Shocked and touched, Eve didn’t know what to say.
“Thank you,” she smiled. “I would love to have dinner with you. And your friends.”
“Excuse me, Dr. Ashmore. You’re free to go to lunch.” Erin’s nurse had a goofy smile on her face. “Someone’s waiting for you at the front desk.”
“Who?” Erin asked.
“He said not to tell.” The nurse—sixty if she was a day—giggled. “But I can tell you that he brought you flowers.”
“Red tulips?”
“What else?” the nurse answered.
“Tulips.” Eve sighed. Just once, she would like to receive flowers.
“Red. Always red.” Erin smiled as they walked toward the reception area. “No question who he is.”
The chairs in the waiting were filled with women. The gaze of each one from the young mothers to aging grandmothers was fixed on the man who lead against the desk, a bouquet of red tulips in his hand.
“You didn’t tell me you were coming to town,” Erin said, her blue eyes twinkling.
“I know how much you hate surprises,” he said with a devilish chuckle. “How could I resist springing one on you?”
Eve blinked, wondering how a man with shoulder-length auburn hair, a full beard, and wearing a gorgeous lavender-hued suit tailored to his body like a glove, could be so beautiful. And yet, she could think of no other way to describe the tall, blue-eyed Adonis.
“Who’s your lovely friend?” the man asked, white teeth peaking from a beard two shades darker than the hair on his head. He handed the flowers to Erin before stepping toward Eve. “She’s just my type. Introduce us.”
“All women are your type,” Erin said. She sent Eve an apologetic smile. “I hope you don’t mind. He’s relentless though harmless in a devoted puppy dog sort of way.”
“I don’t mind at all,” Eve said. What woman didn’t enjoy the attention of a sexy man?
“A woman with taste. I’m Finn.” He took Eve’s hand in his. “Let me qualify what Erin said. You can trust me, but I’m not harmless.”
“For the love of…” Erin rolled her eyes. “Eve Stewart, this incorrigible rogue is Finnegan Lennox. He plays football.”
“Saying I play football is like saying The Mona Lisa is a painting.” Finn scoffed. “The way I play the game, like Da Vinci’s work of art, is a masterpiece.”
“How can your head continue to expand without exploding?” Erin asked, tapping Finn’s temple. She looked at Eve. “Don’t mind us. He’s my brother.”
Something flickered through Finn’s eyes. Annoyance? Anger? Both seemed possible to Eve. But since the moment was fleeting, she couldn’t be certain.
“I’m not her brother,” Finn said to Eve.
“We’re like brother and sister,” Erin insisted.
“No,” Finn said with a sharp shake of his head. “We’re not.”
“Close enough,” Erin snorted.
“Close counts in horseshoes and hand grenades. Not genetics,” Finn said with an affable smile. “Pleasure meeting you Eve.”
“Nice meeting you.”
Eve watched, slightly bemused, as the back and forth bickering continued between Erin and Finn.
“Let’s eat.” Finn tucked Erin’s hand into the crook of his arm.
“I want a burger,” Erin said, pushing the elevator call button.
“You know I don’t eat red meat.” Finn groused. “Let’s go to the sushi place two blocks down.”
“Raw fish?” Erin shuddered. “Yuck.”
Eve watched as they walked into the elevator, squabbling all the way. She wasn’t sure what she just witnessed. But she had to give Erin and Finn credit. They were entertaining.
▲ ▼ ▲ ▼ ▲
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
▲ ▼ ▲ ▼ ▲
DYLAN SCROLLED THROUGH the Netflix feed, looking for something interesting to watch.
“What kind of movie sounds good?” He called out to Eve. “Adventure? Mystery? Sci-Fi?”
“You decide,” Eve said as she walked past the television room. “I’m going out.”
“What?” Dylan’s head whipped around only to find the doorway empty. He scrambled off the sofa. “On a Friday night? Where? Why?”
“Just out,” Eve shrugged, buttoning her coat. “Daisy is down for the night. The baby monitor is on the kitchen counter. If she wakes up, you know what to do.”
“Wait a second.” Dylan placed himself between Eve and the door. “When did you say you have plans? I know I didn’t forget.”
“Am I required to tell you my plans when I’m not looking after Daisy?” Eve asked.
“No.” Dylan frowned. “You don’t know the area. Doesn’t make sense for you to go out on your own.”
“Who said anything about going on my own.” Eve smiled. “Goodnight. Don’t wait up.”
Intellectually, Dylan understood he had no right to question Eve. Nor should he object to how she spent her free time. But he didn’t want to be reasonable. Not where she was concerned.
“I should know where you’ll be and who your escort is,” Dylan said, improvising as he went. “In case something happens.”
“My phone is fully charged.” Eve’s smile was a bit too smug for Dylan’s liking. “I can call you. You can call me. But don’t—except in case of an emergency.”
Unless Dylan grabbed Eve and locked her in the basement, he had no way to make her stay. Resigned, he held up a hand.
“Wait,” he said.
Frustrated, Eve looked at her watch.
“I’m late, Dylan.”
“Give me one minute.” Dylan ran to the bathroom. On the way back, he stopped at the hall closet. Opening the door, he removed a long, navy blue coat from a hanger. “You still think you’re in New Mexico. The Seattle night air can be cold. The jacket you’re wearing isn’t suitable.”
Without giving Eve a chance to protest, Dylan removed the lightweight jacket.
“Hold out your arms,” he instructed.
“I don’t need another coat,” Eve said, but did as he asked.
“Have a good time. Be safe.” Dylan closed the zipper up to her chin. “And if you’re uncomfortable or want to leave, don’t be stubborn. Give me a call. However late, I’ll come to get you. Okay.”
“Okay.”
The front door closed behind Eve with a gentle click. Dylan stopped himself from peering out the curtain to see which way she went or who picked her up. He flopped onto the sofa.
How could she? Miserable, Dylan flopped onto the sofa. If Eve wanted to go on a date, why didn’t she ask
