“What is it? Did something happen to Matty? Is he okay?” He couldn’t control the frantic tone in his voice. Catherine’s brows drew together then lifted in something that looked like astonishment. One corner of her mouth tilted upward and Nathan got the impression she found something amusing.
“Nothing’s wrong with Matty.”
“Then what is it? And what the hell is so funny? How can you even laugh after everything…” Nathan stopped midsentence, noticing his voice was too loud. Too close to revealing his own fears from the night before. Her mouth twitched again before she stepped away from the truck and studied it.
“I didn’t know you had a Suburban.”
“I just bought it.” Again Catherine’s mouth seemed inclined to lift into a smile before she carefully smoothed her face into a blank expression. Nathan wondered if maybe the stress had been too much for her. “Are you okay? Is there something you wanted?”
“You just bought it? Why?”
Because his car had been too small for more than two people, he thought. But he wasn’t about to tell her that, not when it revealed so much. “Catherine, was there something you wanted? Because if there isn’t, I need to leave.”
“Um, yeah. I, uh…” Her voice drifted off as she stepped closer to the truck, resting her hands on the door and gripping the frame so tightly that her knuckles turned white. Her eyes darted left then right, looking around. Nathan swallowed again, sensing that something wasn’t right, that something was about to happen. He turned away from Catherine and stared out the windshield, focusing on the glare reflecting off the hood of the car parked in front of him.
“Listen, thank you for being here last night. I didn’t expect, I mean, I thought you might, but I wasn’t sure…”
“I told you I cared for Matty. Did you think I was lying?”
“No. But thank you.”
“Sure. No problem. Was that it? Because if it was, you could have waited to tell me.”
“I know, but I wanted…” Catherine paused and took a deep breath, letting it out in a rush so heavy Nathan could feel its warmth against the bare skin of his arm. He shot a quick glance in her direction then just as quickly looked away. Her face was red and her teeth pulled at her lower lip, sending unwanted thoughts and memories through his mind. “This isn’t easy….”
“So then maybe you’d better wait,” Nathan suggested, thinking he should probably make himself scarce. Whatever she wanted to say couldn’t be good for him if she was this nervous about it.
“No, I can’t wait. I’ve waited too long already.” She took another deep breath, then another, stepping away from the truck as she did. Nathan shot her a quick glance, wondering if she was hyperventilating or something. Her brown eyes were teary when they met his and he felt something like a punch under his breastbone again. He clamped his jaw shut, preparing for the final blow.
“I love you, Nathan. I just wanted you to know that.”
The words echoed in the stillness around Nathan. He sat in the truck, feeling as if he had just been run over by a freight train, wondering if he had understood what she said.
I love you.
A full thirty seconds went by before he realized he hadn’t been hearing things, a full thirty seconds for him to digest her words. The pressure in his chest escalated before the pain exploded, turning into something…warm. Catherine loved him. Now what?
Five seconds passed before he allowed himself to smile, and another five before he finally let himself admit he loved her back. Hell, who was he kidding? He had loved her months ago, he just hadn’t been able to put a name on it. She loved him.
So where the hell did she go?
Nathan turned around in the seat just in time to see Catherine walk through the doors leading to the emergency room. He threw the door open, not caring when it slammed into the car next to him and left a dent, not caring that it didn’t close all the way when he pushed against it, not caring that the keys were still in the ignition and the motor was still running.
He dashed across the parking lot, nearly colliding with a car that was pulling in. He ignored the blaring horn and kept going, twisting sideways to go through the sliding doors before they opened all the way. People were milling around the waiting room and Nathan had to stop, searching for Catherine. He caught a glimpse of her as she turned a corner and he raced after her.
“Catherine, wait!” He rounded another corner and saw Catherine swiping her badge through a reader. A sign on the door read Authorized Personnel Only. “Catherine!”
She finally heard him. Turning around, her damp eyes widened in surprise. Nathan quickened his pace, shortening the distance between them until he could reach out and gently place his hands on her shoulders.
“Catherine, did you say what I thought you said?”
“I, uh…”
“That’s what I thought.” He took a deep breath and pulled her closer. “I love you, too.”
She looked up at him, her wide eyes shimmering with moisture. Her lower lip started to tremble. “Wh-what?”
“I love you.” He lowered his head and briefly touched her lips. “I love you, Catherine. I want to be with you. And with Matty. I don’t want to lose you.”
“Nathan…” Her voice trailed off as a tear rolled down her cheek. He wiped it away and pressed his forehead against hers, smiling as she reached up and wiped his own cheek. “I love you. But I’m scared. I’ve never taken a chance like this before.”
“I think that’s what it’s all about, taking the chances together. I love you, Catherine.” He dropped a kiss on her forehead then pulled back, gripping her hands firmly in his own. “Are you up to taking a chance?”
Catherine stared up at him, her eyes shimmering. “I am if it’s with you.”
ISBN: 9781426800337
FINDING DR. RIGHT
Copyright © 2007 by Elizabeth Belbot Kamps
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eBook Info
Title:Finding Dr. Right
Creator:Lisa B. Kamps
Date:2007
Type:novel
Format:text/html
Identifier:ISBN 9781426800337
Source:PDF
Language:en
Relation:None
Coverage:None
Rights:Copyright © 2007 by Elizabeth Belbot Kamps
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Finding Dr. Right (Contemporary Medical Romance) Page 23