“A luau. You know, poi, Kalua pig, poke, lomi salmon, opihi, haupia and beer. The works. Plus, you might even get to see a genuine Don Ho impersonator.”
“Um...a genuine impersonator?” He gave her a confused look.
She laughed. “Yep. He’s the best on the island. Be a shame for you not to get the full Hawaiian experience while you’re here. Unless you’ve already been?”
No. He hadn’t been to a luau yet. Hadn’t really been anywhere on the island, other than the resort where he was staying and the hospital, to be honest. And sure, he’d planned to take in some sights while he was here, of course, including a luau, but he’d not really made any firm decisions. The fact she’d asked him now, both piqued his interest and set off all the warning bells in his head. “Are you asking me out on a date, Dr. Kim?”
“What?” She stepped back, looking nearly as alarmed as he felt. “No. I just felt bad because my patient punched you and wanted to make you more comfortable, that’s all.” That pretty pink color was back in her cheeks again, and damn if that unwanted interest in her didn’t flare higher.
This was bad. So, so bad.
Luckily, she shrugged and turned away, her tone chilly now. “But I certainly don’t want to give you the wrong impression. And I can see now that my asking was a mistake. Forget I mentioned it.”
Holden wanted nothing more than to do that, but it seemed he couldn’t. In fact, her invitation now buzzed inside his head like a bothersome fruit fly. He propped himself up on his elbows, feeling completely discombobulated. “I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable.”
“Same.” She glanced back at him over her shoulder. “I’m not even sure why I mentioned it, to be honest.”
The sincerity in her tone helped ease the tension slithering inside him and he lay down flat again, blinking at the ceiling. Seemed they were both rusty at this whole social interaction thing. “I haven’t really seen anything since I’ve been on the island.”
“I can give you some suggestions, if you like, since Honolulu’s my hometown. My parents own a hotel here,” she said, returning to his side, her gaze narrowed as she took his chin again and lifted the syringe. “Okay, here comes the burn.”
While the numbing medication took effect, Holden found himself reconsidering her offer. His therapist had told him during their last session back in Chicago that he needed to get out more. She could show him around, perhaps introduce him to some people, broaden his horizons. On a strictly professional basis, of course. Plus, spending more time with her should help lessen the strange heightened awareness he felt around her. Desensitization 101. Taken in those terms, accepting Leilani’s invitation made good sense. He blurted out his response before he could second-guess himself. “Okay.”
“Okay what?” She frowned down at him.
“Okay, we can go to a luau.” His words started to slur as the medication took effect, making his bottom lip ineffective. “Show me some sights too, if you have the time.”
Dr. Kim blinked down at him, looking as stunned as he felt. She seemed to consider it for a long moment before nodding. “Fine. But only as colleagues. Understood?”
He nodded, then exhaled slowly as he tapped his lip to make sure it was numb.
“Good.” Her quick smile brightened the room far more than he wished. “Now, no more talking until I get this done. Otherwise, I can’t guarantee this will heal symmetrical.”
She got to work and he closed his eyes, the better to block her out. He still couldn’t quite believe he’d said yes to her invitation. Part of him still wanted to get up and get the heck out of there, but the other part of him knew she was right. It was easier for someone else to stitch him up.
Copyright © 2020 by Traci Douglass
ISBN: 9781488066405
Falling for the Single Dad Surgeon
Copyright © 2020 by Charlotte Hawkes
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, businesses, companies, events or locales is entirely coincidental.
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Falling For The Single Dad Surgeon (A Summer In São Paulo Book 2) Page 20