“But if he wanted to date me, why wouldn’t he just ask me out on a date? The man isn’t shy.”
Stella sighed. “I don’t have an answer to that.”
“Exactly.” And in the alternative universe where Joshua Luca wanted to ask me out on a date, what on earth would I say? I’d created a forcefield around myself to ensure that I couldn’t make the same mistake as I did when I’d been an infatuated teenager. But I wasn’t seventeen anymore. He wasn’t a teenage god. I was a doctor who made good decisions every day. He was a generous, loyal man who had showed me—and everyone around him—nothing but kindness.
Twenty-Six
Hartford
If Joshua Luca asked me to go to the moon, I’d probably say yes.
Which explained why I’d just stepped out of the shower instead of being curled up in bed catching up on Made in Chelsea. It had been a long week at the hospital as Gerry and I continued our efforts to prepare to stop Merdon getting their ADHD drug approved by the regulator as soon as their application was announced. Somehow Joshua had wrangled a promise out of me to go to lunch with him. I should have said no because things were . . . unclear between us, and I didn’t want them to get any messier. But despite myself, I’d agreed. He was just so utterly convincing about everything—even that I should accept the parcel I’d found on my doorstep when I got home last night.
The dress packed in the tissue stuffed in the beautiful black glossy box was beyond beautiful. I would never have considered it if I’d seen it in the shop, but given the note he left with it, he knew that’s how I’d feel. It said, “Trust me. It will look great. Wear it to lunch tomorrow.”
More gifts. Another arrangement to meet—even if it was for lunch. This felt like more than friendship.
I toweled off and unzipped the tiered, floaty, floral dress. If my mother was here, she’d tell me it looked like Grandma Green’s bedroom curtains. And it did a little bit. But that didn’t stop it from being gorgeous. I stepped into it, the lining slipping over my skin in the way that only expensive fabric did. I zipped it up and the fit was perfect, as if it had been especially made for me. Joshua had supplied sandals, which fit as if someone had made molds of my feet.
I spun in front of the mirror, loving the way the air caught under the skirt and lifted it up. I wasn’t one to complain, and the outfit was completely gorgeous, but it seemed a little over the top for a sandwich at Pret.
Right on time, Joshua knocked on the door.
“I feel overdressed for a sandwich,” I said as I answered the door. I swept my hand down my dress.
“Agreed. If you get asked to go for a sandwich, don’t wear this.” He grinned at me like he just won an account from Gucci. I knew he was dying to work with them.
“We’re not going to get a sandwich? You said lunch.”
Joshua was wearing pale blue-grey trousers and a white shirt without a tie. The pair of us could be going to a wedding.
He laughed and held out his hand. “There might be sandwiches, among other things. We’re having a picnic. Just across the road.”
He held out his hand and without thinking, I took it. We made our way to the lifts.
“We’re holding hands,” I said, stating the obvious as we rode down to the ground floor. “Is this another fake date?”
“I thought you needed a daytime date under your belt.”
“I appreciate your commitment to my success.” I tried to catch his eye but he was focused ahead.
We crossed the lobby and emerged into the fresh air. I couldn’t see Joshua as a picnic kind of guy, but it looked like he was serious about eating alfresco.
I resigned myself to feeling confused.
“Tell me about your week. I’ve barely seen you.”
“Nope, you just haven’t had to babysit me as much this week.” I grinned up at him but he just frowned back. “As well as doing the normal doctory stuff, I’m working with Gerry on a project that . . .” I still couldn’t break Gerry’s confidence about Merdon getting the over-the-counter approval for Calmation, even though talking to Joshua might help spark some ideas. I didn’t want Gerry’s contact getting into trouble. I could safely give Joshua the outline without mentioning names. “We’re working to stop the health regulator from approving a new drug that’s coming out.”
“Aren’t new drugs a good thing?” he asked.
“I guess it depends. The pharma company is hoping to get this drug licensed for over-the-counter sales. Every pediatrician who knows anything would think it was a terrible idea if they knew.”