Page 51 of The Doctors Will See You Now

Things had ended well, far too late into the night to help Melody get up this morning, but there’d been kissing and general contentment on both sides.

But it’d been six hours since she’d climbed into the cab I’d called for her—after she refused to stay over and deal with explaining to Janet—and five since I’d felt any real sort of certainty about where we stood.

We’d slept together on the first date, and while I wasn’t even remotely complaining, I also couldn’t shake one nagging question. Does first-date fornication ever lead to a real relationship?

It sure as hell never had for me. Not with Lana or Megan or Seela…yeah, the number isn’t important here… It was the principle. Could sex—and significant but fairly superficial interest—ever be a good foundation for more?

I wasn’t convinced it could.

Though, to be fair, I’d never lasted more than four months in a relationship anyway. Georgia always told me it was because I chose the wrong women, but I don’t think that was it. I was pretty sure it had more to do with the fact that being with the same woman for the rest of my life sounded like just about the worst thing I’d ever heard…until recently.

And no, it wasn’t the moment I laid eyes on Melody.

It was just around the time I slid inside of her.

Kidding.

Sort of. It was really good.

Glancing up to look out in the hallway for her, I noticed the time on the clock above my door. 9:05 a.m.

Shit. I had better get busy seeing patients even if my nurse wasn’t here to help me. She was lucky last night had gone the way it had.

Ugh, Will. No. Thinking those kinds of things is the reason dating your subordinate isn’t a good idea.

In reality, part of me was just nervous she wouldn’t show up at all. Like somehow, I’d conjured the whole thing—even imagined her—in my mind. I smiled at quite possibly the most insecure conversation I’d ever had with myself and grabbed my coat to scoot up to the front and bring my own patient back. It’d be better if I at least multitasked—worked and talked myself off of the emotional ledge simultaneously.

“Did you see Dr. Obscene last night?” I heard Melissa say as I made it to the front.

Goddammit. Would there ever be a time I traveled to the front of my office and didn’t hear someone talking about me anymore?

Also, I’d completely forgotten that episode had even aired last night. I’d been busy.

“Oh, for fuck’s sake. Don’t call him that. I can’t work with a man named Dr. Obscene,” Marlene retorted.

“It’s not like it’s his actual name. Relax. It’s just fitting after he…well…he…”

“God, you’re blushing,” Beth commented on a whisper.

“Of course, I’m blushing! It looked like he was whacking his mole!”

“Oh my God!” Beth’s whisper was now more like a shriek. I couldn’t say I blamed her. I felt a little like screaming myself.

“Beating his meat. Slapping his stick. Stroking his ore.”

“We get it!” Marlene snapped, and for once, I agreed with her. My brain felt like it was on overload. Good God, did she mean what I thought she meant?

Fuck, I might come out of my skin.

“There’s no way he was doing that.”

“It really looked like he was.”

“I don’t know. They probably edited him. You remember the last time he caught us talking? Besides, have you ever seen him act like that around here?” Beth defended me. It wasn’t like she was a saint, but fuck, I guessed I couldn’t be choosy about my allies anymore.

“No. I can honestly say I’ve never seen him jerk off around here.”

“Melissa!”