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ALLURING CONDIMENTS
WYATT
I go into the office and pick up Marlow’s file and walk into the courtyard when I see that no one else is out there.
Ever since Marlow came into town, I’ve had this nervous energy and it’s so foreign to me, I don’t know what to do with it. I didn’t get nervous energy about my medical boards, for chrissake, I don’t know why the hell this woman makes me look for the nearest paper bag to breathe into.
Emma’s right, we desperately need the help. I came in an hour early this morning to show Helen how to run the new copy machine. Although come to think of it…knowing that feisty old woman, she could very well bepretendingto be slow just so I’ll hire someone faster. The more I think about it, that really makes sense, dammit.
I walk around the courtyard staring at Marlow’s number and dial it on my cell phone before I can talk myself out of it any longer. There’s no answer, and before I know it, Marlow’s raspy Southern voice is saying, “You’ve reached Marlow. Leave me a message and I’ll get right back to you.”
Her voice is like sexy butter.
Good God, there is nothing sexy about butter.
Did I hit my head somewhere along the way?
The beep jolts me out of my horndog thoughts and I start talking.
“Uh, Marlow. Dr. Wyatt here. I’m calling to offer you the job at Pine Community. We’d like you to start as soon as possible. Please stop by the Human Resources office this week and fill out the necessary paperwork.” I sound like a fucking robot and close my eyes, swiping my hand over my face. “Thank you.”
I hang up and then kick the rocks, sending them into the flowers where they don’t belong. I try to kick a few of them back into place and hurry inside to get back to work. I’m ashamed of how this woman reduces me to someone utterly idiotic.
Before I go to my next appointment, I throw away my trash from lunch and get a text from Brooke, one of our pharmaceutical reps. She called a few days ago saying she’d be in town sometime this week to leave some samples and wanted to know if we could meet for a drink. The last time we met for a drink we ended up in bed in her hotel room, and that sounds like it could be exactly what I need right now.
Brooke
I’m coming through Landmark around four or five and will be stopping by the hospital. Got time for a drink tonight?
I get off at seven. Drinks and dinner at The Pink Ski?
Brooke
Sounds perfect.
I put my phone in my lab coat and go down the hall to see my next patient, feeling much better about everything. It’s been a busy time and an emotional time too, when I think of all that’s happened this year. My heart isn’t used to the workout it’s been getting with all of the love and loss and emotions going around.
A little time with Brooke, someone I’m comfortable with and who wants the same things as I do—a little fun with no strings attached—and I’ll be back to myself.
Just in time to see Marlow at work.
* * *
I pullinto the parking lot of The Pink Ski and when I walk inside, Brooke is already there. She walks toward me, her arms open wide. I don’t really love the idea of hugging her so openly in public, since PDA is not my thing, but I don’t want to embarrass her either, so I return her hug.
“The owner is working on a table for us. Hopefully Helen got the samples I left. You were busy when I got there and so were Dr. Langley and Dr. Brady,” she says.
“Helen left before I was done for the day, so I didn’t, but I’ll ask her about it tomorrow.”
Sally comes up and winks as she smiles at me. “Hey, handsome. Oh, are the two of you together? I’ve got your table ready,” she says. “Follow me.”
Sally usually doesn’t miss a chance to flirt, but when she asked if Brooke and I were together, Brooke looped her arm through mine and nodded, so Sally doesn’t even wink or try to feel my biceps when she hands me a menu. Which doesn’t hurt my feelings. Sally is lovely and harmless and a little flirting never bothers me.
I just hopeBrooke and I are still on the same page.
She grabs my hand as soon as we sit down and I flinch. Nope, we’re definitely not on the same page. The last time we saw each other, she’d just gotten out of a relationship and said she didn’t want to be in another for a long time. We didn’t even touch until she pulled me into her hotel room.
“I’ve missed you,” she whispers.
