Playing Doctor: A Central West End Story

by Cahoon, Lynn

  “Are you crazy? You have a lot to offer a woman. Annie is lucky to have your attention. You’re a great guy. You care about others. You know how to do laundry. And someday, if you don’t knock this Matt guy on his butt like you want to, you may be the doctor that cures cancer.”

  “I’m a long way from being a catch.” Troy held out his hand and counted on his fingers. “Look at my flaws. I’m obsessive. I’ve got a job that demands most of my time, including hours I should be sleeping. And I have a sister who’s not only overly involved in my life, she’s living in my apartment.”

  A pillow flew from Sara’s side of the couch. “I’m not living here. And Annie likes talking to me. It’s you she hides from when you’re home. Besides, I’m close to finishing the book proposal. Although I’m sure I’ll be camping out here for the next year until my advance gets paid out. I get a lot of work done here.”

  “And you’re welcome anytime.” Troy looked out the window to the sunshine. “I’m getting out for a run. Are you going to be around for dinner?”

  “Do you want me to stay?”

  “That would be nice. You can help me figure out a way to fix this with Annie.” Troy stood up and kissed his sister on the top of the head. “You’re pretty easy to talk to sis.”

  “Of course I am. I’m a romance expert. Just ask my editor.” She opened her laptop, returning to her story.

  When Troy hit the running paths, all tension seeped out of his body. He’d fixed the Matt problem or at least Valerie had. He knew where his career was going. Now he needed to fix this thing with Annie. She filled a hole in him he hadn’t known was there. Even now, running alone, he felt her absence. No one had reached this part of him ever. He was curious to see where the two of them would go. Maybe it was just a spring crush thing, but maybe, just maybe she was the one.

  Troy pushed away the thought and focused on his run. One, two, three. One, two, three. The pace calmed him as he imagined a first date. Then a first kiss. And more. When he’d gotten to watching her walk down the aisle, he knew he was too deep into this daydream. He was even seeing her run towards him although she wasn’t in a wedding dress. She wore a white sweat suit.

  The image stopped in front of him, still jogging in place. “Hey, I’m sorry about barking at you. That jerk has called me Nurse Barbie for weeks.”

  Troy stopped. Taking a breath, he realized she was real. Not just his vivid imagination. “Matt can be, well, Matt. And we aren’t friends.”

  “I knew that. I overheard the discussion with Dr. Dixon this morning. I was having a bad day and turned into a bitch. Then I took it out on you.” Annie stopped her feet and put a hand on his arm. “Anyway, I’m sorry.”

  “That’s okay. I haven’t been totally honest with you either.”

  “What do you mean?” Annie looked up into his face.

  “Annie Baxter, I thought I just wanted a running buddy. I don’t. I don’t want to be friends with benefits. I want to start over, if it’s all right. And you don’t have other commitments,” Troy paused remembering the flowers she’d been carrying that day. Maybe they had been for her. He pushed through. Never give up, never surrender. “I’d like to ask you out on a date. I mean, I’d like us to see if there’s more for the two of us.”

  “You want to date me?” Annie’s question hung in the air.

  “Believe me, the other night was amazing. I’m not saying we shouldn’t try that experiment again in the very near future. But I want more than casual sex. I want to see what we have here. If anything.”

  “While we live together? What if it doesn’t work? We’ll have to see each other for months until the second apartment comes available.”

  Troy squirmed. This is why he never asked out anyone. He hated this moment when she’d smile, put her hand on his arm, and tell him how she appreciated his friendship but she just didn’t see him that way. Maybe he should joke it off.

  “Troy?”

  Damn it, he was jumping in. “Yes, I’d like to date you. I’d like to take you to dinner tonight. So?”

  Annie seemed to pause. “I’d like that. And no, I’m not involved with anyone.”

  Then he remembered. “Can we invite one more?”

  “On our date? You want to take someone else?” Annie slid on the bench near the path. “You are really bad at this dating thing.”

  “Sara. I asked Sara to stay for supper. We can do the date another time. Or I can tell her not to come.” Troy sat down next to her.

  “You would cancel dinner with your sister?” Annie shook her head. “Man, that’s cold.”

  “And this is why I don’t date. Now, I’ve offended you twice.” Troy groaned. “Fine. We’re having dinner with my sister. Who seems to have taken over my apartment, I mean our apartment.” Troy moved closer. “If you hate it, I’ll take you somewhere special on our second date. Just the two of us.”

  Breathless, Annie answered. “Boy, you are optimistic.”

  “Positive thinking opens the door for opportunity to come through.” Troy quoted. “Ancient Chinese fortune cookie.”

  “Ugh. No Chinese. I hate to have the fortune cookie say I told you so.” She put a hand on his chest stopping his movement toward her. “Wait! Nurse Abbott is going to have a cow. She doesn’t believe in fraternization.”

  “I’ll handle her. I’m friends with someone who has very important connections at the hospital.” Valerie would smooth the waters for Annie with sourpuss Abbott. Troy was sure of it. Troy put his hand on her chin and lifted her face to his. His lips covered hers.

  Annie fell into the kiss. Sweet, yet demanding at the same time, a jolt ran through him as her tongue slipped into his mouth, teasing, making him pull her closer.

  When the kiss ended, he smiled. “See? We have chemistry.”

  “I’d say that’s an understatement,” Annie leaned into him. “Ready to run home?”

  “With you? Anytime.” As he started running, with Annie by his side, Troy noticed the daffodils blooming. A sure sign of spring. Awakening. A new beginning. Just like his relationship with Annie. A beginning.

  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

  Copyright 2013 by Lynn Cahoon

  This book was originally published under the title, Temporary Roommates.

  All rights reserved, including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form.

  Published by

  Lynn Cahoon

  Visit Lynn Cahoon on the Internet:

  www.lynncahoon.com

  ebook format

  Issued 2015

  This book is licensed to the original purchaser only. Duplication or distribution via any means is illegal and a violation of International Copyright Law, subject to criminal prosecution and upon conviction, fines and/or imprisonment. This eBook cannot be legally loaned or given to others. No part of this eBook can be shared or reproduced without the express permission of the publisher.

  Letter from the Author

  Playing Doctor is the first installment of Troy and Annie’s adventures. The idea for the story came to me as I was undergoing cancer treatments at the hospital next to St. Louis’s Forest Park. I loved torturing my couple until they both had to give in to the one thing that matters, love. I hope you enjoyed their story.

  New York Times and USA Today best-selling author, Lynn Cahoon is an Idaho native. If you’d visit the town where she grew up, you’d understand why her mysteries and romance novels focus around the depth and experience of small town life. Currently, she’s living in a small historic town on the banks of the Mississippi river where her imagination tends to wander. She lives with her husband and two fur babies.

  Follow her at www.lynncahoon.com or LynnCahoon, Author on Facebook, or @lynncahoon on Twitter.

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