Chapter 11

CHAPTER 11

J uly 3 rd

Picnic, music, and love? Well, I know I’ll get two out of three and that’s not too bad. As for Fraser, I don’t know how I feel about him. Time to find out if there are fireworks between us or if we’re off key.

Paige looked in her closet, pushing aside dress after dress. Nothing said sunset picnic in Central Park with a doctor. Most were better suited to Jane Austen festivals when you were college poor. Paige was about to call Leah for help when she found the dress she wore to the Strawberry Festival back in her small hometown when she was still in high school. Was it out of style? Yes. Was it super cute? Yes. Would it still fit . . . not really.

The white dress with strawberry print was fashioned as a 1950’ s strapless dress. It was perfect for her curvier figure. Her slightly rounder stomach and slightly flared hips were hidden under the A line of the just above the knee dress. What wasn’t hidden was her increased bust.

Paige tried a strapless bra, but that only made them spill farther out. So, she ditched the bra. Then, if she really shoved them down as she zipped the side closure, she could barely get the zipper up. The dress smooshed her boobs and left them looking like muffin tops above the sweetheart neckline.

She couldn’t shrug it off because shrugging might set them free. Instead, Paige applied bright red lipstick in hopes of drawing people’s attention upward to her mouth and went looking for a wrap. While Paige was bending over looking in a drawer, a boob freed itself, threatening to smother her. Of course, that’s when Fraser knocked on the door.

Paige stood up, her top went down, and her boobs ran free. “Oh no you don’t,” she muttered, stuffing them back into the too tight strapless top. She was breathing hard, but she’d won the battle by the time she opened the front door. “Hello, Fraser.”

Fraser’s eyes didn’t go to her red lips. They went straight to the heaving breasts threatening to spill out of her top. Paige had read too many Regency romances with heaving bosoms spilling from their corsets and thought it was an exaggeration. It wasn’t. Heaving bosoms were a very real thing and they were dangerous.

“Wow. You look great. Are you ready to go?” Fraser asked, his eyes still not really leaving the prodigious swells of her breasts.

Paige gave one last look into her apartment, hoping a wrap would magically appear, but none did. So, she lifted her chin and went to square her shoulders, but then felt the neckline trying to cut her in half, so she didn’t. She had boobs. So what? She was proud of them. Big, small, pert, full— women shouldn’t feel the need to hide them. She was doing this for feminism. Or to get laid. One or the other, maybe both. Either way, she was over being ashamed of them.

“I am. I’m really looking forward to this.”

Fraser offered her his arm and they strode from the apartment and to his car, which was illegally parked. “We better hurry so you don’t get a ticket,” Paige said, rushing to the car.

“Don’t worry. I have the medical license plate. As long as I say I’m your doctor, I get out of tickets.” Fraser opened the door and Paige got in.

The small talk was fun as they drove to Central Park. Fraser paid for VIP parking and opened her door. He was such a gentleman as he held out his hand to help her from the car. He opened the small trunk of the sports car and pulled out a thick blanket and a wicker basket.

“You went all out for this picnic, didn’t you?” Paige teased. “This is going to be so much fun.”

“You deserve it. I know you’ve been working hard. I’m just glad we finally have this time together. I’ve been wanting to get to know you better ever since you came into the ER . . . the first time.” Fraser smiled, letting her know he was teasing her and Paige laughed.

Yes, she could imagine telling their children how they met for the first time. It would definitely need to be edited. “Amazing that I keep getting you as my doctor.”

Fraser smirked. “I might have flagged your name. Anytime you come in, I’m called.”

“Even if you’re not on duty?” Paige asked as they wound their way through people setting out blankets.

“Even then. You’re worth it. My heart stops when I get those calls, but I promise to always take care of you.”

“That’s really sweet, Fraser. Thank you.” Paige reached out and laced her fingers with his as he showed the ushers their tickets and they were escorted into a reserved section of the park. “Wow, I’ve never been this close.”

“The symphony is one of the charities I support, so I get preferential seating.” He looked around and saw his name on a card reserving his spot. “Here we go. Sorry it’s not closer,” he said, glancing at the fact it was near general admission.

“Are you kidding? This is perfect!” Paige told him, reaching for the blanket. “I can see everything from here.”

Paige laid out the blanket and took a seat as Fraser set down the basket and opened it up. “Champagne?” he asked, also pulling out two champagne flutes.

“Yes, please.”

Fraser popped the cork and poured two glasses. He handed Paige hers but kept his up in the air as if he were going to give a toast. “To the beginning of something special.”

He clinked his glass with hers, and Paige did feel very special the way he was looking her in the eyes. They took a sip of the champagne as the sun began to glow red as it slowly began to sink closer to sunset.

“You look like a goddess as the sun’s glow turns you to gold,” Fraser whispered, reaching out and touching a strand of her red hair.

Paige licked her bottom lip, tasting the champagne as her gaze dropped to his lips. Lips that were moving toward her as Fraser placed his hand on her bare shoulder, anchoring her to him.

“Miss Paige!”

