Dancing With the Doc

by Jennifer Youngblood

  “Nope,” she said lightly, “a woman has to keep some of her secrets.”

  He opened his menu. “All right secret woman, what do you recommend?”

  “Do you like fish?”

  “Do I like fish?” he repeated in an exaggerated drawl. “I’ve never met a fish I didn’t like.”

  She smiled. “Alright. Then, you should try the fresh-caught Gulf swordfish. The shrimp and grits are great too.”

  He tipped his head, trying to decide. “Swordfish sounds good. What’re you having?”

  “The same thing.” She held up a finger. “Oh, be sure and save room for sweet potato pie afterward.”

  He wrinkled his nose. “Pie made out of sweet potatoes? Gross.”

  Cat leaned forward, speaking in a hushed tone of mock seriousness. “Don’t ever let Harper hear you say that. It’s sheer blasphemy.”

  There were touches of humor around his eyes and mouth. “Well, I wouldn’t want to blaspheme.”

  She wiggled her eyebrows. “Come on, doc. What’re you afraid of? Just try it. You’ve never had anything like it.” He was so much fun to tease.

  He chuckled. “‘I do not like green eggs and ham. I do not like them, Sam I am.’” He sat back in his seat, giving her a speculative look. “I dunno, slugger. I was with you about the swordfish.” He clucked his tongue. “Now, I don’t know. You’re leading me down a thorny path.”

  She caught the laughter brewing behind his eyes as a smile pulled at her lips. “You’ll see,” she sang. “You might just like green eggs and ham.”

  His eyes held hers. “Yes, I might.”

  She blinked as heat rushed to her cheeks. Why did she get the feeling he was talking about so much more than food?

  “Evening folks,” Marie said in a tone several notches too cheerful when she stepped up to the table. Her eyes were ripe with interest as she turned to Chase. “And who might this handsome guy be?”

  Cat bit back a smile. Marie was playing it up big. “This is Chase Brooks. He’s a medical student working at the hospital in Daphne.”

  “Nice to meet you Chase.” She winked at Cat. “Better hold onto this one, he’s a looker.”

  It was fun to watch Chase’s cheeks gather color.

  “You’re one lucky guy,” Marie continued, perching a hand on her hip. “Many a guy has set his cap for our dear Cat, but no one has ever been able to win her. You must be something special.”

  Now, Cat was blushing. She looked at Chase, expecting him to be mortified by Marie’s comment, but instead, he wore an expression of admiration as his arresting eyes studied her. “Yes, she is,” he uttered softly.

  She gave him a questioning look, trying to discern his intentions, but he only smiled back with an evasive grin that was both boyish and sexy. She tried to remain steely, but a smile quivered on her lips. No wonder she’d crushed on Chase as a kid. With his spiky hair and rugged looks that boasted of prominent cheekbones, an aquiline nose, and a generous mouth, he was still as irresistible as always.

  Marie licked her thumb in a swift motion and used it to flip the pages of her pad. “What can I get for you?”

  “We’d both like the swordfish, please,” Chase said.

  “Great choice. Steamed veggies on the side?”

  Chase looked at Cat for her approval before nodding.

  “What do you want for your sides?” Marie asked.

  Chase pursed his lips. “I’ll have the hash brown casserole.”

  Marie looked at Cat. “How about you sweetheart, what’ll you have?”

  “A loaded baked potato.”

  Marie scribbled that down.

  “With sweet potato pie for dessert,” Cat added.

  “I’d expect nothing else,” Marie answered with a large grin.

  After they’d eaten their fill of the main course, they finished off the meal with the delectable sweet potato pie. Cat relished the look of astonishment on Chase’s face when he took his first bite. “What do you think?”

  “It’s terrible,” he said straight-faced.

  “You’re such a liar,” she taunted, wagging her finger.

  Chase ate every last morsel of the pie. Cat was so stuffed from dinner that she couldn’t finish hers. Chase pointed to the uneaten portion of the pie, giving her an astonished look. “You’re not gonna eat that?”

  She clutched her stomach. “I’m too full.”

  His eyes sparked with laughter. “What will Harper think?” he teased.

