Falling for the Dr (A Small Town Medical RomCom)

It didn’t make any sense. It was Teddy Ricci, a girl I’d known for most of my life. I had spent as many holidays and celebrations at her house as my own over the years.

“That’s it!” That had to be it. Teddy was a part of my real life, not just the late-night hours spent between the sheets. She was my sister’s best friend, and her brother was my best friend. We lived at opposite ends of the same block. She was as much a part of my life as anyone else in Jackson’s Ridge, and now I’d seen her naked. I’d tasted her sweet essence and it had thrown me for a loop.

Maybe that was it, or maybe it was that I didn’t feel done when I left her sleeping the other night. It wasn’t just because my body still craved her touch, but that was part of it. It was because despite her anger and her obvious dislike for me, Teddy wanted me. She didn’t want me to get to know her, didn’t want anything to do with me, but deep in my gut I knew we weren’t done.

Not yet.

Buoyed by that thought, I swung my legs over the side of the bed, stood with a stretch, and headed for a hot shower. I wanted a few minutes alone with Teddy before her men showed up, and she usually arrived about thirty minutes before the rest of her crew. That would give me time to play out a fantasy or two while we were alone.

My fantasies of Teddy had my cock growing harder under the shower spray and I took myself in hand, stroking hard and fast to the memory of her sliding my cock into her mouth, licking and sucking like she was right where she wanted to be.

“Oh.” The word came out on a harsh grunt as I jerked and pleasure spurted from my body.

Ten minutes later, I was dressed and headed toward the kitchen when I heard a familiar voice that was decidedly un-feminine. “Travis, what’re you doing here so early?”

He flashed a friendly smile I’d seen thousands of times over the years and shrugged. “Teddy needed to get started on the fundraiser build now that the supplies have arrived. She’ll probably be there most of the day, so I’m in charge.”

“Good for you. There’s a cooler full of cold drinks in the mudroom.” They were meant for Teddy, but she wouldn’t mind sharing with her crew.

Travis looked at the worn watch on his wrist and frowned. “Shouldn’t you be sleeping right now?”

He was right; I was still on nights and needed to sleep, but that wasn’t an option right now. “With all the racket you boys make? I’ll sleep right before I head to the hospital.”

Travis flashed a knowing smile and nodded. “Sure. Tell Teddy I’m doing a great job when you see her.”

I didn’t bother denying that I was going to see her.

I knew exactly where she would be for most of the day, and best of all, she couldn’t run from me. “If I see her, I will.”

After a quick stop at the deli, I made my way to the designated build area Suzie had found for her. When I spotted Teddy, I stopped and took my time absorbing the image she made.

The woman filled out her jeans incredibly, showing off toned legs, a small waist, and a perfectly round butt that had my fingers itching with the desire to touch her. Again. She must have felt the way the air changed when we were in the same room, because she looked over her shoulder and her brown gaze caught mine staring at her.

“Cal,” she sighed.

I smiled. “Need some help?”

“Nope. I’m perfectly capable of doing my job without your help. What are you doing here, anyway?”

Not exactly the warm welcome I was hoping for, but she hadn’t kicked me out, either. “I brought lunch.”

Teddy threw her head back and laughed. “Lunch is hours away. Maybe you’re delirious from lack of sleep.”

“Maybe I am, or maybe this is one of those dreams where the delivery guy gets lucky because the homeowner can’t pay her tab.” I wiggled my eyebrows suggestively and she let out a low, husky laugh.

“Don’t hold your breath.” That was what she said, but her lips curved into a grin. Teddy sighed and shook her head. “Leave the lunch, if you want.”

“We’re a package deal,” I told her, the words mirroring what I’d said to her when I showed up with dinner.

“I’m not falling for that again.”

“I seem to recall it was you who initiated things, Teddy.”

She sighed again and turned her back to me. “I gave you what you wanted, and you didn’t have to put on a big song and dance to get it.”

“There was no song and dance, Teddy. Just dinner.” Her silence told me she still didn’t believe me, and I couldn’t help but think about her sleepy words of truth. “You think I’m lying.”