“Even though you thought I was playing for the other team?”

“Somehow, that made it worse...or better.”

“Men...” she said, but she laughed.

“I just had a few harmless fantasies, that’s all.”

“I hope you’re over it.”

His eyes were so dark and hot. “Honey, being with you tonight was a lot better than anything I could dream up.”

She looped her arms around his neck. “For me, too, Scott.”

* * *

He held her for a long time, whispering to her. He wanted to be totally honest with her. “As much as I wanted to make love to you, I really didn’t think it was in the cards. First, I thought I wasn’t your type. Then, I thought your bad heartbreak would keep you from me until you could get past it, and since I only had you for a little while, I didn’t like my chances. And then I thought you would see what a flawed decision you made working in this little clinic, in this little town for that little paycheck, and you would leave.”

“I told you I’d keep my word,” she said.

He turned so he was spooning her from behind. “I admire that,” he said. “I admire it in anyone, but that was a hard promise for you to make, and you made it, anyway.”

“I thought maybe this was a good place to take a break, to remember what my priorities really are. All the people I’ve met here seem to know something about that.”

“Most of the people you’ve met have done exactly the same thing. Cooper came here because his good friend died suddenly, and he wanted to know what happened. Sarah came here to recover from a nasty divorce. Eric—who owns the service station—he came here because he needed a fresh start, and he has a daughter here. I’ll let Devon tell you her story herself, and it’s remarkable.”

“And there’s you,” she said.

“There’s me,” he said, pulling her a little closer. “I was looking for something, but I didn’t know what. There were the practical reasons. I always think about the kids and what would be good for them. But I wanted my work to be more than a job. I wanted to be a part of something. When you’re the only doctor in a small town, believe me, you’re in it and it’s in you.” He moved her hair out of the way and kissed her neck.

“A lot of doctors follow the money,” she said.

“Good for them,” he said. “A lot of doctors are only good at doctoring and get in financial trouble and file bankruptcy. If a big wind comes and blows away all our material wealth, I want to be worth something.”

“Character,” she said.

“Okay,” he said, kissing her neck again. “You’re intoxicating. You’re delicious. What if you’re addictive?”

“No,” she said. “I’m not.”

“You turn me on like crazy. And really, I can’t get enough. If you could read my mind, you’d hear the most embarrassing things....”

“Tell me,” she begged.

“I wanted to be here, like this, next to you, inside you, closer to you than possible, closer than this. Part of you, you part of me, driving each other to the most pleasure there is for a man and woman. I already want you again. And again. You’re electrifying. Hmm, I don’t think this is human, what you make me feel.”

She wiggled her butt against him. “I can tell....”

He slipped a hand over her hip, across her flat stomach and down. He separated her legs, lifting the top one, and deftly pressed against her soft center. “What do you think of this idea?”

“I think... Ohhh... I think, yes....”

He entered her from behind, slick and easy. With his lips on her neck and his hand making her so happy, he moved against her, within her. The angle seemed to stimulate her in a different place, and it was heavenly.

“Good?” he asked.

“Good,” she said.

“I love it when you come,” he whispered. “It’s powerful.” And he stroked harder, pumped his hips, driving deeper. “You’re ready,” he whispered.

“Oh, God,” she whispered back, pushing against him, loving his thrusts, loving his fingers. He rocked into her for a long time, murmuring to her that she was amazing, that he’d never have enough of her.

And he brought her all the way, leaving her trembling with satisfaction.

He wrapped his arms around her, holding her against him, neither of them speaking for a long time, just melting into each other.

“I think this is my favorite part,” Peyton finally said, her voice soft. “Post-coital bliss, no rolling away for sleep.”

“I can sleep like this. I could every night of my life,” he said.

Another long moment of silence passed. “What’s going to happen to us, Scott?”

He kissed her neck. “All the best things, I think.”

Eleven

August changed things all over Thunder Point, and most definitely in the clinic. Scott spent a little more time than usual in town, cutting back his on-call schedule somewhat because of the flood of school and sports physicals that were required. Peyton handled as many of the physicals as she could manage because Scott had to keep his clinic hours in Bandon where they had a busier month than usual for the same reason.

And yet, the month was more fun. It began with a big party on the beach as Cooper and Sarah prepared to send Landon off to the University of Oregon where the Ducks football training camp was starting. Of course, Peyton was invited. After a little more than a month as a resident of this little town, people treated her like an old friend. But she was a bit unnerved when Cooper dropped an arm around her shoulders and said, “So. You and Scott? That’s awesome. He’s a good guy.” And not long after that, Mac gave her a little shoulder-squeeze and said, “The doc’s a great guy, Peyton. You’re in good hands.”

When Scott brought her a beer, she challenged him. “Have you been bragging around town that you finally got in my pants?”

“Of course not,” he said, taken aback.

“Then it must be the way you look at me! So, stop it!”

He just grinned and said, “Maybe it’s the way you look at me, Peyton. Every time I get a free pass and show up at your house, you’re all over me like a starving animal.” He touched her nose with a finger. “I am not complaining about that, by the way. I’m just as hungry for you. Every minute.” And then he went off to bond with the men over beer, sports stories and off-color jokes.

And Peyton thought, I probably do look at him that way. She found him wonderful in every way, and he was an adventure in bed. Not only was he handsome, when he touched her it made her wild for more, made her wanton and eager. He was lusty and powerful, yet he could also handle her as if she might be as fragile as a newborn. She wanted him all the time. She couldn’t remember ever wanting a man this way. She realized it had to be written all over her face.

She also loved to watch him with people. He had a great sense of humor and had compassion for absolutely everyone he came into contact with in the clinic and around the town. He was the most skilled listener, whether it was a complaining old lady or feisty sixth grader. He somehow conveyed with his eyes and by his touch, You can always trust me. I’ll always tell you the truth.