Gatlinburg Getaway (Destination: Desire) Read Online Free Page B

abnormal or worrying, just a standard exam needed for a new prescription, as she’d said.
    He glanced up. “Under occupation, it says you’re a software engineer.”
    “There are a few of us with vaginas, yes,” she chirped.
    He snorted. “I’ll take your word for it.”
    She closed her eyes and shook her head. “Sorry, I’m too used to fielding incredulous-slash-misogynist questions about my profession. Is my being a software engineer a problem?”
    “Not so much.” He set the clipboard aside. “I was just going to ask if you spend a lot of time looking at computer screens. If so, do you experience any headaches or blurry vision?”
    “Oh. Wow.” She slapped her forehead. “Now I feel like an even bigger ass.”
    “Don’t. This is the most entertaining exam I’ve ever had.” He couldn’t hold back a grin. “Most of my patients don’t discuss their vaginas with me.”
    She made a sympathetic face. “They save that for the gynecologist, huh?”
    Leaning a little closer, he replied with mock gravity, “I chose the wrong field, clearly.”
    “I bet it gets boring after a while. Like, ‘oh another va-jay-jay. Yawnfest’.” She faked a yawn for emphasis.
    He laughed outright at that, realizing he was flirting and enjoying it thoroughly. It had been a good long while since he’d done that. “That would be a sad state of affairs, wouldn’t it?”
    Nodding, she lifted her hands. “Best stick to optometry.”
    “No doubt.” The truth was, he’d never questioned what profession to pursue. His uncle started this practice decades ago, and Dalton had worked here during every summer break in high school, so he’d figured out young this was what he wanted to do.
    “I don’t have headaches or blurry vision.” She linked her fingers in her lap. “I try to take breaks and look away from the screen regularly.”
    “Good. That’s exactly what you should do.”
    They traded quips throughout the exam, and it surprised him how…comfortable…he was talking to her. He was an introvert by nature, and meeting new people wasn’t usually his idea of a good time. Luckily, in Gatlinburg, there were very few residents he didn’t know fairly well. One of the many hazards—and benefits—of small-town Southern living.
    When he was done, he went to fetch the correct contacts. “These should last you for the week. I can order glasses and have them shipped to your home address, so they would hopefully meet you there, but you’d lose out on having our optician fit them for you.”
    “I think I’ll wait and have my optometry office in California take care of me.” She accepted the little containers holding the contacts. “I’ve never had a pair of glasses just go on and not need at least some adjusting to fit right.”
    “Do you need help putting those in?” He set a mirror on a stand in front of her.
    She shook her head and grimaced. “No, I’m familiar with the torture routine.”
    An accurate description, in his personal and professional opinion. “I completely understand. I got Lasik so I could stop dealing with it.”
    “I actually don’t mind wearing glasses.” She shrugged. “It’s a funky fashion statement I can make without having to put much effort into it.”
    “What did your old glasses look like?”
    She made a mournful face and pulled a case out of her bag. He took the case and flipped open the top, cringing at the crushed mess. The rectangular frames had been chunky teal plastic, a combination that complemented her skin, hair, and face shape. They’d have looked good with her hazel eyes—which were a lovely mixture of blues and greens, grays and golds. Beautiful. She had good taste, if a little quirky. It took a confident woman to pull this kind of frame off, and he liked that about her.
    After taking the case back, she tucked her broken glasses back into her purse and focused her attention on the mirror. She opened her eyes wide and popped the first lens in. Flinching, she shut both