10. Shep

TEN

Shep

Wednesday, July 10

6:22 am

I wake to a gentle tickle on my chest, my eyes fluttering open. Elle's there, watching me intently, her finger tracing circles on my chest. My body instantly reacts to her presence, and her touch is electric on my skin.

"Morning," I murmur, voice still rough with sleep.

"Hey," Elle whispers back, a hint of uncertainty in her eyes.

I reach out, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "Sleep okay?"

She nods, her finger still dancing across my skin. "Your tattoos... they're new."

"Got them after med school. Needed something to remind me I wasn't just a doctor."

Elle's lips quirk up. "They suit you."

I can't help but pull her closer, relishing the warmth of her body against mine. Last night floods back—her soft sighs, the way she arched into me, how perfectly we fit together after all these years.

What are we doing? She lives in Florida, and I'm here with Opie. We both have careers and lives we've built separately. It wouldn't be so easy for either of us to pick up and move.

"Elle, about last night—" I start, but she cuts me off with a kiss.

"Let's not overthink it," she murmurs against my lips.

I want to agree, to lose myself in her again. But the responsible part of me, the part that's a father and a surgeon, knows we need to talk.

"We should probably?—"

A loud crash from downstairs interrupts us. Opie's voice rings out, "Daddy! I dropped the cereal!"

Reality crashes back. I'm not just Shep anymore. I'm Dr. Duncan, a father, and I have responsibilities.

Elle's already pulling away, reaching for her clothes. "You should go," she says softly. "I'll get dressed and be down shortly."

I nod, grabbing my robe. What in the fuck was I thinking having her stay here. I had to know I was inviting trouble. With a history, it was almost a given we would go down that road left to our own devices. Now, I'm not sure we can unopen that can of worms.

7:58 am

I strum my fingers on the grab bar above the door, frustration boiling over as I navigate the morning traffic. With my right hand, I grip the steering wheel tighter, Elle's intoxicating scent still lingering in my car like a ghost.

I just left her at her friend's to pick up her car. It's been parked there since the ambulance brought her to the hospital. Watching her get out of the vehicle, the awkward goodbye... It has me all turned around.

Her familiar smell is a bittersweet reminder of the whirlwind past few days, each moment with her etched into my memory. The faint trace of her perfume mixed with something uniquely Elle floods my senses, transporting me back to the minute glances and nervous laughter leading up to last night's tour de force.

To the naked eye, these seemingly insignificant moments could be written off. But taken as a whole, there would be no doubt we would end up in bed together. And, goddamn, it was hot.

I can't shake the feeling that everything has changed, yet nothing has been resolved. Her essence taunts me, a constant reminder of what I've lost and what I desperately want to reclaim. But it is also a tease because we are kidding ourselves if we think this can be anything once she returns to Florida. It just isn't realistic.

My mind is a battlefield. Part of me wants to explore what's rekindling between us. The way she looked at me this morning, how perfectly we fit together—it feels like no time has passed. But the rational part of my brain screams, "Run." We live in different states, have separate lives, and have different responsibilities and obligations.

I pull into the hospital parking lot, grateful for a quieter clinic day. But downtime means more opportunities for my thoughts to run wild. I can't shake the memory of Elle's touch, her laugh.

Godammit. What is happening to me?

Sighing, I reach for my phone. Still no word from Ari. Two days without picking up Opie or even calling. It's not like her at all. Opie's starting to ask questions, and I'm running out of excuses.

I dial her number again, listening to it ring endlessly before going to voicemail. "Ari, it's Shep. Again. Look, I'm getting worried. Just... call me back, okay? Opie's asking for you."

I toss the phone onto the passenger seat, feeling the weight of everything crashing down. Elle, Ari, Opie, the trifecta—it's all swirling into a perfect storm of complications. How did everything get so messy so fast?

Walking into the hospital, I try to push it all aside. I've got patients to focus on. But Elle's face keeps flashing in my mind, and I can't shake the feeling that I'm standing at a crossroads.

