Page 46 of Noticing Natalie
Alexis gave me a look. “My lord, Nat. Clumsy much?”
“Alexis! Be nice,” Tim snapped.
She raised her eyebrows. “I’m just dealing with so much evidence. You don’t even know.”
“Know what?” He looked back at me in confusion.
I heaved a sigh. I’d already told the entire Summers family why I looked like I’d been in a boxing match. I really didn’t want to repeat it. “I got hit by a door, fell in a holly bush, and had to be carried unconscious through the lobby on my first day of work at the hospital.”
Tim’s mouth dropped open. The look on his face slowly morphed from one of concern to one of amusement. “On your first day?”
“Yeah. Although they wouldn’t let me start today. I guess they didn’t want someone with a possible concussion scrubbing in for surgery.”
“Makes sense,” Tim said. He glanced at Alexis. “Okay, I reverse what I said. You had every right to call her clumsy. Jeez, Nat.” Then he burst out laughing. “Were you unconscious when you were laying in the holly bush?”
“Well, I don’t remember it, so I guess so.”
He and Alexis leaned on each other they were laughing so hard.
“Tim Summers! What a question. Get in this house right now. I warmed up your dinner, and it’s getting cold.”
“Yes, ma’am,” he hurried in with a quick, mischievous look back at me. I just shook my head.
But I couldn’t help but compare the difference between his touch and the handsome Dr. Reyes’ touch earlier in the day. Why did Tim bring out those feelings in me? It wasn’t fair.
I could only hope I would develop those sorts of feelings for another guy soon.
Lynne had set up an ice cream bar on the kitchen island. It had always been the simplest of all her dessert ideas; it was also my favorite. She had a million toppings set out in little bowls, several different kinds of ice cream, Redi-Whip, cherries, strawberries, blueberries, brownie bites—it had been heaven for all of us when we were teenagers, and it was hard to pretend that we were grown up and more refined now. I found myself attacking the ice cream bar with the same intensity I had when I was a tween and teenager.
I gave Lynne a huge hug. “Thanks for making all my favorites. It means a lot to me that you remembered.”
“Of course, sweetie.” She gave me a squeeze. “As if I’d ever forget your favorites.”
After we were all finished eating, I was about ready to go back to Dad’s house. I couldn’t think of it as mine. I didn’t think I’d ever be able to. I was really leaning towards selling it and moving into something that suited me a bit better.
I thanked everyone and gave hugs all around… except to Tim. I just couldn’t bring myself to hug him. It felt too… awkward. “Okay, I’ll see y’all soon,” I said, about to grab my purse and leave.
“Hey, before you go,” Tim said, “can I show you something outside?”
“Sure.”
We walked out back and down the deck stairs into the backyard.
He took me over near the tree we’d had so many picnics under as kids. There was some sort of large structure under it now. “What is that?”
“That’s what I wanted to show you.” We walked over. I gasped when I realized what it was.
“An outdoor enclosure for Anne and Gilbert,” I said, excitedly. It was perfect. It was large with a part that would be open to natural light, plenty of shade, a place for their food and water, a place for them to hide and rest or sleep, and a little obstacle course for some fun. It was amazing, and I knew it had to have taken him a long time.
“Now you don’t have to drag that half-assed one around back and forth with you. There will always be one here for them.”
I couldn’t help it. I threw my arms around his neck to give him a big hug before I even thought about it.
I heard his breath hitch as he froze for a moment. Then his hands went to my waist and pulled me closer. “You smell sogood, Nat. I swear, I’ve had fucking dreams about your perfume, your soap, your shampoo.”
I tried to step back from him, but he held on. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to get weird…”
My phone rang and I dug it out of my pocket. “Oh,” I got a pleased smile on my face. It was Heath Reyes calling. “Hey, Dr. Reyes.”
