Without missing a goddamn beat, he said, "Usuallytwo."
I fell back in my seat as a laugh rolled through me. "Thankfully for us, this is a single ball situation," I said. "It's the hospital's annual black tie fundraising gala. It's usually in the spring, but for some reason, they're gala-ing twicethisyear."
"Like I said, there's usually two." He gripped my legs again. I tucked my bottom lip between my teeth to hold in the giggly grin that my body was trying to force. Silly senses. They were letting some strong hands override my brain. "Add something to your list. While I'm probably doing you a favor by introducing you to Rhode Island, I want this to be equalandfair."
There was one more event that could benefit from the presence of a man in my life, but… "It's a bridge-crosser," I said. "Going to hospital events together is one thing, but adding this last item to my listwould—"
"It would cross a bridge," he finished. "A bridge you're not sure you want tocross?"
"My parents," I said with a sigh. "They're really excited about the whole New England foliage thing, and they're planning a stop in Boston at the end of their trip. I don't want to lie to them, but I could really use a break from marriage-and-babiestalk."
"We won't have to lie," he replied. "We're friends, and we'll show them a good time in the city. If they want to draw their inferences, we can'tstopthem."
"All right," I said slowly. "Four dates.Wecan—"
"Five," he interrupted. "Five. I'm taking you out to dinner this week because the only things I know about you are that you're a doctor, your ex is the human version of recurrent foot fungus, and your regional education islacking."
"Five," Irepeated.
In my head, I'd already downgraded that dinner to a quick coffee date. No sense spending more time around this guy. It was too dangerous, especially since I was already high off the pressure of his skin against mine. His fingers, my knees, and all kinds of chemical reactions insidemybody.
Men are drama. Men are manipulators. Men are not mypriority.
"After those five engagements, we'll part ways amicably and no one ever needs to know the real story. Can you promise me that?" Iasked.
That ass, though. That ass should be someone'spriority.
And that was all it took to remove Riley's hands from my legs. He grabbed his beer and leaned back in his chair, drinking deeply for several silentmoments.
"Like you pointed out, I'm not your type. You're a nice lady, you know, once you've been fed and wined, but you're not my type either. We're just people in really fucked-up situations, and we need some help dealing with those situations," he said. "What we're talking about here, Alex, it's preservation. I need it as much asyoudo."
ChapterSeven
Alexandra
Riley:When do you want to get dinner this week? My scheduleisopen.
Alex:How do you feel aboutcoffee?
Riley:I enjoycoffee.
Alex:Okay. Let's do that. Thursday works best for me. Starbucks near thehospital?
Riley:Slow your roll,Shortstop.
Alex:Are you one of those devout Bostonians who only acknowledge the existence of Dunkin'Donuts?
Riley:What happened todinner?
Alex:Does it have to bedinner?
Riley:Yeah it has to be dinner. I'm a growing boy and you get real moody when you'rehungry.
Alex:You aren't still growing. You haven't been growing foryears.
Alex:Not unless you're 24. Or on growth hormones.Orboth.
Riley:I'm 30 and all natural,thankyou.
