by K. C. Crowne
“Snorting when you laugh? I’m intrigued.”
“It’s a bad habit – and how you know I’ve had one too many.”
“Well,” he said. “Are you into lobster? I’ve heard amazing things about theirs here.”
My heart skipped a beat at the word. First, because lobster was about my favorite food. Second, because while I could maybe excuse a glass of wine, there wasn’t a chance in hell I had room in the budget for freaking lobster.
“Your eyes lit up,” he said with a sly smile. “I’m going to take that as a yes on the lobster.”
A quick surge of panic ran through me. I didn’t know what Ryan did for money, but I could tell by his tasteful, obviously well-made clothes that he did alright for himself.
“It’s…I, “
“It’s on me, is what it is.”
“No-no-no,” I said. “You don’t have to buy lobster for some random girl.”
“I’m not buying lobster for some random girl – the friend who stood me up is. So, let’s have a nice meal on him.” He flashed a smile, his teeth pearly white.
“Your friend’s not going to be mad at you for picking up someone else’s dinner?”
“Not if he knows what’s good for him.” The waiter showed up, and Ryan added a lobster onto the order along with a bottle of wine. I still felt weird about this guy who’d been a total stranger not twenty minutes ago buying me such an expensive dinner. But if it was on his friend who’d stood him up and offered to pay, who was I to argue?
“So,” Ryan said as the waiter poured him a sample of the wine. “Tell me about yourself.”
He sipped the sample, giving a warm nod to the waiter.
“Well, not sure if there’s much to say.”
“I don’t know why it is, but for some reason the most interesting people I’ve met always say that same thing. Maybe being interesting correlates with how humble someone is.”
I smiled, the waiter placing a glass of wine in front of me.
“Or I could be the one to turn that theory on its head.”
“I really doubt that. I’d be flabbergasted to find out you were anything approaching boring.”
I chuckled at flabbergasted, finding Ryan’s old-fashioned turns of phrase charming as hell.
“In fact,” he said, raising his glass. “Let’s drink to that.”
“To what?” I asked, raising my glass along with his.
“To the opposite of boring – to the unexpected.”
I gave the matter a moment of thought. “I’ll drink to that.”
We tapped glasses, the chime ringing out over the din of the restaurant.
“And to getting to know one another.”
“I like that,” I said. “After all, if you’re going to watch me rip open a lobster and eat it like a wild animal you might as well know who I am first.”
He smiled. “A humdinger of a point. So, let’s start with the basics. Where do you work?”
“I’m a teacher,” I said. “Second grade over at Bright Point Elementary.”
His smile faded, a serious expression appearing on his impossibly handsome face.
“Something wrong?” I asked.
“No,” he said. “Just thinking how impressive that is. Teaching is one of the most important jobs there is, after all.”
“Well, I’m happy to hear you say that.”
“Were you expecting something different?”
“For a second there I was wondering if you were one of those snobbish types who looked down on teachers.”
“Not even a little. Don’t tell me that’s an opinion you actually come across in the wild.”
“Sad to say it is. There’re people out there who think that you must be a real idiot to get into teaching.”
“You’re kidding. Who in the hell would think that?”
“People who think anyone who puts the time and money into college and then gets a job making barely anything must have something wrong with them.”
“But you seem confident in your decision.”
“I am. Teaching can be hard. And I’m sure you’ve heard a million times how rough it is having to work on lesson plans and pay out of pocket for supplies.”
“But…” He knew there was more. And there was.
“But it’s so worth it. I know it sounds like a total cliché but there’s nothing, and I mean nothing like teaching kids.”
“Second grade…that’s around, what, six? Seven?”
“Yeah, around seven. And it’s such a crucial age. It’s when they’re still kids but they have the first few glimpses of the amazing road ahead of them. And they’re also starting to get a sense of what kind of person they are, right? It’s when they can step outside of themselves a little and realize they’re independent people. I mean, think about it – when were your first memories?”
He closed his eyes and gave the matter some serious thought.
“Hmm. I have to say, around six or seven.”
Part of me wanted to get really nosy, to ask him what the memory was of. But I held back, not wanting to push too hard.
“That’s what I mean. For lots of these kids, being in my class, listening to the lessons I teach them, is going to be one of the first things they remember when they’re our age. And I want to make sure all those memories are good ones.”
“So, you love kids?”
“I’m crazy about them. And I have to be. Not only am I a teacher, but I’m also kind of a mom.”
This piqued his curiosity. “Kind of a mom?”
“Kind of a mom, mainly a sister. I’m the legal guardian of my teenage brother, Adam.”
He leaned forward slightly. “Is that right? How did that happen?” Ryan quickly checked himself. “Sorry – if you don’t want to talk about it –”
“It’s fine. Our parents passed almost ten years ago. Car accident.”
“I’m so sorry to hear that.”
“Thanks. Anyway, both of my parents were only children. So, as the only adult in Adam’s life, I took custody of him.”
“You were in college when that happened?”
“Sophomore year. To say it turned my life upside down would be the understatement of the century. Anyway, I’ve been looking out for my little brother ever since.”
