Page 40 of Every Rose

“Not all of them. And make sure your shoes are polished. You’re as handsome as Adonis, but you don’t try. Put some effort into how you look. She’ll notice. She’ll appreciate.”

“How will she know I did it for her?”

More muttering in Greek. “She’s a woman. Trust me, she’ll know.”

“Okay. Good talking to you, Ma. Love to Dad.”

“Call me next week and tell me how it went.”

“I will.”

“And bring her home with you so we can meet her.”

“Ma, we haven’t even had a date yet.” He could not even imagine how Rose would feel being hauled in to meet his crazy family. Then he recalled how embarrassed she’d been by her mom and dad doing a big sales job about her for his benefit and he thought he knew exactly how she’d feel when his folks pushed him at her.

“Well, when you’ve had a few dates, then bring her around.”

“Love you.

“Love you back.”

His mother was from a different generation, a different continent, a different culture. But he still dropped his good shoes off to be polished, his tux to be pressed, and made an appointment at the salon Harvey patronized. They could do his hair and shave him the morning of the wedding.

Then he tried to forget about Rose Chance and concentrate on the million other things he had to do.

His mom was right. He never dated other medical professionals. Too confusing, too chaotic.

But he’d never met another medical professional like Rose Chance before.

He kept things casual in his private life for a reason. He didn’t have the time or energy to devote to a serious relationship. That’s why Cheryl had been so perfect for him. And now he’d blown her off.

For what?

There were women in the medical profession he could imagine being casual and easy to date. Rose Chance was not one of them. Everything about her made him wary.

So why could he not stop thinking about her?

Why could he not stop thinking about that stupid, semi-drunk kiss?

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