2:21 pm

I'm heading down the hall toward the waiting area when I spot her. My breath catches in my throat as I instinctively step back, concealing myself behind a pillar. She's here for therapy, I assume, but in this moment, she looks like she belongs on a runway.

Elle moves with an effortless grace that captivates me. Her chestnut hair cascades over her shoulders in soft waves, catching the fluorescent light as she turns her head.

Even in simple jeans and a cotton shirt, she exudes an elegance that makes my heart race. Her injured hand is still bandaged, held in a sling in front of her, but it doesn't diminish her poise one bit.

I can't tear my eyes away. The way she carries herself, confident yet vulnerable, strikes a chord deep within me. Her lips curve into a slight smile as she speaks to the receptionist, and I find myself aching to be the cause of that smile.

My body reacts viscerally to her presence. My pulse quickens, palms grow damp. The mere sight of her sends electricity coursing through my veins. I inhale sharply, catching a faint whiff of her perfume even from a safe distance. It's intoxicating, flooding my senses with memories of last night.

I want to step out, call her name, and feel her in my arms again. But I remain rooted to the spot, drinking in every detail of her in secret. God, I've become such a weirdo.

The curve of her neck, the sway of her hips, the way her eyes light up as she laughs at something the nurse says. I guess I can take it as a compliment—she seems to be in a good mood today. Maybe our extracurricular activities last night gave her a boost of serotonin.

It's more than just physical attraction. Seeing Elle like this, so vibrant and alive, stirs something profound within me—a longing that could be dangerous but an instinct I may not be able to fight.

I'm so lost in thought watching Elle that I nearly jump out of my skin when I feel a sharp pinch on my ass. Whirling around, I come face to face with Buster's mischievous grin.

"Well, well, well. What do we have here?" Buster waggles his eyebrows. "Caught you red-handed, Duncan. Who's the hottie you're peeping on?"

I roll my eyes, trying to play it cool. "Just a patient, Buster. Nothing to see here."

"Oh please," he scoffs. "I know that look. You were practically drooling. Spill it, Romeo."

I sigh, knowing Buster won't let up. "Fine. She's... an ex. From college. And yes, she's a patient here." I think he can read it on my face, but I hope not. Telling Buster we slept together last night would be like handing him my head on a stake.

Buster's eyes light up like it's Christmas morning. "No way! The one that got away? Man, fate's a funny thing, huh?"

"Yeah, hilarious," I mutter, not in the mood for his teasing.

"So, you gonna make a move or what?" Buster nudges me with his elbow. "Grab a beer with me after work. We'll strategize."

I shake my head. "Can't. Still haven't heard from Ari, gotta get home to Opie."

"She never showed, huh? I totally thought you were feeding me a line because you didn't want to get off your sofa," Buster nods. "Alright, but don't think you're off the hook. I'm still waiting for that raincheck from the other night. I demand details about this chick next time I see you!"

As we part ways, Buster can't resist one last jab. "Make sure you use protection, Loverboy!"

I flip him a discreet bird. He annoys the shit out of me, but I also love him. I wonder if he will ever grow up, and then I realize I hope not. Everyone needs a naughty Peter Pan friend in his life.

I watch him saunter off, grateful he doesn't know the half of it. If he knew Elle was staying at my place... I'd never hear the end of it.

I approach the reception desk, the reason I made my way down here in the first place, once Elle has moved on to wherever she was headed. Focus, Duncan. You're here for information, not to turn into a puddle over the delicious piece of ass last night.

"Hey, Angie," I greet the receptionist. "Any updates on the rehab situation?"

Angie looks up from her computer, her brow furrowed. "Dr. Duncan, hi. The last update from maintenance is that it's still a mess. The damage from the burst pipe was more extensive than we initially thought."

I lean against the counter, trying to appear casual. "How long are we looking at before it's operational again?"