“He’s a lucky kid,” Ryan said. “I don’t have a single doubt that you’re amazing at what you do.”
I blushed a bit. “It’s hard, I have to admit. But Adam’s a hell of a kid – big things ahead of him, no doubt about it.”
“That makes sense. Some kids have a really hard time with loss like what you two went through. Others mature quickly. Sounds like he’s one of the latter.”
“Yeah, mature – that’s the word for him. He juggles school and basketball and his social life and his part-time job. God, back when I was his age, I could barely manage the first one.”
“Oh, I highly doubt that” he said with a genuine look of surprise.
I flicked my eyebrows up and looked away, a nervous laugh coming out of me. “Let’s not get carried away, here.”
“Don’t sell yourself short. But it does make me wonder how a woman as gorgeous and interesting as you could be alone on Valentine’s Day.”
Now that got a blush out of me. This guy was almost too good to be true. And we hadn’t even gotten to the lobster yet.
He raised a finger. “And don’t even try to tell me you’re not gorgeous and interesting.”
I chuckled. “Alright, I won’t argue with you. And to answer your question…time. No time for dating, and even if I did, I have no idea how I’d fit it in. Even the blind date tonight required more schedule-moving-around than it should’ve.”
“But it was worth it,” he said. “Nothing like meeting someone new, right?”
I smiled. “You’re right. I’ll drink to that.”
Chapter 5
RYAN
Carly was amazing. I’d been blown away by her looks from the get-go, but part of me had been worried the attract
ion might only be skin-deep.
That situation didn’t come to pass. Carly was beautiful and funny and stunning. There were more than a few times when I’d caught my eyes drifting down while I was in the middle of speaking.
What had started as a dud of a Valentine’s was quickly turning into something special and memorable.
Before too long, the waiter arrived and placed our meals on the table. By this point I was starving, the crab cakes and asparagus only whetting my appetite. I thanked the waiter, and as he left, the smell of steak and lobster flowed through the air, wrapping around us.
“Wow,” Carly said, her eyes on the meal. “This…I can’t remember the last time I’ve had food like this in front of me.”
“Not big on treating yourself?” I asked.
“When I want to treat myself, I’ll order Dominos on a Friday night for Adam and me. Lobster isn’t in the…”
She trailed off, and it was clear she’d been about to mention something about her budget, how a teacher’s salary didn’t afford meals like this. But one thing about Carly I’d learned so far was that she wasn’t a complainer and wasn’t the type to want people to feel sorry for her. Even more qualities to admire in this woman that I’d been lucky enough to meet.
“Then I’m guessing you don’t treat yourself to many desserts that don’t come in a pint container.”
Carly laughed. And that was one more thing I liked – her laugh was beautiful and chiming, and the way her face lit up as it happened was enough to make my stomach do flip-flops. I couldn’t believe how taken I was with her already.
“You’re right about that. Adam always gives me the stink eye when he catches me pigging out on Cherry Garcia. Turns out basketball stars don’t exactly have high opinions of mega sugar bombs.”
“In that case we’ll have to get something good. And I’ve got just the thing in mind.”
“Well,” she said, gesturing to the empty plates in front of us. “You did such a good job picking out the entrees that I think you’ve earned my trust for dessert.”
“Perfect. Because they do an amazing cherries jubilee. Kind of classic, kind of corny, but really, really good.”
“I don’t know what that is, but I’m sold.”
The waiter arrived to take our plates and I put in the order.
“So,” she said, leaning forward. “I can’t help but notice how good you are at getting people to talk about themselves.”
“I’ve got something of a knack for it, have to admit.”
“I’ll say. And you’re so good at it, in fact, that I don’t even know what you do for a living.”
“Oh, I don’t like talking about myself. My dad always told me when I was younger that it was rude.”
She smiled, leaning forward. “In this case, I think it’s only fair considering you know just about my entire life story, down to where I went for my master’s in education.”
“Alright, fair enough. I’m an OB/GYN.”
That got her interest. A typical response when I told people what I did.
“Like a vagina doc?” she clasped her hands over her mouth and her eyes went wide. I couldn’t help but laugh. “Sorry! Oh my God, that was so inappropriate. It’s just that…that wasn’t the answer I was expecting.”
“I get it,” I said. “Most people are curious why I’d pick that specialization.”
“And why did you? If you don’t mind me asking.”
“I don’t mind one bit. Back when I was still in med school, I wanted to find the specialization that would give me the most job security. And believe it or not, OB/GYN is one of the best for that. You make good money, and they’re always in need.”
“Women always have vaginas,” she said with a wave of her finger. Then her eyes went wide again. “Sorry. I’ll try to go two minutes without making an inappropriate comment.”
“Don’t worry about it. I’ve heard them all. Anyway, I got into it with big dreams about making money and opening my own private practice, maybe becoming the top OB/GYN among the rich types here in Denver.”
“Then what happened?” Her stunning green eyes stayed locked on mine as she asked the question, her hand raising the glass of malbec to her lips.
“I fell in love with the job. The thing about being an OB/GYN is that ninety percent of it is total happiness.”
She smiled slightly. “Is that right? Because it makes me think of stirrups and forceps.”
