Page 21 of Hate To Want You
But that’s a worry for another day. Today is my second to last day off before I have to return to the hospital, and I just want to be outside.
Beckett and Sawyer were meant to join me for the hike to the hot springs just outside of Dogwood Cove, but Sawyer picked up an extra shift last minute, and Beckett is down with one of his migraines. Which leaves me alone on the trail with nothing but my thoughts to keep me company.
Naturally, those thoughts keep drifting back to one particular woman. I can’t help but wonder what she’s doing on her days off, if she’s gone out with anyone, or how she’s spent her time.
And that is exactly why I should be texting the lawyer from Victoria that I occasionally meet up with for some casual, meaningless, mutually satisfying sex and setting something up for tonight. Clearly, I’m not thinking straight if I’m wondering what my resident is doing on her day off. It’s been too long since I got laid, and the only answer is to hook up with someone who isnotHeidi. But every time I’ve picked up my phone to send the message, I’ve stopped — for reasons I’m not sure I’m ready to explore.
After all, the last time I got involved with someone tied to my work, it ended in betrayal. There’s not a chance in hell I want to risk that again, especially not with the added complexities of my working relationship with Heidi.
Breathing deeply, I focus on the inhale and exhale, feeling the slight strain in my lungs at the uphill nature of the trail I chose to take. It’s not the most direct path to my destination, but it’s the more scenic route, and the one that gives me the physical exercise I’m craving.
The hot springs carved into the rocks nestled in the mountains just outside of Dogwood Cove are one of those natural wonders. As a local, I simultaneously want everyone to experience it and no one to ruin it. Today, especially, I’m hoping for peace and quiet.
There’s a series of pools, the first one being the largest and most popular, with natural benches carved into the stone, and a shallow entry point. This is the one the public knows about. Today being a workday for most, it’s empty except for one older couple, who give me a nod as I walk past. I’m not stopping here; my destination is further down the trail.
I turn off the trail onto a path that’s hidden enough so not as many people know about it. When I reach the small pool tucked in the trees that I was headed for, I exhale. Nature has this uncanny ability to lift the tension from my body, sometimes without me even realizing it. And sure enough, after an hour of hiking, and now being surrounded by trees and the sound of bubbling water, I finally feel my head clearing of the chaos that has been in there lately.
I open my backpack and pull out my towel and water bottle, then start rummaging for the swim shorts I packed. But they’re nowhere to be found.
That leaves me with two options. Wear my boxer briefs into the springs and hike down commando with all the fun chafing that will bring or forego clothing completely for a soak in the warm water. Given the fact that I’m reasonably confident the trail will stay empty and that this pool, hidden as it is, should be undisturbed, the decision is an easy one.
I strip down, leaving my T-shirt, shorts, and underwear in a heap beside my pack. Then I slide into the hot, lightly sulphuric-scented water. This pool doesn’t have the natural benches of the larger one, but there is one spot where a rock juts out enough to make a seat. So, after dunking myself under a couple of times, I go and sit, letting my surroundings put me into an almost meditative state.
Some time later — who knows how long, but the air has definitely cooled around me — I stand up and stretch, feeling the bones and muscles of my back pop and crack with the movement.
“Oh, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to disturb you.”
I whip around at the sound of the one voice I’m trying hard not to think about. Only at the last second do I remember my naked state and drop down low enough to make sure I’m covered by the water.
“Heidi.”
“Max,” she says, her breath catching in surprise, whether it’s at finding me here, or hearing me say her first name. I must admit, hearing my name come out of her mouth, especially in that tone, is making my dick stir. Thank fuck it’s under water. “I didn’t know... you... I… oh. Okay. Wow. Sorry.” She’s adorably flustered, and if I weren’t in such a compromising position, I’d probably find it even more endearing. But instead, all I can do is pray inside my head.
Please don’t decide to get in the water. Please don’t decide to get in the water.
Because when I decided to go nude into the hot springs, I never in a million years expected to be caught by the one person I came out here to clear from my mind.
Her chest is heaving, those most likely perfect tits constrained by a bright pink sports bra. Unbidden, my eyes travel the length of her, but only as far as the tight black shorts that barely cover her ass before I snap my gaze back up to her face. Her own eyes flick down to the tattoo on my chest and then back up, then down again and up.
“No need to apologize, you’re allowed to be here. It’s a public place.”
Just don’t decide to get in the fucking water.
“Right. Yeah. Anyway, I’ll um, keep going. I must have taken a wrong turn.” She gestures randomly behind herself. “See you at work.”
The speed with which she takes off back down the small trail through the trees is astounding and makes me wonder how I didn’t hear her approaching. But I certainly hear her leaving.
And that peace and tranquility nature had given me? Also gone, right along with her.
Two days have passed since the hot springs. Two days of hoping Heidi didn’t realize I was naked under the water, but also fighting the curiosity of wondering what she would have done if shedidrealize.
As I make my way to the nursing station, coffee in hand, I pause and lean against the wall, pretending to look at something on my phone. But in reality, I’m looking at her.
Really looking at her. Not as my resident or someone connected to painful memories, but as a woman I’m slightly ashamed to admit, I fantasized about last night. About feeling her underneath me, writhing with passion.
The clearing of a throat next to me startles me so badly I almost drop my phone, catching it at the last second. One of our head nurses, and one of Heidi’s friends, Ginny, is standing beside me. She’s the backbone of this unit, an experienced nurse who takes no shit from families or doctors. She runs this place, and I’ve always had nothing but respect for her. Up until now, I would have said that respect was mutual.
“Far be it for me to comment on how you handle your residents, but you need to decide whether you want to have sex with her or fire her. Because you can’t do both.”
