Page 2 of Dr. Sexypants

“Which part? Getting banged against the wall, or sending him on his way once you’re done.”

“The latter.”

“Yeah, I get the impression it’s probably not Justin’s style either.” Which was why I thought he’d be a good alternative if Adam wasn’t going to make a move. Dr. Weaver gave off “in it for the long-haul” kind of vibes, and Conor needed a father figure in his life.

But getting banged and sending them on their way was definitely my style. I’d just sent the latest guy packing when he’d suggested we move in together.

The thought of commitment made my skin itch.

Lainey had sighed and wrinkled her nose. “Do you think I should cancel? I don’t want to lead him on.”

“It’s just a date, Lain. It’s not a marriage proposal. Get dressed up, go have dinner, laugh, and flirt with someone of the opposite sex. You don’t have to get naked if you don’t want to.”

But now, as I put a batch of croissants in the oven, I wondered if she’d canceled on the good doctor after all.

But even if she had, it didn’t make sense why she wouldn’t be in the kitchen talking to me about it.

I chalked it up to her grabbing a probably much-needed nap before the baby woke up, so I went ahead and got started on the cinnamon rolls by myself.

Several batches later, the sounds of Conor fussing came through the monitor. I glanced at my watch—it was just before six; the little dude was right on schedule.

But I didn’t hear Lainey’s footsteps or her offer soothing words to her whimpering son like she always did.

She must be dead asleep.

It was understandable. Some days my sweet friend operated on three hours sleep and a lot of caffeine. Being a single parent meant she never got a break.

I knew she needed to nurse Conor, and if she hadn’t canceled on Justin, she didn’t have any time to spare before she’d have to get ready, so I decided to dash upstairs to her apartment and wake her up.

I grabbed my set of keys that included one to her apartment. But again, I didn’t need it since that door was also unlocked.

Stepping inside, I took note that Lainey’s keys were in the blue, glass bowl on the thrift shop table she’d refinished, and her purse was sitting on the kitchen table with her wallet laying on top.

I wasn’t sure if Conor’s cries sounded louder because I was now in the apartment or because he was becoming more agitated.

And still, I didn’t hear Lainey moving.

“Something’s not right,” I uttered out loud as I quickly moved through the little apartment to Lainey’s bedroom.

****

Justin

When I pulled into the parking space in front of Fiona’s Flowers, the clock on the dash of my Jeep Gladiator read 6:24. Which meant the flower shop was closing in six minutes. They were not going to be happy to see me waltzing through the door.

“I’ll be quick, I promise!” I said to Peg, the woman behind the counter, as I walked in. I was pretty sure she’d graduated a few years ahead of me.

“Doctor Weaver!” she called out with a bright smile. “Getting flowers for your date with Lainey tonight?”

Fucking small towns.

I’d just asked Lainey out yesterday.

And that had only happened because Rob had called me out in front of his friend Jonathan after we ran into him at Hannigan’s. The man was there drowning his sorrows after Kristy Blanchard dumped him—which was awkward, since she was the woman I’d been trying to run into at the bakery again ever since I’d seen her there a month ago.

“Rumor has it you’ve been at Beaumont Bakery a lot lately,” Rob had said with a sly grin.

Scrambling for an excuse, I’d mumbled, “Yeah, I’ve been, uh, thinking about asking the owner out.”