Page 25 of Coast

After an hour or so of waiting, I saw Mac step off the elevator. I stood and moved into her path and stopped. I watched as she walked and messed with her phone. She looked beat, and I might have worried that something had gone wrong if not for the smile on her face. I briefly wondered how many times she’d made the same trip through the hospital because she never once looked up to see where she was going.

She was so small compared to me. She got closer and closer, and when she had almost reached me, I stepped directly in front of her, leaving her no room other than to bump into me.

“Oh, sorry.”

“You look dead on your feet, Doc.” Her head jerked up at my words.

“What are you doing here?”

“Looking for you. I went by your office first, and Bailey told me you were here.”

“Oh. So why did you come by the office?”

I smiled down at her. “Because we have unfinished business.”

“It’s going to have to wait. I’m exhausted. I’m going home and getting some sleep,” she said and tried to step around me, but I moved with her.

“I’ll take you home. You shouldn’t be driving. Come on.” I knew I was being pushy, but the woman was beginning to look like she would drop at any minute. I shifted and placed a hand on her back and started leading her out of the hospital.

“I’m capable of driving to my place.”

“It’s not going to hurt to leave your car here. I’ll bring you by tomorrow to get it,” I said as we walked outside, and then I felt her shiver. “You didn’t wear a jacket or coat to the hospital?”

“It’s in my car.”

“Well, we’re going to have to get it. You’ll freeze to death on the back of my bike. Where did you park?” I looked around the lot for her small SUV.

“Over there.” She pointed to a row of vehicles off to the side, and I led us in that direction.

When we reached her vechile, she pulled the keys out of her pocket and used the fob to unlock the doors. She opened the door behind the driver’s seat and pulled out her jacket. I helped her put it on and then turned her around and fastened it.

“I can handle zipping my own coat,” she said as she looked up at me. “And since I’m at my car, I’ll just drive home. There is no sense in you driving me home and then having to come back to town tomorrow just to pick me up, so I can pick my car up.”

“Come on, Doc. Don’t fight me. Let me take you home and feed you. You’ll feel better.”

I thought she was going to fight me, but instead, she answered, “Okay.”

After making sure her car was locked, I led her across the lot to my bike. She stood beside it as I pulled out the extra helmet and handed it to her.

“I’m not sure what’s at my house to fix,” she said as she put the helmet on, and I helped her to fasten it.

I waited to answer until we were on my bike, and I was ready to pull out. “Then it’s a good thing we are going to my house,” I said, then pulled out.

“You purposely waited to tell me we were going to your house,” she yelled into my ear as she leaned into me.

“I’ve got steaks, potatoes to bake, and all the fixings you want to load them at my house.”

“You had this planned.”

I chuckled. “The cool, fresh air must be kicking your brain in.” I barely felt the smack on my back. “You better hang on, Doc. I’d hate to lose you off the back.”

“You’re an arrogant ass,” she yelled.

“So you keep telling me,” I said and kicked the bike speed up notch once I felt her arms tighten around me.

When she snuggled closer and laid her head on my back, it was the best feeling. At least at the moment. Hopefully, after some nourishment and some rest, I’ll have her legs wrapped around me for a different reason.

---