by K. C. Crowne
The appointment ended on a hopeful note, the couple in good spirits in spite of the news. And I was ready to do everything I could to help them get through it.
It could’ve gone worse. If we’d detected the cancer later…I didn’t even want to think about it, and I’d made sure not to tell them of what might’ve been. Still, despite the relatively good news, it’d been a draining morning.
I’d been on the fence about going out to dinner, but I knew some good food and good company would be just what I needed to turn my mood around.
The sight of Gary, the kid I’d hired to take care of the horses during the day while I worked, snapped me out of my funk. He stepped out from inside the barn, a dust on his jeans and the light denim shearling coat I’d bought for him as a one-year employment present, which he wore over his white T-shirt. Gary, just over sixteen, was a hard-luck kid from downtown I’d met at the free clinic where I volunteered one day a week. His parents were both addicts, more interested in their next fix than raising their boy. He’d come in for a twisted ankle, and after I pulled his story out of him, he’d left with a pair of crutches and an after-school job. Gary was a handsome kid, tall and broad-shouldered with shaggy, sandy-blonde hair atop a face that always struck me as older than he was.
“What’s up, big man?” I asked, meeting him halfway between the car and the barn.
I could tell there was something on his mind, something he wasn’t sure how to bring up.
“Listen, doc,” he said, calling me his preferred nickname. I’d told him time and time again to just call me Ryan, but the kid was big on manners and formality. “Hate to ask you this…”
He trailed off, and I put two-and-two together.
“Valentine’s Day?” I asked.
He gave me a sheepish grin, as if happy we’d gotten right to the point.
“Valentine’s Day. You ask me, it’s kind of a stupid holiday, right? But there’s this girl I’m seeing…”
I raised my palms. “Say no more. What’s her name?”
“Kiera,” he said. “And it’s crazy. Last month Valentine’s Day got brought up and she was right on board with me, talking about how it was this made-up holiday and how she didn’t care about it. But then last week…”
“Let me guess – she started hinting she might want to do something after all.”
“Yep!” he said, his eyes going wide. “How did you know?”
“Made-up or not, it’s a nice way to spend some time with someone you care about. Being a grinch about it only goes so far.”
“Pretty sure the Grinch is a Christmas thing, doc.” He grinned and I laughed.
“Smart ass,” I said with a smirk.
“Anyway, I had to scramble to get flowers and a reservation for dinner and all that. And it’s at six…”
Clear where this was going. “How’re the boys?” I asked, glancing over toward the barn.
“They’re great,” he said. “Just got in from taking them both out. They’ve got food and water and I even tidied up the barn.”
I put my hands on my hips and nodded. “Sounds like you’re making a pretty damn good case for why you should get off early. Alright, go for it. You and Kiera have fun.”
“We will,” he said through a grin. “I was thinking that if things go well this weekend, I might be able to bring her here for a ride. I mean, if that’s alright with you.”
“I don’t see why not. Now go on and get ready for your date.”
“Will do!” he said. “I’ll see you tomorrow, alright?”
He hurried off, a skip to his step that gave me the impression Kiera wasn’t the only one excited about Valentine’s Day. A few moments later, Gary’s ’95 Tacoma grumbled around the corner of the house. He waved as he drove off, and I waved right back.
I was happy that the little risk I’d taken giving the kid a shot had paid off. Not everyone was lucky enough to have a family like mine and helping out Gary was a good way to give back. He still had a couple years left of high school, and I was already thinking about putting together a little scholarship that could help him and other kids in the same spot.
But that was a plan for another day far down the road. For the time being, I needed to get into the house and ready for my “date.” A shower and change of clothes later, I was on my way to the restaurant.
Even from the outside I could tell the place was packed, couples streaming in and being led to their white-linen-clad tables, waiters all in black zipping here and there. I entered and was struck by the fact that this was not a BBQ joint as Hayden had told me. This was a straight-up date night restaurant. That son of a bitch. I was going to stick him with the bill.
“Table for two,” I said to the pretty, twenty-something hostess. “Think it’s under Frost.”
She let her eyes linger on mine for a long moment before dropping them down to the touchscreen in front of her. Mellow jazz music that I recognized as Thelonious Monk played on the restaurant’s speakers.
“Got it,” she said. “You’re the first to arrive – right this way.”
I was starting to get the feeling that Hayden was up to something.
“Big date tonight?” the hostess asked as she led me to my table.
“No, just meeting a friend.”
She led me to a small, two-person table near the window and I slipped into the seat.
“If you’re in the mood for something other than meeting a friend,” she said as she bent over slightly, placing the menus on the table, and making burning eye contact with me, “I get off at nine.”
With a sly smile she was off. But I didn’t waste any time turning my attention to the menu. After the kind of day I had, the last thing I wanted to think about was some barely-out-of-her-twenties girl laying down some very obvious game. I opened the menu and scanned the appetizers, eager to get something in my belly.
The waiter approached and I ordered.
