Free The Doctor's Undoing by Gina Wilkins

with anyone. Second year was a nightmare of classes, tests and preparation for Step 1; it was a crazy time to start a new romance. He’d worried about her being distracted, falling behind, doing something she would regret.
    He should have known better, of course. Haley would let nothing interfere with her set path. She’d entertained herself with Kris for a time, then cheerfully moved on, neither the worse for wear.
    Ron had dated during that year, himself. Occasionally. Very casually.
    No one had even tempted him to enter a relationship.
    Was Haley seeing someone new now that third year had brought a little more spare time? Was she seeing Kris again?
    Not that he could blame Kris if he was trying to get her back. Spotting Haley across the hospital parking lot as he walked toward his car, he pushed his hands into the pockets of his gray dress pants. She did look good in the leaf green top and taupe skirt, and the shoes she wore made her legs look a mile long and nicely curvy. But then, Haley always looked good. Fresh, pretty, appealing.
    He tried not to think of her that way. Like he’d told her, he would never want to risk messing up their friendship. It meant too much to him. But he wasn’t blind, and he wasn’t a eunuch. He was keenly aware that his friend was seriously hot.
    â€œHey, Haley!” he called out on impulse, speeding his steps.
    She looked over her shoulder with a smile, pausing at the driver’s door of her car. “Hi, Ron.”
    â€œGot plans for this evening?”
    â€œNo, why?”
    â€œHow about a baseball game?”
    She blinked. “A baseball game?”
    Resisting the impulse to tease her about the echo, he nodded casually. “Dr. Beck gave me two box-seat tickets for the Travs game tonight. It might be fun to get away from work for a few hours. What do you say?”
    â€œYou want me to go with you to the Travelers’ game?”
    Laughing, he waved a hand in front of her eyes. “Hello? Anyone home? Why do you keep repeating me?”
    Shaking her head a little, Haley gave him a self-conscious smile. “Sorry. I guess my brain’s a little fried from a very busy day.”
    â€œThen you could definitely use a night off. What do you say? Popcorn? Peanuts? Cotton candy?”
    She hesitated just long enough to make him wonder if she was trying to come up with an excuse to decline. He held his breath, hoping she’d say yes. It was no big deal, after all. Just two friends spending an evening together. Two very good friends.
    And then she lifted her chin and shrugged. “Sure. Why not? I haven’t been to a baseball game in years.”
    Satisfaction flooded through him. “Great. It’ll be fun. Maybe you’ll even catch a foul ball.”
    â€œI’d be more likely to get hit in the head by one.”
    He grinned. “I’ll pick you up in an hour. Don’t bother eating first.”
    â€œI plan to pig out on ballpark food.”
    â€œSame here. See you.”
    He was pleased to see she was smiling when she slid behind the wheel of her car. She appeared as though she might even be looking forward to the outing. He knew he was.
    Â 
    A good-sized crowd had gathered at the North Little Rock ballpark on this pleasantly mild evening for one of the last games of the season. The redbrick exterior of the relatively new park, featuring an impressive clock tower and old-fashioned wrought-iron streetlights, was designed to resemble an old-time train station. This was Haley’s first time to visit, and she was impressed by how pretty and welcoming the entrances appeared.
    Ron placed a casual hand on her back as they entered one of the three gates, shoulder to shoulder with other arrivals. She knew it was just a way to keep them from getting separated, but she was keenly aware of the contact between them.
    They entered into a covered concourse lined with gift shops and concession stands. Music played from overhead