Fourteen

"Don't look now, but your favorite doctor is headed this way."

We were having coffee in the hospital cafeteria when Izabelle delivered the news with a knowing smile. Of course, I looked.

She kicked me from under the table. "I said don't look," she scolded.

"That makes me want to look more."

Her gaze was fixed behind me on Dr. Hotchkiss. "You never told me about your date. I bet he's going to ask you out again."

That wasn't going to happen. Unlike Izabelle, He knew I had a boyfriend.

"Hello, ladies," Stephen said smoothly, catching the attention of several other female staff members. "I hope I'm not interrupting anything."

"Not at all," Izabelle replied sweetly. "We were just talking about you." She grinned, and I got an uneasy feeling in the pit of my stomach. "Lucy tells me you two had a fantastic time together."

I had to hand it to Stephen because he didn't miss a beat. "I'm glad to hear she had as much fun as I did."

Inhaling a shaky breath, I pasted on a smile.

"I actually need to ask a favor, Lucy. Tommy has been asking for you. He's had a rough day. The chemo is taking its toll, and I thought it might help lift his spirits if you could stop by and see him before you left."

I frowned, thinking about Tommy's bad day. Misunderstanding the reason for my expression, Stephen added, "If it's a problem, maybe Izabelle can see him."

"It's not a problem. Give me five minutes and I'll be right there." Glancing at my watch, I was surprised at how late it was. I had a few more patients to see today, Kyle included, but somehow I'd make it work.

"Remember, we rode together Lucy," Izabelle reminded me. "But I can come back and pick you up." She made it seem like picking me up would be a major inconvenience.

"I can give her a ride home." His gaze slipped to mine and an uneasy feeling gripped me. I wanted to say no, but it was just a ride. "Thanks."

Izabelle was smiling like she'd just won concert tickets. I wondered how I would explain this to Kyle.

I didn't mind spending more time than I'd planned with Tommy, but I knew I was in a time crunch by the time Stephen and I left the hospital. We reached the parking lot where his sleek, silver sports car sat in all its glory.

I felt uncomfortable when he followed me to the passenger side of the car, but I knew he was only being considerate. He opened the door for me, and I slid into the buttery soft leather that molded to my back.

"Tommy was in good spirits," I said conversationally to Stephen.

Stephen smiled easily. His wrist, with an expensive watch, was propped casually on the steering wheel, and he looked relaxed and in control.

"He loves it when you come to visit. All the kids do. Thank you for seeing him today."

"You don't need to thank me. I was glad I could help."

He threw me a curious look. "Your boyfriend isn't going to be upset that you're late?"

Maybe it was his way of asking indirectly if I had a boyfriend since Izabelle had made it seem like I was into Stephen.

I'd texted Kyle at the hospital to say I would be late, and he'd texted back, Take your time. I'll be here. "No. He won't be mad."

"Oh, so you do have a boyfriend. I was wondering after what Izabelle said."

"I'm sorry about that." I tried to think of how to explain Izabelle's obvious matchmaking, but I couldn't think of anything that sounded sane, so I kept silent.

"You keep looking at your watch," Stephen prodded. "I thought you might have a date."

"I've got a couple of patients to see today."

Stephen looked relieved, and I got a bad feeling.

"Why don't I go with you? It'll save time if we stop on the way and you won't have to get your car."

He wanted to go with me to visit my patients? Imagining showing up at Kyle's house with Doctor Hot Kiss had me smiling at the absurdity of that situation. I had to choke back a laugh, wondering how I'd explain that to Kyle.

"That's nice of you to offer, but I've got this."

"I'll drop you at your apartment then." He seemed disappointed but didn't argue and I was thankful for that.

The sports car purred into my apartment complex a few minutes later, and I thanked Stephen again for the ride. To my dismay, he got out of the car and came around to meet me.

"I know you're taken, Lucy. But if it doesn't work out with the other guy, give me a call."

I was surprised but not nearly as floored as when Stephen reached out, put his hand behind my head, and leaned down. I stiffened in his embrace and pushed him away. He released me immediately.

