Page 51 of Bossy Playboy Doctor

"Oh, makes sense. I honestly wasn't listening to what you were saying," she agreed, then stopped walking. "You have my complete attention."

I took in a deep breath and started my story, "There was this girl, Emilia. She was beautiful, intelligent, smart…and a lot of other things."

"Is this one of those stories where the ex is better than the current girlfriend?" she asked.

"No, it's not…wait, girlfriend?" I asked.

"Metaphorically speaking," she corrected, and added, "Continue."

"Anyway, when I met Emilia, it was love at first sight. She cared about me and looked out for me despite my shortcomings and clumsiness. It didn't really take long to start desiring her in other ways," I continued. "But when I told her how I felt, she told me she didn't feel the same way. She was only with me because she wanted an easy way to become rich. I paid for her school, and she told me the sex was simply because she wanted what I could offer her materially."

I paused to catch my breath. The memory haunted me too much for my own good.

"I was broken then, and the cycle continued. I didn't fall in love again. I just realized that almost all the women I have been involved with wanted something in return; it usually ended up being money or sex."

I continued my story, "So, when I started to fall for you, I couldn't help thinking it was a trap. I found it difficult to imagine that someone wouldn't want something from me. I have never met any woman who turned down a freebie. It was all too new for me. Out of fear, I pushed away the one woman who cared about me. Just like you said, I assumed that you were like the rest of them."

I bowed to her. "I am very sorry."

"Raise your head; what are you even doing," she blurted out as she held my head and lifted it to see my face. "Now you're making me feel extra bad for hitting you. You acted on a time of trauma, and I retaliated with anger. I should be the one apologizing."

"I'm not going to lie; when you slapped me, it was somewhat sexy," I remarked. "I just hope you haven't awakened something in me."

"You're the weirdest man I have ever met," she chuckled and kissed my cheek. "I forgive you. I also have something to tell you, but it will have to be later."

She headed to the hospital.

"Nooo, don't do that," I groaned and followed after her. "You don't just start with an announcement like that and leave me wondering what you want to talk about."

"But if you aren't patient enough, then you might not get a reward for good behavior," she hinted.

"You're right; I should wait," I said, changing my tone completely.

It was the start of something good, and I was all for it.

****

"Thank you so much, sir," a woman thanked me with tears in her eyes. She was James's wife.

"You don't have to thank me," I said with a nervous chuckle. "I just did what any doctor would do."

"Well, this wasn't the work of any doctor; it was all you and your team," she insisted.

I chuckled nervously.

"I made you an apple custard pie," she said as she handed me the dessert.

"Thank you so much." I lit up as I accepted it.

"I thought you were going to refuse," she laughed.

"Are you kidding me? The guest house has terrible food," I remarked. "I'll be taking any gift of food offered."

"Is that so? I'll make sure to make you extra out of my family's meals," she affirmed. "James has been looking for a way to pay you back."

"Just the pie is enough," I assured her.

She thanked me again and left. The pie smelled heavenly. Back in Richmond, I didn't get to experience one-on-one relationships with the patients and their families. While I watched Stacy, Henry, and the rest of the team relate to them, I realized how involved they were in each other's lives.

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