Total pages in book: 61
Estimated words: 57675 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 288(@200wpm)___ 231(@250wpm)___ 192(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 57675 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 288(@200wpm)___ 231(@250wpm)___ 192(@300wpm)
Immediately, the smile on Bethany’s face fades a little.
“Oh, you mean this is about business?” she asks quietly.
“No, no,” I reply quickly. “This is just about making sure we’re on the same page. This dinner is definitely not about business. In fact, we want to make clear that you are no longer a patient of Epinine Medical, and that we’re meeting in a social sense. Given what happened, well, you can’t be one of our patients.”
Realization dawns in her eyes.
“Of course,” she says with a gentle smile. “I’m not a patient because I’m fine physically. That still stands, doesn’t it? I don’t need an operation or anything?”
Ryder replies.
“You’re perfect down there,” he says in a low growl. “We’ve never seen such perfection before, in fact. But those other things we talked to you about, like Botox and kegel exercises? We can’t counsel you on them anymore, baby. You’re no longer our patient, and if you need medical advice, you need to see another provider.”
She scrunches her brow in confusion.
“I can’t just ask you questions every now and then? Even though this is your specialty area?”
I shake my head slowly.
“I’m sorry baby, but no. Of course, we can give informal advice, but nothing truly substantial.”
She looks confused, and I sigh.
“There’s a fine line between doling out medical advice to friends and family, and actually treating a patient in a formal sense. They sound like they’re at opposite ends of the spectrum but in fact, they’re not. But that’s okay. We’re just saying we can’t do the formal stuff with you anymore, okay? Of course, you can ask for our professional opinions, but only in a “friend” sense, okay?”
I can tell Bethany’s confused, but she nods.
“Okay, I kind of get it,” she acknowledges. “I’m not your patient anymore.”
“That you’re definitely not,” growls Ryder.
She shoots him a quick look.
“Is it because of what happened last week? You know, how our appointment became sensual?” she asks, blushing fetchingly again.
I nod.
“Yes, and that’s why we need to take this out of the professional realm. What happened wasn’t supposed to happen, and that’s why we need to make this relationship private.”
She looks at both of us before nodding.
“Okay,” she says quietly. “That sounds fine. I completely understand.”
I let out a long breath that I didn’t even know I’d been holding. Evidently, Bethany has a good head on her shoulders. She understands the importance of what we’re saying, and is able to follow along with logic and reason. My appreciation for this woman grows. Clearly, she’s intelligent and astute, not to mention perceptive to the intricacies of our business. After all, optics and reputation are very important to Epinine, and if we want to pursue this relationship, it has to be strictly in a personal context.
Relieved that we’ve gotten that out of the way, both Ryder and I relax a little into the leather seats.
“So tell us a little about yourself, sweetheart.”
Bethany brightens and sits up a bit straighter. Her breasts bounce, and both my partner and I watch, rapt, as the creamy mounds settle.
“Well, I have a son,” she begins. “I think you knew that from my chart, right?”
“Right,” I confirm. “And your son is two, isn’t he? What’s his name again?”
Bethany smiles, almost glowing.
“It’s Danny. He’s the light of my life, and he’s the most important thing to me in the world. Not many women in New York have babies at twenty-three,” she says in a lilting voice, “but I wouldn’t give up my baby up for anything.”
“Of course not,” I say, nodding. Ryder growls his agreement. We sometimes date mothers, and we love MILFs for what they offer. They’re open-minded and so sexy, having given birth to a child, or sometimes even multiple children. But a question rises to my lips.
“Do you mind if I ask about Danny’s dad? Are you guys still in touch? Dating even?”
My partner and I hold our breaths in anticipation. We don’t know the answer to this, and our hopes and expectations could come crashing down with her reply. But Bethany shakes her head.
“No, Chris and I split while I was pregnant, if you can believe it,” she says in a wry voice. “Actually, split probably isn’t even the right word,” she sighs. “We were sort-of dating. It’s not like we were in love or anything. We were just kids having a good time, and then the next thing you know, whoops! There was Danny.”
I nod, even though I’m quite curious.
“Are you still in touch with the father of your baby?”
She nods.
“I am, but he doesn’t see Danny on a regular basis or anything. Chris lives in the UK. He was just here for a temporary work assignment, and when I said he could go home to his “real life,” I think he was pretty relieved.”
Ryder and I snort in unison. We’re not fathers yet, but we hope to be one day, and the thought of leaving a child behind is absolute anathema to us. We would move heaven and earth to be with our offspring. Not just that but we’d completely re-locate our lives and practices if need be. That’s how seriously we take fatherhood, but evidently, not all men feel the same.