HEARTS I

CHAPTER SEVEN

Kyle was in E.R. standing at the reception desk looking at a patient file when Jamie walked up to him. "Hey Kyle. Haven't seen you all day."

"Hey Slats. Just busy doing rounds. So when is the wedding day?"

"Hey slow down. Juliette needs to get a dress first. And we still need to find a venue for the wedding reception. And we need to send out the wedding invitations. By the way. I would like you to be my best man."

"Me?"

"You're my best friend."

"I feel honored, really."

"Dr. Slattery. There's a patient for you in bay 4," Agnetha alerted him.

"Thanks Agnetha. I need to go check up on my patient." Agnetha gave her file to him. "What happened?"

"Slammed her hand in her car door."

"Ouch," Jamie winced and stepped inside E.R. 4. "Hi. I'm Dr. Slattery."

The young brunette seated on the bed looked up at him. "Weren't you in ob-gyn the last time I went for a check-up? I could swear you were hyperventilating the moment I stepped into your consulting room." She pretended not to recognize him.

He remembered the woman. It was one of his patients on his last day in ob-gyn that made him so uncomfortable. "Ah yes. That was awkward, I was nervous. I remember you. So what happened to the hand?"

"I slammed it in my car door."

Jamie winced. "Ouch. Do you mind if I take a look?"

She winced as soon as he touched her hand. "Ouch!"

"Sorry," Jamie said almost apologetic. "I know it's going to hurt, but I need to examine your hand. On a scale of one to ten, how much does it hurt?"

"Ten. And you're hot."

Jamie chuckled nervously. "Thanks, but I'm engaged to be married soon." He continue to gently put pressure on the hand.

"Ouch, ouch ouch!"

Jamie looked at her concerned. "I barely touched your hand. I might need some x-rays."

"So why did you leave ob-gyn?"

"It's not really my thing. Surgery is more my thing. I became a doctor because I want to save lives and heal injuries. The board decided to move me to ob-gyn and I protested. Thankfully they moved me back to surgery."

"You were in surgery before?"

"Yeah."

"So what will happen if my hand is broken?"

"You'll need surgery."

"So are you going to admit me into hospital or what?"

"No relax, it's not life threatening," Jamie replied with a chuckle. "But I will have to schedule you for surgery as soon as possible with an orthopedic surgeon."

"Why can't you do it?"

"Because I'm a trauma surgeon. I'm not specialized in orthopedics."

Juliette held a wedding dress in front of her at the bridal boutique while Katy was seated on one of the chaises as the judge of the best wedding down contest. "So what do you think?"

"Too much frills."

Juliette put it back and took out another one and held it in front of her. "This one?"

"Too low cut. You don't want to give Jamie more than an eyeful before the wedding night."

She put it back again and took out a plain white dress with a faux fur trimmed trail and a princess cut top with an embroidered front. "This one?"

"Wow, now that would look nice on you."

The boutique assistant walked up to Juliette smiling. "Would you like to try it on?"

"Certainly."

Juliette disappeared into one of the fitting booths and stepped out minutes later wearing the dress. "Oh my gosh. It fits like a glove. You look like royalty in that dress Julie."

"I'll take it."

"Who should I bill it to?"

"What's the price tag?"

"This one is two and a half grand."

Juliette gasped at the mention of the price tag. "My budget is a little tight."

"I can bill it to your credit card," the assistant replied.

"I don't have a credit card."

"Let Jamie pay for it, then you just pay him back."

"He'll have a heart attack. I can't do that. Okay, I'll pay for it cash."

"Can I get your details?"

"Just bill it to Juliette Slattery." Juliette replied.

"Slattery?" Katy asked taken by surprised. "And you're not even married yet," she said with a chuckle.

"Might as well practice now for when I change my last name."

"I'm going to keep mine. It's too much effort to change it."

