The Rusty Anchor glowed like a beacon against the darkening sky, its windows warm with golden light that spilled onto the cobblestones. Freya's hand rested lightly on Dan's elbow as they made their way up the path, her touch both steadying and electric. He moved slower than he would have liked, each step measured, but there was something satisfying about walking under his own power after days of being confined to her couch.
"You're doing great," Freya said, her auburn pixie cut catching the lantern light as she glanced up at him. "Though I have to say, watching you move like an arthritic grandpa is doing wonders for my ego as a medical professional."
Dan's laugh came out as a slight wheeze. "Glad my broken ribs are good for something."
The maître d' led them to a corner table with a view of the moonlit o
The afterglow wrapped around them like a silk sheet, their breathing finally settling into a synchronized rhythm. Freya traced lazy patterns on Dan's chest, her fingertips dancing over the light sheen of sweat that still clung to his skin. The red babydoll she wore had twisted during their earlier activities, leaving more revealed than concealed."How about a bath?" she suggested, propping herself up on one elbow to look at him. Her auburn hair was delightfully mussed, falling across one eye in a way that made Dan's heart skip."Sounds like a solid prescription, Doctor," he replied with a smirk, earning him a playful swat on the chest.Freya rolled out of bed with the fluid grace of a cat stretching after a long nap. She reached down and grabbed the hem of the babydoll, pulling it over her head in one smooth motion.
Dan Foster stood outside Freya's door, roses in one hand, takeout in the other, wearing a grin that could only be described as wolfish. Six weeks of healing had felt like six years, and now that his ribs no longer screamed in protest at every movement, he had plans. Very specific plans that involved making up for lost time with the woman who, when she wasn’t with him in person, had been driving him crazy with teasing texts and provocative photos for the past month and a half.The bouquet was massive – two dozen red roses arranged with sprays of baby's breath, wrapped in brown paper and tied with twine. It had cost him a small fortune, but the look on Freya's face when she opened the door made it worth every penny. She wore a silk robe that clung to her curves, her auburn pixie cut slightly tousled as if she'd been running her fingers through it."We
The Rusty Anchor glowed like a beacon against the darkening sky, its windows warm with golden light that spilled onto the cobblestones. Freya's hand rested lightly on Dan's elbow as they made their way up the path, her touch both steadying and electric. He moved slower than he would have liked, each step measured, but there was something satisfying about walking under his own power after days of being confined to her couch."You're doing great," Freya said, her auburn pixie cut catching the lantern light as she glanced up at him. "Though I have to say, watching you move like an arthritic grandpa is doing wonders for my ego as a medical professional."Dan's laugh came out as a slight wheeze. "Glad my broken ribs are good for something."The maître d' led them to a corner table with a view of the moonlit o
Time blended in a haze of painkillers, takeaway containers, and marathon viewings of extended editions. Dan's bruises shifted from violent purple to sickly yellow, marking time like the most unfortunate mood ring ever created. But it was the invisible healing – the knitting of cracked ribs beneath his skin – that tested his patience the most.Five days had passed since he'd first arrived at Freya's flat, and while he'd graduated from needing help to stand up to managing most tasks on his own, the constant ache in his chest served as an unwelcome reminder of his limitations. The first morning, she'd had to help him get dressed. By day three, he could pull on his own t-shirt, even if the movement made him wince.Freya watched his progress with the calculating eye of someone who'd seen countless patients push themselves too hard, too fast. She doled ou
For the next hour, Freya demonstrated proper recovery positions, explained different types of seizures, and walked through emergency response protocols. She described the various medic alert items first responders should look for, from jewelry to wallet cards to phone apps. The room remained engaged, with officers taking notes and asking increasingly specific questions."What if someone's wearing a medic alert bracelet but isn't responsive enough to tell us where their medication is?" asked a paramedic near the back."Not everyone has it, but check their jacket pockets first," Freya replied. "Most people keep emergency medication in an easily accessible spot. If you can't find it, that's when you need to get them to emergency services immediately."An officer raised her hand. "How do we distinguish between someone w
The meeting room on the second floor buzzed with contained energy. Officers in various states of uniform filled the chairs, some clutching paper coffee cups, others with notebooks open before them. Conversations died down as they entered, replaced by the rustle of shifting bodies and squeaking chairs.Captain Reeves took his place at the front of the room, his presence commanding attention without effort. "Good afternoon, everyone. We have two special guests with us today, Dr. Freya Anderson from Seabridge General's Emergency Department, and Mr. Daniel Foster, former Sergeant with Her Majesty's Armed Forces."The room settled into attentive silence as Captain Reeves continued, his voice taking on a more somber tone. "Recently, we had an incident at The Iron Horse. Mr. Foster experienced a medical emergency - a seizure - that was initially misidentified by respo