Page 10 of Getting Off

“So says the man who was just in the ER,” Brooklyn quipped, raising an eyebrow at him.When she moved, Dylan caught the scent of her perfume.Something flowery and delicate that seemed to suit her.“How is your wrist, by the way?”

He held up his arm.“Good as new.”He moved it around.It still ached a tiny bit, but it was nothing.“See?So, can you sign me off?I’ll love you forever.”

She snorted.“Let’s get one thing clear.I’m not signing anything until I give you a formal follow-up exam.Am I being clear?”

Dammit.That wasn’t what he wanted to hear.But she looked fierce and determined, so he guessed his considerable charm wasn’t going to work on her.

He sighed and shrugged.“It was worth a try.I know you’re eager to give me a full physical.”

She glared at him as if she might hit him with a chair if any chairs had been around.He gave her his sweetest smile.She stared at him.Lucas watched them both with interest, grinning the whole time.

Finally, Brooklyn Foster broke out laughing.She closed her eyes and shook her head.“You are the most obnoxious man I’ve ever met.Or maybe the second most obnoxious.Either way, I should have you tossed out of here for saying those kinds of things.No one talks like that these days.You’re lucky I have a sense of humor,” she scolded.

“I, for one, am glad he brought out that sense of humor,” Lucas said.“It has been an interesting and delightful conversation.”

A fancy way of saying it, but hell, Dylan would take it.He found himself reluctant to get tossed out of here.He was having fun.And Brooklyn was quite stunning.And yeah, Lucas wasn’t half bad either.Was he mistaken, or was there a bit more than casual interest in the guy’s dark eyes when he looked at Brooklyn and looked at Dylan?Wishful thinking?Maybe, but Dylan was eager to find out.

Lucas was watching him intently.“Tell me a little more about what you do.”

Dylan wasn’t going to pass up a chance to talk about one of the things he loved most in life.“I’m an amateur racer.I’m close to the point where I can turn pro.”

“A pro racer, huh?I think one of my companies sponsors a few of those or maybe racing teams.I have no idea if it’s off-road or stock cars or what.I’d have to check.”

“You should come out to the off-road club sometime,” Dylan urged.He could see Dr.Brooklyn from the corner of his eye, staring at them as if they’d both lost their minds.“We have a driving school.It’s a hell of a lot of fun.We’ve got tourists out there doing laps in dune buggies.You haven’t lived until you’ve rolled something you’re driving.Andyou can pay by the lap.”

Lucas Fox began to smile.“You know, I think I might enjoy that.”

Dr.Brooklyn’s derisive snort drew their attention.She held up a hand and took an actual physical step back from the conversation.“Oh, don’t let the neurologist rain on your parades.You two go ahead and make plans to indulge your adrenaline rushes.I’ll be busy patching you up in the aftermath.”

“Don’t worry,” Dylan said easily.“You’re invited too, Doc.I wouldn’t forget my favorite physician in the world, now would I?”

Brooklyn was going to throttle them both.She might have if she hadn’t taken an oath to do no harm.

She wanted to turn on her heel and march away and leave the boys to their adrenaline-fueled babbling.But she didn’t.

Why?Maybe she was determined to stand her ground.Both men seemed to have reached some unspoken agreement that she was the killjoy here.That she didn’t know how to have a bit of fun.

So they thought they had her number, did they?The two of them had no idea who Brooklyn Foster really was.

“Thank you for the invitation,” she told Dylan, keeping her tone formal.Formal was best, because she found the energetic man rather likable, despite herself.Likable…even attractive.And that was dangerous territory.Especially standing next to two gorgeous men.It was a wonder she could speak without getting tongue-tied.“I’ll keep it in mind if I ever feel the desire to leave the roads and go roaming in the desert.That said, I’ll be happy to give you a thorough exam at the time it is actually scheduled.And now…since you crashed the party, maybe you should go before there’s trouble.”

Dylan gave a careless glance around the ballroom.Throughout their conversation, the three of them had been getting looks from the rest of the guests.She was mortified…and irritated about it too—but not irritated at Dylan.Or Lucas.Not this time.

Because these stuffy, stick-up-their-asses snobs should mind their own business in her humblest of humble opinions.

“I don’t see any bouncers headed this way yet,” Dylan said.“I’d hate to be the first one to leave.I’m the life of this party.”

Lucas flashed that half-smile, his eyes twinkling.She swore Lucas Fox delighted in encouraging Dylan’s worst behavior.

She would never admit it, but part of her found Dylan’s expressions, his vibrant personality, fascinating.There was something utterly devil may care about the man.As if he could not be bothered to feel fear or apprehension or anything else that a normal person might experience when confronted with his own mortality—or awkward social situations.Didn’t he worry about getting hurt or being killed for heaven’s sake?

Lucas glanced at her.“I say, let him stay for the fundraiser.He sounds healthy to me.Then again, I’m not a doctor.”

She eyed Lucas coldly.“That’s right.You’re not a doctor.”She turned her ire on Dylan again.“Are you having any dizziness, nausea, or difficulty focusing?”

“Nothing like that.No headache, either.”Dylan looked almost boyishly hopeful.

“How about insomnia or ringing in your ears?Any irritability?”

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