Juliette arrived home before Jamie and put the pizza she bought on the way home in the heated oven and the bottle of wine she got on ice. She then went to put the box with her wedding dress in the cupboard in the bedroom before she went to sit in the living room with a glass of sweat tea and a bowl of pop corn watching Fifty Shades of Grey.

She was about halfway through when Jamie opened the door and stepped into the living room. She paused the movie as he walked up to her to greet her. "Hello my gorgeous future wife."

She stood up and threw her arms around his neck. "I take it you had a busy day at work Dr. Slattery."

"Crazy hectic. And I missed you. So what were you up to today?"

"I went to look at some wedding gowns with Katy."

"And? Did you find something you like?" Jamie asked with a smile.

Juliette gave a mischievous grin. "Yes, but you'll have to wait until the wedding day before you can see it."

"You have me curious," he replied and planted a kiss on her lips.

"And I got us pizza for dinner and a bottle of pinotage."

"Sounds delicious. And I'm starving already."

"I'll go get our pizza."

Jamie sat down on the couch and looked at the TV screen confused before he tilted his head to the side. "Are you watching p**n?" He asked slightly shocked and gave a slight chuckle before he turned his head to look at Juliette and moved his hand in front of his mouth to suppress another chuckle that threatened to come out.

Juliette chuckled. "No, silly. It's Fifty Shades of Grey."

"Is that Fifty Shades of Grey?" Jamie exclaimed. "Geez I thought that was...sorry."

"Yes, I guess it's not as bad as everyone said. The novel is even more graphic. You haven't watched it yet?"

"Haven't read the book. Haven't watched the movie, but yeah that looks pretty close to p**n to me."

"You have no idea what you're missing. Oh and your namesake plays the lead role."

Jamie frowned and looked at Juliette confused as she put the boxes of pizza on the coffee table in front of them with two wine glasses and the bottle of wine. "Who is he?"

"Jamie Dornan."

Juliette pressed play and Jamie winced the moment Anastasia took the spankings from Christian. "Ouch. Do women actually enjoy that?"

Juliette gave him a punch on the shoulder. "Like you don't know."

"I won't because I'm really not into this b**m stuff people like to watch these days. I'm seriously not even into p**n either."

"You're not? I kind of find it kinky."

Jamie looked at Juliette shocked. "p**n?Geez Jules."

"No silly. Not the hardcore stuff. But I can only imagine you cuffing me to the bedpost and...you know..."

"Yeah, yeah, okay..." Jamie almost choked on his pizza. "My gosh you have a dirty little mind don't you?"

Juliette leaned back on the armrest of the couch and chuckled. "Oh come on. You're a doctor. You should be used girl and guy bits by now. Don't they teach you those stuff in anatomy?"

"Yeah, they do and that is exactly why I never went into obstetrics and gynecology."

Juliette started laughing. "You really actually did that?"

Jamie cleared his throat. "Briefly and thank goodness I'm in trauma surgery right now. And besides you my dear Juliette are going to have to wait until the day we are married before you find out my kinky side, because I'm the kind of guy who still firmly believes in no s*x before marriage."

"That deserves a hell of a lot of respect. Guys like you are insanely hard to find. I think I should count my blessings I found you."

As soon as he was finished eating Jamie stood up and put his wine glass in the sink. It was then that he saw the invoice of Juliette's wedding dress on the breakfast counter. He started to snicker. "Juliette Slattery?" he asked with a chuckle.

"Oh s**t. I hope you're not upset."

Jamie held his hand in front of his mouth to keep himself from bursting out in laughter. "No, I actually love that you're using my last name already," he replied and walked up to the couch with the invoice in his hand. "Julie Slattery. It actually has a nice ring to it," he replied with a smile.

"I does," Juliette replied with an agreeing nod.

"Then Juliette Slattery it is from now on. Now all we have to do is make it official and legal." Jamie looked at the invoice again. "Two and a half grand? Who paid for this," he asked shocked.

"I did..." Juliette replied feeling somewhat guilty.

