Total pages in book: 35
Estimated words: 33577 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 168(@200wpm)___ 134(@250wpm)___ 112(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 33577 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 168(@200wpm)___ 134(@250wpm)___ 112(@300wpm)
“I don’t even have a doctor.”
“You do now. Evidently, all the Littles go to Dr. Richards in this town. I’m very glad to know he takes care of everyone so well. Everyone recommended him on the group chat,” Rocky stated.
“Group chat?”
“Archer, Tami, Tim, Tim’s Daddies—Santiago and Clark. I’ll go get you some clean clothes.”
She didn’t know what to say to that, so she just closed her eyes to rest. A light kiss landed on her lips before she felt him leave the room. How did she get so lucky?
The house was decorated with flowers, lights, tinsel, and ornaments everywhere. Melissa had already lost count of the number of casually adorned trees. Nothing looked professional except for the lights strewn across the fences and the outside of the house. Everything else was hand done and perfectly charming. This felt like Christmas.
Rocky carried her into the impressive mansion before lowering her to her feet. Melissa inhaled deeply as she looked around. Even the inside of the house smelled like cinnamon, ginger, and pine. She loved taking everything in. “What a beautiful place,” Melissa whispered to Rocky.
“Thank you!”
Melissa turned her head to see a petite figure now standing in the front reception area. “You’re welcome. Are you one of Dr. Richard’s patients?”
“All the time,” the woman answered, rolling her eyes.
“Be good, Zoey,” a deep voice warned from behind her. “I think you wanted to offer Melissa a cookie.”
Melissa looked up to see a handsome blond man watching the woman with a fond expression. She loved that she could feel the love zinging between them. Her attention ricocheted back to the woman when she spoke again.
“Yes. We just made snickerdoodles. Well, Jillian made them. She allowed me to smash them gently with the bottom of a sugar glass. That’s my favorite part. They’re still warm. Would you like one?” The stress on that one word was obviously important.
Suddenly, Melissa wanted a cookie more than anything else in the world. She gingerly reached out with her left hand to grab a cookie and somehow took two. “Oh, I’m sorry.”
“Your hand was hungry. I bet your tummy is, too. I’ll have two as well. We’ll start a new trend.” Zoey stacked two cookies on top of each other and plucked them up to take a big bite. She waved her prize toward Melissa, who lifted the ones in her hand.
“These are amazing. The sugar is the best part,” Melissa said when she could talk again. She loved the happy grin Zoey sent her after the compliment.
“I know, right?”
“Melissa, I’m glad to meet you. I’m Dr. Richards, and this cookie monster is my Little girl, Zoey,” the man with the deep voice explained.
“Nice to meet you,” Melissa said politely.
“I’m not glad to meet you tonight, though. I understand you injured yourself after getting stitches. I’m sorry you’re hurt,” Dr. Richards said kindly.
“Thank you for seeing us, Dr. Richards. I’m Rocky Harrison. PLAYTIME just matched Melissa and I together.”
“I’ve seen you on a sign outside your boxing gym. You’ve got massive biceps and big gloves!” Zoey exclaimed. “I’d like to learn to box.”
“No boxing, Little girl,” Dr. Richards said gently and stepped forward to take her hand when she lifted her fists into position.
“Yeah. You’re right, Daddy. I’m a lover, not a fighter,” Zoey said good-heartedly.
“Rocky, bring Melissa into exam room one. I want to look at that arm,” Dr. Richards instructed. When Melissa looked around, trying to figure out where to put her cookies, he added, “Bring your cookies. It’s okay.”
She took another bite as she followed him. The bath had revived her a bit, but she still felt lousy.
“So, you work with Tami and a dog bit you?” Dr. Richards asked when they got into the room.
“It wasn’t his fault. There was an unsupervised five-year-old who whacked the dog, causing him to lash out. I was just in the way.” Melissa rushed to defend the dog.
“I see. Did the dog have all his shots?”
“Yes. Tami makes sure of that,” Melissa assured him. The urgent care had also been concerned about this. She knew that was the right answer.
“You’ve double checked on that?” Dr. Richards asked, looking at Rocky.
“I have not, but I will today,” he assured the doctor, looking serious.
Melissa knew there was nothing she could say to dissuade that conversation from happening. She took another bite of cookie and smiled. They were fantastic.
“Step up on the scale, Melissa,” Dr. Richards instructed.
When she hesitated, Rocky plucked the last bites of the cookies from her hand and placed them on the paper towel Dr. Richards provided for him. “Come on, Lissy. You don’t weigh as much as my left leg does.”
Laughing at the image of sitting on a scale balanced with one of Rocky’s muscular limbs, Melissa followed the directions and allowed Dr. Richards to weigh and measure her height. He paused for a minute as he lowered the lever down to her head and then pressed his hand against her forehead.