Page 14 of Fever: Love In Scrubs

D inner… and dessert, was amazing.

Conversation was great.

The chemistry was fire.

I felt a warmth spread through my body that was foreign to me. Jaxson Pierre was something else. I’d clearly had too much wine to be licking and kissing on him like that in public… actually at all . His lips just looked so delectable covered in the whip cream. I couldn’t help myself.

Currently, we were walking hand in hand through the night market, another new thing in Silver Run.

After dinner, we didn’t feel like going home.

Neither of us said it out loud, but it was in the way we lingered on the sidewalk near his car, people watching.

It was clear in the way his arms sought the comfort of my waist as he held me close, peppering my face with kisses while I tried not to giggle.

“I’m not ready to let you go yet,” he finally confessed.

“Then don’t.”

“You up for a walk?”

“In these heels?”

He chuckled. “I have some slides in the car. My father always taught me to be prepared because women will let their feet suffer for the sake of looking good. Now, you look good as hell and you’re wearing the fuck outta these heels, but we can give them a rest.”

I blew a breath of release. “Please, God, take them off.”

He laughed as he opened the door and helped me into the truck. Opening the back door, he grabbed the slides and handed them to me. Much to my surprise, they were my size and were too cute with the bedazzled straps.

“Wait, you bought these? I thought you meant you had a pair of yours.”

“Nah, baby. My slides would swallow your dainty little feet.”

He stooped and carefully took off my heels, giving me a small foot massage in the process. I smiled as he slipped the slides onto my feet then helped me out of the truck. A moan escaped my lips because they were so comfortable.

“Thank you,” I said, pecking his lips.

“You’re welcome, love.”

The night market pulsed with life a block away from the restaurant.

Soft old school R&B music drifted through the air like a flirtatious invitation.

We followed the sounds, allowing our feet to take us in that direction.

We found the source of the music to be a live band.

A small crowd was gathered around them, some listening, some dancing to the melody.

I told Jaxson I wanted to stop back later, but right now, I wanted to see what this place had to offer.

The market spilled out in a chaos of color and light with its neon signs, swaying paper lanterns, and strings of fairy lights tangled above us like constellations.

Faux grass and flower walls lined a section, making it the perfect backdrop for pictures.

Of course, we stopped and snapped a few before making our way on through.

Even though we’d just eaten a full meal, my mouth watered as we stumbled upon the street food. The smells were intoxicating. Grilled meats. Cinnamon. Butter. Caramelized fruit. It didn’t help that someone was in front of each stand, offering samples that we both indulged in.

We stopped at a stall selling skewers of candied fruit glistening under the lights. Jaxson picked up one with peach slices and held it out to me.

“Try it.”

I leaned forward and took a bite, my lips brushing the edge of his fingers. The syrup stuck to my mouth like the sweetest honey.

“Oh my God,” I said, licking my lips. “That is amazing.”

Before I could hand it back, he bent down and kissed me, slow, tender, and deliberately sucking the essence from my lips. He tasted like the peach, sugar and something I was already starting to crave.

When he pulled back, the corners of his mouth tilted up.

“Yeah,” he said softly. “Definitely amazing.”

“Well damn,” the lady handing out samples said. “That made me hot. Here, take another one to go.”

We shared a laugh and thanked her before moving on.

We wandered deeper into the market, stopping at every stall that caught our attention.

There was one with hand-stitched journals of which I bought two.

Another held a plethora of handmade jewelry, one of my favorite things.

I spent a good fifteen minutes searching for the perfect pieces for myself while Jaxson picked up a few for his daughter and niece.

I was still sifting through the bracelets after he made his purchase. Feeling his eyes on me, I glanced over at him.

“Am I taking too long?” I asked with a silly grin.

“Nah.” He grabbed my hand and kissed it. “I’m just admiring you.”

I blushed. “Admiring my indecisiveness?”

He shook his head, eyeing me carefully. “No. You just… you glow. Even when you don’t mean to.”

I didn’t respond right away. The words settled over me like warmth. That was probably the sweetest thing anybody had ever said to me.

I wagged my finger at him. “There’s that smooth talking I mentioned,” I jested.

He chuckled as I leaned in to peck his lips.

“Thank you.”

I tried to pay for my purchase, but he slapped my hand away as I went for my wallet.

I didn’t argue with him. Just lifted my hands in surrender as he tapped his card.

Hand in hand, we made our way back toward the area with the live band.

They were playing a rendition of “Fatal Distraction” by Mario.

People were dancing in the open square, some gracefully, some awkwardly, but no one seemed to care. It was all in good fun.

He turned to me. “Dance with me?”

I laughed. “You don’t know this, but I have two left feet.”

He pulled me into his arms. “So do I, but I’m willing to look foolish with you.”

Now how could I say no to that?

So, we danced. Badly. Clumsily. At one point he stepped on my toe, and profusely apologized.

He held me close, swaying with the music, both of us laughing and bumping into each other like the rhythmless pair we were.

