“How are you feeling, Mr. N?” I asked as he approached.

“Like an old fart.” He snorted.

“I hope I look half as good as you when I’m your age.” I smiled at him, patting him on the shoulder.

“Eh, looks are deceiving. My insides are worn out, but if I were just a few years younger…,” he trailed off without finishing, giving me a wink.

I slapped his knee as he sat down on the exam table. “Mr. N., come on now.”

Since the first day I met him, he flirted with me… relentlessly.

“So tell me, how are you really feeling? Any problems like dizziness, fatigue, or any changes since last time I saw you?” I flipped through his chart, checking his vitals from his last visit.

“I feel about as good as I can for a man my age. Nothing new to report, Doc. Right as rain.”

I listened to his heart, checked his lungs, and felt his lymph glands before I wrote a refill for his blood pressure and cholesterol pills.

He sat on the exam table and watched me as he fidgeted with his hands.

“Something you want to ask me, Mr. N?”

“Well, um, kind of. I’ve been seeing this special lady.  I wanted to talk to you about that little blue pill. Can I take it?”

“Do you need it? That’s the more important question.” I inched closer to him so we could talk a bit quieter. “Do you have a problem getting and maintaining an erection?”

His face turned pink as he looked away momentarily avoiding my gaze. “I don’t think so, but it’s been so long since I’ve been with a woman. My wife died over five years ago. I don’t know if the ol’ pipes still work,” he said, giving me a weak smile.

“Ever had any trouble in the past?”

“Never.” He shook his head, looking down.

“With your medical history I wouldn’t feel comfortable prescribing it. If you have trouble with your lady, call me and I’ll help you out.”

“Doc, be still my beating heart.”

“You know what I mean, Mr. Needlemyer.” I blushed.

Did men ever lose their dirty minds?

“I do. If I have any problems with,” he coughed, “I’ll call you.”

“Here’s your refills and I’ll see you next month, just make an appointment with Cammie on your way out.”

“Wishful thinking at my age.”

“You’ll be fine,” I said as I laid my hand on his. A knock on the door made him jump. “Yes?” I called out.

“The mother is here with her child,” Cammie yelled through the door.

“Coming,” I said. “Mr. Needlemyer, I need to go but remember to call me if you have any problems.” I closed the chart and stood.

“Go ahead, Doc. I’ll be fine.”

“Thanks, Mr. N.” I waved to him as I shut the door and headed to the waiting room.

I knew there was joy in motherhood, but I’ve always seen the other side where children are sick or injured and the panic in the mothers’ eyes. I wasn’t ready to become a mother, not yet. I had a career I had to focus on and a life to live before I invited a bundle of joy into my life.

After examining the baby and determining that she had a lung infection, I gave the mother antibiotics and directions to help her breathe easier. She left the clinic feeling relieved and looking calm.

The rest of the day was a blur – countless patients with various illnesses. At four o’clock the waiting room had finally emptied. I’d been so busy I didn’t spend much time thinking about Michael.

I had a couple hours to get ready for him to pick me up. It’d been a long time since I’d been on a real date.

I wondered sometimes why men didn’t ask me out or never called me for a second date. I think I’m a good catch. I have my shit together… maybe a little too together and independent for some guys.

“Where you rushing off to, Doc?” Cammie asked as I tried to sneak out the door.

“I just have some things to do,” I replied, stopping in the doorway.

I never was a good liar.

I could see the giant smile spread across her face. She slammed her hand on the desk and began to laugh. “You go, girl. I want all the details. Shoo now,” she said waving her hands at me.

I blew her a kiss, stepping out into the warm sunshine and felt a sense of renewed hope.

The clinic didn’t leave me zapped of energy and emotionally drained like the hospital.

I twirled the razor in my hand and debated with myself about shaving. If I shaved, I felt like I hoped the night would end with a roll in the hay. If I didn’t shave, it guaranteed that I wouldn’t commit a carnal sin.

Running my fingers over my shin, I could feel the prickle of hair. I sighed and caved, deciding to forgo the European look.

I carefully shaved, then rinsed out the heavy conditioner in my hair before climbing out of the shower. The mirror had fogged over and I opened the door to let in some of the cool air. I had one hour to blow dry, do my makeup, and get dressed.

I towel dried my hair a little first before walking into my closet to pick out something sexy as he’d requested. I found the perfect little black dress that had a very low cut back and stopped just below the knee. It showed just the right amount of cleavage, but it wasn’t trampy. It made people stop and stare.

I wanted his eyes on me tonight and no one else.

I did my best to do a smoky eye as they call it in all the fashion magazines. I dried my hair before finishing the rest of my makeup.

As the minutes ticked away my heart started to pound, I could feel my blood pressure rising. I felt flushed and clammy.

I blotted the thin layer of dampness from my skin just before six and pulled the dress over my head carefully before strapping on my favorite black heels with the red bottoms.

The day I was able to afford to buy myself a pair was the day I knew I could take care of myself – I’d arrived and stood on my own two feet.

I looked in the mirror one last time and turned around, making sure my underwear didn’t show and everything was in the right place.

“It’s just a date. I got this.” My pep talk helped a little until the doorbell rang. I never really felt nervous on a date before, but there was something different about him.

“Coming,” I yelled as I walked through the house, grabbing my purse and keys.

I opened it to the stunning man leaning against the doorframe with the sexiest grin on his face.

Whistling, his eyes raked over my body before landing on my face. “Fucking beautiful. Turn around,” he said, twirling his finger in the air. “Absolutely stunning.” He held his out.

“Thank you. You’re looking pretty damn good yourself.”

He did too. Wearing a sky blue dress shirt, tucked into his black pants, the sleeves were rolled halfway up his forearms. He looked like he just stepped out of GQ magazine.

His mouth enveloped mine as soon as I locked the door and faced him. Pulling my body against him, claiming my lips with as much fervor as he had the night before, he stole my breath. His hand on the small of my back felt like a hot iron against my skin, searing into me.

“Ready?” he asked as he released me.

“Yes,” I said, a little too breathy.

He helped me into his pickup truck before closing the door and jogging around to the driver side. The truck was modern and decked out. It wasn’t a redneck truck but a total boy toy, black and trimmed in chrome.

“Where are we headed?” I asked, pulling my dress down to my knees.

“Sunset Beach for dinner.” He adjusted and gripped the steering wheel tightly as he glanced at my legs.

“There isn’t a restaurant there.”

“I know.” Resting his arm behind my head, he backed out of the drive.

I uncrossed my legs and shifted in my seat and he glanced down before looking back toward the road.

“What did you do today?” he asked.

“Worked at the free clinic in town and you?”

“I worked out and went to the shop for a couple hours. Tell me about the clinic.”

I told him about the work we did and the residents in the county that lacked simple things like medicine and insurance. He listed intently and asked questions throughout our conversation.