Setting my phone down, I stand from the couch before I lose my nerve and go over to the coatrack, where I pluck one of the lab coats down.
This might be taking a bold step, going from first kiss to naked in a lab coat, but I know that’s where this was going. The look in his eyes, the little touches here and there. The compliments, the confessions. It’s been a buildup. Add on the storm relentlessly setting the backdrop, and we’re golden.
And I hate to admit it, but Laramie is right. A gardenscape puzzle isn’t going to make things sizzle when he gets back. But this will.
Before I can change my mind, I quickly drop my pants and take off the sweatshirt Beau gave me. Heart pounding, I throw the lab coat over my shoulders. It’s way too big, but I make the best of it by buttoning the bottom button so my southern area is covered, and then I roll the sleeves up to my elbows. I leave the rest of the coat untouched, letting it show off the middle of my body but not revealing too much, just enough to gather his attention.
I spot an extra stethoscope on his coatrack as well and grab that too. I drape it around my neck and then casually swing the end around.
I pick up my phone, angle high, and take a picture that I then send to Laramie.
His response is immediate.
Laramie: Look out for incoming erections. Dr. Beau is going to need some medical attention in his pants when he gets back.
I laugh out loud just as I hear the stairs to the front door creak. I drop my phone and get in position on the edge of the couch, lifting one leg to rest on the back while the other is on the floor, keeping me balanced. I adjust the coat so it covers everything up but also shows off enough, puff out my chest, and put on a smile just as the door opens, revealing Beau . . . and another man.
“Palmer, have you . . . oh my God . . .”
“Oh my God!” I shout, pulling a pillow from the couch and dragging it over my body.
“Oh my God,” the other guy says, covering his eyes. “Jesus, I’m sorry.”
“No, I’m sorry,” I say quickly. “I was—I, uh . . . I didn’t know . . . was there a doctor in the house? I mean, I’m the doctor. No, I’m not a doctor, just a doctor of boners.” I cover my eyes. “No, not boners, this was a boner, I mean bonehead move. I’m not naked.” I try to hide my face in the pillow. “I’m just . . . uh . . . I’m practicing for when I get my medical degree. Is this . . . is this not the proper attire?”
“Jesus, Beau. I didn’t know you had company. I’ll leave.”
I pop my head up, pillow still covering me as I stand from the couch and slowly back away from the door. “No, don’t leave. I was, uh . . . I was just getting ready to leave. You know, all those medical books I need to read.”
“Palmer,” Beau says, walking toward me.
“Dr. Beau, it was a pleasure getting to know you.” My eyes widen as I look at the guy. “Not like that. Nothing happened. I don’t mean getting to know him in a personal way, like naked, but you know, just intellectually. I’m not . . . I know how this looks, but I promise, it’s not what it seems. My clothes are drying, actually, and this just happens to be something—” I sigh, giving up. “I’m not a naked lunatic.”
“Palmer,” Beau says again, this time closing the space between us, a grin pulling at the corner of his lips. “This is my cousin Roger. He missed the ferry because of the storm and was hoping to spend the night.”
“Oh, sure, yup.” I thumb behind me. “I was just heading out. All research here has been conducted. No need to worry—I’ll be out of your hair in a few.” Pillow in hand, stethoscope dangling from my neck, I take off toward Beau’s bedroom, where I quickly close the door behind me and cover my eyes with my hand. Embarrassment swallows me whole.
I’m going to kill Laramie.
The doorknob turns behind me, and the door opens a crack. “Palmer, let me in.”
“Um, no thank you,” I say.
“Palmer.”
“Really good. Just changing. Be out shortly.”
He eases the door open carefully, letting his large frame in before he shuts it behind him. I lean against the wall, still clutching the pillow, completely and utterly humiliated as I stare up at him.
His eyes are full of humor, his grin has yet to be swiped off his face, and he leaves no space between us as he takes the pillow from me, tosses it on his bed, and gently caresses my cheek with the back of his fingers.
“What do you have going on here?”
“First-class embarrassment. What does it look like?”