“I was on the golf course. Stepped into a hole.”
“That’s too bad.” Dr. Stevenson finally looked at David. “I trust we’re taking good care of you?”
“Oh, of course,” Tucker said, offering David a smug smile. “Dr. Daniels has been outstanding.”
“Good. I’m glad to hear it,” Dr. Stevenson said. He reached out and shook David’s hand. “Dr. Daniels. You’ll make sure he gets the VIP treatment, won’t you?”
David offered a tight smile. “Of course.”
David excused himself to check on the x-ray and put an order in for Tucker’s pain medication.
Frustration pulsed inside of him. Why? What was Tucker even trying to prove with Avery? David was trapped in a way that made rage pump through his veins. Tucker had already proven himself more than capable of lying, so he couldn’t be sure everything he’d spouted about getting David fired wasn’t just an empty threat. Though Gerald Stevenson showing up in the exam room had certainly strengthened Tucker’s argument.
Patient privacy laws did protect Tucker. By law, David couldn’t tell Avery he’d seen him as a patient. Which meant it would be really hard to bring up the existence of the fiancée he’d also met at the hospital without weaving a lie to explain where and how they’d met. But how could he do nothing? How could he let Tucker continue to hurt Avery in such a terrible way?
Lucy walked by and David reached out and stopped her. “Hey. You have a minute?”
Lucy looked at her watch. “Sure. But only one.”
“You ever heard of the King family?” David asked. “A Francis King, maybe? I guess they’re important around here or something?”
Lucy wrinkled her forehead. “Francis King. I know that name. Hold on.” She pulled out her phone, typing something, then scrolling through a few screens before holding her phone out for David to see. “I was right. Francis King is big in real estate around here, I guess. He owns something like half of downtown. He owns the building John’s optometry practice is in.”
David scrolled through the Wikipedia page detailing all of King’s real estate holdings. He kept scrolling, skimming over the historical significance of the King family. They were definitely key players in the establishment of downtown Charleston as the historical and cultural center that it was. He sighed in resignation then swore under his breath.
“What’s wrong?” Lucy asked. “What does Francis King have to do with you?”
“His grandson is my sprained wrist,” he said. “He’s also the guy dating Avery.”
“I’m still not following,” Lucy said.
David looked over Lucy’s shoulder and saw Jessica walking toward them. “See that woman right there? In the pink?”
Lucy followed his gaze. “Yeah?”
Their conversation paused while Jessica passed them, moving on toward Tucker’s exam room.
“That’s his fiancée.”
Lucy frowned in confusion. “Wait, what? I thought he was dating Avery.”
“He is,” David said, his tone level.
Lucy’s eyes lit with understanding. “Ohhh. What a jerk.”
“He just told me if I make this a problem for him, he’ll definitely make it a problem for me.”
“How’s he going to do that? He actually threatened you?”
“Technically, patient privacy laws offer him some protection. You know I can’t go home and tell Avery I saw him in the ER today. Plus, Dr. Stevenson just stopped by to check on him and make sure he was getting the VIP treatment.”
Lucy frowned. “Seriously?”
“I guess they play golf together or something.” David pressed his hand to his forehead, massaging his temples with his thumb and forefinger. “What am I supposed to do? Nobody knows me in this town, Lu. I can’t afford to mess anything up.”
“David, even if Dr. Stevenson wasn’t the guys best friend, this is a no brainer. You can’t risk the HIPAA violation. Honestly, you can’t even risk the accusation, especially from someone like the Kings. Even if an investigation proved you didn’t do anything wrong. . .” She shrugged. “I’ve seen doctors ruined by false accusations before.”
“But how can I not tell her? He’s using her. It’s wrong, Lucy. She’s going to get hurt from this.”
Lucy looked at her watch and shook her head. “I need to go. But David, don’t do it. You know the rules. You have to let this go.”
