by Ellen Hutton
“Well, the ribs are quite good,” he answered.
“I will have those please,” I answered before downing the contents of my glass and asking for a second glass of martini. The drink slid down my throat and lit a desirable fire in me, I was soon moving my feet to the country music in the bar and looking at no one in particular. A few men offered to buy me a drink and keep me company but I politely declined and enjoyed my own company. Everything seemed to have been going on well until the bartender decided to burst my fun filled bubble.
“First time at the cowboy boots?”
“Yes,” I answered and let out a wide smile as a result of my fourth glass of martini, ”How could you tell?”
“You are a bit of a loner.”
“I know,” I answered and sipped someone on my drink.
“Which is a good thing, the men in Greendale might be few but they are scavengers.”
“Is that so?” I answered and leaned in closer for some more gossip. Bartenders were generally known to have all the gossip of the town and I was not mistaken, he dished it all out and didn’t hold back.
“Oh yes,” he answered with the obvious u excitement of someone who was about to give me the juiciest gossip ever.
“I know you are still new to town but there is a billionaire who goes by the name of Kyle, Kyle Westwood. Well, his family practically owns the entire town. They are filthy rich, they have ranches all over the town and the state not to mention the oil wells all over the world.”
I tried as much as I could to maintain a straight face as he mentioned his name. The martini did not help but the poor lighting in the club and the eagerness of the bartender to dish out the story did not betray my knowing look. He went on to narrate to me about a young woman who Kyle had slept with drawing a gun at him and almost shooting him. I of course let him rumble on and on about Kyle’s’ other escapades and didn’t tell him I was the one who received him at the hospital and stitched his wound. The rest of my time there was spent with me listening to the bartender and the different escapades on Kyle and other women. By the time I got out of the bar, I was slightly tipsy and viewed him under a different light.
The drive back to my house was filed with regret of why I felt attracted to the arrogant billionaire of a cowboy and feeling sorry for the many girls he had taken advantage of. But part of me was almost curious on what he had to offer and why the town girls threw themselves at him. The money part was obvious but was there something more to the shallow man I was attracted to?
The martini must have clouded my judgment and as soon as I arrived at the hospital grounds decided to go ask him about it, something I would never had done if I was sober minded. I rushed past a few colleagues towards my office and didn’t stop for any idle chitchat lest they found out I was slightly inaugurated. Thank heavens Kyle had been placed in a private ward and was awake when I walked into his room. I went on to lock the door behind me and took a few steps to where he was completely ignoring the arrogant remarks about my short sundress and long sexy legs.
“I would like to know hat happened to you? How did you get shot?”
“Why is that important?”
“We are required to by law to report to the Sheriff’s office about any patients who are brought here with a gun wound.”
“Well, the sheriff already knows my case, so I have saved you a lot of trouble there. You are welcome.”
“Did the sheriff shoot you?”
“No.”
“Who did?” I probed further not letting him slide off my noose very easily. He instead maintained eye contact with me and let out a smile.
“Why lookie here, the good doctor has sipped on a few drinks. I didn’t think you were that sort of girl, you sure are full of surprises doc.”
“Who shot you Kyle?” I asked not in any way entertaining any of his jokes. My serious tone settled well on him and he for the first time since I had met him wore a serious face.
“Some girl named Heavenly,” he answered.
I appreciated his honesty but I did not like how he disregarded the girl and to some point made himself look like the victim. Granted, he was the one in the hospital bed with a gun wound but he most likely deserved it. Heavenly may have not intended to shoot him but she had represented the women he had hurt by pulling that trigger.
“Did you deserve it?”
“Deserve what?”
“Being shot at?”
“No one deserves to be shot at doc,” he answered defensively.
“I know that,” I answered with my hand lifted in midair stopping him from making any other defense claims, “But my question is, was Heavenly justified in shooting you? Would you shoot you if you were in her shoes?”
He took a few seconds to answer and when he did, I felt the honesty spew from his mouth and sincerity filled his eyes.
“I most definitely did.”
“Good.”
That was all I needed to here, maybe his answer had satisfied my ego maybe seeing him weak made me feel better but I was in a better mood after he said these words and turned on my heel. I was just about to walk out of his room and with my hand gripped tightly on the door knob he asked me something that made me rethink my decision.
“Why was it important for you to know?”
I stood rooted at the spot, let the liquor guide my thoughts and actions and immediately locked the door. I then turned to face him, our eyes locked and I dared to make my way over to where he was. He had adjusted the bed in a way that made him comfortable to sit up and had his good arm holding the back of his head.
“You know why,” I answered and maintained eye contact with him, the liquor made me feel bullet proof as I stared at him and did not protest when he placed his hand around my tiny waist and moved me closer to him.
“Tell me why.”