“There’s that,” I said with a chuckle. “No woman looks forward to check-ups. But you also get to see women when they’re ready to start families. Sometimes, you get to be the one to share the good news with them that they’re pregnant.”
I went on.
“You get to be the voice of experience, answering their first-time-mom questions, helping them along the way. And then, nine months later, you get to be there when they deliver. And let me tell you – being a part of those happy, life-defining moments, knowing you played a part in making them happen…it’s worth more than any amount of money.”
“I’ve never looked at it that way before.”
Carly paid such careful attention as I spoke that we barely noticed the waiter bring our cherries jubilee.
“Here we go,” I said. “Prepare your loins for this one.”
She laughed as she turned toward the waiter. We watched as he went to work, simmering the dark cherries in the orange zest. Next came the brandy, and I knew what followed. He took out a long, candle lighter and dipped the flame into the brandy, the liquid whooshing to life with a brief puff of flame.
Carly’s eyes lit up and she clapped her hands together in excitement. The dessert was fun, sure, but I enjoyed watching her excitement even more. She was vibrant and enthusiastic, practically giddy as the waiter spooned out the dessert onto her plate. Carly didn’t waste any time dipping her spoon into the ice cream and cherries and putting it into her mouth.
“Oh my freaking God,” she said, her words muffled. She chewed and swallowed. “This is about the best thing I’ve ever eaten in my life.”
“Cherries jubilee gets a bad rap these days,” I said. “Everyone wants deconstructed tiramisu or whatever. Me, I like to keep things simple and classic.”
“I can tell,” she said. “You talk like someone who’s a little out of step with the times. It’s charming, though.”
We ate our dessert, saying nothing for a time as we enjoyed the delicious flavors. The cherries were rich and tart, the ice cream smooth as silk, and the brandy giving it all a boozy, delicious dash. I was in heaven.
And the company…what could I say about Carly? She was fun and vibrant and smart and caring and empathetic. More than that, I could sense she was totally dedicated to kids.
Kids.
The word popped into my head as I swallowed down another bite.
What if…
“So,” she said, interrupting my train of thought, “what does Dr. Ryan like to do when he’s not being an OB/GYN?”
“Well, when I’m not being an OB/GYN, I like to…be an OB/GYN.”
She cocked her head to the side in confusion. “You’ve lost me.”
“I work for Pitt Medical, and –”
“Wait, Pitt Medical? That’s that huge private medical company that started here in Denver, right?”
“Yep, that’s the one. Been working for Duncan Pitt for the last year, and it’s about the best gig I could’ve hoped for. Pitt Medical is big about their doctors giving back to their communities. So, we have the option to take one day a week off and work for whatever charity we like. There’s this clinic north of downtown called the Westbrook Clinic...”
“I’ve heard of that, too,” she said with a smile, gesturing with her spoon. “I saw something on the news about how it used to be this run-down clinic in one of the bad parts of town and now it’s one of the best free clinics in the state.”
“That’s right. We managed to get a few generous investors on board to fix it up and get the equipment and supplies we needed. We put i
t to good use, and now we’ve got so many patients that we’re running low on doctors. Oh, that reminds me – you don’t have an MD, do you?” I followed this up with a cheeky grin, and Carly laughed that gorgeous laugh again.
“That’s pretty impressive, I have to say.”
“Just my way of giving back. Not everyone’s lucky enough to be able to have a career like I have, so I like to think that giving back time the way I do balances the scales of the universe. Not to mention that it feels pretty damn good to help someone in need.”
“That’s quite altruistic of you, Ryan.”
“Thanks, Carly. And look at you, busting your ass to be a good influence on the next generation.”
“We’re just a couple of real do-gooders, aren’t we?”
I chuckled and we ate our dessert. When Carly couldn’t take another bite, she set her napkin on the table and let out a sigh.
“That has to be about the best damn meal I’ve ever eaten in my life. Or, at least, the last year.”
“Happy to hear it.” Right after I finished speaking, the waiter zipped by and quietly set the check on the table. I slipped my black card out and placed it in the book before Carly had a chance to say or do anything.
“Now, wait a second,” she said, flipping her purse around the chair and fumbling around for her wallet. “Let me give you half of it, at least.”
I wasn’t about to say anything on the subject, but I had a good feeling lobster and wine dinners weren’t something she could easily afford.
“Don’t worry about it. Besides, my friend’s getting me back, remember?” Whether or not Hayden would cover me for the dinner was immaterial. I wanted to treat her, to take some of the sting out of getting stood up.
She pursed her lips for a moment. “Alright, fine. And…thanks.”
“Of course.”
Carly’s eyes hung on mine for a long moment. Then she hurried off to the bathroom.
My gaze went right to her ass while she left. I was practically in shock at how beautiful she was. Part of me wanted to follow her to the bathroom, make sure no one was in there with us, and lock the door. The idea of fucking her in one of the stalls was enough to make my cock stiffen to attention. I imagined what those breasts would look like bouncing in front of my face, how her ass would feel in my hands as she rode me. I imagined taking her from behind, that fire-red hair wrapped around my fingers.