"I'm sorry." His expression was grim. "I thought maybe... Well, I had to try."

Anger simmered inside of me, but he looked so contrite that I forced myself to take a deep breath. "I accept your apology."

He didn't look sure he believed me, but he was suddenly in a hurry to leave.

I shouldn't have accepted a ride from him. When I turned to go inside, I saw my dad staring at me with a look in his eyes that I knew meant trouble.

"Lucy." My name held an edge of warning. "Why didn't you bring him over to meet me?"

I started to tell him I hadn't known he was there, which was the truth, but I suddenly realized what he thought. "I'm not going out with Stephen, dad."

He blinked, seeming caught off guard. "That's not the same guy you were making out with last night?" His gaze glittered.

My face burned with the accusation. "I wasn't making out with anyone last night. Or any other night," I added just to be clear.

"When Travis told me about the parking incident, I defended you, Lucy. Not my daughter, I told him." He released a bone-weary sigh. "But here and catch you kissing this guy, who you've never mentioned to me."

He sounded more hurt than anything, and I felt terrible.

"Dad, it was a misunderstanding. I didn't let him kiss me—" I stopped, suddenly realizing my mistake when I saw wrath in his eyes.

He turned in the direction Stephen had driven off in, looking like he might be thinking of going after him.

"It's alright." I put my hand on his arm. "I don't know if you remember Kyle Huxley, Izabelle's brother. He's who I was with last night."

My dad actually winced, and I realized referring to Kyle as the guy I was with last night didn't make him look worthy in the eyes of my dad.

"We weren't together like that. He took me home after we talked to Travis." His jaw tightened, and the vein at his temple throbbed. "He's my boyfriend."

"Boyfriend?" He snarled the word as if he was unfamiliar with it. "You have a boyfriend?" Pinching the bridge of his nose, Dad seemed to be taking everything in. "Huxley? The name is familiar." He frowned. "I haven't arrested him have I?"

"No. You arrested his dad, Darryl Huxley." I knew that didn't sound much better.

Recognition flashed in my dad's eyes. "The drunk," he growled. "He like his dad, Lucy?"

"No, he's not. Kyle's wonderful. He was a soldier and he was injured saving lives. He's amazing."

He studied me like I couldn't hide anything from him. "You love him," Dad said, surprising me.

I hadn't expected him to be able to read my feelings or to voice them aloud. It was a lot to take in, I knew. "Yes. I want you to love him too. He's Christian and we—"

"Not everyone who professes to know Jesus is a good person." Frustration was evident in his voice. "It may be a while since I've opened my Bible, but what he was doing with you in the parking lot isn't Christian."

He spoke like he expected all Christians to be hypocrites, and it hurt that my actions reinforced his belief. "We just kissed. That's it." The doubt in his eyes kept me talking. "I'm a virgin."

That caught his attention. Relief flickered in his eyes, and he studied me. "I've been working too much lately. I'm sorry I missed our last dinner." He cleared his throat after a long pause. "You'll bring Kyle with you when we meet next week?"

Happiness bubbled inside me. "Yes!"

"I guess Izabelle set you up with her brother?" Interestingly, there was something in his voice when he said her name.

I shook my head. "Izabelle doesn't know. It's a long story."

"Make it short." He looked like he wanted to strangle someone, probably Kyle.

"Izabelle is friends with Kyle's ex-girlfriend, and she thinks they'll get back together. That's why we haven't told her about us yet."

Dad just stared at me like the time I brought home a dozen chickens. That was a long story. "He wants to keep you a secret from his sister."

"No, it's not like that. You'll like Kyle, just give him a chance."

Reluctantly, he agreed to withhold judgment, but I knew he was prepared to dislike Kyle on sight. That didn't overly concern me because I knew that once Dad got to know him, he'd see what a great guy he was. At least that's what I kept telling myself as I hurried to change and get to work.

Before overthinking it, I stopped, bowed my head, and prayed.