“What the—?” Fraser caught himself as a cute girl with her long brown hair in pigtails ran past the ushers and into the VIP area.

Paige smiled and just barely got her arms open in time for Lexi to hurtle herself into Paige’s arms. “Hello, sweetheart,” Paige said with a laugh, and then she heard it .

Pop! Ziiiiiiiiiiiiiiip.

Suddenly, it wasn’t so hard to breathe.

“Paige, let the poor girl go. I’m sure her parents want her back,” Fraser teased.

No, no, no. If she let Lexi go, Paige would be cited for indecent exposure. Instead, she just kept hugging the little girl, who didn’t seem to mind one bit.

“Are your mommy and daddy here, little girl?” Fraser asked.

“No, Uncle Max brought me.” Lexi tried to turn to look behind her, but Paige kept a grip on her as her mind raced. Paige could feel the breeze blowing against the full length of her side.

“Lexi, I see you found a friend.” Paige looked over Lexi’s shoulder to see Max standing there looking at her strangely. Hell, she would too for gripping a child that was not hers to her chest.

“Paige, let the kid go with her uncle,” Fraser said a little tightly, even though he had a smile on his face.

“I can’t,” Paige whispered.

Max frowned. “Is her hair stuck on a button? That happens to me all the time,” Max asked.

“My zipper broke,” Paige whispered.

Both Fraser and Max leaned to the side and frowned.

“Don’t you have a sweater or something?” Fraser asked.

“No. I don’t. Do you have a sports coat I can borrow?” Paige asked him. Fraser shook his head. He was wearing a button-up shirt with the top three buttons open—it was enough for Paige to know he wasn’t wearing an undershirt under it either.

Max reached into his basket and pulled out another NYPD sweatshirt. This one was a zip-up hoodie sweatshirt jacket. “Lexi gets cold and never remembers her sweater, but today she actually did. What’s one more sweatshirt to you for a good cause?” Max teased and Paige blushed. So, he did remember that he’d given her a hoodie before and that she had never returned it.

Max unzipped the jacket and walked to the side where the zipper had busted. “If I move, I’ll flash everyone,” Paige whispered with mortification.

“Don’t worry, I got you,” Max said, giving her a wink. “Lex, I want you to wrap your arms tight around Miss Paige’s neck, okay?”

Lexi nodded and did as she was told. “Okay, give me your arm,” Max ordered her. Paige held out her arm and he slid the sleeve up her arm. Max walked around her back, pulling the sweatshirt jacket across her back before putting it on her other arm. “Lexi, when I say go, move right here so Miss Paige can zip up.”

Paige took the ends of the sweatshirt and pulled them as close as she could with Lexi still hugging her.

“Okay, Lex. Stand right here.” Max ordered Lexi to let go and moved to stand next to her. He’d formed a wall so that between himself and Lexi, Paige was shielded from the vast majority of the audience.

Lexi snickered as Paige hurried to get the jacket zipped. Of course, the zipper wouldn’t line up enough for her to zip it closed since she was so flustered. “Will my boobs get that big some day?” Lexi asked.

Paige looked up and saw both Max and Fraser getting an eyeful. Ugh, men. When she wanted to show them off, no one was looking. When it was embarrassing, two super-hot guys couldn’t look away.

Finally, she got the zipper lined up and pulled it up to her neck. Kind of like closing the barn door after the cows already escaped, but it made her feel better.

The orchestra began to tune up and Lexi began to jump up and down. “They’re starting, Uncle Max! ”

“Then we better get back to our blanket. It was good to see you again, Paige. Let me know if you need me to drop off any more sweatshirts.”

Paige flushed. Seriously, he’d covered her naked body twice now with his clothes. What were the odds? About the same as her giving back this oversized, super soft, amazing smelling sweatshirt. “It was good to see you again too. Enjoy the show.”

“Bye Miss Paige!” Lexi called out with a wave as they walked back to their blanket no more than twenty feet behind Paige and Fraser’s.

“Cute kid,” Fraser said as he scooted closer and put an arm behind Paige.

Paige snuggled up to him and noticed the different ways the men smelled. Fraser smelled . . . fancy. His cologne was panty-melting, but it cried money with its elevated scents. Max smelled rugged and fresh. It was earthy and masculine. Both were equally good but completely different.

The music began and most thoughts of Max floated away on the notes of the music. Fraser was attentive, sweet, and incredibly knowledgeable. As the night continued, and as the sun set, Paige leaned against Fraser, snuggling up to his warmth.

Paige cast a glance behind her as the music came to an end. Lexi had her head on Max’s leg and his hand resting on his back. Their eyes connected and Max gave her a small smile before turning his eyes back to the stage.

The music rose and came to a crashing end as fireworks exploded in the sky. Paige excitedly clapped, hoping the musicians could hear her appreciation over the noise of the fireworks.

“Did you like it?” Fraser asked, his face close to hers as they snuggled on the blanket.

“It was unlike anything I’ve ever experienced. ”

“And how about this?” Fraser leaned forward, his lips brushing hers.

Paige leaned into him, leaned into the kiss, and leaned into the moment.