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Alexis gave CeCe her best smile. She hoped it gave CeCe a sense of relief and calm. “You’re not supposed to be a patient. I thought we were having lunch,” Alexis said, trying to ease the tension. “We’re going up to radiology to do a scan of your head.”

“We?” CeCe asked.

Alexis nodded. “You don’t think I’m going to let someone else hold your hand, do you?”

CeCe smiled.

“We need to go, Dr. Reed,” the attending doctor said.

Alexis nodded. She bent down and kissed CeCe gently on the lips.

“That’s good medicine, Doc,” CeCe said.

Alexis walked beside the gurney as they wheeled CeCe into the elevator. Erin stepped in and punched the button for the radiology floor.

“Why was the hospital administrator in the ER?” Alexis asked, looking at Erin.

“I happened to be doing a walk-through and I heard this woman say that Dr. Alexis Reed was her girlfriend,” Erin said, smiling down at CeCe. “I had seen CeCe upstairs earlier at the spa event and I couldn’t imagine it was her.”

“How many girlfriends do you think I have?” Alexis asked.

“One!” CeCe spoke up. “Me!”

27

Alexis sat beside CeCe’s bed and watched her sleep. She had been fooling herself about being in love with CeCe. When she couldn’t find CeCe at the spa event an uneasy feeling ran through her. Alexis was rarely paged to the ER, so that added to her anxiety.

When she walked into the ER and Erin told her CeCe had been hurt, all her finely honed professionalism and mastered ability to remain calm flew away. All she could think about was getting to CeCe, seeing her with her own eyes, touching her, holding her…loving her. I love CeCe Sloan.

Alexis kissed the back of CeCe’s hand and smiled at her sleeping face. “I love you so much, Cecilia,” Alexis whispered softly.

CeCe stirred and moaned. Her eyelids fluttered open and when she found Alexis she smiled. “I fell asleep.”

Alexis nodded and gave her a sweet smile. “How do you feel?”

“Have you been with me the entire time?”

“Where else would I be?”

Alexis watched as CeCe narrowed her eyes and she could see her wrestling with something.

“What is it, babe?” Alexis asked.

“I had the strangest dream just now,” CeCe said. “You were telling me…”

Alexis smiled. She stood up and leaned over CeCe. “I didn’t expect to tell you this for the first time while you’re in a hospital, but—I love you, CeCe.”

CeCe smirked. “You’re saying that because I scared you.”

Alexis looked at her wide-eyed then a slow smile grew on her face. She bent down and kissed CeCe tenderly. “I’m in love with you, CeCe Sloan. Believe it.” Alexis had to chuckle inside. Not only did she believe she’d never utter those words to anyone again, but now that she’d said them, CeCe didn’t believe her.

“This isn’t a dream? Or these are very good pain meds they gave me, right?” CeCe said.

“No, baby. I’ve said it twice now.”

“One more kiss and I might believe you,” CeCe said.

Alexis grinned and softly kissed CeCe once again. When she pulled away CeCe was looking at her with such love.