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Chapter One

Daniel

As I walked to the lounge to grab a quick cup of coffee, ave me a sly smile

“What?” I asked suspiciously, not a fan of ainst me

“Ariana Colbert is on the schedule today”

“Is that so?” I asked nonchalantly “I hadn’t looked at ets here”

Mary wiggled her eyebrows “Are you sure? You seeood mood today That always seems to happen when Ariana comes in”

“I don’t knohat you’re talking about,” I lied “She was one of my first new patients at this practice I suppose I enjoy seeing her progress I don’t think there’s anything unusual about that”

“If you say so,” she sang as I went back to my office

I walked quickly, hoping that ossip about ed excitement to see my favorite patient The truth was, she was entirely correct—I was excited to see Ariana Colbert

I started seeing Ariana a few years ago after she raduate school The stress of school washer epilepsy worse, so she needed someone to help her monitor and treat her symptoms My friend at the student health center referred her toreat catch

I kneas unprofessional, but I had a bit of a crush on this girl She was tall and statuesque with caramel skin Her hair and eyes were dark brown, but her eyes had specks of gold in them I had examined them a few times, so I knew them well

Not only was she a total knockout, but she was also really sweet A lot of my patients just liked to complain about their problems, but she had such an infectious outlook on life She wasn’t in great health, but she still walked into my office ten minutes early to every appointment with a smile on her face

But, it ithout saying that she was completely off limits Most medical professionals held the belief that work and free ti went I even refused to ith my friends or faot a little personal—I wasn’t about to touch someone I knehen I was a child in a somewhat intimate part of their body

Plus, patients didn’t want that aardness either I felt like that counted doubly for wo to see theain if they make an unwanted pass at them It’s unprofessional and just plain creepy

That didn’t o there After an appointo back into my office to cool off for a ine that I’d met the woman on the street, instead of in my exam room Almost always, I’d be interrupted by a nurse with a thousand questions about a patient and have to snap back into doctor ht place at the right time

It didn’t help that I didn’t have a lot of ti my own practice, free tied to see all my patients and do all my paperwork by five, I still had to stay late and do adet hoet that I should be going to bars andwomen

Once I’d hit thirty, I realized that picking up woet any easier It was also around that tiraduated fro an aweso at a brand-new practice by the tih school classmates hadn’t even held down a steady job by then But, whenever I heard froe, it made me realize that I didn’t have it all

I had the career and the paycheck I wanted, but that was about it I wanted to feel pleasure in o out on the weekends, I always hooked up with plenty of girls which helped fill the void in

Co out on life in one way or another I rarely traveled, I hadn’t been in a serious relationship in years, and I had no intent on starting a family

So, I proive into my hedonistic desires e on expensive drinks, I would buy a bottle of top shelf whiskey and have a few glasses If I wanted the companionship of a woman, I would find thenight of passion If I wanted another wo that they don’t teach you in medical school is that a few letters behind your name can be the difference between a kiss on

the cheek at the end of the night, or a kiss on the lips in thewhen you drop her off at home

It was alh to satisfy my needs Almost

“Mary,” I called fro to let me knohen my next patient was here”

“She isn’t here yet,” Mary responded I probably didn’t pay her enough for having to put up with ets here, I’ll let you know”

I checked the time She was usually early for her appointments, which I loved Thatit up with her before I had toa pleasant experience with a patient really o so much faster

“Do you think she forgot about her appointive her a call”

“No, wait a few et a ride I don’t think she would just not show for her appointment”

“She’s still not able to drive, is she?” Mary frowned

I shook o We’re in the process of figuring out what medications work for her”

“Poor girl It can’t be easy to deal with epilepsy while trying to go to school She’s a tough girl, though”

“Yeah,” I mused “She is”

I began to lose myself in a daydream I think Mary noticed because she excused herself from my office without another word

I thought about exa Ariana, professionally, of course Afterward, I would er discussions about our lives and our interests Eventually, I would work up the courage to ask her on a date She would giggle and blush but agree to go out with me

I would take her somewhere really fancy, like a nice restaurant I would let her order whatever she wanted on the o for a walk on the beach When it got late, I would invite her back toout

Then, things would get serious We’d both swear that we’ve never slept over on the first date before For me, that would be a lie, but I didn’t want her to think that I was a slut It wouldn’t take long for her to decide that she would be bad, just for one night, and give in to her desires

Everything would go according to plan After one night in bed withback for more I usually didn’t see women more than a few times, but she would be the exception We’d spend ti each other feel good

My

“Hello?” I said into the phone, sitting up straight in h no one was around, I felt like I had just been caught doing so dirty

“Were you sleeping?” Mary asked “Your voice sounds funny”

“No, just doing some paperwork,” I lied “What’s up?”

“Ariana Colbert is here I’ll bring her to Room 3 in about two minutes”