  She stuck her tongue out at him.

  A few minutes later, Harper stepped up with a bright smile. “How was dinner?”

  Chase was the first to answer. “We didn’t like it, but we ate it anyway.” He pointed to his empty dessert plate.

  Harper laughed. “You’re good.”

  Chase motioned at Cat. “You need to talk to Cat—” he shook his head sorrowfully “—leaving all that goodness on her plate.”

  “Hey,” Cat protested, “quit throwing me under the bus.” She patted her stomach. “I’m a dancer, remember? I have to be able to fit into my leotard.”

  “I’d like to see you in that,” Chase said.

  Warmth rose in Cat’s cheeks as she looked at Chase. Was he flirting with her or was he joking? She couldn’t tell.

  “Thank you for dinner. It really was fantastic,” Chase said. “I wish you’d let me pay you for it.”

  Harper dismissed his comment with a wave of her hand. “Just smile and say thank you,” she ordered.

  “Thank you,” Chase said heartily with a big grin.

  “Yes,” Cat added, “it was delicious … as always.”

  Chase removed his napkin from his lap and placed it on the table. “Well, I guess we should get going. We’re going to Cat’s studio where I’m showing her a few dance moves.” He pumped his eyebrows, his mouth quirking with humor.

  Harper chuckled. “Oh, to be a fly on the wall.” She winked. “Have fun.”

  As they left the restaurant and headed to the dance studio, anticipation raced through Cat’s veins. She would be in the studio, alone with Chase. Even though she kept reminding her head that Chase had a girlfriend, her heart didn’t seem to be getting the message. A part of her wanted to take the all’s fair in love and war approach. If Chase was truly the guy for her, she needed to explore that possibility. Then again, he’d only now reentered her life. And, she didn’t want to be a louse by stealing another girl’s boyfriend. But, being with Chase didn’t feel wrong. It felt righter than anything she’d experienced. There was simply no easy answer here. Maybe Chase was feeling just as conflicted as she. Or, maybe she was looking beyond the mark. Maybe Chase thought of her as just a friend. Around and around she went, always ending up right back where she started.

  “It’s a nice evening,” Chase remarked.

  A smile tugged at her lips. “So, if you can’t think of anything to say, you resort to talking about the weather?”

  His laughter carried lyrically across the night air. “Well, it could be worse. I could bore you stiff with long, obscure medical terms.”

  She wrinkled her nose. “The weather is better.” She’d been so consumed with Chase’s presence that she’d not noticed the weather. She took an assessment. The air was cool and crisp but not too cold. She looked up at the velvety sky sprinkled with glittering stars. “It is a nice evening,” she admitted.

  His face split into a wide grin. “See. The weather’s a great topic.”

  A chuckle rose in her throat. “I stand corrected.”

  When they reached the studio and unlocked the door, her pulse accelerated. She stepped inside and turned on the lights. Chase came in behind her and closed the door. She turned to face him, a heightened energy building inside her like a summer storm. “Alright, Mr. Break Dancer, let’s see your moves.”

  His eyes widened as he grinned, showcasing that adorable dimple. “I can’t dance without music. You should know that, Miss Dance Instructor.”

  A smile tipped the corners of her lips. “Le
t me see if I can fix that.” Her hand went to her hip. “What type of music does a person break dance to? Funk, hip-hop, soul music?”

  “All of the above.”

  She had a subscription-based service. She typed in hip-hop. A second later, the song started as a rhythmic beat piped over the speakers. She turned to face him with an eager smile. “Put your money where your mouth is.”

  He rolled up his sleeves. “Here we go.” He started with his arms and moved like an invisible current was running through him. It went from the top of his body to the bottom, morphing into the moonwalk.

  Chase was good … really good. Cat started clapping. “Bravo!”

  He took a bow. “Thank you, madam,” he said ceremoniously. “Your turn.”

  “Oh, no. I’m not that kind of dancer.”

  “Sure, you are. I’ll teach you.” His face creased into a lively smile so pure that it made her feel deliciously alive.

  She glided over to him, feeling as though her feet hardly touched the floor.

