“I just need another minute. Want to have a seat?” I offered pointing at the sofa as I raced back to the mirror.
“Sure.” He walked past me and I smelled his cologne. His scent was everything masculine and sexy. Good lord, he was unbelievable. I was already nervous.
I ran to the bathroom and finished my makeup. It was hard to get the lines straight with my hands shaking like they were. The air had changed since Brett walked in the room. My skin was tingling and my breath was quick.
I fastened my hands on my hips and took a slow, deep breath. I was a damn doctor, trained in medical science. There was a reason for this reaction. Pheromones, I told myself. It was simple male-female biology interaction in a confined space. Pure scientific fact. Also, the reality that I hadn’t gotten laid in a year wasn’t helping the situation. Satisfied with my makeup, I switched off the light and walked toward the living room.
“Ok. I’m ready now.” I grinned. I didn’t know how Brett would react. Was it too much? Had I made it understated? Did he know that everything was for him?
“You look stunning.” He winked.
“Thank you.” I felt the heat in my cheeks.
“I don’t know if you’re going to be able to help my re-entry transition, doc.” He held the door for her.
“Why is that?” I looked up at him.
I worried he was going to back out of the date. Or what if I had missed a symptom of depression or anxiety? I had been so busy studying the lines of his face I hadn’t tuned in to the cues of stress. I had to be the worst volunteer in the program. I had been undressing him with my mind, instead of assessing his state of mind.
“Is something wrong?” I asked, trying to sound like I did in the ER. I needed to take tonight more seriously.
“Oh no. Nothing is wrong. I’m worried all night I’m going to have to fight the men off you.” His eyes trailed over the swells of my breasts. I sighed. I realized I had chosen the perfect outfit after all. And there was nothing I had to worry about.
I giggled. It was sweet and silly, but I liked it. “Do you say that to all the girls?”
“No.” His eyes grew suddenly serious. “Only you.”
“Oh.”
“Come on. Let’s go eat.” His hand clasped over mine, and I suddenly felt very tiny and feminine. It was his broad shoulders, his large palms, his wide chest.
He opened the passenger side and shuttled me into his truck.
I couldn’t believe how neat and clean everything was inside the cab. Brett turned the station to country music. I smiled.
“Is this what you usually listen to?” I asked.
He put the truck in reverse. “I couldn’t tell you a popular song. In the field, there isn’t any music.”
I frowned. “No music? Really?”
He pointed the truck onto the road. “I can’t exactly focus with earbuds in my ear.” He looked at me quickly before turning on a side road.
“I guess that makes sense. But that’s sad. I listen to music all the time on my breaks. It helps me unwind when I’m in the ER. My playlists are set for the week. I don’t know how I would function without it for my workouts or to do yoga.”
“Yoga?” I saw him grin. “I think I’d like to see you do some of those bendy positions.”
I wanted to reach across and playfully slap him, but hitting a man while he was driving wasn’t the safest way to flirt.
“Maybe you should try it. It could help destress.”
“Me do yoga?” He chuckled. “Yeah, I don’t think so.”
“Have you even tried it?” I tested. The idea of him trying to do tree pose was both hysterical and somehow sexy. His massive body aligned in perfect symmetry was something I wanted to see.
“No,” he blurted.
“I think that means I need to add it to your re-entry tools.”