Page 188 of Banter & Blushes

“Everyone with eyes,” Karlee says, rolling hers for emphasis. “Just ask him to the gala already.”

I pull my phone from my pocket and stare at it for a moment. “What if he says no? He could be busy, you know.”

Mona actually laughs. “In what universe would Reid Bennett say no to you?”

She has a point. Reid has never turned down an invitation from me, not once in eight years. He’s shown up for girls’ nights when my other friends bailed, for my nephew’s birthday parties, and even for that terrible pottery class where he made a bowl that looked less like a bowl and more like a science experiment gone bad.

“Fine,” I say, unlocking my phone. “I’ll call him.”

I step away from the desk for privacy. My heart hammers as I dial his number, which is ridiculous because I call Reid all the time. This is normal. Totally normal.

He answers on the second ring.“Hey, Bri. Everything okay?”

His voice is warm and familiar, and it makes me smile despite my nerves.

“Hey! Yeah, everything’s fine. Are you busy?” Is that my voice that’s all squeaky?

“Just finalizing some blueprints. What’s up?”

I take a deep breath. “So, the hospital’s Valentine Gala is this Friday night, and I was wondering if you’d want to be my plus-one? It’s for charity, and there’s an open bar, and the food is usually pretty decent?—”

“I’d love to,” he cuts in, saving me from my rambling.

“Yeah?” I can’t keep the relief from my voice.

“Absolutely. Besides, I owe you after that wedding fiasco with my cousin, remember?”

I laugh, remembering how I’d pretended to be his girlfriend to ward off his aunt’s matchmaking attempts. “It wasn’t a fiasco. But you do owe me because I was a stellar fake girlfriend.”

“You were,” he agrees, and there’s something in his voice I can’t quite place. “What time should I pick you up?”

We finalize the details, and when I hang up, I’m smiling so widely my cheeks hurt.

“Well?” Karlee prompts as I return to the nurses’ station.

“He said yes,” I say, trying not to sound too excited.

“Of course he did,” Mona says with a knowing smile. “The man would walk through fire if you asked him to.”

“It’s not like that,” I insist, but the protest sounds weak even to my own ears.

“Keep telling yourself that,” Karlee says, patting my shoulder. “But maybe buy a knockout dress for Friday. Just in case.”

“In case of what?”

“In case you finally wake up and realize what’s right in front of you,” Mona says. “Or in case he finally gets tired of waiting and makes a move.”

The thought sends a thrill through me that I immediately try to squash. Reid and I are friends. Best friends. The kind of friendship that’s rare and precious and not worth gambling on a feeling that might fade.

But as I return to my rounds, checking IVs and taking vitals, I can’t help wondering what it would be like if Mona and Karlee are right. What it would feel like to be loved by Reid Bennett.

To be his, completely.

CHAPTER 2

REID

Isquint at the screen, tilting my head to get a better angle on the 3D rendering. “The client wants more natural light in the east wing, but if we add windows here—” I point to the digital blueprint—”we run into issues with structural integrity.”

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