I shook my head, a little surprised he brought me somewhere knowing the waitress had a thing for him. It made me wonder if he was trying to scare her off or trying to show me he was wanted. “She’ll be fine. I know how to deal with women.”
“How did you get into your job?”
“I went to college. Then medical school. Then a residency program,” I said slowly, as though he were truly asking that stupid of a question.
“Alright, smart ass. You know what I mean. Why did you choose fertility?”
I didn’t want to tell him the whole story, but I could share part of it with him. The only person who knew the whole story was Matt. My ex and now patient. Or patient’s husband. That was one drunken confession I always wished I could take back, and one lesson I learned the hard way.
Don’t get into deep discussions after you’ve been drinking.
“I always wanted to help people. Being a doctor was the epitome of that in my mind. Dedicating my life to the care of others. When I was in med school, I really enjoyed my ob/gyn rotations. I decided that was what I wanted to go into. I worked in an office for a few years, but quickly moved over to the fertility side. I realized those women were the ones I had a real passion for helping.”
“That’s really admirable. I would think it would be tough to be surrounded by so much pain all the time.”
I nodded. “The sad times are hard, but the happy ones make up for it. When a woman finds out she’s pregnant after six years of trying. Or a husband hears the heartbeat for the first time. Or a family comes in for a consultation only to find out they’re already expecting. Those are the times when it’s all worth it.”
“That’s pretty amazing. You don’t really think about the good times. Or I never did. The good times definitely make the bad times easier to handle.”
“You sound like you’re speaking from experience,” I said. I realized I didn’t know much about Wyatt. Just that he was the mayor. And liked candy cane cupcakes.
“I’ll share my sob story another day. I think we all have our bad times and the good times that make them better.”
“True,” I admitted, wondering about the glimpse of depth I got from Wyatt. There was definitely a lot more to him, and I wouldn’t mind learning about some of it.
“If you weren’t a doctor, what would you be?” he asked.
I laughed. “I wanted to be a firefighter when I was growing up.”
“Seriously?”
I nodded. “Absolutely. I thought it was the coolest job out there. The big, red truck. The gear.”
“The cute guys?”
“When I got older that was something to consider. It always seemed like such a great job.”
“What changed your mind?”
“The whole running into burning buildings thing. I wasn’t so sure about that.”
Wyatt laughed and sipped his wine. The waitress dropped off our steaks, smiling broadly at Wyatt and glaring at me. I leveled her with my own look that had her running back to the kitchen.
“You put her in her place,” he said with a snicker, his eyes focused on only me.
I shrugged. “If she’s not going to take the hint from you, she might as well get it from me. Of course, when you come in here next week alone, she’ll be all over you again.”
“Probably. But for tonight, I can enjoy my steak without a side of way-too-young-for-me.”
“She’s not that young. Early twenties?”
Wyatt nodded. “I’m almost twice her age.”
I thought about it for a minute. “Damn. I am, too.”
“How old are you?”
“I thought you weren’t supposed to ask a woman how old she was or how much she weighed.”
“I figure I can ask since you said I’m hot.”
I laughed. “You’re not going to let that go, are you?”
He shook his head. “Never.”
“Fine. I’m thirty-seven. And you?”
“Forty-one.”
“Damn, you really might be twice her age. At least she’s legal.”
“We think,” he said.
“God, I hope.”
We dug into our dinners with gusto. My steak was perfectly cooked and the glaze gave it just enough of a sauce to make the steak even more juicy and delicious. Wyatt reached over and stole a bite of my garlic mashed potatoes and offered me some of his sweet potato.
“Should we be this comfortable with each other?” I asked, feeling oddly relaxed with him.
He shrugged. “We’re friends. The rules of dating don’t apply to us.”
“Works for me. I hope whatever you have planned after this involves a couch and no movement. I don’t think I’m going to be able to do anything when I finish this dinner.”
Wyatt groaned. “I know. I always tell myself I’ll take half my food home but never do.”
“Steak isn’t as good warmed up the next day.”
“No, it isn’t. But sorry, no couches are in our immediate future.”
I patted my belly. “Glad I wore my stretchy pants then.”
Wyatt laughed. “I should have done that.”
“Oh, please. You probably burn all this off in an hour.”
Wyatt chuckled. “If I tried hard enough. You know what the best exercise is?”
“Dear, God, if you say sex I’m throwing my vegetables at you.”
He laughed harder. “I was going to say walking, but sex works, too. Something tells me you hear that answer a lot.”
“I work with women’s reproductive health. Some of their husbands think they’re funny when they tell me they burn more calories than they take in. I really love it when they try to give me tips about what positions are the most aerobic.”
“As long as they don’t offer to show you, I think you’re safe.”
“Ha! None of them have been that stupid yet. Their wives are always in the room. God help the one who propositions me.”
“I think you can handle yourself. Any man who says the wrong thing to you will definitely regret it.”
“Yes, he will.”
Wyatt paid for our dinner, even though I offered, and helped me into my coat. He guided me out of the restaurant with a hand low on my back. “The waitress is watching us,” he whispered in my ear as we walked.
