Weekend Fling with the Surgeon

Was that excitement she saw on his face? Maybe he really did regret the fiasco he found himself in.

“No, not about that,” she shook her head, “although I understand if you want out.”

“I don’t want out,” he assured her. “This is way more interesting than my previous weekend plans.”

Which made her wonder just what his weekend plans had been? What had he been willing to give up so that he could go with her to a wedding celebrating people he’d never heard of until a few days ago?

“Good.” She sighed her relief. “My family knew I was dating Paul, that he and I had been together for years. They expected us to eventually marry.” They could still marry if they got a second chance. “They’ll be shocked we broke up.” McKenzie was shocked they’d broken up. “They won’t question that you and I are a recent development. As such, we won’t be expected to know everything about each other.”

“True, but there are some things, as a couple, that we should know,” he pointed out.

Curious, she asked, “Such as?”

“What’s your favorite color?”

“Blue,” she answered without hesitation, frowning at him. “Boring question.”

He ignored her jab. “Why blue?”

“Because it’s the color of the sky.”

“This coming from a girl who’s afraid to fly.”

“Woman,” she corrected. “Woman who is afraid to fly. There’s no shame in my fear. Lots of people prefer keeping their feet on the ground and I have a good reason for my dislike.”

“Agreed.” After a moment, he added, “Green.”

She cut her gaze toward him.

“Because it’s the color of new beginnings.”

As in this weekend? she wondered, then frowned at her thought. This wasn’t a new beginning.

“And because it’s the color of your eyes.”

The color of her.

.. McKenzie’s breath caught, and her stomach clenched much as it had when he’d kissed her.

Pulling her hand from his, she frowned. “You don’t need to lay it on so thick. I’d prefer believable to syrupy sweet with saccharine drizzled on top.”

“Nothing thick about saying I like the color of your eyes when I do like the color of your eyes.” He settled back into his seat and pulled up the article he’d been engrossed in earlier.

She stared at him, not quite sure what to think, especially when he added, “You have great eyes, McKenzie.”

* * *

McKenzie swiped at something tickling her nose. As she did so, noises penetrated the hazy world of sleep she dwelt in, stirring her to wakefulness.

She opened her eyes, realized she was pressed up against Ryder’s strong shoulder, and that there was a drool spot on his shirt.

Her drool.

Yikes.

She sat up, pretended a poise she didn’t possess as she got her bearings and wiped her mouth.

She was sitting next to Ryder in a plane speeding toward Nashville.