Hello Stranger
Page 45
Tidy. He was so damn tidy.
I was smiling at that too. As if I’d ever found neatness a horny quality in a guy in my life.
Every damn thing about Dr Logan Hall was horny as hell.
I poked my head into the living room and smiled again at the whole wall of bookshelves on the far side. I only hoped I got the chance to have a proper look at them later.
Please, universe, dish me out another winner and let me stay awhile.
The kitchen smelt lovely. There were sausages and bacon ready to be cooked, and a pan out with eggs at the side, and a dining table with cutlery already positioned, for two of us, and an empty mug out by the kettle. I was still wandering around like a nosey bitch when I heard him heading down the stairs. I leant back against the counter to look as chilled as possible, but I’m sure it made no difference. I was a bag of nerves as he joined me.
He headed straight over to the kettle and set it back on to boil. “Black, three sugars, yes?”
I nodded. “Please.”
“Sausage, egg and bacon?”
I nodded again, and I couldn’t hold back the smile. “Yes, please. That sounds amazing.” I paused. “I love bacon.”
I love bacon??
Fucking hell. Brilliant conversation starter.
But it didn’t seem to matter.
“Me too. Can’t beat a decent breakfast on a Saturday morning.”
I watched him there, in his casual trousers and bare feet, pottering about the kitchen and setting the pan on to heat. He was still as him as ever, even though he didn’t look like the him at the hospital. His face was still as concentrated, and his shoulders were still as high, and his posture was still as perfect. I wondered if he really knew how to relax, or if he lived in this permanent state of efficiency.
I looked up at the clock on the wall and it wasn’t even 8 a.m. No wonder I felt rough. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d seen 8 a.m. on a weekend.
I didn’t know what to say, so I didn’t say a word, just watched him making breakfast through loved-up eyes. Loved-up and fluttery, and nervous, and hoping I didn’t make a total tit of myself in the aftermath of the hottest night of my entire life.
He didn’t say anything either, but he wasn’t jittery about it like I was. He was every bit as calm as usual, not fazed in the slightest as he got on with prepping food.
“Scrambled or fried?” he asked as he picked up the egg box.
“Fried, thanks,” I said, and he cracked them into the pan.
I decided to force some words from my mouth.
“Your mum is so nice,” I said, and he smirked.
“My mum is a character. She’s quite something.” He paused, and that smirk was still on his face. “I’m sure you’d get on well with her. She’s every bit the eternal optimist, like you are.”
I’d been told that a lot in my life. That I was the eternal optimist. It didn’t surprise me that his mum was too. You could see it beaming from her smile, hear it in that cackling laugh.
“I’m sure I’d get on well with her too, ” I said, and if I’d have still been on the prosecco confidence, I’d have followed it up with a hopefully we’ll find out, but I didn’t dare.
He dished up breakfast and I sat down at the table opposite him.
Yep, he was stunning. Even more stunning than the night before, if that was ever possible. He took a swig of coffee and got stuck into his bacon, and I buttered a piece of toast with shaky fingers.
I’d never been nervous of buttering damn toast before. I just hoped it wasn’t obvious.
He’d finished before I had. He put his cutlery down onto his plate and stared over at me without words while I finished mopping up the last bit of egg with my toast.
I knew it was coming before he spoke. I could see it in his eyes.
“Chloe…” he started, but I didn’t want it. I didn’t want to hear it.
My voice did me proud in that second, it really did.
“Please, don’t do it,” I told him. “I know it was a mistake and shouldn’t have happened and all that, but please don’t say let’s just forget about it and I’ll see you on Monday and nice to know you.” I took a breath. “Because it’s more than that to me. Since the bookmark thing, and then seeing you worked at the hospital, and then coming to the same ward… I mean, it’s too weird to ignore, right? And I get it, that you’re my boss and it’s not professional, but I really liked it. And I really like you.” I took another breath. “And I even like your mum now, too. So please don’t send me away and say goodbye.”