Page 35 of The Doctor's Twins

I went to chat with Olivia once Ben and I were outside, but I kept an eye on our host. He interacted effortlessly with everyone. His laugh was sincere, and his personality seemed to attract everyone.

“He’s quite something, isn’t he?” Olivia said.

“Who?” I asked, pretending not to know who she was referring to.

“Dr. Forbes.”

“Yeah, he’s a good doctor.”

“That’s not all he is,” she grinned.

“Settle down, you. It’s the alcohol talking.”

“Don’t tell me you haven’t thought of those skilled hands caressing your unmentionables.”

“Okay, I think it’s time we get some food into you, missy,” I laughed.

“I know exactly what I need,” she laughed, “and it ain’t a burger.”

Who could blame her? I guessed Ben was everything a woman could want. Sexy, smart, kind, and single. But I wasn’t looking. I’d learned my lesson. I wasn’t ready to have a man in my life. I wondered if I’d ever be ready again.

“Come and get it,” Ben called once the meat was cooked.

He’d laid out quite a spread. Hungry mouths got involved and soon we were eating and laughing at Dave’s amusing antics. I was having a good time for a change. I even laughed, which was something I didn’t think I would ever do again, considering the shitshow that had been my life for so long.

I caught Ben every so often sneaking looks in my direction. Olivia wasn’t making any bones about her attraction toward him, but he handled her advances with gentlemanly poise. Nothing is quite as determined as an inebriated resident doctor with a major crush on her mentor.

It was late when the party started to ebb. Ben had arranged a bus to and from his home, for those who wanted to drink alcohol. I thought that was rather thoughtful of him. I didn’t opt in as I wasn’t going to drink much, so I was the last one to leave.

“Barbeques at the Forbes mansion end up in quite a mess,” I said as I looked around.

“Not to worry. I have cleaners coming in tomorrow morning.”

“Thank goodness. I was going to offer to help clean up, but...”

“Dodged a bullet there,” Ben laughed.

“I’d say. I’d better be on my way too. Thank you for a lovely day, Ben.”

“It was my pleasure,” he said. “I’ll walk you out.”

I fished around in my bag for the keys to a little runaround I’d bought the week before. It was a far cry from the Mercedes I’d gotten used to, but it got me where I wanted to go, and it ran on a sniff of an oil rag.

“Well, goodnight, Peyton.”

“Goodnight, Ben.”

Brief awkward silence. Ben bent down and kissed me. I was startled but I didn’t move away. It wasn’t an all-out, tongue aerobics kiss, but my spine tingled, nonetheless.

“Travel safely,” he smiled.

“I will.”

11

BEN

What was I thinking, kissing Peyton? And, that after I’d assured her that I wasn’t going to bite. I hoped she wasn’t offended, although, from the feel of her lips, she didn’t seem to be. I’d gotten myself into a right mess, emotionally. I couldn’t stop thinking about her.

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