Page 12 of Burn Falls

Love you.

Love you more.

I returned back to my novel as I waited for Dr. Young to make his nightly visit. His visits were always the highlight of the entire ordeal, and when he was in the room, I couldn’t help but stare at him. I couldn’t help it. He was tall, had brown hair, and hot as hell—all of the qualities I looked for in a man. He was also a doctor, so that was a plus. A man like him would never go for a chubby girl like me, but that didn’t stop me from staring at his profile as he typed on the computer. The way he’d smile warmly at me as though he could hear my beating heart pounding in my chest caused me to stutter any words I spoke to him.

“Are you going to Maxwell’s after shift?”

I lifted my head to see two female nurses walking past the open door. “Yeah, of course. After the day I’ve had, I need a drink or five.” They laughed and kept walking.

Maxwell’s was a bar across the street and given the last three days, a drink was what I needed too. Once Dr. Young checked on my father, I was going to walk across the street and get a nightcap.

However, it wasn’t Dr. Young who came to check on my father.

“Ms. O’Bannion?” I looked up to see an older man dressed in a white coat walk in.

I stood. “Yes?”

“I’m Dr. Blumberg.”

“Hello.” I smiled warmly.

“Dr. Young’s off tonight, so I’m doing his rounds.”

“Oh, okay.”

Dr. Blumberg started to type on the computer adjacent to my dad’s bed. “I see there’s no change in your father’s condition.” I nodded, already knowing that was the case. “Like the last few nights, the nurses will continue to monitor him.”

“Thank you,” I replied. With every day that passed, I told myself that no change was good. That he was fighting and had a chance to recover. It was what I was holding onto, what gave me strength and stopped me from falling apart.

Dr. Blumberg left, and I went into the bathroom to freshen up before walking across the street, satisfied that my dad would be okay for a while. I needed to escape that sterile setting and gather my thoughts.

The noise of the packed bar was in stark contrast to the quiet hospital room I’d just left. I recognized a few of the nurses from the hospital as they sat at various tables, all of them laughing and having a good time. Laughing as though there weren’t people across the street within an inch of their lives. I didn’t fault them. If I were in their position, I would be doing the same thing. But I wasn’t. My father was in a coma, and there was nothing I could do to help him. I couldn’t even help find his attacker, and it made me feel worthless.

I shrugged out of my coat and waited until the bartender walked over. “What can I getcha?” he asked, placing a black cocktail napkin in front of me.

I looked behind him to the selections Maxwell’s had to offer and smiled as I saw the glass bottle with the black OBB label. “O’Bannion Burn on the rocks.”

The bartender turned to grab the bottle on the top shelf while I pulled out my wallet to grab my credit card.

“Hey, Mikey. Put Ms. O’Bannion’s whiskey on my tab.”

I stilled at the smooth, velvety voice I was starting to get accustomed to. When I turned my head, my gaze met the dark irises of Dr. Young. “No, I can’t let you do that.”

He reached out, and my gaze darted to where his hand touched my arm. It wasn’t the first time he’d touched me, but the first time I hadn’t been in the right state of mind to give my hormones the chance to go haywire.

“It’s the least I can do.” He licked his lips and then smirked.

“No really. It’s okay.”God, what I would do to feel that tongue on my skin …

“I insist. The heiress to the best single malt in the United States shouldn’t have to pay top dollar for it.”

“Heiress,” I whispered as I watched Mikey pour the amber liquid. I didn’t like that word. It was as though he knew my father wasn’t going to make it.

“No shit?” Mikey asked.

“Ms. O’Bannion’s father is the owner and creator of the O’Bannion Burn. Why don’t you pour me one too, Mikey?” Dr. Young asked as Mikey placed the whiskey on the napkin in front of me.

Mikey reached for another glass, and I took a small sip while he filled it with ice a few feet away and getting another customer’s order. “Thank you, Dr. Young.”