Her Dominant Doctor by Bella Jackson Read Free Book Online

door for her to exit the room.
    “Good-bye, Dr. Callahan.”
    “Thomas,” he corrected.
    She looked at him questioningly. “Thomas?”
    He nodded. “My first name. It’s Thomas. Since I am no longer your doctor, it is only fitting that, if you insist on me calling you Annie, I insist that you call me by my given name. It’s Thomas.”
    Her frown morphed to a warm smile. “Good-bye, Thomas.” She turned and walked away. Past the reception desk and out of the office door. Out of his life.
    He stood helplessly, watching her departing form. He loved hearing her say his name. Her voice was so soft and sweet. Filled with longing, he was overwhelmed with regret. It was a profound sense of loss, as if a piece of him had broken off. He never felt so deeply for a woman. Never wanted to care for a woman in the way he did for Annie. It was very disconcerting. Go after her. Right now. She’s not your patient anymore.
    His feet started to move before his head caught up to what he was doing. As he walked briskly out of his office, his staff looked shocked. He was shocked as well. Never one to be impulsive, he could not explain the compelling need to go to her. To stop her from walking out of his life.
    Looking down the main hallway, he saw her at the elevators.
    “Annie, please wait a moment. Please!” His deep voice carried down the hallway. Moving at a slight jog, he caught up to her before the elevator doors opened.
    “Dr. Calla…” she started to speak and he immediately brought his fingers to her lips, stifling her words. He had a strong desire to remove his fingers and use his own lips to kiss her, to discover firsthand just how warm and soft they were, but he refrained from acting on that instinct.
    “Remember, Annie, my name is Thomas. We’ve already been through this,” he teased, moving his hand away from her red plump lips.
    “Thomas, I don’t understand. What’s wrong?” The baffled look that touched her pale face left Thomas with an overwhelming need to make her smile.
    “What’s wrong is that you are walking away from me,” he said in a sure and confident voice. “As soon as you walked out of my office, I ceased being your physician. Therefore, it is not a breach of ethics and I am not under any obligation to maintain a professional distance from you.” Feeling uncomfortable, his hand rubbed his forehead. You sound like a lawyer, you idiot .
    Annie stood quiet, waiting. “I ran out of my office to catch up with you. I am standing here as Thomas… a man who is very interested in seeing you… Annie, on a social basis.” Taking a deep breath, he added, “I would really like to take you out for dinner if you are interested.” Please be interested , he silently pleaded.
    Thomas was looking at her, desperate for her to say something. Anything.
    “Yes, I mean, um… yes, I am interested. In dinner. With you,” she rambled.
    He felt his heart soar. She said yes! He did a silent fist pump in triumph. “Good. Well then, how about tomorrow night? Do you have plans?” He kept his voice smooth despite the internal chanting and cheering in his head.
    Annie’s laugh was loud. “Plans? Dr. Callahan, did you not just finish giving me a lecture about taking it easy and giving my body time to heal?” She shook her head. “No, the only plans I have are to be home in my pajamas watching boring reruns on TV.” She continued, “Tomorrow night would be perfect.”
    Thomas chuckled at her response. “We just established that my name is Thomas. Please address me as such,” he said playfully. “Say seven o’clock? I can pick you up at your place.”
    “Yes, tomorrow at seven would be great.” The smile brightened her entire face. Beautiful .
    “Okay, I’ll see you then.” Thomas pressed the ‘down’ elevator button as the doors had long since closed. He added, “I’ll get your address from your chart. Is that alright with you?” Not wanting her to feel taken advantage of or to appear inappropriate,