Wash

Simon put his arm around her and kissed her forehead. “Let’s get you home.”

Charity and Elijah followed without saying anything. Charity suddenly felt awkward beside him. The tenderness between Julie and Simon reminded her of what she wished she had. Drinks and flirting couldn’t come close to even pretending that sweet connection was there.

Outside Elijah hailed a taxi. Charity crawled in the back with Julie and Simon. Elijah got into the front of the cab. He gave the driver Simon and Julie’s address.

Julie, her head lying on Simon’s shoulder, spoke without opening her eyes. “Charity’s hotel is on the way… drop her off first.”

Charity told the taxi driver the hotel name and sat back to stare out the window. Elijah chatted politely with the driver about the weather and sports. Charity paid no attention to the conversation; she just listened to Elijah’s accent roll up and down as he spoke.

“Do you stay at this hotel every time?” Elijah glanced back to look at her.

“I do.”

“Why not at your father’s house?”

Julie harrumphed. “That’s a long story. Dr. Thompson’s a great doctor, lousy dad.”

“Juls!” Simon shook his head and mouthed “Sorry” to Charity.

“Don’t worry. It’s kinda hard not to notice that we aren’t going to win father-daughter of the year award.”

Thank goodness they pulled into the hotel. She handed Simon money for the taxi. He rolled his eyes and pushed it back at her. “I don’t want that.”

Elijah stepped out and opened the door for her. “I’ll be right back, just let me walk her inside.”

“Bye, Juls, Simon. It was fun.”

“We’ll do it again, but I’m not mixing drinks next time!” Julie said as Elijah closed the cab door.

Elijah walked her inside and at the elevator he asked, “What floor are you on?”

“Second, right above the pool. I get the same room every time.” She smiled when the elevator door slid open and they stepped on. “I usually just take the stairs at the end of the hall. My room’s right across from it.”

Elijah’s eyebrows rose. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

“You seemed like you really wanted to take the elevator.”

The doors opened and she led the way down the hall to her room. “I had fun tonight.”

“So did I.” His tongue ran across his lips as he pressed them together. “Do you have plans for tomorrow?” His fingers rubbed his forehead. “Shoot, I’m on call tomorrow at the hospital.”

“Maybe I’ll see you there. I need to sit behind my computer and get some work done.”

His eyes lit up. “Why don’t you do it in my office? I’ll be in and out and I promise I won’t be a bother.”

“That sounds… nice.” She rummaged through her purse and pulled out her room key-card. “You should—”

Elijah’s lips pressed against hers as she looked up from her bag. They were soft and left hers much too quickly. “Text me tomorrow when you wake up,” he whispered.

Charity nodded but didn’t say anything; she didn’t trust her voice. Inside the room, she leaned against the door and fanned her face with the room key-card. She heard the stairwell door open and close.

She wanted to text him now and then all night. What would be even better, she could crawl into bed and call him, then fall asleep to the sound of his voice.

Chapter 16

Charity, of all things, slept in the next morning. She never did that. Ever. It was almost eleven by the time she made it to the hospital. She stopped at a bakery her mother used to go to on the way and bought a plate of treats and three coffees. Her father wasn’t in his office and neither was Elijah. He left a note on the door to say he was in surgery and for her to use whatever she needed.

She stepped in the room and closed the door behind her, inhaling deeply. She could smell his cologne in the room and she momentarily closed her eyes.