“I’m going to go exercise.”
“What? It’s 4:00 a.m. on a Sunday.”
“Yes, but I have to work.”
“Not until eight,” he replies in a raspy voice as he rubs his eyes.
“I can’t sleep. So I might as well go exercise.”
“I’ll go with you.”
“No. I’m going to the gym. You’re not a member at my gym, are you?”
“No …” he murmurs on a yawn.
“Okay. See ya.”
He grabs my arm.
“We’re not going to kiss.”
“Morning breath?” He laughs.
“Yes.” I wrinkle my nose.
“How about an awkward hug?”
“Why does it have to be awkward?”
“It doesn’t. It’s just a high probability.” He pulls me into his body and hugs me. I try to mold my body to his without falling on top of him. But with him leaning against the headboard, I don’t know where to put my arms. So I just stick my butt out and let him hug my torso while my cheek smashes uncomfortably into his shoulder.
He releases me.
“What do you mean?”
“Nothing.” He grins. “Drive safely, okay?”
“Okay.”
“Dorothy?”
I turn at the doorway. “Yeah?”
“I’m flying to San Francisco tomorrow morning for a two-day conference. I’ll be back Wednesday.”
“Okay. Um … should I tell Warren about us? Because right now he’s expecting me to go to dinner with him Tuesday night.”
“Probably not quite yet. I have to work with him, and he asked you out just days ago. I’m not sure how well he’ll take the news. Maybe give it time.”
“Act normal?”
Eli chuckles. “Sure.”
“You’re laughing because I’m not normal.”
“Dorothy, I lost all sense of normalcy before you came along. No judgment here.”
“Okay. Bye.”
I stop by the gym and burn a quick six hundred calories. Eli will get the notification as soon as he checks his watch. This makes me very happy.
The happiness doesn’t quite balance the disappointment that I feel over hating his bed. I know he will ask me to stay over again. And I also know I will say no. Unfortunately, I have bigger problems.
Warren.
“Good morning.” He slithers up beside me as I pay for my coffee in the cafeteria.
“Dr. Warren.” I smile. Okay, it’s a grimace I try to sell as a smile.
Thankfully, Dr. Warren is so full of himself, he buys it. “I have reservations at a very popular restaurant. I think you’re going to be quite pleased.”
Act normal. Don’t tell him.
Easier said than done.
“Only if you tell me the name of it.”
“Nope. It’s a surprise.”
“I don’t like surprises.” I take quick strides toward the elevator.
He stays hot on my heels. “You’re going to like this one.”
Nope. I won’t like it. I’ll just make sure to eat dinner before going out.
“By the way …” I turn after stepping into the elevator.
He follows me, bringing his overpowering scent with him. “Yes?” He flashes me his expensive smile.
“We won’t be having sex on our date.”
“No?” He cocks his head to the side. “You sure about that?”
I stare at the digital floor numbers as the elevator ascends. “Positive.”
He takes a step back and slowly inspects me over the lid of his coffee cup. After a few seconds, his face morphs into something like recognition. “Oh … I get it.”
He does?
How can he so quickly tell that I had hot, pounding, multiple-orgasm sex with Dr. Hawkins? Am I glowing?
“I’ll wait.” He winks, stepping off the elevator a floor before mine. “Message me your address, Dorothy. See you Tuesday.”
* * *
Elijah
Monday morning I fly to San Francisco for the two-day conference. When I messaged Dorothy Sunday night to tell her goodbye, she gave her usual “Okay, goodbye” reply. She needs her space. I respect that, but it doesn’t make me crave time with her any less.
I tell myself I’ll be cool and not text or call her while I’m traveling, but I can’t lie … I’m a little disappointed she makes no effort to communicate with me. Again, I have to remember Dorothy is not Julie or any other woman I have ever known. So while this is ninety percent a really great thing, I have to deal with the ten percent that sucks. And her lack of need for regular contact with me is that sucky ten percent. It makes me feel needy, and I’m really not a needy person.
“Welcome back. How was the conference?” Warren asks Wednesday morning before rounds as he sips his coffee in the lounge.
“Fine.” I glance at my tablet. “Brandon’s last day of chemo. God … I need this to work.”
“He breezes through everything. I see him getting back on the field next year.” Warren stands and pulls on his lab coat.
“Mmm …” I nod, opening a bottle of water. “I hope so.”
“So … any suggestions for a second date?”
“What are you talking about?” I ask without glancing up from my tablet.
“I took Dorothy to dinner last night. I’m thinking a play or something like that for our next date.”
I lift my gaze slowly to meet his smirk. There is no way I heard him correctly.