Page 32 of Healed By the Grumpy Elf

But it could have been. I would have been more than eager to have sex with the grumpy elf doctor.

"But it was likesomething." She wiggles her eyebrows suggestively. “Come on, you know I won’t give up. I’m not past canceling class and camping in your office all day.”

I busy myself rearranging the bottles that don't need rearranging, because I don’t put that past her either. Harriet is like a dog with a bone when it comes to romantic gossip.

"He brought me roses," I blurt out.

Harriet squeals so loudly I'm sure they heard her in the next county.

"Roses? Dr. Elf brought you roses? Oh my God, I knew it! I knew he had a thing for you!"

"Keep your voice down," I hiss, glancing at the still-open door. "The last thing I need is for the whole school to hear about this."

"Fine, fine." She lowers her voice to a stage whisper. "So he brought you roses, and then what? You made your witch's brew together, right? Did you fly on his broomstick?"

I can’t help but laugh at that. This is one of the many reasons I love Harriet so much. She has the best sense of humor.

"We argued about the tonic." I can't help but smile slightly at the memory. "I said it tastes horrible and no child would drink it willingly. He said children should comply with medical directives regardless of taste."

“Of course he did.” Harriet rolls her eyes. “That man has a stick so far up his perfect elven ass, it pokes out of his pointed ears. It makes him superhot, but he’s still a stiff grump.”

I check my watch again, a nervous habit that has nothing to do with expecting students. My cheeks feel like my entire head is on fire, and I’m pretty sure my ears are just as red.

"And then what happened?" Harriet presses, clearly sensing there's more to the story.

"I asked him why he kissed me the day before."

“Wait, what?” Harriet nearly falls off the desk. “He kissed you before last night? When? Where? How did I not know about this?”

“Two days ago. In his office.” I groan, regretting opening this can of worms. “I went to his clinic with some of the ice pops that suppress the giggles, and then I showed him the book with the tonic recipe.”

Harriet nods eagerly, but I know she doesn’t care about my book or the herbal remedies in it.

"And you're only telling me this now? I thought we were friends!" Her indignation is only half-feigned.

"It was complicated. I was confused. He kissed me, then immediately shut down and went all formal again."

"And last night?"

I take a deep breath. "Last night, when I asked him why he kissed me before, he didn't answer. He just… kissed me again. But this time it was different. More intense."

My mind flashes back to the heat of his body against mine, his hands gripping my waist, sliding down to cup my ass. The impressive length of his erection pressing against me. I swallow, hard.

"How intense are we talking?" Harriet's voice drops to a genuine whisper now.

"Very," I admit. "But then he just stopped, said he had to go, and left. Again."

"He just left? After kissing you senseless? What is wrong with that man?"

"I have no idea." My frustration bubbles up. "One minute he's looking at me like I'm the only thing in the world that matters, and the next he's running for the door like I've suddenly grown a second head."

Harriet taps her finger against her chin thoughtfully. "Maybe he's got some weird hang-up. Or a dark secret. Like he's actually married to an elven princess back in the High Courts."

"Not helping," I mutter.

"Or maybe he's just nervous," she continues. "I mean, have you seen the way he looks at you? Like he's both terrified and fascinated."

Before I can respond, a small figure appears in the doorway. Tommy Fangsworth shuffles into my office with exaggerated lethargy, while giggling behind his hand.