* * *
Iget out of my vehicle in the parking lot ofMackenzie’sclinic and make sure my slacks and button-down shirt are straight and wrinkle-free.ThenIgrab the suit jacket from the passenger’s seat and put it on.Ipurposely leave the tie at the agency and choose the light blue shirt soI’llbe more approachable and not stuffy.ThenIbend down to glance in the side-view mirror and check my hair.It’snot perfect, but it’s good enough.Besides, perfect is stuffy.
Iturn and give a nod to the nondescript vehicle three parking spots down from me withAgentWrightinside, and he gives me a two-fingered salute back.I’mnot sure it makes a huge difference if the vehicle is nondescript if the agent himself isn’t.He’swearing a black suit and tie, sunglasses, and is reading an actual paper magazine instead of looking down at his phone like a normal person.Butthe guy is protectingMackenzie, and that’s all that matters.
ThenItake a deep breath and step inside the building.
CHAPTER10
DEFINITELY NOT A PATIENT
MACKENZIE
WhenIfinish testing the strength and mobility ofPatty’sinjured knee,Itell her, “I’mgoing to give you a solid ten out of ten on your progress.”Herwrinkles change into a beaming smile. “Whatare you most looking forward to doing again once you’re one hundred percent?Alittle salsa dancing?Agame of pickleball?Maybesome hiking?”
Pattydoesn’t seem the type to do any of those things, but the question does make her laugh. “Gettingdown on the floor with my great-grandson to play with dinosaurs.Askme whatI’mlooking forward to the least.”
NowIlaugh asIget out the electrodes and start sticking them on the front of her thigh above her knee. “Whatare you looking forward to the least?”
“Cleaningthe litter box.Itell you,I’vebeen enjoying every single second that my injury has put that task on my dear hubby’s list.Might’vemade the whole ordeal worthwhile.”
Melissa, the receptionist, comes around the corner from the check-in area and walks up to me, a grin on her face thatIcan’t quite name but instantly makes me wary. “Someone’shere to see you.”
“Enid?”Myeyebrows draw together asIglance at my watch. “She’sa little early.”
“No, notEnid.Aguy.Tall, dark, and gorgeous.Notlike ruggedly handsome, but not exactly pretty boy, either.Ifthose two are on a scale, though,” she says, holding her palms up like they are scales, tipping from one side to the other, “I’dsay he’s leaning toward pretty.Polished, suave, a little stoic, a lot hot.Like. . . closer to ‘secret billionaire’ than ‘cowboy on a ranch.’Niceshoes.Greathaircut.”
Whenshe first said it was a guy, my mind immediately ran through possibilities.Patients, my brother-in-law, someone from theOutsidetheBubbleclub.Butas soon as she describes the man, there is definitely a specific someone who pops into my head. “I’mwith a patient,”Isay, hoping it doesn’t come out sounding as regretful asIfeel, andIstick the last two electrodes onPatty’sleg.
“Gosee who it is already!”Pattysays. “Thequicker you go, the quicker you can come back here and spill the tea with me.”
Ibite my lip, then nod, definitely too curious to pass up the offer.Iturn on the transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation machine and hand the controller toPatty, just like every other time she’s come in. “I’lljust be a moment.Iknow you’re a pro at this now, but”—Inod at my coworker, who’s at the next table, helping a patient with hisAchillestendinitis— “Jose’sright here if you need help.”
MelissaandIhead past the line of padded tables on my right and the equipment and exercise space on the left toward the waiting area.
Assoon asIround the corner to the reception area and chairs,IseeJacefor the third time in three days.He’sleaning against the door frame that leads out to the building’s lobby, wearing a dark gray suit and a light blue dress shirt with no tie.I’mguessing he’s here on his lunch break.
Guysin suits are myKryptonite.Thechink in my armor.Mycatnip.IfIhad to work in an office withJaceand see him dressed like that all the time… well, let’s just say that whatever workIdid would be riddled with mistakes and never finished by its deadline.
“Isee we are making a habit of running into each other,”Isay. “Letme guess— you need some physical therapy from that tuck-and-roll you did when taking down my purse thief yesterday and just happened to choose this clinic.”It’sa little strange (okay, a lot strange), yetI’mnot detecting any weird vibes from the guy.AndIam a pro at detecting weird vibes.
Hechuckles and rolls a shoulder just a bit like it’s an involuntary motion that happened just by his thinking about it.Ihadn’t known that he’d done a tuck-and-roll— that had just been a guess.Butbased on his reaction, it was a correct guess.
“Nophysical therapy needed.Ijust really wanted to see you again and didn’t have your phone number.ButIremember you mentioned physical therapy clients during your date, soIGoogledones in the area, and this one has your bio on its site.”
Oh, clever boy.Thattook a bit of initiative, too.IGoogledhis job to try to find him, butIwas much less successful.SearchingforBusinessSolutionscompanies near mereturned one hundred sixty-nine million results. “Nicework,”Isay. “I’llgive you bonus points for your spy skills.”
Hegives me a smile that looks a bit like he’s smiling at an inside joke. “Icame to ask if you’d like to go on a date with me.”
“Oh?”
I’vebeen hoping the universe will bring us back together and now that it does,Irespond with anOh?Icover by tapping a finger on my lip, likeI’mreally considering it, and thenIreally do consider it.Idon’t actually know much about this man— just that he makes me laugh and that he seems to be super protective.
AndIam rather surprised that he hasn’t given off any colored flags.I’vegone on a lot of dates, and there’s always a flag or twoI’venoticed by the end of the first date.NotthatI’vebeen on a date withJace, but we have seen each other twice.Faceda couple of crazy situations together.Ikind of thought he’d be showing one by now.
Hiseyebrow raises in question.Whichis pretty adorable and makes me realize that he has great eyebrows.I’mnot sureI’veever noticed that on a guy before.
“Hangon.I’mtrying to decide.”It’snot thatI’mnot curious or interested.Ijust don’t want him thinking thatIwill say yes to anyone who comes in here sporting great hair and looking like that in a suit.