Page 26 of Stolen Kisses
Krista forced a smile that she hoped Chandler would believe was genuine. A lot of the women at the hospital would trade their massive shoe collection for a catch like him. He was fairly good-looking, smart, rich, nice. She wanted to want him.
“So are we on for tonight?” he asked.
“Yes. I’m looking forward to it.” Or she wanted to be looking forward to it.
“Great. Me, too.”
“Do you, uh, have a busy day here?” she asked, filling the silence as they entered the hospital.
He shoved his hands in his pockets. “Yep. Two back-to-back surgeries.”
Krista’s brows raised. “Pretty busy. You sure you’ll be up for dinner tonight?”
He narrowed his eyes and she could see why women wanted him. His brown eyes twinkled a bit and the corners of them crinkled. “I’ll be up for it. Don’t you worry about that.”
“Okay then.” They stepped inside the elevator and rode it to Krista’s floor.
“I’ll text you,” he said.
Krista stepped out and waved. “Great. See you later.” Then she headed toward the nurse’s station to get an update on her patients.
“It was a restful night. No incidents or emergencies. In fact, I got a little bored,” Olivia reported.
Krista exhaled softly. “Perfect. Let’s hope that continues.” Because she had a date tonight that she needed to somehow get excited about.
But first she had to cancel Wednesday Wings with Noah.
—
Noah frowned at the text on his phone.
Sorry. I have to cancel on you tonight. Something has come up.
“What’s wrong?” Joey asked, looking back at him.
Noah shook his head and stuffed his cellphone back into his pocket. Then he stepped up beside Joey at the front of the boat. Beauty barked and followed at his heels. “I’m going to have to get a bark collar if she keeps scaring off the fish,” he threatened for what felt like the millionth time. He wasn’t actually considering it.
“I’ll report you to animal services,” Joey said.
“Or I’ll have to leave her behind on the houseboat.” Noah stared out on the water. They weren’t having bad catches these days. In fact, since Joey had joined him, the catch had been great. They’d brought in four tunas this week alone. Not Mitsy, though. Every time he got a bite, he hoped it would be the fish that had gotten away from him last year. “Your sister canceled on Wednesday Wings,” Noah finally said. “She okay?”
Joey glanced over, his hand propped on the rig waiting expectantly for a bite. “Yeah. She just has a date with some doctor at the hospital.”
Noah’s stomach tugged hard, like a fish on the line. “A date?” He remembered seeing her with Dr. Dale at lunch the other day and wondered if she was going out with him again.
“I was surprised, too. She hasn’t been out in months. Maybe a year. I heard her talking to him on the phone the other night, too.”
“They talked on the phone?” Noah asked.
Joey looked over. “Don’t tell me you’re jealous.”
“No.” Noah laughed as if the idea was absurd. “It’s about time she went out. I’ve been telling her to date for a while. She’s never been one to like medical people, though. She always told me she wouldn’t date someone she worked with.”
“Guess she changed her mind. It’s good. I was beginning to think she was either in love with you or into chicks because she’s always hanging out with Grace and Abby. One of the two.”
“In love with me?” Noah laughed again. Another absurd idea even though something warmed inside him at the thought. “She’s more likely to be in love with Grace or Abby,” he said. “I’m glad she’s ditching me for a date. That’s a good thing.”
“Frees you up to find a date of your own.” Joey grinned.
