.”

He nods slowly, contemplating my words, mulling them over.

Neither of us can quite think of anything to say after that, so we just sit in the bliss of hormones and warmth that we’ve created.

Outside, the trees murmur in the wind like they’re trying to whisper something. Like they know something I don’t know. Obviously, the trees aren’t telling me anything at all, but as I lie here in the stillness, in the quiet, pressed against Liam’s chest, I can’t help but wonder if this could be something more than it seems to be.

Could this be what I wanted? To have someone who makes me feel this sort of passion, someone who doesn’t want to let go?

It almost seems too perfect. Here is this guy who isn’t afraid to butt heads with me, who seems to agree with all of my core values. Who seems to work just as much as I do. Maybe this time it could be different. Maybe this time Liam could be the kind of person who understands why I work so much.

For the first time in my life, maybe work won’t ruin any chance I have a relationship after all.

“What time is it now?” I ask.

“Don’t know,” he mumbles. He twists his arm to grab his watch, which is sitting on the bedside table and stares at it. “What time do you have to leave?”

“My flight leaves at seven. The airport isn’t too far away, but I want to get there with plenty of time to spare.”

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