Free Still Fine at Forty by Dakota Madison Page A

fingers of my good hand entwined in his.
    “Or as normal as possible for me,” I joked.
    The privacy drape opened again and a young women entered with a clipboard and more paperwork.
    “Jennifer Ellis?” she asked.
    I nodded. She asked for my ID and before I could even reach for my purse, Cody had removed my wallet and handed her my driver’s license.
    “What’s your date of birth?” she asked.
    Ugh. Really? Cody was sitting right next to me. Did I have to say it out loud for him to hear it? I knew he’d find out how old I was eventually, but I wasn’t sure I was ready to admit to him that I was forty.
    “It’s on my license,” I squeaked.
    She glanced over at Cody and gave him the once-over. Then she looked at me more closely. Yes, I’m an older woman, I wanted to shout. But do I have to make it that obvious how much older?
    “I actually need for you to tell me your date of birth,” she said. “It’s required.”
    “August 8, 1972,” I said. I didn’t dare look over at Cody but I noticed that he gave me hand a squeeze.
    The woman used a small machine she carried to scan my l icense then she handed it back to Cody, who placed it carefully back into my wallet.
    “The doctor should be back in a few minutes,” she said as she exited the room.
    Once again, we were by ourselves. I looked over at Cody. He was grinning. “So, why are you so hung up on the age thing?”
    “Because I’m forty. Middle aged,” I said as I held back tears.
    Cody rose and kissed my cheek. Then he put his lips up to my ear. “I heard women reach their sexual prime in middle age,” he whispered. “I’m dying to find out if that’s true.”
    My entire body began to quake as he put little kisses down my neck.
    “And men reach their sexual prime at twenty-nine, so we’re a perfect match.”
    I didn’t think that was true, but it didn’t matter when he grabbed my earlobe in his mouth and sucked on it.
    “We’re in a hospital room,” I said anxiously.
    “I know,” he said as he kissed my chin and made his way to my lips.
    His kiss was soft but still erotic. It was as if he was caught between wanting to give me a harder and more penetrating kisses and not wanting to hurt me. When our lips separated, I felt a bit of a letdown. I didn’t ever want him to stop. I never felt like I belonged with someone as much as I felt I belonged with Cody. It didn’t make any rational sense whatsoever, but I really did feel like destiny was at play. It was both exhilarating and panic-inducing.
    “How are you doing?” he whispered as he gently kissed my forehead. 
    “My hand doesn’t hurt as much anymore,” I said and exhaled. He left me nearly breathless.
    “I’m glad I could be of service,” he said and grinned.
    When the privacy curtain opened again, the doctor walked back in with a nurse. She was carrying all kinds of wound care items. Cody stepped back and let them do their work on my cuts.
    After I was cleaned, doused with anti-septic and bandaged, the nurse said, “Now we’ve got to get you to X-Ray.” She looked at Cody and asked him if he’d carry my personal effects. I couldn’t help but smile as the gorgeous and uber-masculine Cody walked dutifully down the hallway with my purse in his hand. It didn’t seem to faze him a bit. Maybe he wasn’t lying about wanting to take care of me.
    Luckily, nothing was broken. I was discharged from the ho spital with some additional bandages and antibiotic cream. Cody looked tired as he walked me back to his Jeep.
    “Thanks, again,” I said.
    “I’ve never actually had anyone to take care of before,” he admitted. “I like it.”
    I smiled. “Well, you’re good at it.”
    He leaned close to my ear and whispered, “There are other ways I’d like to take care of you.”
    The closeness of his face to mine and the suggestion of int imacy sent shivers down my spine.
    “I know you must be tired, so that will have to wait for a nother day.”
    With the electricity he had just