by Naomi Niles
“Urrgh!”
“He is the same doctor that turned you on by simply putting his hands on your body, isn’t he?”
“I… Yes,” I nodded, hanging my head.
“And you’re going to pass up this date because…”
“Because he’s too good looking for me.”
“That’s the stupidest answer I’ve ever heard in my life,” Haley said, shaking her head. “And, I’ve heard a few. You’re going, and that’s all there is to it.”
“I don’t have anything to wear.”
“I’ll take you shopping.”
“My hair is a mess.”
“We’ll visit the salon before your date.”
“I don’t have the right shoes.”
“You can borrow mine,” Haley said sweetly. “It’s lucky we have the same size.”
I groaned and she laughed. “Any other excuses you want to throw my way?”
“No,” I sighed in defeat.
“Good,” she nodded. “Now help me with these tables and we can get shopping.”
“Nothing’s going to look good on me,” I said.
“Excuse me if I just start ignoring you,” she said, turning her back on me. “The excuses are starting to grate my nerves.”
I couldn’t help but smile as I helped Haley with the tables. Within the hour, we had the place spotless again. We headed out by four-thirty, which gave us a couple of hours to shop before I needed to start getting ready. Now that Haley had convinced me to go on the date, I felt a bubble of nerves pick up in my stomach. I knew it would blossom an hour before Doctor Burbank arrived, but there was no help for that.
We headed to a huge department store that Haley swore by and spent an hour combing through the racks. I was more hesitant with my choices, but Haley just kept throwing clothes across my arms as though she a personal shopper. When I couldn’t carry any more clothes, we headed to the dressing rooms.
The dressing rooms were fantastic. They were large, spacious, cordoned off by cushy chairs, and very private.
“Try this one first,” Haley said, throwing a silver dress at me.
“I’m going to look like a call girl in this one.”
“Wear it,” she snapped. I knew she meant business.
I stepped into the dressing room and pulled on the silver dress. It was sleeveless and high collared at the front, but the back neckline was nothing if not risqué. It hugged my body a little too closely before ending five inches above my knees.
I stepped out of the dressing room self-consciously, thankful that no one else was around. “Wow,” Haley said, with raised eyebrows. “You look fabulous.”
“I look uncomfortable.”
“That’s just your personality,” she said, narrowing her eyes at me. “The dress is great.”
“It’s too shiny.”
“Perfect for a dinner date.”
“It’s too short.”
“Perfect for showing off those legs of yours.”
“I’d rather cover up my legs, to be honest,” I said. “They look really chunky in this dress.”
“Are you on crack?”
I laughed. “This is going to be a long shopping session isn’t it?”
“It wouldn’t be if you would just listen to me and stop having opinions of your own,” Haley said earnestly. “If you hate this dress so much, then try on this one.”
This time she threw me a green halter dress with a more demure hemline. I tried it on and stepped out of the dressing room again.
“What’s that face?” Haley asked immediately.
“I don’t like the color.”
“Of course you don’t,” she nodded, as though she had been expecting that. “What else?”
“Umm…my shoulders seem naked in this dress.”
“I think that’s the point.”
“I’d rather wear something that covers up my shoulders.”
She frowned at me. “You want to cover up your legs, your shoulders…your breasts and your ass? In other words, you want to go on this date dressed like a nun?”
“Nuns can be sexy,” I joked. “Look at Julie Andrews in The Sound of Music.”
Haley burst into laughter. “You are such a dork,” she said, shaking her head at me. “Here, take these dresses in and try them.”
It took longer than I expected, but in the end, I actually managed to find a dress I could stand to wear. It was powder-blue silk with a fitted bodice that flowed out at the waist. It was a very feminine style, but it had short sleeves and a flowing skirt that fell to my knees.
“It’s pretty,” Haley said approvingly. “Not exactly sexy, but it’ll do. We’ll pair it with some ‘fuck me’ heels and edge it up a little.”
“Umm…can we not?”
“Umm…no,” Haley said, imitating my tone of voice.
We had just enough time to head to the salon for a quick manicure. Half an hour later, we were back at home and it was already ten past seven.
“Oh God,” I said, looking at the time. “He’s going to be here in fifty minutes.”
“Perfect,” Haley said, clapping her hands together. “Just enough time to get you ready. Now hop into the shower and try to calm down a little while you’re in there.”
I spent fifteen minutes trying to soak away my nerves, but when it became clear that wasn’t going to happen, I stepped out of the shower and wiped myself down. When I walked into my bedroom with a towel wrapped around my chest, Haley was waiting for me.
“I found the perfect heels to go with your dress,” she said, pulling out a pair of black heels with a delicate velvet sash that would drape around my leg.
“I won’t be able to balance in those.”
