His brows furrowed and he nodded toward the front desk where my mother sat watching us. “Don’t you need me to check out and pay for the visit?”
“Nope. We’re good here,” I replied. I wasn’t about to charge him for me doing nothing.
Robert smiled and there was a hint of more than just a friendliness behind those caramel-brown eyes of his. “Well, then, why don’t I take you out to lunch? Are you seeing any more patients today?”
“As of right now, there are no more.” I chewed on the inside of my lip, not knowing what to say about lunch. I’d never had anyone ask me out at my officebefore.
Robert clearly sensed my hesitance by the way his smile fell.
“No to lunch?” he asked.
Sheepishly, I sighed. “Believe me, I’m happy you offered, it’s just . . .”
“You’re seeing someone?” His gaze dropped to my hand. “I didn’t see a ring, so I assumed you weren’t married.”
I held up my hands. “I’m not, but I am interested in someone else. It’s all new and the last thing I want to do is jeopardize it by going out to lunch with another man.”
Robert chuckled and opened the door, but I could sense he wasn’t used to being turned down. He was a very attractive man who I had no doubt could get any women he wanted.
“I understand,” he replied, turning around to face me. “Maybe I’ll see you around when I stop back through on my way back from New Orleans.”
I nodded. “That’s a high possibility. I’m always here and there.”
“Great. Take care of yourself, Dr. Carington.” He smiled one last time and headed for his car.
I shut the office door and watched through thewindow as he drove away.
“He seemed like a nice guy. Very handsome, too,” my mother called out.
“I agree.” I turned away from the window and joined her at the desk.
She lifted her brows at me, her eyes twinkling. “Does turning Robert down mean that things between you and Declan are progressing?”
I snorted. “Not exactly, but I’m hoping it will soon.”
I just had to break through his walls first.
Chapter 11
Ayla
Before going home, I stopped by the Magnolia Mart and picked up my usual bag of snack-size Butterfingers and a box of Fudge Rounds. The weekend was coming up and I had to make sure I had plenty.
When I pulled onto Magnolia Lane, I waved at Linda, who was walking the neighborhood like she always did right before her lunchtime. She used to tell me that the exercise made her hungrier, and being hungrier meant she could enjoy her food more.
I slowed down as I approached my house because I wanted to see if Declan was outside in his yard. Stalking him was not my intention, but I was worried about him after he canceled our date. Hesaid he wasn’t in the right headspace. That could mean a million things.
Sadly, he wasn’t in his yard when I passed by. But when I turned down my driveway, he was standing on my front porch, leaning against one of the white beams, his hand casually in the pocket of his khaki shorts. He smiled at me the second our eyes met, but there was uncertainty to it. My guess was that he probably thought I was upset with him. I smiled back and there was relief on his face.
I pulled my car into the garage and walked around to the front of the house instead of going in through the kitchen door. Declan came down the porch steps, meeting me on the walkway. His crystal blue eyes were so bright in the sun that they made my knees weak. I could stare at them for hours.
“I really am sorry about last night,” were the first words that came out of his mouth.
I waved him off. “It’s okay. It happens. You seem to be in better spirits today, which is good.”
He shrugged but kept the smile on his face. “For the most part,” he agreed.
We stared at each other for a few seconds, and my heart flip-flopped in my chest. The butterfly feeling was exhilarating.