I leaned into him, gazing up at him with a look I hoped was convincing enough to get her to back off for at least a couple weeks.
He smiled at me. “Remind me not to mess with you.”
“Ah, Mayor Ramsey, you’re safe. For now.”
He held the door for me leaving the restaurant and again at his SUV. When he got in, I asked, “Where are we going?”
“You really like being the one in control, don’t you?”
“I am always in control. Except in the kitchen. You’ll quickly learn that I am not skilled when it comes to anything in the kitchen.”
“Really? That surprises me.”
“Why?” I challenged. “Because I’m a woman?”
Wyatt snorted. “Not even a little. Because you’re so determined. And you said you like food. It fits that you would not only want to cook but also enjoy it. The creation of food, like the creation of life, is half art and half skill.”
“I don’t know that the creation of life is half art or skill. I think it’s more science and faith.”
“Are you saying you can’t get pregnant if you don’t believe?”
“It definitely makes things harder when the couple has doubts. Mindset matters when you’re talking about getting something inside to work.”
“That’s interesting. I never would have thought about that.”
“Have you ever wanted something really bad? Something you thought was out of reach?”
“Of course.”
“Did you tell yourself it was never going to happen, or did you boost your own confidence with expressions and good thoughts? Maybe even prayer if you’re into that.”
“Definitely the latter.”
“It’s the same
thing when someone is trying to get pregnant. I tell them to believe it’ll work every time. If it doesn’t, it’s painful, but it’s painful whether they believe it’ll work or not. It isn’t easier to not get pregnant just because they were prepared for it.”
Wyatt nodded. “True. Whenever we don’t get what we want, it sucks. No matter what.”
“Exactly. And I’m thinking right now is one of those moments for me.”
Chapter 4
Wyatt laughed. “Why is that? You don’t like sledding?”
I shook my head. “I’m so clumsy that I’d probably end up with something broken by the time we got to the bottom of the hill.”
“It can’t be that bad,” Wyatt said, eyeing me.
I shook my head. “It is. Which means you’re carrying me back up the hill if I get hurt.”
“You’re gonna do it?” he asked, his brown eyes lighting up.
“That was our deal, right? You show me what’s so great about the holidays and I get to depress the hell out of you?”
He laughed again. “Bring it on.”
I followed Wyatt, and his two plastic neon sleds, to the hill. When we got there, I looked down the hill at the crowd and got nervous. There was no way I was going to make it all the way down without hurting myself. Not to mention I was wearing boots that were more for fashion than sledding.
But I was determined to give it a shot.
“Are you ready?”
“Fuck no. Is it too late to back out?”
“We don’t have to do this,” he said, taking my hands in his and pulling my gaze from the mountain we were standing on top of. “I didn’t realize this would be a problem.”
I shook my head. “Nope. I’m going to do it. Maybe this is part of why I hate this time of year. I don’t take enough risks.”
“Sledding is a risk?” he asked, fighting a smile.
“Just wait until you see me. Then you’ll understand.”
He shook his head. “Together or separate?”
“Oh, no. I’m not going to subject you to my damage. You need your own sled. That way you can still carry me back up the hill.”
He chuckled. “I doubt it’ll be that bad.”
“Don’t expect to hear this often, but I hope you’re right, Mr. Mayor.”
Wyatt threw his head back and laughed, full body barrel laugh. I couldn’t help but join him. We stood there laughing like idiots as kids whipped past us to take off down the hill that terrified me. Wyatt followed my gaze and grinned even wider.
“You know those children are braver than you are.”
“I am perfectly capable of admitting that.”
I took a deep breath and grabbed the electric blue sled. “Okay. Let’s get this over with. I think a friend of mine is on right now in the ER. If we hurry, she can set whatever I break.”
Wyatt laughed as I plopped down into the sled. It went absolutely nowhere.
“Um?”
“Usually I wait until I’m at the edge of the hill to get in the sled. They don’t move well on flat ground.”
“I should have known that.”
“Hold on tight,” Wyatt said, his hands landing on my shoulders. “I’ll push you.”
“No,” I screeched, terrified. I dug my heels into the snow. “I don’t want to go any faster than I have to.”
“I’ll just push you to the edge. You can control your descent from there.”
“Are you going, too?” I asked, my voice bordering panicked.
He nodded. “I can ride with you. Or I’ll be right next to you.”
“I don’t know,” I hedged. “I don’t think it’s safe for you to ride with me.”
“Scoot,” he said, nudging me forward.
“What are you doing?”
“I’m going to ride with you. Move forward so I can sit behind you.”
“You don’t have to.”
“Peyton? This was my idea. Let me ride with you. Neither of us are dressed to be out here for too long. A couple runs and we’ll go find some hot chocolate inside.”
“Are you sure?”
His eyebrows peaked and he shook his head. “Move woman.”
I inched forward, praying I didn’t shift my weight far enough forward that I went over the edge. Wyatt’s boots landed next to my hips before he lowered himself onto the sled behind me. He tugged me back against him, then tucked his boots under my knees.
