Page 51 of Judas

One ring, two rings…

"Good afternoon, Arlington Medical Group, how may I direct your call?"

"Hello," Eliza's voice was smooth and professional. "I am wondering if there is any way I can get an appointment with Dr. Dupree. I know it's last minute, but I was hoping she could see me on short notice."

Judas' eyes went round like oversized marbles.

"Are you currently a patient?" the voice on the other end asked.

Eliza's plastic smile returned, "I'm not…at least not yet. But, Dr. Dupree comes highly recommended and if there's anything you can do, I'd really appreciate it."

"Let me check."

"What the hell are you doing?!" he whispered hoarsely as the receptionist clacked on her keyboard at the other end of the phone.

Eliza covered the receiver, "Getting information."

"By scheduling an appointment with a woman you don't know? We don't even know what kind of doctor she is!" Judas protested.

She shot him a look of bewilderment. While her plan wasn't fully formed when she dialed the number, Eliza was fairly confident that she wasn't dealing with anyone who handled medical issues exclusive to men.

"Are you still there?" the gentle voice asked.

"Yes, of course," Eliza shot a warning look at Judas.

"Well, I don't have anything today, but I can get you in at eleven am tomorrow, if that would work for you?"

A grin spread across her face and she winked in his direction, "Eleven is great."

The gesture caught Judas off guard. It was simple, provocative, and conspiratorial. It sent a shot of electricity through him and made his heart flutter with excitement. She was sexy as hell even in the most inane moments.

"Name for the appointment?" the receptionist asked.

Without hesitation, Eliza replied, "Beth. Beth Christian."

The words hit Judas so hard in the chest that he couldn’t breathe for a moment. He worked hard to contain his momentary shock as she finished up the call, but he knew she could see it written all over his face.

Disconnecting the call, she bit her lip, "I had to give them a name. I couldn't give my own just in case."

Judas felt the slow creep of a smile cross his face, "That… um… it just caught me off guard."

Her face flooded with pink as embarrassment filled her mind, "I'm sorry if that was too much."

Judas chuckled out his disbelief that she still didn’t understand how much she meant to him. He didn’t say a single word. Leaning across the front seat, he wrapped his fingers around the nape of her neck, winding his fingers in her hair and pulling her face to him. His lips connected with hers as his tongue gently urged her lips to part. He held her there against him as she cradled his face in her hands.

Finally, he leaned away just enough to rest his forehead against hers. She was breathless from the love she felt in his kiss.

"Eliza," he breathed, his voice barely a whisper, "I want nothing in this world more than to give you my name. Hearing it now, I just… I thought my heart might actually beat out of my chest. I have never heard sweeter words in all my life."

She smiled, kissing him again. Gently, just a little peck against the soft skin of his lips.

"Well, that's pretty impressive," she said, "because you're like… really old."

A deep laugh left his chest as he leaned back staring across the front seat watching her. He could still see the stress of the last few days etched into her skin, but he could also still see the radiant glow that emanated from her at all times.

Staring into his eyes, Eliza continued, "Right now, my world is upside down and I don't know what is going to happen. I do know, though, that I am yours and if you ever wanted to share your name with me, yourrealname…I would wear it with pride."

Judas was sure she could see his glow of love for her shining from the depths of his soul in that moment.

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