Total pages in book: 82
Estimated words: 79433 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 397(@200wpm)___ 318(@250wpm)___ 265(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 79433 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 397(@200wpm)___ 318(@250wpm)___ 265(@300wpm)
“Wait, she calls in tips?” Harlee asked, clearly amused.
Nodding, Mom said, “She sure does.”
“Guess that rules her out then,” Palmer stated. Turning back to look at the handsome new doctor, she asked, “So what did Lily say? Why did they break up?”
“He came home early one night from med school—guess he wasn’t feeling well—and caught her in bed…with his brother.”
We all let out a loud gasp, and I was positive everyone in the restaurant looked over at us, including the very person we were speaking about.
“That’s terrible,” I said.
“That poor little boy,” Palmer stated as she grabbed the pitcher of water. “I’ll be back.” Before she walked away, she briefly stopped at the end of the counter to refill a customer’s water glass. “How is everything, Tim?”
“It’s amazing, as usual. Your dad sure knows how to make a good gumbo!”
Smiling, Palmer agreed and then headed on over to her one and only table. She filled up Charlie’s water before chatting with him.
“For someone who’s given up on men, she sure is being chatty with Dr. Fine,” Harlee mused.
I smirked at her. “Dr. Fine?”
She nodded. “Hello, do your eyes no longer work, Addie? That guy is hot as hell.”
“My eyes work just fine. But I happen to be very much in love and only have eyes for one man.”
“I’m glad to hear it.”
I turned to see Gannon standing there with a smug smile on his face.
“And who is this Dr. Fine?” he continued.
Harlee and I pointed to the table where my sister was still standing. Good thing it was her only table; she was certainly spending a lot of time over there.
“He’s taking over Dr. James’s practice,” my mother added.
Gannon looked over and frowned. “He’s the new doctor? That’s who you might be working for?”
I could hear a tiny bit of jealousy coming through in his voice, and I grinned. I liked that Gannon was a bit jelly. It made me feel cherished. “Like I said, I only have eyes for one person, and that person is you.”
He winked.
“Why are you here?” I asked. “Shouldn’t you be at work?”
After being forced to stay home for almost a week, Gannon had finally been cleared to go back to work. It hadn’t been his doctor’s orders—more like his boss’s. He’d said that Gannon had been pulling too many hours anyway and needed a break. I thought for sure he’d go stir-crazy. Even though we’d been going out for long walks, binge-watching a few series, and spending lots and lots of time in his bed, he was still bored out of his mind. He was starting back at work with limited shifts.
“I’m on my lunch hour,” he said, “and a little birdy told me you were here.”
“Don’t you mean a little seagull?” Harlee mused.
He smiled at her. “Ahh, yes. Looks like they mentioned you today, huh? I can’t wait to see what Brody and Brax think of their honorable mentions as well.”
I giggled. “Brody will be thrilled; Brax will be pissed.”
Gannon tossed his head back and laughed. “Truer words have never been spoken.”
“I haven’t eaten yet, so I can join you for lunch,” I said, making my way around the counter. Since it was lunchtime, the place was crowded, but there were still a few tables left. Gannon placed his hand on my lower back and guided us across the restaurant, opposite from where Dr. Bryan was seated with his son.
After we sat down and gave our order to Ruby, Gannon asked, “So, the new doctor is married?”
“No. Divorced.”
His gaze shot across the restaurant. “Palmer seems to like talking to him. Her other tables are going to get mad if she keeps devoting all her attention to just that one.”
I laughed. “Oh, Palmer isn’t working today. She begged Ruby to let her serve the new doctor. But she didn’t know who it was at the time. She claimed it was purely to get intel on the new guy in town.”
Gannon’s eyes lit up with amusement. “Because she’s given up on men, correct?”
I nodded and took a sip of the water Ruby had set down in front of me. “You know I’m not the least bit attracted to him, don’t you?” I asked as I reached across the table and took Gannon’s hand.
“Of course, I know. I trust you, Addie.”
My heart fluttered in my chest. “And I trust you.”
“I made reservations for dinner tomorrow night at Pete’s. He’s been bugging me to bring you back in, and I promised I would. I hope that’s okay, since I was pretty sure you said you were free?”
“Completely free, especially if it means going back there again to eat.”
Gannon flashed me that crooked smile of his, and I felt a deep pool of desire in my stomach.
“Actually, I was thinking since you don’t have to work tomorrow, I could spend the night at your place tonight,” I said.