Rules or not, David still felt like a coward. He paced around the doctor’s lounge with fire in his bones. How could he not tell Avery the guy she thought she was dating was marrying someone else in a couple of months? How could he let her invest her time and her energy and her heart into something that was doomed to fail? It would humiliate her. He couldn’t just sit by and let that happen.
But what choice did he have? He couldn’t tell Avery directly. That much was indisputable. But then, Avery was a grown woman, capable of making her own choices. She was choosing to believe whatever Tucker was telling her, whatever reasons he’d concocted for why he wanted them to get back together.
He remembered Avery telling him she and Tucker ran in completely different circles. They didn’t share the same friends, hadn’t attended the same schools. He was yacht club parties, and she was county beach parks. She’d said something about how opposites attract. But all that meant was that with a little bit of effort, Tucker could probably keep both women in the dark about his philandering for months. Years, even.
David dropped into a chair by an outside window and pulled out his phone. How had social media not already tipped Avery off? He ran a quick search for Tucker’s name, pulling up several profiles that belonged to him. The profiles were professional and polished, but not personal. Lots of posed photos at charity events and extended family group shots in front of perfectly decorated Christmas trees and holiday tables. It looked like the profile of someone who was planning to run for political office. Which, David realized, could absolutely be the case. There wasn’t anything on any of the profiles that mentioned the engagement. Was that intentional?
David closed out the search and dropped his phone into his lap. If people checked out his social media profiles, they’d think he was still in med school. He hadn’t posted anything new in years so he couldn’t fault the guy for not living his entire life online. But a larger digital footprint sure would make it easier for Avery to catch Tucker in his lies.
David tapped his foot, frustrated energy making him twitchy. When he had a patient that he couldn’t figure out how to treat, it was normally a lack of information that kept him from making an accurate diagnosis. When he wasn’t sure, there were labs or scans he could order, tools he could use to gather as much information as possible to aid him in solving the problem.
Maybe that was the problem here. He just didn’t have enough information to form an accurate diagnosis. If he knew more, maybe he wouldn’t have to tell Avery about Tucker and Jessica, because he’d be able to show her, lead her somewhere he knew Tucker and Jessica would be so she could catch Tucker in the lie.
But where? And how?
David needed a plan. And quick.
Chapter 9
Avery sat on her front porch and watched the storm clouds rolling across the sky. She loved a good thunderstorm, partly because she loved the way the storms cooled the heavy, humid air, but mostly because she loved the power of them, the way they riled up the sea and whipped the palm trees into a frenzy. Her older brother had never loved storms growing up. To him, thunderstorms were younger siblings to hurricanes and deserved no love and no respect. When the storms hit, he would hide inside with the dog while Avery and her grandmother sat on the porch, watching the lightning fracture the sky.
She glanced at her watch. Hopefully Tucker would arrive before the rain started and they could watch the storm together. They’d originally had plans to go out, but he’d texted an hour earlier asking if they could stay in and watch a movie instead. Avery didn’t mind, but it seemed like they’d been spending a lot of time at her house
lately. She had to wonder why.
Tucker’s truck pulled to a stop in her driveway just as the first raindrops fell. He held a pizza box over his head as he darted up the walkway, ducking under the cover of her porch. “Hey,” he said with a grin. He leaned down and kissed her forehead. “What are you doing out here?”
“Watching the storm,” she said. “Looks like it’s going to be a good one.”
Tucker turned and looked at the sky. “Yeah?”
Low thunder rumbled and the wind picked up. Avery caught a whiff of salt and sea and smiled. “What happened to your arm?” she asked, noticing the brace he wore on his wrist.
“It’s just a sprain,” Tucker said, glancing down. “I fell playing golf the other day. Come on.” He opened her front door. “Let’s get inside. It’s miserable out here.”
Avery frowned, but Tucker was already halfway inside and didn’t notice. “I’ll be in in a minute,” she said. The storm door swung closed behind him with a thwap and Avery stood up, moving right to the edge of the porch, close enough that rain dropped onto her arms and splashed onto the end of her nose. She turned to go inside but then paused when she saw David standing on his front porch much the same way she had been. He looked in her direction and she waved, happy that thunderstorms didn’t seem to freak him out the same way hurricanes did.
