Page 23 of Blind Date with a #Doctor
Carter parks outside my building, shifts into park, and turns toward me, expression warm and lazy.
“You gonna be okay without me for a few hours?” he teases.
I smirk. “Barely.”
His grin softens and before I can reach for the door handle, he cups my face, tilting me toward him. He kisses me, slow, deep, and thorough. Like he’s making sure I’ll still be thinking about this when I’m getting dressed for my company dinner tonight.
By the time he pulls away, I’m breathless, slightly dazed, and gripping his shirt. Carter chuckles, smoothing a hand down my thigh.
“Go get ready, Aspen,” he murmurs.
And with one last lingering look, I force myself to leave before I drag him upstairs.
* * *
I’ve been thinking about that kiss all day. Which is why I’m standing in front of my mirror right now, smoothing my handsdown the fitted green cocktail dress hugging my curves, thinking about Carter taking it off later.
I turn slightly, adjusting the thin straps, admiring how the deep emerald fabric clings in all the right places. And beneath it? A lacy, deep green lingerie set to match. I have plans for Carter tonight.
A knock at my door snaps me from my thoughts, and I exhale slowly before opening it. Holy hell. Carter is standing there in a perfectly fitted black suit, white dress shirt open at the collar, looking so damn good I might combust.
His eyes sweep over me slowly, dark and lingering, and when he finally meets my gaze again, his expression is pure heat.
“Damn, Aspen.”
I smirk, stepping forward to smooth his lapels. “Not bad yourself, Doctor Reed.”
His hands settle on my bare waist, thumbs brushing over the exposed skin of my back.
“How much time do we have before we have to be there?” he murmurs, voice low and teasing.
I laugh, tempted—so, so tempted—but I shake my head. “Behave,” I whisper. “For now.”
His grin is wicked and I’m ready for this night to be over.
By the time we arrive at the venue, I’m buzzing. Not from nerves or uncertainty, but from excitement. I’m proud to have Carter with me, proud to introduce him, proud to show him off.
And when we step into the ballroom, I tighten my grip on his hand, glancing up at him with a small, secret smile. He squeezes back.
I don’t even hesitate before leading him toward my colleagues. Because for the first time in a long time? I’m not scared of what comes next. I’m just ready.
Chapter Thirteen
Carter
Aspen is lit from within tonight. I see it in the way she glows under the ballroom lights, in the way she laughs so easily, so freely, her fingers laced with mine as she introduces me to her colleagues. I don’t think I’ve ever been more proud to stand beside someone.
She’s brilliant. Sharp. Confident. Effortlessly in control of any conversation she steps into.
I shake hands, make small talk, and watch as Aspen commands the room in a way that’s impossible to ignore. And the crazy part? She keeps looking back at me like I’m the one she’s excited to share this night with and for the first hour, I believe it.
I let myself sink into it—the easy way she touches me, the soft way she smiles, the way she tilts her chin up for a kiss every time I lean in. But then her ex-boyfriend Ryan shows up.
I see the exact moment Aspen notices him. Her entire body goes still, like some subconscious alarm went off inside her. And I don’t like that. Not at all.
I follow her gaze to where he’s stepping into the room—tall, polished, too comfortable. He belongs here more than I do. He’s used to this world in a way I’ll never be.
Ryan’s eyes land on Aspen and he smiles. The kind of smile that says he’s seen every version of her—the good, the bad, the private.