“Tough,” she said uncaringly. “Beauty is pain. Now put on your dress; I’m going to do your makeup.”
I sighed and did as I was told. The moment I put on the dress, I felt a little better. It was pretty enough that I felt it covered up my flaws. I sat down in front of my dressing table and Haley got to work on my face. After she was finished, she turned the blow dryer on my hair and styled it, with her face scrunched up in concentration the whole time.
Apart from my nerves, it had been a pretty great day. It was nice to spend quality sister bonding time with Haley. We rarely ever did now that the restaurant was so busy.
“There we go,” Haley said, giving me permission to look at myself in the mirror. “We’re done.”
I had to admit, she had done a good job. She had smudged my eyes with eyeliner and eye shadow so that the hazel popped. She had been subtle with the foundation, rouge, and lipstick so that I looked as close to natural as it was possible to look with makeup on.
“Well?” she asked. “Any complaints?”
I smiled. “None at all,” I said. “Thank you. I actually look quite decent.”
“Decent?” she repeated incredulously. “You look freaking stunning. Now put on the heels.”
I was standing there, in my new dress, my high heels, and my fresh blowout as Haley looked me over from top to bottom. She actually looked quite sentimental as she gazed at me.
“What?” I asked consciously.
“You look amazing,” she said. “I actually feel quite…maternal.”
“Maternal?”
“We’ve come a long way, you and I,” she said. “Things got pretty rough there for a while, didn’t it?”
I felt a lump in my throat as I thought back to the dark days. “It did,” I nodded.
“And yet somehow, we picked ourselves up. We own our own restaurant now,” Haley went on. “We’re in control of our own lives. And, we did it by sticking together.”
“I don’t know how I would have survived without you,” I told her honestly.
Haley waved away my comment. “You would have survived just fine,” she said. “All the same, I’m glad we didn’t have to do it on our own.”
“Me, too,” I nodded.
Our sentimental moment was interrupted by the sound of the doorbell. I froz
e in place and then my heartbeat raced upwards as I was reminded of the date I was about to go on.
“He’s here,” Haley said, glancing at the clock on the wall. “Right on time, too. Now breathe.”
“Haley—”
“Stop over thinking,” she said sternly. “It’s time to live a little.”
Chapter Eleven
JJ
There was something in Californian air. It was alive, vibrant, and somehow invigorating. I glanced nervously around the neighborhood. It seemed that Kami lived in a small residential area that had converted a line of houses into small apartment-like blocks.
The door opened and I found myself facing the blonde waitress who had served us at lunch. She smiled brightly, but she didn’t let me in immediately.
“Hello there,” she greeted as her eyes looked at me critically.
I had opted for dark pants and a white button-down shirt. It wasn’t too formal, but it wasn’t casual, either. I had been confident when I had walked out of my apartment, but now faced with Haley’s obvious scrutiny, I felt a little conscious of myself.
“Hello,” I smiled. “I didn’t expect to see you here. Do you live with Kami or are you just…visiting?”
Her smile grew wider. “We do live together,” she nodded. “And, we also happen to be sisters.”
I raised my eyebrows in surprise. “Really?” I asked. “You look nothing alike.”
“That’s what we’ve been told,” she nodded. “Funny how genetics works sometimes. Why don’t you come on in? Kami will be just another minute.”
I walked into their home. The living room was tiny. There was one cushy blue sofa in the middle of the living room that took up way too much space. It was set directly in front of a small television. There were a few personal touches lying around the house: a crocheted throw, a few pictures, and a couple of kitschy ornaments.
“It’s not much,” Haley said, noticing my observation. “But we’re rarely ever at home anymore, so why bother too much with the décor, you know?”
I smiled. “Sure.”
I could tell that she was examining me closely. When I turned to face her, she made no attempt to hide that. “Do you have any hot brothers?” she asked boldly.
I smiled. “More than I can count.”
“Is that so?” Haley asked, with interest. “Well, well. Any of them single?”
“Two are,” I nodded.
“How many brothers do you have?”
“Four,” I replied. “I’m the eldest of five.”
“Wow,” she breathed. “No sisters.”
“Not a one.”
“Jesus.”
I smiled, but I was distracted by Kami’s appearance from a door on the side. She looked extremely nervous as she stepped out into the living room, but she looked no less beautiful for it. She was wearing a blue dress that hugged her upper body perfectly.
Her makeup was understated and natural, her dark hair hung loose around her shoulders, and her hazel eyes were cast downwards. She looked absolutely breathtaking, but she didn’t seem to be aware of it in the least. She took a tentative step forward and gave me a smile without actually meeting me in the eye.
“Hello, Doctor Burbank,” she said.
I smiled. “I think this might be a good time to start calling me John,” I said. “JJ works, too.”
“JJ?” Haley asked, butting in and filling the silence.
