Chapter 8
The next several days seemed to drag on for Callie. She was back at work and had also picked up an extra shift, making for a very long week. On her third and final day shift before switching over to nights, Callie was sitting in the lounge during a rare lull in action in the ER. Melanie came into the room and sank down on the couch beside her with an exhausted sigh. “Good god, what a nightmare shift. Do you know what I just had to do? Stitch up some guy’s stomach because he and his friends thought it was a good idea to film themselves recreating a medieval sword fight! I mean seriously. Are they adults? Or just overgrown children.” Melanie rolled her eyes sarcastically.
Callie leaned against her friend’s shoulder, feeling every bit as exhausted as she replied, “Oh, Mel, I think I have you beat. I just had to refer a guy to surgery, because he tried to squeeze one of his testicles through his friend’s wedding ring. Brings new meaning to the lyrics ‘if you like it then you shoulda put a ring on it.’”
Both women laughed at that terrible joke.
“Seriously, the things some guys do absolutely astound me. Are there no mature, handsome single men left in this city?” Melanie griped.
Her complaints about the lack of dateable men were well known in the department, as she often regaled her coworkers with ridiculous dating stories. But behind her wacky stories there lived a woman who had been seriously hurt by a toxic marriage to an embezzler who had stolen everything from her. Going on endless dates was Melanie’s way of healing and proving to herself that she was still attractive and that she could be in control.
“Hey, did you go on a date with the hunky guy from the Lucky Strike? Tell me you took him up on his offer.” Melanie leaned forward, eager to hear all the details, but before Callie could even open her mouth, both of their pagers went off with a ‘stat’ page to the ER, signifying that a trauma was inbound. Sure enough, when Callie called the nursing station as they stood up, she discovered a multi-car accident had occurred and several injured people were on their way.
“Sorry, Mel, guess you’ll have to wait for the details. But let’s catch up soon. Because, the short story is – yes!” Callie smiled at her friend’s cheer as they both took off down the hall, back to saving lives.
Some time later, Callie’s shift was almost over. As she prepared her notes to hand her remaining patients over to the next physician coming on duty, she felt her phone buzz in her pants pocket.
Hot Bartender: I hope you’re kicking ass and saving lives while I slave away slinging beers. Missed you these last couple of days, I was hoping you could swing by the pub after one of your shifts.
Callie thought about the way she typically passed the time between her shifts, which normally involved watching Netflix and eating popcorn. The swing shift she was on today was a nice one, because she had twenty-four hours off before starting her night shift rotation the following evening. Plenty of time to sleep, if she went to the pub for a while. She realized she was missing Jake more than she thought she would after only a couple of dates. Seeing him again would be a much better way to spend her evening.
Gorgeous: I’m sure your customers appreciate their beer as much as my patients appreciate the lifesaving. And if you have a peach ale and a kiss waiting for me, I would love to stop by tonight.
Hot Bartender: You really are my kinda woman. Beer and a kiss it is.
Callie smiled to herself, then hurried to finish her chart notes, eager to be done so that she could go to the Lucky Strike and see her favorite bartender.
* * *
After rushing home for a quick shower, Callie pulled on clean jeans and a thermal tee, then swiped on mascara and lip gloss. Looking in the mirror she realized her skin was glowing, and her eyes looked bright, no makeup needed. Besides, she thought, Jake had seen her – and made love to her – first thing in the morning when she hadn’t even brushed her hair. Anything would be an improvement over that.
A short while later, she walked in the door to the pub and glanced around looking for Jake. When she couldn’t see him right away, she began to make her way towards the bar. It was crowded, but she was able to find a seat. A tall red headed man with a charming smile was behind the bar. He looked over at Callie and grinned, before pouring a sleeve of beer and sliding it over to her.
“You must be Callie. Jake told me to watch for a beautiful blonde woman, and you are, hands-down, the best looking one I’ve seen all night. Here’s your beer.”
“But I’ve got your kiss.” Jake’s voice rumbled in Callie’s ear as he spun her around on the stool and captured her mouth with his.
Callie’s hands were trapped against his muscled chest, and she could feel his heat everywhere as he plundered her mouth. When they finally came apart, Jake brushed a piece of hair behind Callie’s ear before grinning unabashedly. “Hey, Gorgeous.”
Smiling up at Jake and the happiness she could see in his deep eyes, Callie decided to tease him a little, “Hey yourself. You know, I’m not sure I can call you ‘hot bartender’ anymore. Not with him behind the bar.” Callie gestured to Ryan who laughed and took a bow.
“I’m the only hot bartender for you,” Jake growled. Then he leaned in and claimed her lips for another kiss.
“Okay, you two, simmer down. Don’t make me take out the water gun,” Ryan teased as he flicked a bar towel at Jake’s arm.
Grinning, Jake slid onto the stool next to Callie, keeping his body as close to her as he could.
“Yeah, yeah, just remember who writes the paychecks around here. Callie, meet Ryan Carlisle, my alleged best friend and business partner. However, if he keeps flirting with you, or giving me a hard time, he’ll be out of a job – and a friend – soon.”
Callie could hear the joking nature beneath Jake’s words, the camaraderie between them was apparent.
“Nice to meet you, Ryan. Thanks for the drink.”
Ryan nodded his head towards her with an easy grin on his face, before walking away to serve other customers.
Jake turned to face Callie and asked, “So how late can you stay? I know you have work tomorrow night, but can you stay to hear the band we have coming on at nine? We’re considering asking them to play regularly, so I would love your opinion.”
Callie’s eyes lit up in response. “I can stay for that. Actually, if you don’t mind, I’ll call Reagan to come and have a drink with us. She loves live music.”