"No honey. You should have let me pay for it. I really don't mind. Before you spend any more money on this wedding, have it billed to me. Okay?"

"Sure." Juliette smiled and took the invoice from Jamie before she put it on the coffee table. "Now how about some Fifty Shades of Slattery?"

"Oh my goodness." Jamie chuckled. "What are you up to Jules?"

A Few Weeks Later...

It was Katy's wedding reception and all the guest were seated at their designated tables or mingling with the other guests. "So you're finally Mrs. Carter. Congratulations." Juliette gave her colleague and friend a hug.

"Thank you. I cannot wait for you to finally tie the knot too. And where is that handsome doctor of yours?"

Juliette looked at the table where he was sitting with a group of other young men making jokes and laughing. "I guess he's just made a couple of new friends."

"What did he say about the wedding dress?"

"He was a little upset that I spent all my money on it. But now at least I can save up for our honeymoon and tomorrow I am meeting the parents."

"He hasn't introduced you yet?" Katy gasped shocked.

"No. But he's insanely busy at work. So he insisted we make it this Sunday."

"Weren't they at the engagement party?"

"No, they were out of town that day. He wanted them to come over, but...we'll just celebrate it at their place too this Sunday," Juliette said nervously.

"I really hope they like you. Some mothers can be really fussy about the women their sons marry. Especially the more wealthy ones," Katy warned Juliette. "So don't take it personally."

"I won't."

The band started playing a slow song and Jamie immediately stood up and walked up to Juliette where she stood talking to Katy. "You love this song, don't you?"

"How did you know?"

"I have my ways of finding out. May I have this dance mademoiselle?"

"Well you certainly may monsieur," Juliette replied laughing before Jamie took her to the dance floor.

"Just so you know. I've been admiring you from a distance this whole time and you look dashing. I just keep falling more and more in love with you every day," Jamie said with a smile.

"Oh you're just saying that to tease me," Juliette replied smiling back.

After the dance they went back to their table and sat down when Jamie's hand injury patient walked up to the table and sat down on the open chair next to him. "Well if it's not Dr. Slattery at my sister's wedding. What a pleasant surprise."

"How's that hand of yours?"

"You have the magic touch." She held up her hand that was still wrapped in bandages and was openly flirting with him and he decided to make it clear where he stood with her.

"Oh, I can't take all the credit for it. Thank your orthopedic surgeon. Oh and meet my lovely fiancée, Juliette," Jaime said while moving closer to her and gently placing his hand on her knee. "I cannot wait to marry this gorgeous woman."

"Hi," she greeted Juliette feeling slightly envious. "I just came to say hello." She stood up and left immediately.

"What was that about?" Juliette asked confused.

"A patient of mine. She was one of my first ob-gyn patients and then she came in with a broken hand a few days ago. She's kind of onto me."

"Well you put her in her place pretty quick."

"She's beautiful, but not my type."

"You have a type?" Juliette chuckled.

"Well technically no. She's just a little uptight and snobbish. And for me personally that's a major turn-off."

"I noticed. And a real flirt."

"Probably a gold digger too. That type of woman spells danger," Jamie replied. "I'm only burning my fingers once."

"He blew me off again. At my sister's wedding. Is he ever going to get it into that little brain of his that I'm eligible and interested. It's like he's not even remotely interested."

Katherine let out a little chuckle as she stopped on her tea. "Give it time. He'll warm up to you sooner already. He's been stubborn as a mule since he was a teenager."

"Or maybe I need to find a way to seduce him and make him forget all about his choir girl from Queens."

"What do you have up your sleeve Angela?"

Angela leaned back in her chair and pondered. "I don't know. I'll figure out something. Or maybe I should find a way to ruin his squeaky clean image so that his mistress has doubts about him."

Katherine smiled at Angela. "That's what I like about you. You always go for what you want and never give up until you have it. More tea?"

"Yes please. I have a feeling I'm going to need it."