As I stared up into his beautiful eyes, I had to admit to myself that I was fucking smitten that damn fast.

The night carried on for another hour or so. We danced horribly to a few more songs before making our way back to the car, then to my house. When we pulled into my driveway, he got out and came around to let me out. With my arm linked through his, he walked me up to the front door.

“I really enjoyed your company tonight,” he said, smiling.

“I really enjoyed yours too.”

“Sooo…. this solidifies me getting another date, right?”

I giggled as I nodded my head. “As many as you want.”

“I like the sound of that.”

He stepped into my space and brushed a curl from my face.

His hand slid around to the nape of my neck, and he leaned in to kiss me softly.

Passionately. Sensually. I could feel my nipples hardening against his chest. My self-control was slowly going out the window.

If he’d kissed me a little longer, I would have invited him right into my bed.

Before it got to that point, he pulled away.

“Goodnight, Wynter.”

“Goodnight, Jaxson.”

I unlocked my door and went inside. Through the crack, I watched as he went back to his car and got in. As he backed out and drove away, I closed the door with a smile on my face.

What a night.

As I went to head upstairs to shower and get ready for bed, my phone chimed with a message. I opened it to see it was Tinka.

Tinka: I see you just got home.

Me: Were you checking my location?

Tinka: Now, you know I was. Go on and wash ya ass then call me with details. ALL. OF. THEM.

Me: SMH. Good night, Tikayla.

Tinka: Don’t play with me. Call me Wynter!

I laughed as I headed upstairs. I knew if I didn’t call her, she would be blowing up my line until I answered. Maybe I would appease her. Somebody had to tell me I wasn’t tripping over this budding attraction.

Thirty minutes later, I was in bed with my phone propped up, sending my cousin a FaceTime call. It had barely rung before she was on my screen with a grin on her face.

“How was it?”

I smiled. “It was beautiful, Tinka.”

“Details, bitch!”

I laughed as I gave her the rundown of tonight. Of course, she was on the other end of the phone with the adlibs and animated sounds and movements.

“Awwww! Wynter! Let me find out you done went home and found yourself a man. A doctor at that. I love it. You look so happy, cousin. You’re glowing right now.”

“I am happy. I’m not going all in, ‘cause it’s still early, but I like him. He brings something out of me. Like his energy, Tinka. I don’t know what it is.”

She smiled. “You deserve that. Sooo… did you two take any pictures? I’m dying to see what he looks like.”

“We did. Hold on.”

I went to my photo album and shared my screen.

“Oh. My. God! Cousin, that man is beautiful!”

“Isn’t he?”

“And this is that man that did Uncle Frost’s autopsy?”

“It is.”

“Respectfully… he could help me grieve anytime. Sometimes, a shoulder to cry on becomes a dick to ride on.”

“Tinka!”

“I’m just saying! You know you want to mount him like a race horse. Just look at those big, strong arms. I know he’d curl you like he’s lifting weights.”

“He actually can pick me up.”

“Ooop! And how did you find that out? You were out here being grown, weren’t you? Oooo wait ‘til I tell mama.”

“Tikayla, please. Nobody was being grown. We went to the park. He wanted to take me on this pedal boat, and he offered to carry me to the docks so I didn’t put too much of a strain on my foot. Girl, that man put me on his back and carried me like I was featherweight.”

Tinka squealed and clapped. “Just know when he finally tosses your ass around, I need the details. He ain’t one of them niggas that loves a plush pal in private only, is he?”

“No, girl.”

“Good, ‘cause we don’t do those and I wouldn’t let you or him play in your face like that. You know I’ve got your back.”

“I know, I know.”

“Seriously, though. I’m so happy for you. And you thought this move wasn’t going to be good for you.”

“It’s shaping up. It still feels weird being here, you know? The house isn’t the same, but sometimes I get this overwhelming sensation to clean, even when it’s spotless. I just never want to live like that again.”

“And you won’t. Have you finished unpacking?”

“Almost. It was much easier since we put the big pieces in place before y’all left.

I still have a few boxes to unpack and I want to finally get the guest room together.

Going from a one bedroom apartment to a three bedroom house is a major change.

I have two extra rooms to fill. I already ordered a bedroom set for one of them. I just need to decorate it.”

“Well, I’m coming to visit soon, so we can look around for some stuff.”

I rolled my eyes. “You’re about to turn this into a room for yourself, aren’t you?”

She laughed. “Duh! That way you have a little piece of me when I’m not there.”

“How kind of you.”

We spoke for a little while longer and made plans for her visit before saying our goodbyes. I’d just settled into the comfort of my bed when my phone chimed. Picking it up, I saw a text from Jaxson.

Jaxson: Finally about to lay it down. Just wanted to tell you goodnight.

Me: Same. Thank you for a beautiful first date.

Jaxson: You are more than welcome. Goodnight, Ms. Driscoll.

Me: Goodnight, Dr. Pierre.