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“Occasionally,” she answered, trying to stay focused on their conversation rather than all the things running through her mind. “My priorities haven’t been on how many notches I could put on my bedpost.”
Although she’d been striking out, he didn’t seem offended by her comment.
“What have your priorities been?”
“Not on getting laid.”
“I think it’s safe to say you’ve established that.” His gaze narrowed. “You do think notches are my priority?”
They were talking in circles. She took another step back, determined she was going to make her way to her apartment.
“I don’t know you well enough to know your priorities.”
“Which I plan to remedy,” he countered.
Flustered, she put her hands on her hips and glared. “You seriously want to take me to a Broadway show? To date me, just me, through Christmas?”
Eyes glimmering, he grinned. “Absolutely.”
She had to say yes, didn’t she? Only a fool would say no to what he was offering. As long as she stayed focused on the facts, that they weren’t in a real relationship but a temporary one, that she didn’t want a real relationship any more than he did, everything would be fine.
She met his gaze and even before she said a single word, victory shone in his eyes.
“You know if you stand me up I’ll put cockroaches under your apartment door,” she warned.
Not looking worried, he grinned. “Cockroaches?”
“Or worse.”
Rather than say something teasing back, he cupped her cheek. “I won’t stand you up, Sarah. But I’m glad to hear that you refuse to let any man, myself included, treat you shabbily.” His hold tightened ever so slightly. “Make sure you don’t stand me up.”
As if.
* * *
The emergency room had been busy. Busy enough that Sarah hadn’t been able to dwell on her date with Jude the following night.
Not so busy that she hadn’t paused outside her apartment to stare at his closed door that morning.
Not so busy that she hadn’t answered his text messages saying good morning, then telling her to have a good afternoon, then messaging her that he’d been called in to the station that night but looked forward to seeing her the following evening.
He really planned to take her out.
If he stood her up, she’d be devastated. As much as she hated to admit that truth, she acknowledged it. Wasn’t that why she’d never let a man pick her up at her new apartment? Because she didn’t want her beloved home tainted by painful memories of being stood up?
Yet she’d agreed to go out with Jude.
Which meant she needed to figure out what she was going to wear.
Typically she dressed to avoid attracting any type of attention from the opposite sex. Doing so had just made life easier through med school and as an emergency room physician. Trying to appear attractive garnered attention she didn’t want, hence the thick glasses sitting on her face that weren’t prescription but that she wore any time she left her house.
Camouflage? Or self-defense?
While typing up the report on the last patient she’d seen, for a kidney stone, she mentally ran through the items in her closet.
Nothing there suitable for a dinner and show with Jude Davenport.
Unless she wanted to put on the dress she’d worn the night Kenny had been a no-show. Not going to happen.