“Ah, the roasted asparagus and crab cakes to start, and…” I glanced over at the drink list. “A Blanton’s neat. Still got one more coming.”
The waiter was off with a polite nod and I was alone. I let me eyes drift over the scene, taking the sight of all the couples around me. Sure, I was still raw from what happened with Cindy and me, that I’d been done dirty in the worst way possible. And judging by my reaction to the hostess’s overtures, romance wasn’t something I was all that interested in.
Even so, I had to admit that I felt a little…something at the sight of all the young couples in love. It wasn’t jealousy or envy, but it was something.
The waiter soon arrived with my whiskey and I took a sip just as my phone buzzed in my pocket. I looked at the screen to see Hayden’s name flash across it.
“Yo,” I said, getting up from the table and stepping over to a quiet corner of the restaurant. “I hope you’re calling to let me know you’re on your way.”
He took in a sharp breath, and I knew right away what was happening.
“Let me guess – you got a date.”
“Mate, it’s about the best opportunity a guy could hope for. This girl Emily at work finally caved and said she’d go out for drinks with me.”
I smirked. “You mean the one you’ve been pestering for the last month.”
“Hey, you call it pestering, I call it making my case. Anyway, she just texted me a half hour ago to let me know she was free tonight. And if a girl says it up front that she’s free on Valentine’s…” He trailed off, letting me fill in the rest.
“Alright, alright. But mate, I’m here at the freaking restaurant, which is not a BBQ joint by the way. What am I supposed to do now?”
“Have a nice dinner at one of the best new spots in town? How about this – get whatever you want and it’s on me. And the next dinner after that.”
“And the next one after that,” I added.
“Fine, fine. Sorry again, but you know how it is.”
We hung up and I slipped my phone into my pocket with a sigh.
Some peopl
e had problems with the idea of eating by themselves. Not me. In fact, I kind of loved it. But I had actually been looking forward to hanging out with my best friend for a bit that night.
I started back to the table, but before I could take even a step someone caught my eye.
Not just any someone – about the most beautiful woman I’d ever seen in my life. She had a wild mane of curly red hair and skin as pale as milk, her stunning features dusted with freckles. And her body was something else. She wore a tight black dress, one that hugged her curvy, fit body. Every now and then she’d glance up, her lively green eyes dancing around the room as if looking for someone. She’d squint, her beautiful features turning adorable for a moment as she scrunched to get a better look at whatever she was searching for.
The woman was seated at the bar, a glass of wine near her right hand and her phone on the surface in front of her. She stared down directly at it, her curls falling down onto both sides of her head.
“Excuse me, sir.” A server slinked around me. I was brought back into the moment, becoming keenly aware of the fact that I was staring like some kind of creep. Thankfully, she didn’t notice I was gawking at her by the time I started back to my table. But as I made my way across the restaurant, I couldn’t help but steal glances.
I couldn’t remember the last time I’d been so struck by a woman before. There was something about her, something more than just how damn hot she was. And to make matters worse, she was within sight from my seat at the table. I’d planned to take out my phone and use the opportunity to catch up on some emails, maybe read a little news, but I couldn’t take my eyes off her.
Only the waiter bringing my appetizers to the table snapped me out of my reverie. Once my dinner order was in, I carved off a piece of crab cake and popped it into my mouth.
When I looked up again, she was gone. The seat where she’d been was empty, the half-drunk glass of wine still there. I figured she’d gone to the bathroom, and that it was a good chance to get my mind right, to not stare at her like some horny teenager.
I sliced one of the asparagus pieces in half and took a bite, the warm, crunchiness heaven on the palate. I did my best to focus on other matters, but I found myself glancing over and over at her seat to see if she’d come back.
Then, right in the middle of the final bite of the first crab cake, I felt a presence next to the table.
“I’ll take another whiskey,” I said as I turned to look over. “And a –”
I stopped when I realized that the person next to the table wasn’t a server at all.
It was the beauty from the bar.
She was even more stunning up close. Her dress was tight, her eyes a gorgeous green. And she stood with her hands clasped in front of her stomach, as if she wanted to ask me something but was nervous about it. Just the sight of her was enough to make my cock twitch to life. I leaned back in my seat, crossing my legs.
“OK,” she said, letting her hands fall to the sides of her round hips. “This might be a really stupid question, but your name isn’t Travis, is it?”
“Travis?” I asked. “No, I’m not him.”
She pursed her lips and gave one nod. “Of course, you’re not. That would make things easy, and we can’t have that.”
I couldn’t resist. I raised my hand to her and spoke.
“My name’s Ryan. Pleased to meet you, even if I’m not the one you’re looking for.”
She glanced down at my hand with a tinge of hesitation before taking it. If there had been any doubt of there being something between us, it vanished the moment my skin touched hers. My cock went stiff and solid, and I had to adjust the way I was seated as to not have it pointed directly at her.
The hesitation faded from her face as we shook, and I could sense she was relieved that I was taking it all in stride.
“Nice to meet you, Ryan. I’m Carly. But…you’re in the middle of dinner and I’m bothering you. I’ll let you get back to it – good night.”
