Sandy Sullivan by Doctor Me Up Read Free Book Online Page B

Don't get me wrong, but it's hard being a middle child."
    "Mitchell
is very proud of you," he said, sipping from his own glass. "You
should be proud of yourself. It's not easy being a physician of any kind. Where
in Billings are you planning to do you residency?"
    "Billings
Memorial. I have everything set up already for when I
arrive. I'll be working a lot of different rotations. Surgery, pediatrics, emergency,
you name the specialty, I'll be doing a rotation
sometime during my time there. I need to get the most rounded residency I can
get so I can practice general medicine back in Red Rock." His choking
concerned her as his eyes watered and he gasped for air. "Are you all
right?"
    "Yes,"
he croaked. "Wrong pipe." He coughed several
more times and wiped his eyes with his napkin. "You're practicing in Red
Rock when you're done?"
    "Of
course. We need a good clinic and physician. It's too far to go to head to
Billings for treatment. We don't have a hospital, which I wish we did, but at
least a clinic would save people from making the long trek into one of the
bigger towns, don't you think?"
    "I
think you have a great idea. Yes, we need the medical care in Red Rock."
    "Why
do you seem so shocked I want to practice near home?"
    He
shrugged as he leaned back in the chair. "After you attended school in Los
Angeles, I just assumed you didn't want to live in a small community again.
It's hard to go from the fast paced life of California back to the slow, lazy
crawl of rural Montana."
    "I
love the slower pace of home. I can't wait to start treating patients. The
little kids with their ear infections, doing women's health and all of that
kind of work. It excites me to think about being part of the community like I
belong."
    "You
do belong, Elizabeth. This is home. Why would you think differently?"
    "Red
Rock hasn't felt like home in several years, Marcus. Going off to Los Angeles
was a smart decision. One I had to make for my education, but I never wanted to
leave home on a permanent basis."
    "What
about your engagement to the gentleman there?"
    "It
doesn't matter now since it's not longer happening. I realize now the life I
had there wasn't what I wanted. Yes, the fast paced hustle and bustle of things
seemed great for a while, but the whole atmosphere got crazy. I'm ready to slow
things down."
    Their
dinner arrived and they both dug in, letting the conversation lag a bit. The
food melted on her tongue as she groaned in ecstasy.
    "Good?"
    "You
have no idea."
    The
eyebrow over his left eye rose and she wondered what he thought as a small
smile lifted the corners of his mouth. Damn.
I almost sound like I'm having an orgasm here. The meat went down a little
rough as heat crept up her chest. Getting into that kind of conversation with
Marcus would be a bad idea.
    "I'm
glad you're enjoying the steak."
    "Oh
yes. The meat is so tender, I can almost cut it with
my fork. I do plan to save room for desert though. The chocolate decedent cake
looks sinful. It's been a while since I've had chocolate." Marcus laughed.
The rich, deep, sound reverberated along her nerves as if he plucked the
strings of a bass. "I love your laugh."
    "Thanks,
but yours is amazing too. I heard you earlier when I was in the barn. Very light and happy."
    "I
haven't had much chance to laugh lately so it felt good to let go." She
blushed again. "I don't even remember what I was laughing about." The
flickering candlelight bounced the deep burgundy color of the wine in her glass
around in a prism of rich color.
    "I'm
sure Mitchell could tell you. I know he liked to hear the sound. He's been
worried about you as are Cade and Natalie."
    "You've
discussed me with my family?"
    Marcus
dropped his gaze to his plate as a deep flush rushed into his face.
"Um…yes. I guess so."
    "How
long have they known?"
    "Known
what?"
    "About
what happened at the ball?"

 
     
     
     
    Chapter Four
     
    "Things
aren't like they appear, Elizabeth." I'm
so screwed. She'll never believe anything I