1
Nicklin
I bite my bottom lip and eye myself in the mirror while my best friend Lindy Hunter oohs and ahhs behind me.
“Is it too much?” I ask, stepping to the side so I can see her on the bed behind me.
Lindy shakes her head and whistles at me. “I’d say it’s too little, girlfriend. It’s showingallof your finer assets in 3D — dang, dang, dang!” Her comically rocking eyebrows and twinkling eyes stare back at me in the mirror.
Sighing, I gaze at myself longer. It’s not bad. It’s a cute outfit with the pink, red, and white plaid skirt pattern and the low scoop neck white blouse. The skirt is shorter than I usually wear, but after what I’ve been through, I’ve learned to live life differently. Bringing more color and spice into what can be black and white… boring.
“Is it cliché to go on a blind date on Valentine’s Day?” I adjust the skirt so the zipper doesn’t dig into my hipbone.
My friend gets up off the bed, wraps her arms around my shoulders, and gazes at me in the mirror. “I promise you, my friend, Evan wouldn’t set up my best friend with his friend if his friend wasn’t the cream of the fucking crop.”
She squeezes my shoulder and tugs me to her side. “He knows what happened to you. This Riggs guy is probably a damn saint.”
Rolling my eyes, I move out of her embrace to pick out a necklace from my small jewelry collection.
“No man is a saint.”
I grab the silver heart pendant and hand it to Lindy to put on me to stop my thoughts. That was closer to a lie than I’ve done in a long time.
My period in the hospital showed me that a couple of nurses and doctors were just that. Saints. I don’t know if I would even be here today if it weren’t for them. I would bet every single one of my worldly possessions on that. But I’m not making it a habit of letting people know I think that.
Especially on this blind date.
Lindy latches my necklace and sighs, setting her chin on my shoulder. “Nic, if you don’t want to go, I’ll—”
“No.” I turn and go eye to eye with her now that I have heels on. “A free dinner at that fancy Thai restaurant downtown? I’d be silly to pass that up. Even if he isn’t a saint, a girl’s gotta eat.”
Thai is one of my top three favorite cuisines. Plus, I told myself I wouldn’t take my life for granted anymore. I’m going to experience new things, take chances, and give every day my all. That includes dating on romantic holidays with perfect strangers, I guess.
“It’s Dutch.” Lindy frowns deeply at me.
I pause.Bummer. “Okay, good. Hopefully, conversation and free fortune cookies.” I shrug. “I’m still in.”
I turn to my dresser to pick out earrings, simple gold hoops.
Lindy’s arms wrap around me and hug me from behind. “That’s my girl.”
* * *
Riggs
Drumming my fingers on the steering wheel, I hold in my curses. Traffic is usually non-existent in Everville, North Carolina. That is, until tonight.
I glance at the clock on the dash. I’m already seven minutes late. I’m never late. I huff, willing the red light to turn green. My hands slick against the wheel. I wince at the feeling and wipe them on my pants. Sweaty paws are not a good thing for a surgeon.
Hope she doesn’t think I’m standing her up.
The light turns green, and I push hard on the accelerator, praising the gods of driving — or whatever saint of cars is out there, seems there’s one for everything — for a clear path. A parking spot opens in front of Thai Orchid, my favorite restaurant, but one I can’t frequent, often due to my schedule. If I had to drive around to figure out parking, that would make the night even more of a bust, and I haven’t met the woman yet.
Nice first impression.
Parking my car and dashing into the restaurant, I glance around, hoping my date didn’t leave yet. I glance at my watch, and it’s not grossly late, but it’s enough not to make the best impression.
A sweet-looking woman in a cute valentine colored outfit stands in the back next to the bar. Her eyes are downcast, and a frown lies on her delicate lips. She’s not the tall, lithe, white-blond I usually date. She’s average height, with soft curves that fill out her outfit to perfection and make me think she’d fit against me perfectly.