Page 8 of Mulberry Hollow (Riverbend 2)

The air conditioner kicked on.

He must’ve attributed the noise to its machinations because his attention returned to her.

But Wes would be exiting the bathroom any moment, hopefully wearing more than a towel—did he even have clean clothes? Her decision to let him stay had been unprofessional; she realized that now.

“Just say yes. One date. If the two of you don’t click, I’ll never mention him again.”

She shifted toward the door. She had to get Coop out of here. “Fine, one date.”

His eyebrows hitched. “Really?”

“I just said so, didn’t I?” She opened the door.

Cooper’s face relaxed as he crossed the threshold. “That’s great. I’ll have Rick give you a call and we’ll set something up.”

“Fine, fine.” She started to close the door. “Wait, don’t give him my number... Cooper!”

But he was already down the steps and acting as if he didn’t hear a word.

Avery thanked the teenage boy who worked at the Grab ’n’ Go Deli and closed the clinic door. The building was quiet, the air cool on her skin. The scent of fresh bread emanating from the food bag made her stomach growl. She set it on the counter and went to check on her patient. He’d become feverish again after breakfast and had been sleeping ever since. But now it was going on six, and he should eat a little something.

Wes had pushed off the covers again, revealing the shorts and black T-shirt he’d changed into after his shower. His hair had dried into enviable dark-blond waves. As grizzly as he appeared with that face full of whiskers, he seemed like a nice man. Not irritable, despite his discomfort. Stoic. Two empty water bottles sat on the bedside table.

He stirred and that blue gaze locked on her. “Time is it?”

“Almost six. You’ve been asleep awhile. How are you feeling?”

“Better.”

She took his temperature. It had been more than six hours since she’d given him ibuprofen. When the thermometer beeped she read the display. “Your fever has broken again. Are you hungry? The deli delivered some food.”

He wet his lips. “Your deli delivers?”

“If you know the right people. You must be feeling a little cooped up. Want to eat on the back deck? It’s a mild evening.”

“Sure.” With some effort he swung his legs over the bed, sitting up. “Your clinic has a deck?”

She smiled. “Shh, don’t tell anyone. Oh, here’s your cell phone. It’s the same as mine so I took the liberty of charging it in case you needed to reach out to someone.”

“Thanks.” He stashed the phone in his pocket.

She grabbed the food and led him through her office and out the French doors.

Once on the deck he dropped into one of the padded chairs, his breathing labored.

She settled in the seat next to him, pulled the carton of soup and club sandwich from the bag, and set them on the table between them, along with plastic cutlery and two bottled waters.

They ate in silence, the tweeting birds and nattering squirrels filling the evening, along with the constant babbling of the river at the back of the property. She’d always enjoyed the hushed sounds of nature. Even though the houses were close together, the businesses were deserted after closing hours. On this stretch of road she was the only one who actually lived above her shop.

Wes cleared his throat. “I’m a little embarrassed to ask at this point but...”

“What is it?”

“I didn’t catch your name last night.”

“You were a little out of it. It’s Avery Robinson.”

“Nice to meet you, Dr.Robinson.”