She sighs, shaking her head. "Best case scenario? Two weeks. Worst case? It could be a month or more. They're still assessing the damage to the electrical systems. They want to make sure there are no mold concerns once everything is said and done. The last thing we need is to put healing patients in there and expose them to dangerous mold."

"No, of course."

My stomach drops. It looks like I'll be having Elle stay with me for the long haul. Not that I mind, but I should at least have an idea of what we are dealing with here.

"Any word on when patients might be transferred back?" I ask, hoping for better news.

"We're working on it, but it's been slow going with the holiday weekend. Most facilities are at capacity." Angie types something into her computer. "We're prioritizing based on medical need, but it will take time to place everyone."

I nod, processing this information. Part of me is relieved—more time with Elle. But part of me is sounding the alarm that this is a recipe for disaster.

"Thanks, Angie. Will you notify Marijka if anything changes? I have a few patients impacted and want to stay on top of it," I lie. Elizabeth, my only patient there, was transferred to a facility closer to her home in Mountainbrook. Elle is my only other "patient." But Tammy doesn't need to know that.

She nods, already turning back to her work. "Will do, Dr. Duncan."

As I walk away, I can't help but wonder how Elle will react to this news. More importantly, I want to know how I will navigate this minefield of her staying at my house.

4:27 pm

I pull out my phone as I walk to my car, the summer heat hitting me like a wall as I step outside. My fingers hover over Elle's name in my contacts. It's strange how natural it feels to text her again after all these years.

Hey, heading back to my place now. You still at the hospital? You can catch a ride with me if you want to leave your car here.

I slide into the driver's seat, cranking the AC. My phone buzzes almost immediately.

Just finished my last session. Grabbing coffee with Isabella, then I'll head your way. That okay?

I smile, typing back quickly.

Of course. Mi casa es su casa. Take your time.

As I pull out of the parking lot, I can't help but wonder what Elle and Isabella are talking about. Probably me. The thought makes me both nervous and oddly excited.

It immediately occurs to me how arrogant it is to assume they are talking about me. The more likely scenario is that she hasn't given a second thought to what happened last night.

She shut me down when I tried to talk about things beyond the surface talk we have done so far. I'm not sure who was saved more by Opie waking up and spilling the cereal this morning—me or her.

Traffic is light, and I make it home in record time. I hear Opie's laughter from the backyard as I walk through the door. I put down my bag and head straight out to the backyard.

"Daddy!" he shouts as I step onto the patio. He's splashing in the pool's shallow end with his blue noodle while Cason watches from a nearby chair.

"Hey, buddy," I say, grinning, bending down to the side and ruffling his wet hair. "Having fun?"

Cason stands, gathering her things. "He's been a little water bug all afternoon. Wore himself out. With this heat, the pool has been a welcome retreat. I just got out."

I nod, noticing Opie's drooping eyelids. "I'm glad y'all had a fun day. Thanks, Cason, for being the world's best. I can take it from here."

"Have you heard anything from Ari?" She asks me under her breath so that Opie doesn't hear. "I texted her and didn't hear back. We had plans to take Opie to the Children's Theater tomorrow."

"You know, Cason, I haven't. I'm not sure what is going on there, but this is very unlike her. I'm starting to get very worried."

"Gosh, I hope everything is okay."

"Me, too, Case. For Opie's sake."

She taps my shoulder as she walks back toward the house and offers a concerned look. Everyone is distressed about this bizarre situation. I'm not a praying man, but I can't even fathom the idea that Opie could lose his mother. I hope it is some kind of unique situation that will make sense once we all know the deal.

After she leaves, I wrap Opie in a towel. "Bath time, little man. Then how about some dinner with Daddy's friend, Ms. Elle?"

He nods sleepily against my shoulder. As I carry him inside, I realize I'm looking forward to Elle coming back. Dare I let myself go there by admitting how nice it will be to sit down together and talk about our days?