  “Okay, here you go. Start with your hand, and let the movement flow through you, like so.” He was gentle, being careful not to hurt her injured hand. Cat had always been fascinated with break dancing. Also, it was nice to be the student again. She attempted to do it, but her movements looked nothing like his. He stepped behind her and placed his hands on her arm. The warmth of his fingertips flowed into her, sending tantalizing ripples down her spine. All she could think about was that he was right next to her. She looked at her reflection in the mirror, not surprised in the least to see her flushed face. She wondered if Chase could tell. He moved her arms. “That’s good,” he said.

  Her voice hitched when she felt the tickle of his breath on her neck. Cat went through the motions of trying to learn, but she was too caught up in Chase to do much of anything.

  “Let’s try moonwalking,” he suggested.

  She looked down at her slinky heels. “Really?”

  “Take them off,” he suggested, his warm, rich laughter filling the space between them.

  She kicked off her shoes, feeling as free and unencumbered as a teenager. She did a twirl, mirth rising in her throat. Cat was better at moonwalking, but it didn’t help that her bare feet stuck to the floor. Another song came on. This one was eighties rock. By unspoken agreement, they started dancing. It was liberating to just dance, their bodies moving freely to the music. Chase caught hold of her hands and started singing along with the song. Cat joined in. Neither of them were great singers, but that didn’t matter.

  “You ready?” Chase asked.

  “Ready for what?”

  He started moving in a circle. The two of them spun, going faster and faster. Laughter bubbled up wild and free in Cat’s throat. When they stopped, her head swam with dizziness. She took a step and fell. Chase went to grab her, but he also stumbled, sending them both toppling to the ground. Cat ended up with her head resting on Chase’s stomach.

  “Look up at the ceiling,” Chase said. “It’s spinning.”

  She looked, giggling. “I can’t do it.” She closed her eyes, letting her head settle back to normal. She let out a long sigh. “I haven’t done that in years.”

  “Neither have I.”

  Being this close to Chase was turning her heart to a breathless jumble. She wondered if she should move away from him, but she liked his nearness. It was both thrilling and unnerving. Maybe it was her overactive imagination, but she could almost feel the hardness of his abs beneath her head.

  “You have amazing hair.” His voice was silky, entrancing. Tingles rippled through her body at his touch.

  She got up and turned to face him. He also sat up. The air grew electric as their eyes met. She was fascinated by his eyes and how they deepened with intensity, making them look like a turbulent sea before a storm. He leaned closer, sending a surge of adrenaline through her. He was going to kiss her! Her lips parted in response. His mouth was a hair’s breadth away from hers when his phone rang, breaking the spell. They both drew back, startled. Chase reached in his pocket and pulled out his phone. His eyes rounded a fraction of a second before he looked at Cat. The guilt on Chase’s expression turned Cat’s stomach.

  “It’s Amber,” he said unnecessarily. He slid his finger over the face of the phone. “Hey,” he said.

  She nodded, her body going numb. They both rose to their feet. With heavy steps, Cat went to turn off the music.

  “The dance lesson went well,” Chase said. “How was the event … I missed you too.” His eyes met Cat’s. A blistering anger coursed through her veins. If Amber hadn’t called, Chase would’ve kissed her. Cat felt like a gullible idiot. Like it or not, she was playing the part of the other woman! The guilt in Chase’s eyes had sliced her to pieces.

  He ended the call, shoving his phone back into his pocket. “Cat,” he began, raking a hand through his hair.

  “Don’t,” she snapped, her nostrils flaring.

  “What do you want me to say?”

  “You don’t need to say anything.” A sickening humiliation burned through her gut as she glared at him.

  He heaved out a heavy breath. “A few days ago, I thought my life was going a certain direction. Then, I saw you again and everything is skewed.”

  Her eyebrow shot up. “Skewed? Seriously?”

  He spread his hands. “Bad choice of words. I’m just not sure what to do with this.”

  Her voice took on a razor-sharp edge as she threw her head back, eyes blazing. “Answer me this. Why did you come alone tonight?”

  He rocked forward on the balls of his feet, shoving his hands into his pockets. She could feel his indecision cutting a deep chasm between them. “I asked Amber to come, but she had her sorority thing.”