“Are you okay?” he asked, his breath on my neck.
I nodded, trying to think of the last time I had a man wrapped around me like he was. He smelled good, fresh and clean with a hint of manliness that teased me. His hands were low on my hips, holding me where he wanted me.
Sledding could be fun if you wanted to get frisky.
Wyatt shifted his weight and propelled us forward inch by inch. I reached down and dug my knuckles into the snow, pushing us closer to the edge. When we were right there, our momentum just barely keeping us flat, Wyatt squeezed my hips with his thighs and said, “Here we go.”
Our momentum tipped and we started to slide. Slowly at first, but we picked up speed quickly. The wind whipped across my skin, stinging my cheeks and making my eyes water. Wyatt held on to me tightly as we raced down the slope toward the bottom.
“Woohoo!” he yelled, tipping his head back.
My fears began to subside, allowing me to laugh with Wyatt. By the time we slowed, we were both laughing like fools.
We rolled out of the sled together, our legs tangled together. The icy snow pressed against my cheek and chilled me through my leggings, but I didn’t care.
“That wasn’t so bad, was it?”
I shook my head. “It was fun.”
“Good. Again?”
I nodded. “I think I can handle it again.”
Wyatt grabbed the string on the front of the sled and reached for my hand. I slid mine into his without a thought, and we started the long walk back up to the top.
I huffed and puffed up the hill. “Shit, this is a lot longer to walk up.”
“Yeah it is. This was easier when I was half my age.”
“Then you could be here with that waitress. Oh, wait. She’d be an infant.”
“Or not even born,” Wyatt said with a shudder. “What’s the biggest age difference between someone you’ve dated and you?”
“A few years, probably. I can’t think of anyone I’ve dated that was more than a couple years older than me.”
“Or younger?”
I shook my head. “Younger men are too immature for me.”
“Even a year or two?”
I nodded. “Yeah. I have a low tolerance for bullshit. If you don’t treat me right, we’re done. If you treat me like a trophy to show off to your friends, we’re done.”
“I don’t blame you. The only thing that waitress wants me for is to show off to her friends. I’m too old for that shit.”
“Exactly. Games weren’t fun when I was her age. I didn’t have time for it.”
“Neither did I. Sledding though? Sledding I had time for.”
“You’re just a grown up child, aren’t you?”
“Oh, yeah,” he said, climbing onto the sled again. He helped me position in front of him and wrapped himself around me again.
And we were off.
Over and over we slid down the hill tangled together, then dragged ourselves back up. When my feet were frozen and my hands were numb, we carried the sleds to Wyatt’s SUV then went inside to warm up with some hot chocolate.
We settled at a small table in front of the oversized stone fireplace. The snow started to fall outside, making the fireplace and the stone room with windows overlooking the hill even more cozy.
“How was our first date?” Wyatt asked.
I shrugged. “Okay, I guess.”
He fought a grin and nodded. “I’ll try harder next time. Hopefully I can satisfy you.”
I laughed. “I had more fun than I expected,” I admitted. “Dinner was amazing, and sledding was fun. Even bet
ter, I’m not in the hospital with a brand new cast.”
“I’d have signed it for you.”
“Aw, how sweet.”
“You break it, you buy it, right?”
“So this would be you break it, you sign it?”
“Yeah, we can go with that.”
“I have to say, Mayor Ramsey, my favorite part of tonight has definitely been the company.”
He looked surprised and pleased with my statement. “Thank you, Dr. Peyton. I have to say I agree.”
We shared a smile that said more than words could and sipped our hot chocolate. When we were done, Wyatt reached for my hand again and led me outside. He opened my door and held my hand on the drive back to my house. Neither of us mentioned the shift in things between us, but I knew he was feeling it, too. We talked about our friends and he shared a few of the plans for the winter festival.
When he pulled into my driveway, I was definitely not ready for the night to be over. Wyatt walked me to my door, leaving his SUV running.
“I had a great night,” I admitted with a grin. “If all our dates are as much fun as this one, you’ve got yourself a date for Valentine’s Day.”
“I’m glad I could entertain you. I have a feeling I need to step up my game for the next date though.”
“Why is that?”
He shook his head. “You’re not a woman who is easily pleased. The same thing over and over again will only make you dislike winter even more.”
“You’re more perceptive than I gave you credit for.”
He stepped closer to me. “I’ve been paying attention, Dr. Peyton.”
He swept the hair from my shoulders and wrapped his hand around my neck. He leaned in, giving me a chance to back away, but I didn’t want to.
His lips were warm when they met mine. Soft. A casual brush, nothing more than a peck. But I instantly wanted more from him. He eased back, his eyes catching mine. His lips tilted up in a grin, then he leaned in again, pressing his lips back to mine.
He shifted closer, not crowding me, but not letting me forget exactly who was kissing me. He was a perfect gentleman, with a burn simmering just beneath the surface.
I wanted to trace his lips with my tongue, to have him devour me, but he was Wyatt. My friend. The guy who was trying to convince me winter wasn’t the worst season of the year. We weren’t getting involved.
Ample & Alluring Page 3