Free And Call Me in the Morning by Willa Okati Page B

under any stress. Eli doubted you could ruffle Holly's composure with a wood chipper. Add a doctorate in psychology on top of that, and bam . Powerhouse. She studied him, observing something—who knew what. “Look for yourself the next chance you get.”
     
    “I'd have thought Zane and I were the Doublemint Twins around here.”
     
    She didn't tease him when Zane's name came up. Points for her. “Not so,” she said, mimicking his lower bass. Okay, she didn't tease him in a way he objected to. Yet. “You're opposites in almost every way.”
     
    Unexpected, that. “Seriously?”
     
    “Without a doubt.”
     
    Huh . Eli shifted and made room for Holly to pass. An impulse struck him, acted upon without thought. “Do you have Taye's cell number?” He growled and went red at her knowing look. “I just want to check on the kid.”
     
    Holly rotated her hip at Eli. He could see her day planner in the pocket. Old-fashioned, she kept one on paper. “Help yourself. And Eli?” She winked. “It'll be our little secret. Although I do think it's sweet.”
     
    “Sweet?” Eli raised an eyebrow at her as he retrieved the book.
     
    “You're a wonderful doctor. Smart, insightful, skilled. But you never reach out to people. Usually. This gives me hope, Eli.” Holly patted him on the knee and was gone, calling over her shoulder, “I'll need that back by the end of the day!”
     
    Eli waved her on, already in the T's and running his finger down the page. So he was worried. Sue him.
     
    * * * * *
     
     
    No answer. Eli tapped his cell phone against his leg, beating out a quiet rat-a-tat syncopation of concern. Troubling. Who else could he ask? Technically not allowed but he'd bet it could happen. Gossip flew as thick and fast around here as rice at a wedding. Doctors, nurses, interns—everyone used the station as a perch, a watering hole, and an oasis for breather-or-breakdown moments.
     
    As such, Eli found himself perfectly placed to overhear his name mentioned in conversation.
     
    “Dr. Jameson?” An internal medicine specialist Eli didn't know leaned on her elbow and spoke to another woman, somebody Eli only vaguely recognized. “Taken, I think.”
     
    “I didn't see a wedding ring.”
     
    “He's not married. Divorced, maybe? But he's not the social type. Either he's involved, gay, or wed to his job. Not the best kind of guy to set your sights on.”
     
    Amen to that, sister . She had savvy. Eli listened more closely, despite knowing full well that eavesdroppers never heard anything good about themselves.
     
    “He is a cutie,” the internist allowed. “For a guy his age.”
     
    Ouch . Eli revised his opinion of her.
     
    “He's a great doctor. And he's not that old,” the second woman said. A nurse practitioner, Eli thought. Pretty enough, with soft brown hair that curled around her face and smooth pale skin. Her eyes were brown, though, not gray like Zane's.
     
    Huh. Eli smiled a private smile. Interesting, that. Zane was his go-to standard now. He thought he might like that.
     
    “Dr. Jameson's old enough that he's off my radar,” said the internist. “You want someone young, hung, who knows how to work it, and can go all night.” She patted the nurse practitioner's shoulder. The way they interacted reminded Eli of himself and Zane. “Are we still on for going through that stack of journals tonight? I'm so far behind on my reading it's pitiful, and I need to get back in mental shape.”
     
    Maybe the nurse practitioner was still smarting under the sting of aspersions cast. “The competition for that position at Duke is going to be tough. Are you sure you want to apply?”
     
    Meow . Eli hid his broadening smile. Also, his curiosity. What position was up for competition at his alma mater?
     
    The internist shrugged, transparently pretending to be supremely unconcerned. “I could have a snowflake's chance in hell for all I care. For a shot at Duke, even a teaching position, losing a few