Page 51 of Plentywood
“Beers at Smitty’s?”
“That’s an excellent place to start,” she confirmed. “We can work on your plan to compete for the doctor.”
“I think I like that, sis.”
CHAPTER THIRTY: Benedict
Despite inquiring with the desk person, as well as making calls around town to find availability, the room Charlie had booked was our only option if we wanted to stay overnight in Missoula. The room had one queen bed.
“It’s because of the rodeo,” Charlie explained. “Folks from the entire state, even Idaho, show up for the biggest rodeo in Montana.”
“I’m just not used to sharing a room with a stranger,” I said.
“I’m not a stranger, doc. I mean, you’ve seen me naked.” Charlie pointed to a small loveseat. “But if it helps you feel better, I’ll curl up there,” he said. “I promise I’ll behave. As hard as that will be with you in the room, I’ll show restraint.”
Turning around to see where the bathroom was, I wondered if I should actually do this or suggest we drive back to Plentywood. I glanced at my watch. TheSeikoread a quarter to eight in the evening. The sun still beamed through the one window facing the parking lot, but it was late in the day, and Plentywood was more than nine hours east. I noticed a small notepad by an old rotary phone on a desk.Holiday Innwas the name of the hotel written at the top of the pad. I’d never stayed in a hotelthisbudget before.
“This room has kind of a cheap feeling,” I stated. “Look at that phone.”
“Says the man wearing a Seiko watch.”
I instinctually grabbed my wrist and hid my cheap watch. “I haveRolexas well,” I defended. I walked to the window and moved a thin curtain to the side, gazing outside. “Is it safe here? I’m not sure it’s safe,” I said, having decided that fields of hay across the road looked suspicious. “I saw semi-trucks parked on the side.”
I turned to face Charlie, and he’d lifted the bottom edge of his button-down, revealing a handgun tucked between his flesh and his jeans. “You’re safe with me, doc.”
“Oh my God!” I practically screamed, backing up until I landed on the edge of the bed. “You have a gun.”
He gestured to his duffle bag. “I have two guns,” he corrected. “You know, in case the rapist wrestles one away from me.”
My eyes narrowed in defeat. “You’re teasing me,” I said, staring at not only a handgun but a set of ripped abs I’d forgotten he possessed. Even though I’d seen Charlie completely naked during his physical, I’d avoided truly checking him out then. He was the patient. I was the doctor.
“You like what you see?” he asked, raising his eyebrows several times and winking. I quickly looked away. Of course, I liked his abs. Not to mention his obliques that could quite possibly cut diamonds.
“We’re not going there, Charlie. Your grandmother works with me. That would be creepy.”
“Don’t hold that against me, doc,” he said. “I’m doing my best to protect you over here. Plus, I totally want to date you, if I’m being completely honest.
I waved him off and looked away, nervous because of his blunt honesty.Maybe we should drive home tonight,I thought to myself.“Youdo notwant to date me,” I challenged. “We couldn’t do that, anyway.”
“Says who?”
“You’re my patient,” I argued again. “Unprofessional and against medical standards.”
He laughed out loud and pulled the chair from under the desk, straddling it backward and facing me. “Literallyeveryoneis your patient in town,” he defended. “What? You’re never going to date one of us?”
He apparently hadn’t heard I was leaving in less than a year. I assumed since his buddy Hunter knew, and because I’d told his grandmother, Agnes, that I was out in a year, that he would’ve heard by then.
“I’m not that interested in dating,” I said, playing things safe. “Being new to town, starting a new practice, as well as being far too busy already, it’d be impossible. Probably not wise to get serious about anyone when I will not have time to devote to any one person.”
“So, fuck buddies, then?”
“Wha…?” I gasped, blushing and getting flustered by him yet again. “No. Certainly not.”
Charlie stared at me, making me nervous as he studied me. “I didn’t have you pegged as so uptight, doc. Being from New York City and all,” he said. “Surely you’ve usedGrindror other hook-up apps. Or cruised the bathhouses.”
Frowning, as well as refusing to dignify his remarks about Grindr, I stood and tried walking past him and to the window. I felt uncomfortable with his blunt style of speaking. Charlie reached out and grabbed my hand, turning me to face him. I stared down at him in the chair while he searched my eyes. He was stunning to look at, as well as cocky as fuck. A deadly combination that I knew was my weakness.
“What? You don’t like me?” he asked. “Maybe you don’t find me handsome, or even irresistible? I can be anything you like, doc.Anything!”
