Kissing the Dr (Healing Love)

“Why are you at my desk?”

He grinned and kicked his feet up on my desk, crossing them at the ankles. “Who pissed in your oatmeal?”

“Nice. You kiss Teddy with that mouth?”

Cal wiggled his eyebrows. “I do all kinds of things to Teddy with this mouth.”

I wasn’t in the mood and rolled my eyes. “What are you doing here?”

“I came to see you, though I have no clue why at the moment. Want to act like a whiny little brat or tell me what’s wrong?”

“Nothing is wrong,” I growled, but that was a lie. “It’s Megan.” I told him about all of her new plans for the business, a frown on my face the entire time. “Why did she hide all this from me?”

“Maybe she didn’t,” he offered with a shrug. “Maybe she was planning to tell you before she was mugged on the side of the road. Or maybe she didn’t tell you because you’re always here and she didn’t want to bother you.”

I shook my head. “You make it all sound so reasonable.”

“That’s because it is. What are you afraid of, that this woman is an imposter who looks just like Megan but she’s out to get the bakery all to herself?”

“No. Of course not.”

“Then, why are you acting like she stole the original draft of the constitution?”

Was I? “It’s just strange that she has plans to add to new arms to her business and she never said a damn word about it.”

Cal sighed and dropped his feet to the floor. “You’re a surgeon, Casey. That’s important work, and I’m sure Megan feels like she doesn’t want to burden you with things like bakery delivery services when you do actual brain surgery.”

“I care about her stuff, too,” I insisted. I never, ever, made a distinction between her job and mine. They were both important, crucial to our lives and overall well-being. Our success. Our future plans. “She hid this from me, and she did it on purpose.”

Cal nodded, almost in understanding. Almost. “And I’m guessing you took it well, like the loving and supportive husband you are?”

“I was too shocked to be anything but shocked. Honestly.” Even now, I didn’t truly know how I felt about it, other than upset that this morning was the first I’d heard of her plans.

“That’s too bad for you, but Dr. Reynolds said that this is just what she needs to regain her memory. Something new will help work out her brain which will, hopefully, bring back the memories. That’s still what you want, isn’t it?”

I glared at my so-called friend. “You know damn well it is.”

“I do,” he said with an exaggerated nod. “But Megan? Well, you see, she’s been having memory problems lately.”

“Funny.”

A knock sounded on the door, and I groaned my annoyance. “What?”

The door opened and Persy stood with a smile on her face, not at all bothered by my grumpy demeanor. “I came to ask how the anniversary went but since you’re so growly, I guess not well?”

“Oh, that’s right,” Cal snapped his fingers. “That’s why you’re upset. How did you screw it up? Tell me and I’ll help you fix it.”

I rolled my eyes. “Last night went fine. Better than fine, and I don’t need any damn advice.”

“Sounds like it.” Persy snickered and didn’t bother to hide it as she entered my office and closed the door. “What did you do?”

“Why do you assume it was me? Maybe it was Megan.”

“Was it?” Persy shot back, arms folded and a look of disbelief on her face.

“No,” I admitted. “Our anniversary was amazing. She cooked and it was perfect. I ruined it this morning when she told me about her plans to expand the bakery.”

“That’s great!” Persy’s expression was exactly what Megan had expected from me and I let out another groan. “Sorry, but it is.”

“You knew?”

“Oh no, that’s not Megan’s style.”

“I guess that should make me feel better.” It didn’t.

Persy rolled her eyes dramatically and let out a sigh that told me she also thought I was an idiot. “The thing about your wife is that she believes her work isn’t as important as yours or mine, or Gus’, because we’re medical professionals. It’s annoying and we always have to pull details from her. You should do something about that, Dr. Jackson.”

Yeah, I guess that was something a good husband would do. “I’ve never noticed.”

“Too busy,” Cal sang behind me. “You need to make time for your wife, Casey.”

“I know,” I grunted at him.

“I’m serious. Apparently, she is as much a stranger to you as you are to her—the only difference is that one of you has a brain injury.”

“The other is just brain damaged,” Persy muttered under her breath.

“Thanks, guys. You’ve been super helpful,” I told them sarcastically, but the truth was that my friends were right. I needed to be the supportive husband I always was—which meant I needed to apologize to Megan before I did anything else.