Free The Many by Nathan Field

And when you see him at the wine bar, does he live up to your expectations?”
    “Yes. Absolutely. When he stands up to greet me, my legs go all wobbly. He looks like a TV doctor…six foot four, thick dark hair and incredibly handsome. He’s wearing a suit but I can tell he’s got an amazing body underneath. Broad shoulders but trim at the same time, like one of those Olympic swimmers.”
    “He sounds impressive. And what’s he like to talk to?”
    An empty second passed before Stacey answered. “Nice. He’s really nice.”
    Dr. Ramirez picked up on the hesitation. “You seem uncertain.”
    “No, he is nice,” she confirmed. “Just not what I expected.”
    “In what way, Stacey? Remember, you’re perfectly safe here. You can tell me everything that’s on your mind and no harm will come to you. I promise.”
    “Yeah, I understand. It’s hard to describe, that’s all. He just seems a little too nice for his appearance, you know? I’m used to guys like Adam being complete assholes. And Adam’s not just handsome, he’s mega-successful, too.”
    The more Stacey talked, the more she sounded like Karl’s big sister of old. She was still speaking unnaturally slowly but some of her colorful language and familiar turns of phrase had returned. She really had stepped back in time.
    “Yes, I know what you mean,” Dr. Ramirez said. “He’s a bit too smooth.”
    “No, that’s not it. He seems a bit….saintly.”
    Karl caught the slight, involuntary twitch in Dr. Ramirez’s cheek muscle. “Saintly,” she repeated meaningfully. “That’s an interesting word. Can you give me an example?”
    “Well, he does voluntary work for the poor…” She stopped herself. “But that’s not what I’m getting at. It’s the fact he never swears. And he doesn’t laugh at my crappy jokes, or crack any jokes himself. I think it might be a cultural thing.”
    “Because he’s English?” Dr. Ramirez prodded.
    “Yeah, that’s what I’m thinking. But I haven’t met many English guys before so I can’t really tell.”
    Dr. Ramirez jotted something down in her pad – the first time Karl had seen her writing. He sensed the extra tension in the air; the subtle change in the doctor’s demeanor. She was beginning to suspect there was more to Stacey’s date than she’d initially thought.
    “Let’s get back to the wine bar,” she said. “Do you stay there long?”
    “Just two drinks. Then we head across the street, to an Italian restaurant. It’s almost full but we manage to get the last table by the window. I’ve eaten here before but tonight it seems really romantic…with the drippy candles and the cold outside.”
    Dr. Ramirez was taking notes furiously now. “And what are your feelings toward Adam over dinner?”
    “He’s lovely. Really nice.”
    “But at the wine bar, you were worried he was a bit too nice.”
    “I wasn’t worried – it was just an observation. And now I realize how refreshing it is to be with a guy who doesn’t show off all the time. Adam doesn’t crap on about his job and his car and his money. He’s more interested in me. He wants to know about my life and my opinions on things.”
    “You don’t find the questions intrusive?”
    “No, not at all. It’s nice to have a two-way conversation. I’ve already decided to go home with him.”
    Dr. Ramirez paused, running her pen over the notes she’d just scribbled down. “Are you drinking anything over dinner?”
    “We’re sharing a bottle of wine.”
    “And I presume you had alcohol back at the wine bar.”
    “Two glasses of white,” Stacey confirmed.
    “Do you feel drunk?”
    “Not drunk. I just feel nice and warm inside.” She had a dreamy look on her face. “I could stay here forever.”
    Dr. Ramirez’s eyes narrowed; her concern growing. She stole a nervous glance at Karl, giving him a tight little smile that was meant to be reassuring. But he knew she was thinking the same thing. The perfect date was poised to take a