  His comment was a punch in the gut, giving her a much-needed dose of reality. “If Amber had come, you and I wouldn’t be here together. In other words, I’m an afterthought.” The words rose acid in her throat.

  “No, you could never be an afterthought.” His expression was concerned, beseeching.

  She lifted her chin. “Call me old fashioned or idealistic, but when I meet Mr. Right, I want to be top priority … not the fallback.” She hated the quiver in her voice, detested the moisture gathering in her eyes.

  “Cat.” His expression grew pleading. “I’m sorry, it was wrong of me to try and kiss you.” He hesitated, frustration tingeing his handsome features. “Everything’s just so dang confusing right now. I don’t have all the answers. You only just came back into my life …” His eyes held hers. “Can we not start where we left off? As friends?”

  She grunted. “We’re not kids anymore, Chase. Things are different now.”

  He held up a hand. “I know. I just need time—”

  “You need to leave,” she fired back. A part of her understood where Chase was coming from. Heck, she was confused too. Seeing Chase again had thrown her life into a tailspin. Cat didn’t have the answers, but she wasn’t going to be the other woman.

  His face fell. “Are you really asking me to leave?” He looked crestfallen and ticked.

  “It’s for the best.”

  For a second, it looked like he might argue. “Okay,” he finally said, his lips making tight slashes. He gave her a determined look. “But I’m not giving up on our friendship.”

  His statement sounded hollow in Cat’s ears. She had enough friends. What she needed was a partner. She wanted Chase. No, not just that. She wanted Chase to want her as she wanted him. All in or nothing. He bridged the distance between them and peered into her eyes. “Goodnight, Cat.” A wistful smile touched his lips as he fingered a tendril of her hair.

  How easy it would be to throw her arms around him and pull him close. She wanted to learn the taste of his lips, to know how it would feel to be held in his arms. “Goodnight,” she said hoarsely, pushing back the emotion with a superhuman effort.

  With that, he walked out of her studio, not looking back.

  10

  The next morning, Cat rec
eived a text from Chase telling her that he’d enjoyed the dance lesson. She sat on the text for a full twenty-four hours before responding with a simple, Thanks for coming. They spent the next few days exchanging short, innocuous texts back and forth … much like friends would do. With each passing day, Cat’s gloom deepened. It was shocking how affected she was by Chase, which made zero sense. She’d been perfectly fine before he stepped back into her life. So what if he had a girlfriend? It wasn’t like the two of them had ever been an item. She’d had a crush on Chase years ago. They were friends in elementary school. It might as well have been another lifetime. Why couldn’t she just move on?

  Finally, the time came to get her stitches removed. It had been a week and a half since her injury. In some ways, it felt like it was much longer. She’d begun to think of the time as before and after she reconnected with Chase. Even though Cat knew she was an idiot for doing so, she dressed up, choosing her favorite red blouse and a pair of nice jeans. It gave her a ping of satisfaction when Chase did a double take as he entered the patient room where she was waiting.

  “Hey,” he said softly, his gaze holding hers. “Great to see you.”

  “Thanks. You too.” Cat tried to maintain an outwardly cool appearance despite the fact that her pulse was hammering in her ears. Why did he have to be so dang attractive? His hair was messy just like she liked it, and his gray scrubs turned his eyes a smoky royal blue. Chase’s eyes were so intriguing—how they changed colors with the clothes he wore.

  He shook his head slightly as if trying to get back into doctor mode. Sitting down on a stool, he rolled toward her. “How’s the hand?”

  “Much better.”

  He reached for her hand, sending a spark through her when their skin connected. She could tell from the way he blinked that he felt it too. It gave her a sense of perverse satisfaction to know that he was having a hard time with the friendship thing too. She watched as he removed the stitches in adroit, swift strokes. It didn’t take long before he announced, “All done.”

  She flexed her hand, glad to have the stitches gone. “Thanks.” The downside was that her appointment would soon be over, and she’d have to say goodbye to Chase and go back to Clementine alone, which never bothered her before. “You seem like you’re getting the hang of things,” she observed.