Page 28 of Doctor Charmer

“Did she tell you that?”

He nods. “Yeah. It was months ago. All the girls on the team were hitting on me.”

This line does cause me to laugh out loud. “I’m sure you strutting around without a T-shirt had nothing to do with it.”

He laughs. “Okay, maybe I feed it a bit. It makes me feel good, seeing them like that. But it’s just harmless flirting.”

I thought that once. But one person’s harmless flirting is another person’s dream of picking out a white dress. I step in front of him. “Before I give you any advice, how far did you take the flirting? Did you mislead any of these girls?” I’m in my forties. Everything the kids do today is more sophisticated, more advanced, more everything. What I may have defined as harmless flirting twenty years ago might differ greatly from what is accepted today.

To make sure he understands what I’m asking, I give him what I approximate is a disapproving father stare.

His head shakes, his eyes sincere. “Never. Nothing like that. Honest.” Hand to chest, he’s half-shocked and half-insulted by my question. Good. That’s what I wanted to see. “Lunch table flirting, letting them pass me around at a school dance. Nothing I couldn’t admit to in front of my mother. As much as I love the attention, I am looking for a connection.”

“Someone that sees the real you.” I complete his thought, and it’s like looking in a mirror.

“I knew you’d get it.” He presses his palms to the bed next to his hips and leans back. “And I think… after spending all this time with Chelsea, I may have missed the one who matters.”

“You say it like it’s already over.”

“She’s never been a fan of my reputation.”

This elicits a laugh from me. “There is a way to fix that, you know that, right?”

He nods. “Of course. But if I do that and get all serious and deep on her, won’t she call BS on me and feel like I’m just showing a different version of me to get with her?”

“That’s certainly possible. Do you feel you need to be someone else around her?”

He shakes his head. “It’s the opposite. When I’m around her, I’ve never felt more like myself. At first, I thought it was because I knew she only saw me as a friend, so I could be goofy and admit to things I would never tell the others. She was a safe space.”

“She’s a good listener?” I ask.

“Incredibly so. But more than that. She sees me. She gets me. And that’s powerful.”

I can’t believe Griffin is pouring his heart out to me. I can’t believe he trusts me with something so valuable. “The best.” I let him know I understand what he’s saying. “Do you do the same for her?”

“Do I see her?”

I nod.

“I think I do. I’m just getting to know her. These last few days have been eye-opening.” He props himself up on his elbows. “I can’t believe I didn’t see her before.”

“You do now.” I glance over my shoulder, and I get the sense they’re not coming back anytime soon. “Use this time wisely. Talk to her. Laugh with her. Ask her about her plans after college. About her family. What makes her laugh.” I must get back to the ER. “Then make her laugh.”

He snickers, and I take two steps backward toward the door. He lowers his feet to the floor and stands. “Should I tell Coach you stopped by?”

I shake my head. “I’m pretty sure she assumes I already have.” The glint in his eye confirms he understands my response.

He’s not the only one trying to navigate an attraction to a woman who has them questioning everything they’ve done up to now.

Chapter Fifteen

Ivy

I’m stalling. Reggie’s holiday mixer started an hour ago, and I continue to hide several floors away in Chelsea’s hospital room. After last night’s intimate date, tonight feels like a coming-out party.

There is no way we make it through this night without one of us kissing the other. And despite him giving me every indication that his interest is sincere, I fear that moment. Win or lose, I wonder if this incredible sexual tension and chemistry will fade away the moment our lips stop touching.

Is the electric charge we feel merely our respective competitive juices kicking in because of the chase? What happens when the bet is over? My hurtful past plays tricks on my mind. Marry that up with Reggie’s reputation, and I’m back on shaky grounds.

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