Page 37 of Dr. Stone
I glanced up, catching the mischief in her eyes. “Flirting already? You’re going to give my nurses ideas.”
“They already have them,” she shot back.
I chuckled and stepped closer. “Well, I can offer you two tempting options. Option one—you and I go on that date you’vebeen angling for. Option two—I transfer you to the Cardiac Surgery recovery floor so you’re only a couple of good days from busting out of here and back home.”
“I can’t have both?” she asked, feigning innocence.
“Afraid not. The last woman who asked for both… well, she still sends me Christmas cards.”
Mrs. Kilgore laughed so hard her monitor beeped. “As much as I’d love to scandalize my friends with a date with you, I think I’ll take option two. My roses and sweet Daisy are counting on me.”
“I’ve heard all there is to hear about those rose bushes; however, this is the first time I’m hearing about your love for daisies?” I said, giving her my full attention before I left the recovery floor.
“Daisy is my sweet teacup Yorkie. She’s such a doll.”
“You don’t say? I have a lady friend who just mentioned something about wanting a Yorkie,” I said. “Interesting it’s coming up with you now, Mrs. Kilgore.”
“Well, they are quite a popular dog breed,” she said. “Now, tell me about thislady friendof yours who wants one. Perhaps I can help you out.”
I smirked, “You are quite bold, and that’s what I’ve admired about you since the day I met you, Mrs. Kilgore.”
“I’m not prying into your personal life, Doc. I’m just taking advantage of the fact that my hot doctor might be interested in a Yorkie because, unfortunately, my daughter has to rehome hers. I’d take the mischievous little fellow in myself, but Daisy would never allow it.”
Interesting thought…
“Well, I’m not sure she’s a candidate for adopting a dog or anything. I’d have to run it by her,” I smiled and then winked. “And since I need excuses to continue contacting her, I’ll happilypass along the message. I can’t quite seem to lock this lovely lady down.”
She chuckled, “Ah, I like her already. Not falling so easily for the handsome doctor’s charms? Very admirable.”
“You could say that,” I sighed. “It’s partly my fault. I’ve been busy with work, and the only time I’ve had to give her was when I helped take her son to the ER for ear infections a few days ago.”
“Well, then, you’re off to a shitty start, young man,” she said while I laughed in response. “But if you think she’s in the market for a Yorkie, I have the one for you. He loves children and women, and he needs a good and loving home.”
“Her son is about a year old.”
“Perfect,” she said. “His name is Duke, and he was raised with little children. My five-year-old grandson was a toddler when my daughter brought Duke home as a puppy. If you think your friend will be interested, I will talk to my daughter about the possibility.”
“Why do I feel this is a blessing in disguise?” I said, standing. “Sure, go ahead and tell your daughter about my friend, Andie. I’ll see if she is up for adopting an adult dog or any dog, and we’ll go from there.”
“I don’t see why she wouldn’t want Duke?”
“Me either,” I said. “Now, rest up before you’re transferred, and I’ll be back to check on you when I’m back for my evening rounds.”
I left the hospital,excited that I might be able to help Andie get the kind of dog she mentioned loving the other night. This could be an excellent way to score some points with her. Even though the visit to Brandt was fantastic, Andie and I couldn’t seem to get past the fucking small talk.
I mean, I get it. We had a bit of a situation on our hands with her boy being sick. It wasn’t exactly your preferred date night, but still. I wanted to get past this part. Maybe I just sucked at dating?
“Stone,” I heard Collin Brooks call, catching up with me near the fountains in the garden that connected the hospital to the doctors’ offices. His grin was cocky as hell, same as always. “So, I hear you’ve been playing house with the goddess of love. Cute little date the other night?”
“Ha, lord only knows what Brandt thought about that,” I muttered.
“That you’re in over your head,” he said, clapping a hand on my shoulder. “Which—spoiler alert—is exactly what the rest of us think, too.”
“I might be,” I admitted. “Hell, I’ve got Titus running on a ten, busting out helicopters and yachts. Meanwhile, I’m over here playing paramedic, taking her sick kid to my buddy, and then so buried in surgeries I haven’t even checked in.”
“Hold the hell up,” Collin cut me off, hand raised like he was flagging down traffic. “Hawk is flying her around in helicopters, throwing yacht parties, and probably building her a damn castle in Spain—and your play is… a dog? That’s not romance, Stone. That’s a pet adoption ad.”
“She mentioned wanting one?—”
