Page 15 of Moonshot

“A little excited to see him, are you?”

“Yeah. More than a little. I feel pretty silly about it. I mean, I think this is probably one-sided. That lunch date with him was amazing. It’s not like he doesn’t know where I work. If he were interested, he would’ve called here. Maybe between the fact he hasn’t and that he didn’t ask for my number that day… well, I need to face he’s not interested.”

“Oh, beautiful girl. If you’d seen the way he looked when he practically skipped into this office two weeks ago for his appointment with you. When I had to tell him you’d called out sick, it was like watching a hot air balloon deflating. It broke my heart, the timing of that darn migraine.”

“Really? You’re not just saying that to make me feel better?”

“No, Ava. That boy really has a thing for you. I just know it. I’m rooting for you two,” she adds with a sweet, fairy godmotherly expression.

I can feel my cheeks pink and reach up to feel the instant warmth there. “Thank you. I hope you’re right.”

“Now. The reason I came in here. Allison and I were talking. The weather has turned absolutely beautiful, and we tossed around the idea of going to a Flying Squirrels game. You know, like a girls’ night. Nothing better than a gorgeous evening, good girlfriends, and some hot guys in baseball uniforms.”

Oh my god.I wasn’t expecting that from her. Joanie’s almost old enough to be my mother. But everything about this sounds great.

“Yeah, I’m in. I’d love to go with the two of you. Are you guys big baseball fans or something?”

“No. Allison scored a few tickets in a giveaway basket for a little league fundraiser. I couldn’t care less about sports. But the uniforms…”

I can’t help laughing out loud. “Well, thank you for including me. I can’t wait.”

“Okay. I’ll let Allison know. I best get back to my desk.”

As Joanie returns to the front of the clinic, I think about my favorite baseball player and swoon. God, I’ve missed him. It feels like the longest month of my life since that lunch date. I feel my heart rate pick up as I recall getting dressed for work this morning with renewed vigor. You would’ve thought I was going on a blind date, instead of my usual day’s work at an orthopedic clinic, the way I was laying out clothes on my bed trying to find just the right outfit for the day. I’d chosen a light blue V-neck top that clung to my chest a little tighter than I normally preferred for work attire and the same navy blue pencil skirt from our date. I’d caught the look on Mick’s face as I slid my legs into his car that day and had to bite my lip at his reaction. It didn’t take a rocket scientist to see he appreciated the view. Today Mick is scheduled to return, and nothing is going to prevent me from seeing him.

Looking at my watch, I note it’s 12:20. Mick’s always early, so I take a chance and glance out into the waiting room. There are a few people scattered in chairs, left waiting for their loved ones to exit their appointments, I suppose. But no one matching the description of a hot, dark-haired, smooth-talking baller in a business suit.

“Can I help you with something, Ava?” Joanie flashes me a knowing glance.Gah, busted again.

Giggling, I feel a flush cover my cheeks as I look back at her. “Um, just checking to see if Michael’s arrived yet. Didn’t want to make him wait.” There’s no sense pretending. Good grief, I’m acting like a girl with a high school crush instead of a grown-assed, independent woman.What is happening to me?

“Well, I’ll send him right back.” She smirks.

Turning back to my office, I sit down at my desk, trying to control my silly schoolgirl nerves. My hands are actually sweaty. When had I ever felt this way about a boy? No boy, or man, had ever filled my thoughts as he has. I try to calm the jitters by lying back in my chair and closing my eyes momentarily. I recall the vision I’d enjoyed last night of Mick grabbing me to him with his strong arms, pulling me against his chest before planting his delectable mou-

“Hi, Ava. Joanie said to come straight back.”

The timbre of his voice causes my stomach to flutter. Jeez, everything about this man makes me weak. What I’d give to have that sexy voice rumbling in my ear as he fondles me. “Mmmm-”

“Uh, hm.”

My eyes fly open as the utterance interrupts my saucy thoughts. Mick’s standing by my door, with an odd expression on his face. Disoriented by the disrupted fantasy, I rub my legs with my clammy palms and try to gather my senses.

“Hi. I’m sorry. I didn’t hear you come in.” I jump up from my seat and round my desk to stand in front of him in anticipation… of what, I’m not sure. I look up at him in awe. God, he’s so handsome. He has his contacts in and his hair seems more tousled today. I fix my gaze on his molten eyes. But they look different, somehow. Almost hollow.

I watch as he pulls the signature form from his briefcase and reaches around me to lay it upon the desk. “No questions, I assume.”

Startled by his flat affect and my apparent solo feelings of excitement over this meeting, an anxious feeling settles over me. There’s a sick feeling in the pit of my stomach replacing the arousal there only moments ago. Am I getting the brush off? How could I have gotten this so wrong? Jeez, men usually waited until they slept with me before they gave me the cold shoulder.

“Mick? Is there something wrong?”

I watch as a blank stare is returned to me. What the hell? Were we even on the same date?

Puzzled, I continue. “I was excited you were coming to the office today. I’ve really missed you. I was so upset when I got here after you’d left a few weeks ago when I wasn’t feeling well.”

I watch as a peculiar expression crosses his face, one brow lifting in an almost menacing countenance. He stands rigid, continuing to remain painfully silent in front of me.What is happening here? Have I done something?

“It’s so not like me to call out. I didn’t think I’d make it to work that day, but I started to feel a bit better and didn’t want to miss seeing you. I think I broke every speed limit trying to get to the office just to find you’d already left.” His expression is flat. I’m trying not to plead.What’s wrong? Talk to me.“Joanie said I’d just missed you. I was so disappointed,” I continue. I pour out my explanation, rapid-fire. Still nothing. I need to stop this. I’ve done nothing wrong. Had he met someone else and that lunch was a one-off?

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