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“It would have been my loss too,” she told him. “Being able to come here has been so wonderful. I’m very thankful for this opportunity.”
“We’re very blessed to have you,” Gareth said. “The patients also really like you. More than one has mentioned how much they enjoy you being at the front desk. The kids especially like you.”
“I like them too, and I’m glad I’m able to help them not be so scared of the big bad doctor.”
Gareth chuckled at her words. “Is that what they call me?”
“No, but judging from how scared some of them are, you’d think that was who they were going to see.”
“Maybe I need to hand out the lollipops instead of you.”
“Maybe, but then they wouldn’t like me as much.”
As they neared Serenity, disappointment filled Aria that their evening was almost over. At least she knew that she’d see him the next day at work, and it sounded like they’d be going out again soon, so she could look forward to that.
“Are you planning to go to the basketball game on Friday?”
“Yep. I’ve become a bit of a fan of the game now,” she said. “I enjoy the atmosphere at the games and being able to cheer on someone I know.”
“Would you like to go out for dinner on Saturday?” he asked. “I’m tied up for the rest of the evenings this week, but we could go out after I finish practicing with the worship team on Saturday afternoon.”
“Saturday would be great.”
“We can decide if we want to eat Korean barbecue or something else later,” Gareth said. “Or we can do something else. Like go to a movie.”
“I enjoyed our dinner. I liked being able to talk to you, which wouldn’t be possible if we went to the movies.”
He glanced over at her, and as they passed under a streetlamp, she could see the smile on his face. “I enjoyed talking with you, too.”
For a moment, Aria wondered if she was dreaming. She’d come to Serenity in search of a new life. With no job, no fiancé, and no family, she’d come hoping to escape the pain and the hurt. A new job—even if it wasn’t what she’d trained for—and a safe place to live were all that had mattered to her. And yet it seemed like she was going to gain so much more.
New friends, and possibly… hopefully… a new love.
When Gareth pulled to a stop in front of the house, Aria wanted to tell him to keep driving. She didn’t want the evening to end. But since they both had work the next day, it was inevitable.
Gareth fell in step beside her, his arm brushing hers as they walked toward the house. When they got to the door, he grabbed hold of the doorknob, but didn’t open the door right away.
The sconces on either side of the door cast soft pools of warm light around them as they stood there. Aria didn’t know what to say. Didn’t know how to end their time together, especially since she didn’t want to.
Tim had moved in for a kiss at the end of their first date, but something told Aria that Gareth wouldn’t do that. And she was okay with moving a bit slower.
“I’ll see you tomorrow, which makes me very happy.” The smile on his face was soft, and Aria’s heart melted a little as he reached out and took her hand, holding it gently in his. “I know that we have to interact as co-workers at the clinic, but just know that in my heart, you’re so much more.”
Her heart stuttered at his words, finding that they were true for her as well. “I feel that way, too. But even though we have to hide our relationship at work, I’m glad I get to see you there every day.”
Gareth’s smile grew as his fingers tightened slightly around hers. “I totally agree.”
When the sconce lights flickered, Aria looked at them in concern. Meanwhile, Gareth chuckled.
“That would be Janessa or Charli,” he said when she looked at him. “Just being a sibling.”
Letting go of her hand, Gareth opened the door, then motioned for Aria to precede him into the house. As she stepped into the foyer area, Aria spotted Janessa leaning against the wall next to the light switches with her arms crossed, a broad grin on her face.
Bella lay on the rug behind her. The dog lifted her head briefly, and her tail gave a thump on the floor before she settled back down again.
“We should have taken bets on which one of them it would be,” Gareth said as he closed the door.
“I think we both would have guessed Janessa.”