Tucker was already sitting in the living room, his ankles propped up on her coffee table. She stopped beside him and he reached up, pulling her onto his lap just like he used to. She snuggled into his arms, pressing her nose against his neck, just below his earlobe. He smelled good. Familiar.
“Are you hungry?” he said into her hair. “I had them put pineapple on the pizza just like you like it.”
She sat up and looked at him, her smile wide. “You did that for me? You hate pineapple on your pizza.”
“But I don’t hate you,” he said. He pulled her back down and kissed her, his hands cradling her face. Memories washed over Avery, everything good about her relationship with Tucker swelling inside her. They’d never lacked chemistry, and the familiarity of his touch ignited an aching in her that surprised and nearly overwhelmed her. But somewhere in the back of her brain, a warning bell sounded. She couldn’t forget the reasons they’d broken up, the ways they had hurt each other in the end. She broke their kiss and shifted until she dropped onto the sofa beside him. She would take it slow. Ask the right questions. Make sure that this time, Tucker was in for the right reasons.
She reached for the pizza, opening the box and pulling out a slice. There was only pineapple on a fourth of the pizza, not the entire thing. Good thing Avery wasn’t actually that hungry.
After dinner and a romantic comedy Tucker had been surprisingly willing to watch, Avery pulled him off the couch and hauled him toward the back door. “Come on,” she said. “The rain stopped. Let’s go see what shells the storm washed up on the beach.”
Tucker groaned. “Only tourists go hunting for seashells.”
“What? That’s not true at all. Plus there might be some sand dollars that need saving.” She’d tossed more than a few back into the water after a storm. “You love walking on the beach. Please?”
Tucker finally relented and they made their way down to the ocean. The clouds had blown away revealing a bright full moon in a deep navy sky. The moon reflected over the water and Avery marveled, as she always did, at her luck. No one, not anywhere, loved her island like she did.
Tucker held her hand as they walked, listening as she detailed the new interactive education program she’d been working on at work. He smiled as she talked, waiting when she stopped long enough to toss a sand dollar or starfish back into the water. When he pulled her into his arms just shy of the path back up to her house, she let him.
He kissed her long and deep, then moved his mouth to her ear. “Let’s go inside,” he whispered.
She bit her lip. It was too soon. Every inch of her knew she needed more time to get to know Tucker again. Find her footing without just falling back into the same relationship they’d had before. “Not yet, okay?” Avery said, her voice soft. “I just want to spend a little more time getting to know you again.”
Tucker chuckled. “You already know me, Avery. I’m still the same guy.” His hands slid to her waist and he pulled her closer.
“But I’m not the same woman,” Avery said. “I’m not saying no. I’m just saying . . . not yet.”
He didn’t answer her, but when he entwined his fingers with hers, he gave her hand an encouraging squeeze before leading her up the darkened path toward her house.
Just before they reached Avery’s backyard, they met David on his way to the beach. Tucker tensed beside her.
“Nice night for a walk,” David said.
Avery furrowed her brow. David’s tone sounded cold and clipped, almost hostile. “Yeah. We thought so too,” she said, pulling closer to Tucker.
“It must be nice walking at night,” David went on. “In the dark. When no one can see you.”
What was he talking about? Why would they care if anyone saw them? “The moon is actually pretty bright tonight,” Avery said. “You can see without any trouble.” It wasn’t an exaggeration. She could even see well enough to notice David almost rolling his eyes. What was his deal?
“Risky, then,” David said, looking directly at Tucker.
Tucker pulled Avery to the side of the path so David could pass. “Don’t let us keep you from your walk,” he said. “We were just headed inside. I’ve got an important call I need to make. Actually, you’ve maybe heard of him. Gerald Stevenson? Nice guy. My father played a round of golf with him this morning.”
