"Yeah. I do." Jess's smile returned. "Okay. His food is in that bin over there." She pointed to a large lidded bin. "The scoop is inside. He only gets one." Jess wagged her finger. "Don't let him convince you otherwise."
Kim laughed. "Only one scoop. Got it."
Another glance at her watch made Jess grimace. "Damn. Okay. I'm out of here." She snapped her fingers. "Oh wait." Turning on her heel, she scurried out of the room.
What is she doing?
Jess returned several moments later with Thor right behind her. "Here you go." She extended her closed fist.
Kim held out her hand. She stared in disbelief at the keys Jess placed in her hand. She's giving me a set of keys. Her more pragmatic side spoke up. No way. She's going to want them back.
"I really have to go. Please, make yourself at home." Jess scooped up her travel mug and the bagel. "Thank you again for this and for taking care of Thor." She gave Kim a quick kiss. "I'll see you later at work." Taking a moment, Jess patted Thor. "You be a good boy for Kim."
A quick wave and she was gone.
Kim stood where she was for several moments. A sense of elation washed over her that Jess felt at ease enough to leave her alone in her house. This was a big step for both of them. She had to admit, after all it had taken for them to get to this point, it was a much more comfortable morning-after than she would have imagined. Or that she had ever shared with anyone else.
Although she couldn't help being a little apprehensive with the responsibility Jess was entrusting her with. She looked down at Thor when he leaned against her. He met her gaze with calm confidence. She hugged him around the neck and got a kiss for her efforts. "Well, it's just you and me, big guy. How would you like some breakfast?"
* * *
Jess lengthened her strides as she neared the ER. The meeting had gone on longer than expected. She was anxious to get back to her ER. And see Kim. Just the thought of Kim made her heart feel light.
This morning had been surprising on many fronts. Seeing Kim ensconced in her kitchen had not bothered her in the least. You were much more interested in her cleavage. The thought brought a flush to her cheeks. But it was much more than that and Jess knew it. She had come to trust Kim during the months they had spent building a friendship. Being cared for felt amazing.
Wonder how she did with Thor? She had no doubt that Kim loved the big dog and was confident she would keep him safe. Unlike Myra, who had alternated between faking affection for him and barely tolerating his presence.
"Good morning, Dr. McKenna."
Jess's heart sped up at the sight of Kim standing at the nurses' station. Face it. You are so gone on this woman. She smiled. "Good morning, Dr. Donovan." She stopped at the counter, opposite Kim.
Penny peered at them from farther down the counter.
"I have that article I told you about in my office," Jess said. "If you're not too busy, why don't you come and get it." She could see the momentary confusion in Kim's eyes before she got it.
"Great. I've been looking forward to reading it." Kim walked out from behind the nurses' station and joined Jess. She turned back to Penny. "Penny. Psych will be down to pick up Mr. Gale. If they don't arrive within the next half an hour, please page me."
Penny grunted an acknowledgment.
Kim shook her head and then smiled at Jess. "Lead the way."
Neither spoke as they made their way to Jess's office.
Jess held open the door for Kim. "After you." She was being polite, but it was also nice to be able to enjoy the view without guilt.
As soon as the office door closed, she made her way over to Kim and enveloped her in her arms. "I missed you." She groaned at the sight of Kim's enticing lips so close to her own. Unmindful of where they were, she gave in to the urge to kiss Kim. It quickly turned passionate and she moaned into Kim's mouth. Her hands went down to grasp Kim's ass.
They broke apart, gasping for air.
"God. We can't do this here," Kim said.
Are you crazy? Anyone could walk in. Jess pulled away. "I'm sorry. I don't —"
"Stop." Kim put her finger to Jess's lips and smiled. "There's nothing to be sorry about. I wanted to kiss you the second I saw you at the nurses' station."
Jess grimaced. Rodman would go apeshit. "That would have sent the gossip flying at warp speed." She scrubbed her hands over her face. "We need to be very careful." What's this we stuff? You're the one who can't keep her lips to herself.
Kim moved back a step and her expression closed off.
Shit. Of course, that would remind Kim of how her ex acted after they were lovers. Jess closed the distance between them. "New rules. No matter how much I might want to. No making out at work. Other than that, nothing is going to change. We work together. We go to lunch together. We share an office."
Tears glimmered at the edge of Kim's eyes.
Jess cupped Kim's face in her hands and kissed the corner of each eye. Then placed a gentle kiss on her lips.
Kim smiled. "I thought there was no kissing at work."
"Special exception," Jess said. "Better?" A tight hug was her answer. "Good."
When Kim released her, Jess moved away and perched on the edge of her desk to avoid further temptation.
Jess bit her lip. Ask her. She readied herself to be disappointed, determined not to show it. "So did you get your tree?"
Kim shook her head, making her blond curls bounce. "No. You promised you'd help me pick it out."
She waited for me. They had planned on picking out the tree earlier in the week, but work demands on Jess had precluded that. "Tomorrow. I promise. We'll go tree shopping first and then the festival of lights in the evening." Jess grinned, unable to hide her eagerness.
Moving to lean against Jess's desk, Kim said, "Sounds like a plan."
"Well... I was just thinking..." Jess shoved her hands into her lab coat pockets. Come on. The worst she can say is no. "If you wanted, you could stay over tonight. So we could get an early start on Christmas tree shopping. And then maybe we could decorate it before going to the light festival." Please say yes.
"I'd like that, Jess..." Kim's voice dropped, becoming soft and husky. "A lot."
Jess was blindsided by a flash of Kim, lying naked under her that morning. She met Kim's eyes and flushed. It's going to be a long day. "Well, I guess I better get back to work."
"Me too." Kim moved toward the door and then stopped. "I almost forgot." She reached into her pocket and pulled out a set of keys. "I got Thor all settled and made sure the house was locked up." She offered the keys to Jess.
Jess shook her head. "Keep them. You never know when you might need them again." She smiled when Kim clutched the keys to her chest as if she had been given a special gift.
Kim's shocked expression had been hard to miss when she had given the keys to her earlier. And the fact that she was offering them back to her was reason enough to let her keep them. Myra had repeatedly asked for a set of keys from almost the first night they spent together. Jess had never given them to her. Just as it had when she had given them to Kim that morning, it felt right to let her keep them.
She gave Kim's hand a quick squeeze. "Let's go to work."
CHAPTER 27
KIM PROPPED UP a four-foot tall Douglas fir and walked around it. Perfect. She didn't have a lot of room for a tree in her condo. As it was, she was going to have to wedge her dining room table against the wall unit that held the TV. She looked around for Jess, eager to show her the tree. Where did she go?
"Hey, Kim. Over here. I found it."
She could hear the excitement in Jess's voice. I'm so glad I waited until she could come with me. After laying her tree back on the pile, Kim walked to the next aisle over that held the larger trees.