Page 50 of Heal Me
Picking up his phone, he saw that it was 11:30, which meant that it was only 9:30 in Cooper’s Creek. Hopefully, he could catch Kate before she went to bed. He hit her icon and waited for her to pick up.
“Hey, cowboy.”
Ric grinned like an idiot when he heard her voice. “Hi, Doc. Were you sleeping?”
“No. I’m just sitting in bed reading veterinary medical journal articles. Your dog is on the bed with her head on the pillow you slept on,” Kate said.
“Mydog?”
“Mmm hmm. Daisy has been moping the whole time you’ve been gone. She imprinted on you, so she’s your dog now. Every night she sleeps with that pillow.”
That concerned Ric. “I can’t take her, Kate. I’d hate to see her cooped up in the apartment all day. I’d have to hire someone to take her out and everything.”
“I didn’t mean for you to take her. I just meant that whenever you’re here, she’s yours.”
Ric hadn’t had a dog since he’d been a kid and he loved the idea of having one again, even if it was only part-time. “Okay. I accept.”
Kate chuckled in his ear. “I guess I have to get used to sharing you a little.”
“Don’t feel bad. I have to share you with Cinders, so I guess we’re even.”
He heard Kate muffle a yawn. “Sounds like you’re beat. Go to sleep, honey.”
“I don’t want to. I want to talk to you. Do you want to hear something crazy?”
“Of course.”
Kate’s voice took on a shy note. “I miss sleeping with you. I know you only stayed here a couple of times, but I really liked having you here.”
Her admission warmed Ric’s heart. “I feel the same way. I have an idea. Why don’t we both get comfy and we’ll leave our phones on and fall asleep together?”
Kate giggled and in his mind, Ric saw the way her eyes sparkled when she laughed. “I love that idea.”
Rolling over on his side, Ric hit the speaker button and laid his phone on the nightstand. “Can you hear me?”
“Loud and clear.”
“Good.”
They chit-chatted a little longer before Ric heard Kate snore softly. Smiling, he drifted off, his slumber restful for the first time since he’d been back in New York.
*****
Kate was in the middle of sending an email to a pharmaceutical rep who’d told her that he could get her anesthesia at a cheaper price than she was currently paying when she heard a knock on the doorjamb of her office door. Looking up, she was surprised to see Ric standing there looking yummy in jeans and a Hunter green Polo shirt.
Somehow, Kate kept from squealing like a school girl, but she did rush out of her chair and into his arms. Eagerly, she met his lips and the flame between them was instantly ignited. Ric closed the office door and pinned her against it as their kiss turned hungry.
Kate ran her hands over his broad chest and wanted to rip his clothes off. She wanted him to sweep everything off her desk and make love to her on it. Reluctantly, she broke their kiss and grinned at him.
“You are a sight for sore eyes,” she said. “I missed you so much.”
“I missed you, too. Notice anything different about me?”
Kate looked him over and then saw the walking boot on his leg. “No more cast or crutches!”
“Nope. I just have to wear this for a couple of weeks and do some PT and I’ll be as good as new. It feels so good to be out of that cast.”
Kate hugged him tightly. “I’m so happy for you. No more garbage bags and duct tape.”
