Fools (Licking Thicket 3)

I smiled back a little wanly. “I’m not seeing anyone… exactly. It’s complicated,” I admitted. “And a little hopeless.”

“Ah. Then tell Dr. Rogers all about it. I’m here to solve your problems.”

I blinked at him. “You are? You? The man who just reiterated his desire to not have a committed relationship for at least ten more years?”

“I am literally a heart doctor, Tucker. I have the fancy diplomas to prove it.” He winked. “And I have an opening for precisely one new patient.”

I snorted.

“Besides, I know it’s been a long time, but I care about you. I always have.”

“Aw.” I gave him a sappy grin, and after a second’s hesitation, I leaned forward and took a deep breath. “Fine. Okay, so I have this friend, Dunn. Actually, he’s my best friend. And he—”

A commotion near the front of the restaurant caught my attention, and I looked up… right into Dunn Johnson’s scowling face.

For a split second, I thought it was ghost-Dunn again, tired of hovering over the bread basket, so he’d decided to put on the heathered green cashmere pullover I’d gotten him for Christmas—the one that exactly matched his eyes—and hang out by the door.

But then I saw Jenn Shipley, wearing a pink wrap dress designed to make even a man like me notice her boobs, with her two arms wrapped around his bicep, trying to pull him along so the host could show them to one of the nicer tables near the fireplace at the back of the restaurant… and that was when I knew this was no ghost.

There was no realm in which I’d ever conjure Jenn with him.

To be fair, there was also no realm in which I could have imagined Dunn rooted to one spot and staring at Carter’s hand clasped around mine like he was trying to incinerate it with superhero laser eyes.

Shit.

I felt weirdly guilty, which was silly. I mean, sure, I’d said Carter and I were old colleagues, but that wasn’t a lie. Exactly. Besides, Dunn clearly didn’t tell me every time he went on a date with Jenn.

Dunn called the host back and murmured something that made Jenn’s nostrils flare like flames might shoot out of her head at any moment, but the host shrugged and nodded. She led Dunn and Jenn back toward the front, then took a right and headed…

Oh, holy mother of noes.

“Well, hey,” Dunn said from mere inches away as the host placed a pair of menus on the table directly next to mine and Carter’s. “Tucker Wright, as I live and breathe! What a coinky-dink!”

I swallowed hard and once again tried to move my hand back, but Carter held it tighter and even smoothed his thumb over my knuckles.

“Friend of yours, babe?” Carter asked lightly.

Babe? Had I somehow miscommunicated something? But no, Carter’s eyes were dancing again, full of unholy amounts of mischief. My heart thumped double time, and I made a strangled noise. I really might need a cardiologist by the end of the night.

“Dunn,” Jenn whispered, yanking on his arm in a way that was sure to dislocate something. “Sit down. People are looking at us.”

“Just being polite first,” Dunn told her without lowering his voice one decibel. “Hey, Tucker, you know, Jenn, right?”

The woman who’d tried to send one of my elderly patients to wait on the porch because his hair disturbed the “whole vibe” of the waiting room? Oh, I knew her.

I nodded. “Evening, Jenn.”

Jenn sighed a sigh so deep it came from the center of the earth and rolled her eyes heavenward. “Yep, hey.”

Dunn rocked on the balls of his feet, waiting for me to reciprocate the introduction, but I didn’t know where to begin.

Carter kicked me lightly under the table. “I’d take this one, but I can’t introduce myself as your heart doctor, Tuck. HIPAA regulations and all,” he murmured.

I was so glad he was enjoying himself. “If you do, a HIPAA violation will be the least of your troubles,” I muttered back.

Meanwhile, I could sense Dunn’s anger, pulsing like a telltale heart. “Excuse me? Aren’t you gonna introduce me to your old colleague?”

I sighed. “Yeah. Uh. Dunn, this is Carter Rogers. He’s the cardiologist covering for Dr. Symmons. Carter, this is—”

“Dunn Johnson,” Dunn said, sticking out his right hand, while his left came to rest on my shoulder. “Tucker’s best best friend.”

Good Lord. The man was all but pissing around me in a circle. Who the heck got that territorial over a friend?

And motherfucker, why did I find it so hot?

I needed an intervention, I really did. Or maybe meditation. Or maybe…

“Uh, hey, Kelsey?” I flagged our server as she passed. “Another sangria, please?” I tossed back the dregs of my first one.

“Nice to meet you,” Carter said after a beat, shaking Dunn’s hand. “I think Tucker might have mentioned you earlier.”