Page 18 of Love Unavoidable
“As if you ever knew it, you’re a little womanizer and a rascal and you know it,” Nurse Natalie teases.
“It’s not like that,” I defend myself. “I actually like—”
“She your sister?”
“What? No.”
“Cousin?”
“No, what’s that got to do with anything?”
“Because the only time you don’t try to get in a girl’s pants is if you’ve been with her before, or she’s related. Now, I am guessing you haven’t been with her before because, if you had, you probably wouldn’t be here. And she’s not a relative because you’d know her last name and you would have told it to me a second ago. So, it must just be that you are trying to get in her pants.” She smiles triumphantly as though she’s solved some world problem instead of just making me look like an asshole.
My mouth drops. Partly from faux shock, and partly from actual. “That really how you think of me, Nurse Nat?”
“Aw, sweetheart, don’t get your feelings hurt, you know I adore you and your tomcat ways.” She leans over the counter and pats me on the cheek—patronization at its finest.
“It’s not like that,” I say. “I like this girl. I am here ‘cause I care.”
She looks at me with genuine curiosity in her eyes. Curiosity and expectation of an impending relationship.
Shit.
I don’t like that either. There cannot be expectation about this, that’s insane, it’s too soon.
“Look, don’t get all like that.”
“Like what?” She smiles.
“I just met her tonight. But, yes, I like her,” I say. Nurse Natalie’s eyebrows raise. Okay, I should not have said that aloud. If I don’t temper this soon, she will have it spread all over the hospital that I am off the market and my surplus of female medical personnel will dry up.
Would that be so bad?
I shake my head to rid it of such a ridiculous thought. Then look back to Natalie. “Don’t be silly. Of course, I want to get in her pants, she’s female is she not?” I wink to let her know I am kidding.
Kind of.
“Wow.”
I hear the vaguely familiar voice behind me then close my eyes and wince. Of anything that Sadie’s mother, Eleanor, could have heard,that’swhat she walked in on.
“It’s a good thing that Sadie has come to her senses where Aaron is concerned if you are any indication of the quality of available men to choose from,” Eleanor says. I turn to face her.
“I wasn’t . . . you didn’t . . . that was just part of . . . never mind.” I turn back to Natalie and try to whisper.
“Can you just tell me which room my friend Sadie is in?”
“What’s her last name?” Natalie whispers back.
“Mason. Her last name is Mason,” Eleanor says through gritted teeth. “Something a gentleman caller should know.”
Gentleman caller?
“We’ve not met,” I say, holding my hand out to her. “Ethan Stone.”
“I know,” she says. A sour look on her face. She holds a limp hand out. I am not sure if I am to take it to shake or kiss. I choose the former. She does not respond with her own name or how to address her.
“Miss Mason is in E-three oh seven. Just down that hall and to the right. They are still examining her though, so I doubt they will allow you in,” Natalie says.
