Page 34 of Doctor Daddy

“I wouldn’t say all the time, but yeah, we see each other. I’m off.” Brooke leaned over and kissed her mom on the cheek.

Less than ten minutes later my phone buzzed. I pulled it from my pocket and read the text. I couldn’t help but smile. Brooke.

“Don’t make me wait too long. It’s fucking cold out.”

I typed out a quick message telling her to text me once she got to my place and I’d let her in. There was no need to wait outside.

“That’s not work, is it? Someone isn’t having a baby?” Karen asked.

“No, I’m not on call this evening.”

The conversation returned to the weather and sports. When Karen began clearing the table, I saw my opportunity. I carried dishes into the kitchen for her and helped with cleaning up.

“Mark, what do you think you’re doing?”

“You fed me, it’s the least I could do to help clean up.”

“Nonsense, you’re our guest.”

As Karen insisted that I should not help with cleaning up, I took that as my exit. After saying good night to everyone, I got my coat and drove home.

I checked my phone. Brooke had not texted me that she had arrived.

When I pulled into my driveway, the car’s headlights illuminated her sitting, huddled on my stoop.

“Why didn’t you text me?” I asked as I got out of the car.

She shrugged. “I didn’t think you were going to keep me waiting so long. I’m cold.”

She snaked her arms into my coat and wrapped them around my waist.

We stumbled inside. I began to shrug out of my coat when she caught my wrist and began dragging me upstairs.

“What are you doing?” I asked with a laugh.

“I’m cold, Doctor Mark, and you need to warm me up.”

She didn’t need me to warm her up, she was already too hot to handle. But I did handle her, for hours. And for the first time ever, I fell asleep with Brooke in my arms. That was something I shouldn’t get used to. But I could, I really could.

16

BROOKE

A few weeks later…

Mark was warm and comfortable. I loved the feel of his skin against mine. I wanted to stay in his bed, but I couldn’t. I rolled, adjusting the blankets so that I didn’t take them with me.

He wrapped an arm around my middle, holding me back against his chest with the strength of steel hidden under a soft embrace. His lips teased their way up the back of my neck.

I sighed and relaxed against him. It would be so easy to stay, but I was expected at home. I squirmed against him, fighting my desire to stay, fighting the gravitational pull of him and his bed.

“You leaving so soon?” His voice was a deep rumble full of sleep.

“Yeah, it’s late.”

“Can’t you tell your mom you’re spending the night at Angela’s?”

“Mom will already be in bed. If I call or text her now, I had better be in the ER. She’s not above grounding me.”

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