Free Smolder by Graylin Fox Page A

in front of me.
    “He asked me out,” I said as I signed the last line.
    I heard her land in the chair with a thud.
    “You said yes I hope,” she said.
    “We are going to dinner and the symphony tomorrow night.” I needed to get to a local store and find some dress clothes. My wardrobe leaned toward lazy not sophistication. “Lee, where can I go to get a nice red dress that's formal but not slutty?”
    Her laughter filled the room. “I'll write down the names of a few places for you. You live on one of the islands?” I nodded. “Okay, I'll list a couple of places that will be close to your house.”
    She excused herself to write down the names of the shops and, I was positive, inform the gossip trail of the new development. My assumption proved correct as my phone rang a few moments later, and Dmitri told me one of the nurses in intensive care asked him about our date. I apologized, and told him Lee had connections. He laughed and said he didn’t mind, in fact, he promised the nursing staff he would give a full report Monday morning. I told Lee I’d like to keep my private life private from now on, and she apologized.
    The charts for the patients seen that week were in my inbox, and I closed the door to review the reports I'd written and make any updates or changes as needed. My cell phone rang as I finished—it was Josh.
    “Would you hurry up and get here? If I don't eat soon, I’ll hunt something out back.” He laughed and hung up before I could reply.
    Business was completed for the day. Lee and I left the office walking to the parking deck together. I wondered how long it would take before she asked about Dmitri. Ten minutes.
    “I have to know. How did he ask you? Did he ask you to dress up? Why did you ask about a red dress instead of a little black dress?” She waited for my responses.
    “He asked me to dinner when we were in his office. Which, by the way, is gorgeous and full of antiques. His desk belongs in a museum. He didn't ask me to dress up. I prefer red dresses to black dresses.” We entered the parking deck, and I walked to my car before she could ask more questions.
    “I'll see you in the morning, Doctor. Remember to get a dress tonight!” Lee shouted across the parking deck as I got to my car.
    I waved to her and got in my car. I bought a Toyota Solara when I graduated and decided to go with bright red. The guy at the dealership told me that red cars get pulled over more often, but I loved the car the moment I drove it. A quiet ride home was a luxury I needed. After a day of people telling me their problems, silence is a welcome companion. I never understood how my mother could ride in a quiet car when I was a teenager until I started working as a therapist.
    My garage door opened as I drove in the driveway. Josh stood at the back of the garage with a spatula in one hand and his phone in the other. He looked self-conscious, so I guessed it was his girlfriend.
    “You could invite her over for the weekend, if you want,” I said entering the house.
    He followed a few minutes later and stood in the doorway of my room. “She thanked you for the offer but is busy this weekend. Maybe we can get together over the holidays?”
    “That sounds good to me. By the way, Josh, after dinner we need to go shopping for a red dress.” His jaw stood open, and I walked right past him as if I didn't see it. “Yes, I have a date and it’s tomorrow night.”
    “Slutty?” He poked me in the ribs.
    “No, not slutty. You idiot. It's with the Russian doctor. We’re going to dinner and then to hear the local symphony.”
    I grabbed a plate and helped myself to the pot roast on the stove.
    “Oh. A fancy date.” He chuckled. “We had a couple of those at first. I had to get cleaned up after matches, and we would go to museums and see plays. Maria couldn't believe I could appreciate art.”
    My brother, the intellectual wrestler. “You should show her your SAT scores. That would fix it.”
    He coughed.