I bit my lower lip, what the hell was I doing? I was still very new in Greendale but was about to sleep with my patient. Not just any patient but one with a known reputation of being the town’s lover boy. That was when it hit me; it didn’t have to mean anything. I could easily sleep with him and run like the wind just like he did with his other girls. He didn’t like me, I was simply another girl on his list but at that moment I couldn’t think, his arm was sending electric waves all over my body and I needed more from him and my body craved more.
I didn’t reject his kiss when he planted it on my lips and I certainly didn’t deny his touch when his hands ran up and down my back. My entire being was responsive and I wanted him, no I needed him. I needed Kyle Westwood to take me right there and then on his hospital bed and ravage me. The man didn’t need to be shot twice, how I was without my panties and mounted his masculine body so fast was still a mystery to me. How I started riding the cowboy with both my legs securely on either side of him while he was still in bed I cannot explain to this day. But I loved it, I loved everything about him, I loved his rough touch his strong thrust and musky scent. I loved the sweat droplets that formed on his face when he was about to get to his climax and I loved how much of a gentleman he was and let me get to my climax first before getting to his. It was not after the five minutes of bliss that I realized what I had done and with that got off the cowboy and scurried to my feet.
“This was a mistake,” I managed to say without looking at him in the eye. I threw my black panties in my purse and in supersonic speed sped out of his hospital room like my life depended on it. I hoped into the shower immediately I got into my house and as much as I tried to wash off his scent from my body my mind had mastered it and his touch still lingered on my skin. I shamelessly wanted more from him but had to give myself a lengthy pep talk, drama in the west was the last thing I needed.
Chapter 3
Kyle
Angie avoided me like the plague that much I knew. I tried calling her but she must have blocked my number. I hoped she would be the one discharging me from the hospital or at least give me my last check up but was wrong on both occasions. I couldn’
t get the time we shared with her off my mind and thought of nothing else. I tried wearing a brave face and moving on with my life but it was all in vain, nothing seemed right nothing made sense. The most absurd gestures was me standing in a florist shop trying to guess her favorite flowers. The only woman I ever bought flowers for was my mother; even the florist was giving me a weird look as I stood in the middle of her store looking like a fool.
“May I help you sir?”
“Yes please,” I answered before letting out a confused sigh and relaxing my shoulders a bit, “I mean, no, I got this.”
“Are you sure?” she asked and fed me a quizzical look, “Are you getting flowers for someone who comes here often? I may know just the type they like.”
Her suggestion made sense but nothing in my head did, I did not want to admit to anyone or myself that I really liked Dr. Angie and after the Heavenly scandal I was not the town’s favorite guy. I had asked the Sheriff drop any charges on her and anonymously paid for her therapy sessions. That was my way of telling all the girls I had hurt in Greendale sorry even though it did not come close to retribution, it was a start.
“I am buying the flowers for someone new in town. Someone I really like and maybe hope would go out on a date with me.”
“That sounds really nice. I always advice white lilies to anyone going out on a first date. You never go wrong with the color of peace; it shows you are ready to give up a lot to go out with the girl you like. And truth be told, I have never come across a girl who did not like white lilies.”
She had made my work so much easier and I did settle for the white lilies, her next question was however harder than her first.
“What would you like to write on the card?”
“That is a loaded question,” I answered and placed both hands on my waist hoping she would come up with other suggestions. Lucky for me she seemed to have read my mind and let out a smile.
“I suggest you buy her chocolates next door as I scribble something sweet for you here,” she said before pointing to the confectionery shop right next to hers, “Do not get anything flavored, plain and simple is the way to go. Do not risk getting her chocolates with nuts and later find out she is allergic to them.”
The lady must have done this cheesy stuff for the longest time; she was giving me great advice as we moved along. I retired with the chocolate in a few and loved what she had scribbled on the note in the most beautiful handwriting.
“Would you go out with me?”
Her words were simple and straight to the point but still had a ring of sincerity.
“Who do I address them to? Or would you rather deliver them by yourself?”
“Address it to Dr. Angie Wilson, Greendale Hospital.”
Heaven knew I did not have the nerves in me to deliver the flowers and chocolates in person. I above all feared rejection from her and as I walked out of the florist shop hoped she would accept my request and call me. I headed back to my office that was situated only a few feet from the florist with Angie on my mind. I spent the rest of the day keen on my phone hoping I would hear from her. I wasn’t begging for much, a simple text would have sufficed but when the sun set and day gave way to night, Angie had not called.
A wave of disappointment washed over me and with the utmost fury and resolve I could master headed down to Greendale hospital. I had no idea what I was going to say to her but I needed to set my eyes on her. I had never in my whole life been on this side of the coin, I was the one who did the rejection. Girls threw themselves at me all the time, they couldn’t wait for a rematch after our first encounter but that was not the case with Angie. I guessed that was what made her different; she knew who she was, what she wanted and how she wanted it. But did that mean she did not want me?
