Page 29 of One Sultry Summer

“Well from my encounter with you, I beg to differ. Frankly, I’m pretty sure you have a dissociative identity disorder. Being a doctor, you might want to have yourself checked out.”

“I can’t help it. You annoy me!”

“Well buddy, you’re no picnic either.” Her eyes narrowed and they fell to my lips. I was unsure if she was deciding on punching me or kissing me. She dropped her bag and lunch wrapper andgrabbed me by my shirt collar as her lips crashed into mine.

There was no denying that I found myself drawn to her, my heart pounding a hundred miles an hour. I kissed her back with more force than I intended. She was full of fire and determination. I heard a thunderclap in the distance just as the sky opened up and poured on us. We broke apart, breathless and drenched, the rain mingling with our laughter. I noticed the sky had turned near black; the storm had come out of nowhere which only seemed to amplify the electricity between us. At that moment, I knew I was completely captivated.

“Come home with me.”

“I’m sorry, what?”

“You heard me. Plus, your dress is a little see-through.” I grabbed my clean lab coat I picked up from the cleaners before I went to the deli and wrapped it around her shoulders. Now I was glad I stopped to pick it up before lunch. Offering mylab coat was more than just a practical solution to her see-through dress; for me, it symbolized protection and care. It showed my willingness to shield her from the elements and offer comfort in an unexpected situation.

At that moment, it felt like a small promise of the warmth and safety I hoped to provide her beyond the rain-soaked street. I picked up her bag from the ground and reached for her hand. She took it and we ran to my truck. After opening the door for her, I quickly ran to the driver’s side to avoid getting more soaked in the rain.

I turned on the ignition and buckled my seat belt. I brushed my hair back and cleared the wetness from my eyes. I wanted to race home to have Valerie in my arms again. But I knew better than to speed in these conditions. The windshield wipers struggled to keep up with the downpour, their rhythmic movements filling the car. As we drove, I briefly stole glances at Valerie, her face illuminated by the passing streetlights.The warmth of her hand in mine was a comforting reminder of the promise I had made to myself to keep her safe.

She was unaware of my history, and that’s something I struggle with. Letting people in and sharing my past so they can get to know all of me. I took a deep breath, determined to share my story with her when the time was right. For now, I focused on the road ahead, the rhythmic swishing of the wipers a reminder of the present moment.

When we pulled up to the house, Valerie’s eyes moved back and forth, indicating she was nervous. “Don’t worry, no one’s home. Emily’s at her grandparents for a few days.”

“You’re not going to be missed at work?”

“No. I was only scheduled to see a few patients this morning. The workday had been light, and I was heading home after picking up lunch.”

“I’ve never done anything like this before.”

“Having sex in the afternoon?”

“No, having sex with a married man.” She fidgeted with her handbag.

“I’m not married.” I placed my hand on top of hers.

“You’re not?”

I shook my head. I didn’t want to go into details and ruin the mood. “No. So you don’t have to stress thinking you’re having sex with a married man.”

She blew out a breath she was holding. “That’s good to know, I was ready to have you take me back to the inn.”

I picked up her hand and kissed it. “We can’t have that. We were just getting started.” I lifted an eyebrow and leaned in and left a slow kiss that lingered on her lips. The inside of the car windows fogged up.

“Do you have condoms?” She asked panting.

“Fuck! No, I don’t.” I slapped my forehead with the palm of my hand.

“No worries, I think I might.”She pulled out her purse and wrestled with the contents until she had two in hand. “I remembered that my best friend dropped something in my bag before I left.”

“That’s some kind of friend you have there.” I put them in my pocket for safekeeping.

“What can I say, I have friends that look after me.”

“Are you ready to come inside?” She nodded her head. I knew we couldn’t wait in the car for the rain to let up. “Let me go in first and I’ll grab you an umbrella.”

I got out of the car and ran up the front steps. As I reached for the doorknob, I heard the slamming of the car door and turned to see Valerie was indeed, running in heels. She was soaked from head to toe. I unlocked the door and allowed her to step inside.

She kicked off her heels and stood four inches shorter. It was difficult not to be hypnotized by her eyes and the curves of her body. I slammedthe door with the heel of my foot, picked her up, and carried her upstairs. When we got to the landing I placed her feet on the ground.

She unbuttoned my shirt as she kissed me. However, her attempt to slide it off was difficult due to it being wet. We both giggled like teenagers. She finally had it free and threw it on the floor making a squelchy, slapping noise as it hit the wood.

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