Avery looked at Tucker. “You have to call him now? It’s almost ten o’clock.”
“Don’t worry about it,” Tucker said, pressing a kiss to her brow. “He’s on a flight to California and my father asked me to give him some information once he lands, which,” Tucker looked at his watch, “should be happening any second now. But don’t worry. It will only take a minute. It won’t interrupt the rest of our evening.”
Avery had been around Tucker enough to know that work calls were fairly common, even work calls at ridiculous hours. But why did he feel like he needed to tell David?
David looked furious as his gaze moved from Tucker, to Avery and then back again. Finally, he took a step forward, moving past them on the path. “Goodnight Avery,” he said, before shooting Tucker a glare that looked like it could wither the magnolias growing on either side of them. Seriously, what was his problem?
***
The next morning, Avery showed up on David’s doorstep bright and early. He normally left for work way earlier than she did and he was often gone for what seemed like days at a time. She had to catch him when she knew she could.
She had to knock twice before he finally opened the door. He wore scrubs, his hair still wet from the shower. He wasn’t wearing his glasses, but he also didn’t seem to have any trouble seeing. Was he wearing contacts?
“Hi,” he said, pushing the door open for her. “Good morning.”
“Hi. Um, you’re not wearing your glasses.” It wasn’t at all what she’d come over to say. But his eyes looked so blue against the dark navy scrubs he wore, she’d been too distracted not to say anything.
“No, I’m trying out some contacts.”
Avery swallowed. “You look good.”
David glanced at his watch. “Thanks. Um, I’ve got work in a few minutes.”
“Right. Sorry.” She shook her head, grasping at the real reason she’d come over to see David. “I just wanted to ask you why you were so rude to Tucker last night. Did he do something to offend you that I don’t know about?”
David sighed and his shoulders slumped. “I didn’t say anything rude.”
“Maybe not explicitly,” Avery said. “But your tone sounded like you hated us both. And you were shooting daggers out of your eyes.” Avery had spent a long time lying in bed the night before, thinking about why David was so rude.
The only thing she could come up with as a reasonable explanation for David’s behavior was jealousy. It was enough to make her feelings for David sour just a little. She did love that he was so transparent, but this took it a little too far. Petulance wasn’t attractive in anyone.
“He wasn’t exactly nice to me either,” David said, his tone defensive.
“David, I want to be your friend,” Avery said. “Truly. I don’t know if it was jealousy that motivated you last night or what. But if I have to choose between a boyfriend I’ve known for years and a new friend I’ve known for weeks, it isn’t going to be a tough call.”
David stepped back, his eyes sad and Avery immediately regretted her words. She was maybe being too hard on him.
“I’m sorry,” David said. “You’re right.”
“I’m right?”
He nodded. “About the jealousy, about . . . I’m not being fair to you. I’m sorry.”
Avery paused. She hadn’t expected him to admit his mistake so readily. “Thank you. I appreciate that.” She turned and walked toward the porch steps, but then stopped, facing David one more time. He still stood in the doorway, the storm door propped open against his arm. “Did you have a nice walk?” she asked.
He smiled. “I did. I think I love the beach the most after a good thunderstorm.”
“Me, too,” Avery said. “I always have.” She lifted a hand to wave but stopped for a second time when David called her name.
“Hey, Avery?” he said. “Do you want to come in for a few minutes? I just made breakfast. There’s enough to share. I mean, if you want.”
“You don’t have to get to work?”
“I do,” David said. “But I have a few minutes. I’d like to spend them with you.”
Warmth spread through Avery’s body. She’d never not appreciate David’s open sincerity. “Breakfast sounds good.”
She followed David into his kitchen. “What are we eating?” she asked.
David turned to the stove and picked up a plate of bacon, then grabbed a package of croissants from the counter. “Do you trust me?”
D is for Doctor (ABCs of Love Sweet Romance Book 4) Page 8