I drummed on my steering wheel as I parked in the hospital’s parking lot and thought about what I was going to do. Was this love? Well it made me feel week and I hated being weak. After careful deliberation of my actions for another five minutes, I stepped out of my car with a game plan. I was simply going to request her to carry out a checkup on my wound and maybe gauge her reaction, see if maybe she had received my flowers. If she wouldn’t be interested then I wouldn’t push it.
My knees grew weak as I walked over to the doctor’s office; I was looking forward to seeing her but at the same time quite nervous. My hand was still in a sling bit I chose not to wear it all the time. The line at the waiting bay seemed long and as I sat and waited to go in and see her I wondered if what I was doing was sane. As if the universe spoke to me, my flowers were delivered right before I walked into her office and a wide nervous grin widened my lips. She looked from the flowers to me before signing the delivery guy’s package and waited on him to walk out of her office before saying anything.
“These are lovely, thank you.”
Her demeanor was cold and her tone was appreciative, I took a seat opposite her and before I could say anything she completely threw off guard.
“How is your arm? Are you in any pain?”
I shifted my attention to my arm which was in no way the subject matter of me being in her office. It could be amputated for all I cared, it was not that important to me at the time.
“I am not in any pain.”
“Please get on the examination table,” he said as she pointed to it, “And take off our shirt.”
I did as asked and took off my short waiting for her hands to run over my perfect model like chest. I worked out a lot and was proud of my abs. I endured a few seconds of her soft hands examining me and my arm and before I could even start to enjoy it, it was all over. She made a few comments about giving me a new prescription but all that was rattle to my ears.
“So? Will you go out with me?” I asked once again after she was done sounding professional and my examination was over.
“Look, Kyle. I am really flittered by the gesture, I really am but this right here is not going to work. I am not that interested in you and I am not looking to be in anything right now.”
I was immediately hurt by the gorgeous doctor and immediately regretted my gesture of sending flowers and chocolates.
“I see,” I answered and instinctively moved to where she was, “That was not the response you gave me last night, your body was quite responsive so do not lie to me that you did not feel anything last night. Do not lie to me Angie.”
She shut her eyes momentarily and battled within herself; I cupped her chin with my hand and brought her lips to mine. She did not reject my kiss and as a matter of fact responded to it wildly and dangerously bringing back memories of a few nights back.
“Dr. Wilson, there is a patient here who…..”
Someone interrupted us and made the moment awkward. I did not want to get her into any trouble and instead got to my feet, tipped my hat to the middle aged nurse and walked out the door. I could feel both their gazes on my back as I left the room and hoped Angie would call me. I needed to see her, hell I needed to be with her.
Angie
Trust Kyle to leave me staring into the curious and not so happy eyes of Nurse Jane and after she caught us making out in my office. She had a million and one questions for me and the woman did not hold back. It was only when he walked out of the room that she decided to start asking questions.
“Angie what were you doing?”
“I was…..ummm,” I hesitated feeling like a teenage daughter who had just been caught with a love note to her secret crush by her mother, “I was examining a patient.”
“Well, were you using your lips to carry out the examination?”
“ I am sorry you had to see that, it will not happen again”
“It had better not,” she answered in a sharp voice, “That was very inappropriate not to mention unprofessional.”
“You are right,” I simply agreed without offering any defense story, “You are absolutely right, I am very sorry you had to walk into that.”
The fact that this was not g
oing head to head with her cooled her down a bit but she still had a lot to say and ask. Her weight slummed down on the chair opposite me and I was obliged to also have my seat.
“I know I have no right to question you like this, after all you are an adult and can make your own decisions but someone has to look out for you doll,” she stated with her head slightly tilted to the right, “How well do you know this guy, I thought I told you he is bad news. Hell you witnessed it for yourself just the other day when he came in here with a gunshot inflicted on him with one of his many lovers.”
Her words were meant to sting and they did, I bit my lower lip and looked at nothing in particular as I drew in a deep breath and listened to Nurse Jane sounding wise. I knew she was right, every logic bone in me agreed with her but I still wanted to be with Kyle. As much as I had down played our sexual encounter as a one night stand, I had thought of nothing else since.
I let her talk and offered nothing in return, she was right, whoever I decided to date was none of her business and once the day was over I had already made up my mind on my next course of action. I placed a call to Kyle who picked up after the second ring obviously eager to hear from me.
“Hi,” he greeted which was unlike him to not add any more cheesy words or naughty insinuations thereafter.
“Can we talk?”
“Sure,” he answered, “Would you like me to come pick you?”
“No, I will come to you. Text me your address.”
He hung up the phone almost immediately and sent me a text message of his address. I called a cab to take me to the destination and as I moved along the streets noticed how my surroundings changed. The cab drove me through ranches and gigantic mansions. I had definitely not set foot in this part of town and it was nothing short of remarkable. The cab came, to a halt in front of a huge mansion that looked modern but still had the western touch to it. I stepped out of the car looking and feeling confused, second guessing myself with every step as I walked over to the front of the door. He saved me more confusion by swinging the door open and standing on the other side looking handsome and confident.