Page 17 of Dr. Do-Right
“God, you’re the worst! No wonder you’re in a dry spell. You can’t even properly describe a hot guy. I need hair color, height, distinguishing markings.” Sonia’s voice pulled me back onto the sidewalk and out of my head, where I was fixated on Malachi’s bed, made up just for me.
Her call couldn’t have come at a better time. After a week alone in our apartment, I felt like I was going crazy. Though, that could have been because Malachi had also been ridiculously busy ever since he’d left me on the patio with a half-full pitcher of virgin sangria.
I couldn’t really blame him. It was a tall order to hand off responsibilities at the clinic he’d founded in Colorado five years ago. Despite having secretly worked on this move to Chicago for months, I got the feeling he was having a harder time letting go than he’d admit. His social media channels might have made him famous, but his clinical work was his true passion.
On the rare occasions I’d been able to reach him for a FaceTime call this week, he’d looked harried, maybe even a little sad. He did his best to hide it, and he’d almost succeeded once he started describing in full sensory detail what he’d do to me when he saw me next, when he couldactually touch me. Oh, my God!
But after we hung up, usually a little breathless and grinning like fools, I couldn’t quite forget the shadow of worry in his eyes.
I stepped forward as the line moved up. I’d just have to assess him in person. When I saw him. In mere minutes. And all the barriers of secrets and rules and guilt would be gone, just like that.Poof. I clenched shaking fingers around my gold clutch, mouth dry as a desert.
“He was tall. Dark hair,” I offered. I had at least noticed that when he’d opened the car door for me back at the apartment. “Muscle-y.”
She groaned as I moved up a few more paces until I could see the entrance. “The hot driver is completely squandered on you. I should be there, reaping the rewards of his attractiveness. Did he hit on you? I bet he hit on you. You look hot.”
“You sure? I feel like a mess.” I glanced down at my red dress, wishing for the thousandth time today I’d had more time to get ready. As it was, I’d practically sprinted into my apartment for a quick shower, thrown my dress on, and barely had time to dab on some makeup and sloppily curl a few chunks of my hair.
“Yes, I’m sure! Stop being a bitch and tell yourself how beautiful you are. Why are you being so rude to my best friend? Say it. Out loud, right now. Go on.”
It felt good to laugh. It released some of the tension that built with every step I took towards the entrance. I was close, just a few people ahead of me. “I’m beautiful,” I repeated obediently, wrinkling my nose at the woman in front of me, who’d looked back at my declaration.
“You are,” she agreed. “Love that dress.” We shared a smile before she turned back to her date. I loved people sometimes.
“See? That lady knew.” Sonia crunched on something on her end of the line. “Who was she?”
“Another attendee here. We’re all in line to get in. I’m not sure what the hold up…oh, dang.” The crowd parted, and I got a look at what was taking so long. A team of black-clad security officers were patiently combing through purses and patting down dinner jackets. “There’s security here. Like a lot. Who knew the children’s hospital fundraiser would be so ritzy?”
“Weird. There wasn’t security last year. Are the security people hot? Let’s try to be more detailed this time, Ri.”
“I, um,” I smiled at the security officer who gestured me forward. “Just a sec.”
I offered him my clutch right as Sonia screeched in my ear. “Not just a sec! Is. The. Security. Dude. Hot? Report. I need a description. I want to feel like I’m right there, Ri.”
The man in front of me grinned, obviously overhearing her loud demands. He poked a flashlight through my lipstick and my ID. “Well?” His deep voice rumbled with barely restrained laughter. “Your friend is waiting.”
Sonia gasped in my ear. “Wait, he sounded hot.SIR, PLEASE DESCRIBE YOURSELF.” Her voice yelled out of my phone, making me laugh even while I pulled it away from my ear. Leave it to my best friend to have some sort of long-distance flirtation with a man she’d never met. I loved her so much, even if my cheeks were burning.
“Six-two. Brown hair, green eyes. Tattoos.” He returned my clutch with a wicked smile. “Single.”
“SIR, MY FRIEND IS ALSO SINGLE. SHE—”
Oh, hell no. I didn’t need Sonia setting me up on a blind date all the way from New York. Especially when she was the one who didn’t know what the guy looked like. Even if he was admittedly rather attractive.
“I’m not, actually,” I interrupted, shaking my head at the man. His shirt had a white embroidered logo that saidRISI Securities—Asher. “I’m meeting someone.”
“THAT IS CORRECT, SHE IS MEETING SOMEONE. HOWEVER, I AM SINGLE.” Sonia changed tack on a dime. I shushed her, backing away while Asher grinned.
“My friend is single and also ridiculous,” I informed Asher as he waved a security wand over my dress. It clicked benignly. “She also said this thing didn’t have security last year.”
He shrugged, stepping back to clear the way for me. “Big hotshot celebrity here tonight. Gotta keep the crazies away.”
“SIR, IT MIGHT NOT SEEM LIKE IT, BUT I AM NOT CRAZY. JUST IN NEED OF SOME GOOD DI-”
“Thank you, Asher. Have a nice night.” I cut Sonia off, covering my whole phone with my hand to drown her out. Asher cackled.
“If your friend’s as pretty as you, tell her I’d be interested.”
Even though I covered the receiver, we both heard Sonia squeal. I gave Asher a mock glare. “Look what you’ve done.” I wiggled my phone at him. It sounded like some sort of pealing alarm was going off on the other side of the line. He shot another wicked, unrepentant grin my way.
