Alpha Billionaire Series
Doctor Daddy Chapter 8

BROOKE

I shook my head and smiled. There were even more flowers on the information desk this morning. At some point, someone was going to come along and make me take them home-or make someone take them home. "Looks like the mystery florist strikes again," Terry said as she walked with me.

"At least they are pretty and smell nice," I said. "You should take some home." "Well, so should you."

I shrugged. "I don't know, I like them here. This way everyone can see them. Besides, if I take them home my mother is going to ask if I have a secret admirer." I made an exaggerated shiver motion. "So, you don't think these are all for you?"

I shook my head. "Lisa thinks they might be for her. She's been dating a guy who apparently has been trying to up his game with her. He messed up on Valentine's Day and she thinks the flowers are his way of trying to make things up to her." Lisa did the same job I did, only in the afternoons. Our shifts overlapped enough for us to usually exchange a few words.

"Could be. But they are usually waiting there in the mornings. They aren't delivered to her specifically."

"You know what I think is happening, some delivery guy keeps losing his delivery instructions for patients, and instead of admitting he's messed up at work, he leaves them here so he can claim he's delivered them to the hospital."

It was as good as any other theory. But I knew exactly what they were and who they were from. And I knew they were for me. But no one else did. There was never a note. And half the time the flowers were just left, not delivered.

I had told Mark if he wanted to take me out, he needed to ask me. I figured the flowers were him trying to butter me up. He had messed up. I had been so willing, but he completely missed that window of opportunity.

I admired the new flowers this morning. Purple irises and pink lilies. They smelled divine. I slid into the swivel chair. Terry leaned with her butt against the desk. She was dragging her heels about getting to her post for the day. I didn't mind the company or the chatting. I mostly only ever said a few words to anyone during my workday. My job didn't tend to have conversations.

"Well, I need to get going. I'm at the back entrance today."

"Will you take some of these?" I lifted a vase of yellow flowers and handed them to her. "That back entrance is dreary."

She accepted my offer. "This will look nice back there. Thanks."

I smiled and nodded as various staff members made their way into the medical tower. I could always tell the office workers from the patients, even when their clothes were covered by coats. There was a distinct look to the morning trudge. Plus, they always carried in a tote bag or a lunch box.

I looked forward to a morning smile or wink from Mark. Before the onslaught of flowers began, he had started making sure to stop and say good morning, and sometimes he would even flirt. After the flowers, his flirting ramped up a notch. He would comment on the new flowers of the day. Sometimes even going as far as smelling them and trying to get me to tell him which ones I liked best.

My shift dragged on. It was a long day, and I hadn't seen Mark once. Lisa cooed over the newest arrangement. I grabbed my sweater and headed back to the locker room. It was time to clock out and leave.

In all of my tiredness, I mimicked the morning trudge. All my belongings for the workday, and a tired posture as I left.

"How was your day?" I looked up to see Mark waiting outside the doors.

"Hey, long. Are you just coming in?"

He shook his head. "Was there another delivery of flowers this morning?"

He knew there was. I knew he knew.

I nodded. "Yep, more flowers."

"Did you like them?"

"They're pretty. No one seems to know what's going on. A couple of the girls have been taking a few home when their shifts end. It's getting overwhelming."

He gave me a slow nod. I tried to read a sub-context into his movements. I couldn't figure it out.

"You are welcome to take some up to your office. I bet your staff would like some flowers to pretty up the place."

"My staff would wonder why you're giving me flowers."

I laughed. "Then your staff would have to wonder why I was giving flowers to anyone who would take them. You didn't hang around here just so you could talk about flowers with me."

"No, but I was waiting for you. I was headed out and thought I'd see if you were interested in having lunch with me."

My insides did a little flip. Only I was entirely too tired to go eat in public. And if I was going to go out with him, I wanted Mark to see me at my best.

"Not today."

"I think that's the first time you didn't flat out reject me and say no."

I leveled a glare at him. He seemed to have forgotten the gala. There was a whole lot of not rejecting him going on that night.

"Well, if I can't have lunch with you..."

I held up my hand and stopped him.

"I was up way too late last night. I'm very tired and am going to go home and take a nap. Try again later."

He chuckled. "How many times are you going to make me ask you out before you say yes?"

I looked at him. I liked the way his smile reached his eyes, and they crinkled up at the corners. He didn't look like he was of the same generation as my parents. He looked more like he was ten years older than me at most. The age didn't bother me. He was so good- looking and interested.

"As many times as it takes, I guess," I said with a shrug.

"So, there is a yes in there somewhere."

I leaned away from him. It was entirely too easy to get close to him. He was all hot and sexy and I wanted to touch him again. I wanted him to touch me. I wanted him to suffer the way he had made me suffer this past month of ignoring me.

I should have ignored all feelings for him and moved on with my life. But I was drawn to him. Even standing in the damp parking lot my body was reacting while my mouth was being a smart-assed brat.

"I'll see you later, Mark."

"Yes, you will."

I admired his confidence, then again, I was easy for him. I had already proven that.

On the drive home I wondered if maybe, I should have taken Mark up on that offer for lunch. When I got home, I fell instantly asleep. I couldn't get the smell of the flowers out of my nose in my dreams. When I woke from my nap, I was disappointed that I had left all the flowers at work, and the dream smell was just a memory.

In the morning at work, there was a noticeable reduction of flowers. I didn't know if Lisa and Terry had taken any home, or if Mark had taken me up on taking some up to his office. I no longer worked in the midst of a florist display. If I had any doubts that Mark was the one behind the flowers, I was certain now. The day after I told him it was too much, suddenly there were fewer flowers and no new ones.

"Good morning." I loved his deep rumbly morning voice. "Did you have a good nap yesterday?"

"I did. I dreamed about flowers."

"Do you want to know what I dreamed about?"

I had to swallow around the sudden lump in my throat. My mouth went dry, and heat and dampness welled up between my thighs. I really wanted to know what he had dreamed about. And I really wanted him to keep talking to me in that sexy voice. "I dreamed that you went out with me. But when I woke up, I realized it had only been a dream, and that was a sad way to start my morning."

I couldn't stop myself from smiling.

"You laugh at my pain."

I shook my head. "Not at all. I just realized that I could make your dreams come true."

"You have no idea. But all you do is toy with my affections."

I shrugged. "What can I say? I like playing with you."

He closed his eyes and shook his head. "Damn it, Brooke. You... I know you'll say no, but you did say there is yes somewhere. Can I take you out to dinner?" "Yes, of course. That sounds lovely."