Free In His Sights by Jo Davis Page B

“Chris? This is Robyn. I hope it’s okay that Shea gave me your number.”
    â€œOh, hey, Robyn! Of course, that’s more than okay.” He sounded really happy to hear from her, and that made her insides quiver. “So, does this mean you’ve done some thinking about having dinner with me?”
    â€œYes, and I’d love to. If you’re still interested, that is.” There were those nerves, making an appearance and doing their best to rattle her composure.
    â€œYou’re kidding, right?” He laughed. “I feel like I’ve just won the lottery.”
    Her face stretched into a broad smile. “I wouldn’t go that far.”
    â€œBelieve me, I
would
. So, when are you free?”
    â€œI’m off tomorrow night, if that works.”
    â€œPerfect. What’s your favorite kind of food?”
    â€œI’m not picky,” she said honestly. “I can eat almost any kind of food except Indian. I can’t stand curry.”
    He chuckled. “I’m with you there. How about I give it some thought and surprise you?”
    â€œSounds fine.” Inside, she felt giddy. When was the last time she’d been surprised?
    â€œWhat about Maddy?” She tensed, but before she could say anything, he rushed to reassure her. “Don’t get me wrong, she’s more than welcome on our first date. I just need to know so I can choose accordingly.”
    He was officially too good to be true.
    â€œI’ll get a sitter,” she told him. “I’d like to get to know you before I bring her along.”
    â€œThat’s more than fine. Pick you up at seven thirty?”
    â€œThat will be great.”
    â€œAll right, see you then, gorgeous.”
    â€œI’m looking forward to it.”
    â€œMe, too.”
    She hung up, almost drunk on the rush. The pure joy.
I did it. I’m going on a date with a handsome, charming man for the first time in two years.
    Well, longer than that if she was counting. Because it had been much longer than two years since Greg had been any kind of companion. She wasn’t going to think about that, though. Not when she finally had a nice evening to look forward to.
    Sticking her phone in her coat pocket, she walked back inside to see Shea and Lee, a male nurse, standing at the nurses’ station. They were talking, looking over a chart, Shea no doubt having to take the man in hand again for screwing something up. Honestly, Robyn didn’t know how much longer the director could put up with him. Shea spotted Robyn and then waved as she approached, giving her a tentative smile.
    â€œWell?”
    â€œDate, tomorrow night!”
    â€œThat’s great.” Her friend gave her a brisk hug.
    â€œA date?” Lee studied the two women with a curious expression on his face.
    Shea let go of Robyn and made a face at him. “Yes, you know—two people go out and have dinner, maybe get some nooky for dessert?”
    â€œShea!” Robyn’s face flamed. “Okay, this is where I get back to work. See you later.”
    â€œDon’t do anything I wouldn’t do,” Shea called out, looking downright smug.
    Shaking her head at their antics, Robyn hurried back into the building. But she was lighter in spirit than she had been in a very long time.
    Tomorrow night. She couldn’t wait.
    *   *   *
    Chris was flying high as he pulled onto his street. So much so that at first his brain didn’t register the water flowing like a mini river down his driveway.
    Water line break.
    â€œShit!”
    Throwing the Camaro into park, he shut off theignition and ran into the house, searching everywhere for running water and damage as he went. He was relieved to find that the break wasn’t inside the house—that would’ve been a major disaster, considering the new carpet, furnishings, and God knows what else.
    Continuing his search, he found a soggy patch of grass in