She began to turn but I spoke before she could spin around to leave.
“Hey.” That got her attention, and Carly turned back to face me. “Mind if I asked what happened?”
Carly sighed and shook her head, clearly frustrated.
“I can’t believe this – I think I got stood up.”
Chapter 4
CARLY
I was nervous, and for more than one reason.
Not only was I approaching some random guy and asking him if he was my blind date, said random guy just so happened to be about the sexiest man I’d ever seen in my life. Even before I’d decided to come over and ask, I’d been staring like a total weirdo, ogling him from across the restaurant.
Ryan, as I now knew his name, had a stunningly handsome face set below a head of sandy blonde hair long enough to be slicked back and tucked behind his ears. His eyes were piercing blue, striking enough for me to notice them from where I was seated at the bar. His eyes had dark lashes, his cheekbones high, his nose slim and strong. His lips were full, totally kissable. And there was no doubt he had a fit body underneath that sharp suit. Not to mention, he had the damn sexiest accent I’d ever heard. I couldn’t quite place where it was from.
Really, I’d hoped that he was Travis, and he was sorry to have kept me waiting. I’d hoped he’d hop out of his seat and pull the chair back, pushing it in as I sat, and we began a dinner that would be as magical as they came.
But instead, I stood in front of a man who was not Travis. I didn’t even know where the hell Travis might’ve been – there wasn’t another man in the place who fit his description.
“God, this is…kinda-sorta embarrassing as eff.”
He grinned, totally chill and easy about the whole thing. “No reason to get all flummoxed about it. Could’ve happened to anyone.”
Flummoxed? Not exactly a word I’d expected to hear outside of a Cary Grant movie. But his strange choice of words brought a smile to my face.
“In fact,” he went on. “It happened to me, too.”
Now this was something. Who in the hell would stand up a guy who looked like him?
“You got stood up? Are you serious? God, what’s with this holiday?”
“I was supposed to be meeting a good friend of mine. We’re both single, so we figured we’d grab a bite. But he found someone prettier and blonder than me to spend the evening with. So, here I sit.”
I couldn’t help but chuckle. “Sorry, I don’t mean to laugh. Just…what are the odds that we’d both be stood up tonight?”
He arched his dark, thick eyebrows in curiosity. “Now, who in his right mind would have a woman like you for his Valentine’s date and turn her down?”
I blushed and laughed, surprised by how much his words affected me.
“It was a blind date sort of thing. Guess he figured he didn’t want to risk me ending up looking like something that crawled out from behind a rock.”
“Bad call on his part, if you ask me.”
Another compliment I wasn’t prepared for. It was so strange. I’d had guys hit on me before, and I’d always been good at politely—or not politely, if needed—turning them down. But there was something different about Ryan, something that made me blush with nothing more than a well-placed word and charming smile.
And there was more. Just like me, he was single on Valentine’s.
“Anyway,” I said. “It was nice meeting you. But I should get back.” I turned once more to leave, but this time he quickly reached out and gently placed his hand on top of mine. Just like when we’d shook, the sensation of my skin against his was enough to make my heart race, enough to make me feel like I might soak through my panties.
“I’ve got an idea – we’re both stood up. Might as well be stood up together.”
It was enough to make my eyes go wide. Was this guy really asking me to join him for dinner?
“You…want me to sit with you?”
“Sure,” he said, taking his hand from mine and sweeping it toward the appetizers
in front of him. “More food than I need, anyway.”
I had no idea what to do. Part of me wanted to flee the scene, to do whatever it took to get my heart to stop racing.
“I don’t know…I don’t want to put you out.”
He shook his head. “Not putting me out. And something tells me dinner with you would be a hell of a lot more fun than reading emails.”
Ryan smiled, the easy grin on his handsome face infectious. I found myself smiling right along with him, eager to join.
“Oh, alright,” I said, sliding into the chair across from him. “I can’t believe I’m doing this. I mean, no offense, but I don’t normally have dinner with guys I accidentally talk to at restaurants.”
“Is accidentally talking to guys at restaurants something that happens often? Because gorgeous women walking up to my table in the middle of a meal sure doesn’t.”
Another compliment, another hot blush forming on my face. It was times like this that I wished I didn’t have such fair skin. It made the tiniest bit of blush look like I’d just dunked my face in a bucket of red paint.
He raised his hand, trying to get the waiter’s attention. “Let me get you something to drink – it’s on me.”
“No, that’s fine. I’m good with water.”
He lowered his hand slightly, clearly curious about what I’d said. “No wine?”
“No, it’s just a rule I have. No drinks on a first date.”
He placed his hand on his lap. “Is that right?”
“It’s right.”
“Let me guess – you’re the type to break a beer bottle across the bar and get rowdy.”
I laughed. “Not quite. More like first dates tend to tie my stomach up in knots. I’d drink a little more than I’d like to fight off the nerves, and before I knew I’d be slurring my words and snorting when I laugh.”