“So, can I take you out for the big night, or do you have other plans you wouldn’t want a little sister tagging along on?”
“As you live with me, you know what a dull life I lead. I’m free.”
“Why is that?” Surprisingly, Will went out in the evenings less than she would have thought. Not that working the hours he did was dull. Just that he’d always been a social bug and now, well, he wasn’t. She’d come to Madison expecting to spend a lot of evenings home alone. Instead, with the exception of the nights he worked in the emergency room, Will almost always kept her company.
Not that she minded. Spending time with her brother had always been one of her favorite things.
“Parties and such don’t hold as much appeal as they once did.” Her brother sounded like he was ready to settle down. If only she knew a nice girl to introduce him to. Unfortunately she hadn’t done much socializing since moving to Madison. Other than the girls at the office, she didn’t know anyone.
Then again, she had picked up on vibes between Will and Leslie every time the two had been within ten feet of each other. Although, honestly, she wondered if they weren’t avoiding each other, the way Jared was ignoring her.
Did Will even know Leslie was attracted to him? Maybe not because men could be so blind at times. She smiled, thinking Will’s party would be the perfect time to help him see the jewel under his nose.
“I hear you.” She was agreeing with his comment about parties, while in her mind she continued to plot on what a fabulous event his party would be. The grandest birthday ever. Will deserved that and more.
“When were you a party animal?” He had the audacity to laugh. “All I recall is a little girl too determined to prove her parents wrong for her to ever actually have any fun.”
Ouch. She had been too busy studying to party.
“I have fun.” Not recently, but who was counting? “And our parents have nothing to do with why I became a doctor.”
“Don’t they?” Will’s question was low.
Did he think she’d spent all those years training for a profession she didn’t love?
“If anything, Mum and Dad should have turned me off medicine. I’m here because it’s where I want to be. I love taking care of people.”
Will sat silent for a few minutes. “I talked to Jared,” her brother commented dryly.
She met his gaze, trying to keep her interest to a normal level. “About?”
“Just wanted to make sure the record was clear.”
“On?” she asked, although she had a horrible suspicion she knew exactly to what he referred.
“You.”
“A total waste of your time, but if it makes you feel better.” She waved her hand dismissively, picking up a lab report off her desk and pretending to study it.
“It does.”
“Fine. Makes no difference to me.” Liar, liar, pants on fire. She initialed the lab report, indicating she’d seen the results, then placed the paper in her out basket.
She busied herself with shuffling through the mail, trashing numerous pharmaceutical advertisements without bothering to open the brightly packaged envelopes, anything to keep from having to meet her brother’s intense gaze.
“Right.” He got up and headed toward the door.
“Wait! What did he say?” She shouldn’t ask, but when it came to Jared she didn’t seem capable of resisting.
Will paused, turned, met her eyes with mischievous brown ones. He’d set her up. Given her slack on the line, then hooked her good. “I can’t recall. Good thing it makes no difference, eh?”
Brothers!
“Tell me.”
Will’s eyes narrowed, and he crossed his arms. “I suggested he bring a date to the surprise party you’ll inevitably throw for my birthday.”
“A date?” she choked out, ignoring that he’d guessed what she had planned for his big day. The smug fink.