“John Junior,” I replied. “I was named after my father.”
“Ah,” Haley nodded, and then she turned to Kami. “Did you know that JJ here has four younger brothers?”
Kami looked up at me. “Wow, five boys in the family?”
I smiled. “Life was certainly never boring.”
“Well, you can tell Kami all about it on your date,” Haley said. “Now off you go, you two. Don’t come home too early.”
I watched as Kami smiled nervously and walked towards me. We stepped out of the door together and headed outside to where the car was parked. I noticed she was wringing her hands together, as though not quite sure what to do with them.
The moment we were in the car, I turned to her, hoping to put her at ease. “You look beautiful,” I said, in all sincerity.
Kami’s smile relaxed a little. “You think so?” she asked abruptly, and then colored at the effusiveness of her response.
“Of course, I do,” I said. “I’ve never been one to give false compliments. I was raised to be honest.”
Kami smiled and turned her eyes to the windshield. I realized that I would need to take the lead until she became comfortable enough with me to initiate conversation. I didn’t mind. There was something endearing about her shyness.
Zackary had recommended the restaurant I had chosen for us tonight. It was in the heart of the city, but it was apparently a hidden gem. People only knew about it through word of mouth. They served Asian fusion food and had private little tables that offered peace and quiet from the bustle of the restaurant and other diners.
We were shown to our table and the moment the waiter left us alone, it felt like Kami and I were the only ones in the restaurant. She seemed to be aware of this, too, because she looked around searchingly.
“It’s quiet,” she said, after a moment.
“All the better,” I said. “The point was so that I could have a conversation with you.”
Kami glanced at her menu, but I could tell that she wasn’t actually reading it. Her eyes stayed in the one spot and her breathing was hard, as though she were holding her breath.
“Is this strange for you?” I asked, cutting to the chase and hoping my directness wouldn’t add to her discomfort. “Considering how we first met?”
She took a deep breath. “A little,” she nodded. “Actually…a lot.”
I laughed. “For the record, it is for me, too.”
“Oh?”
“But the thing is, I had to ask you out,” I admitted. “I knew I’d always regret it if I didn’t.”
“You would have…regretted not asking me out?” Kami asked, as though that statement amazed her.
“Yes,” I nodded firmly.
She smiled, and I could feel her relax a little. Encouraged, I barreled on with conversation, hoping to distract her enough for her to let down her guardedness.
“I want you to know that I don’t make a habit of asking out my patients,” I continued. “In fact, you’re the first client I’ve ever asked out. And considering you’re not actually a client, I’m not overstepping any ethical boundaries.”
“It must be a hard job,” Kami said.
“It can be,” I nodded. “And to be honest, I sort of…fell into it.”
“How so?”
“I wanted to practice general surgery,” I admitted. “That’s what I was working towards. But then I met Doctor Zackary Burbank. He was this absolutely brilliant plastic surgeon, and he became my mentor. He opened my eyes to the world of plastic surgery and after that… It just became what I wanted to do, too.”
“Isn’t he the doctor who runs the clinic?”
“The very same,” I nodded. “He offered me a job when I told him I was moving to California temporarily.”
“Temporarily?” Kami asked.
“It’s a long story,” I said. “Maybe I’ll tell you about it one day.”
The waiter, who came in to take our order, interrupted us. But after he left, it was Kami who turned to me and started the conversation back up again.
“Do you like what you do?”
“It can be wonderful,” I nodded thoughtfully. “There are some cases that come in and…they’re life changing. I know I’m making a difference in someone’s life. Other times, it’s just about vanity, and that’s less satisfying for me, but it is the job. It’s a mixed bag.”
She nodded. “Have you ever tried to convince anyone else not to get surgery done?” she asked after a moment.
I smiled. “I don’t tend to make a habit of it,” I replied. “Actually no, you’re the first p
erson I’ve ever had that conversation with.”
“Oh,” Kami said, looking down.
“I didn’t realize Haley was your sister,” I said, moving on to some lighter areas.
Kami smiled. “No one really sees it,” she said. “We’re so different, in looks and personality. But she’s my rock. I couldn’t imagine my life without her.”
“And you started Natalie’s together?”
“It was my dream initially,” Kami replied. “But it was Haley who made it possible. She’s the go-getter; she’s the ambitious one. I was terrified of starting up the restaurant. I was convinced we would fail in the first year. But Haley’s smart. She used our savings well. We started small, and we built a reputation over time.”
“I can see that,” I nodded. “Natalie’s is unbelievably popular.”
“Haley wants to expand,” Kami admitted, and she looked a little weary. “But I’m…scared.”
“Why?”
“It’s going to mean more responsibility, more exposure, and much more hard work,” she said. “I don’t mind the hard work. It’s just that… I don’t know if I’m geared for everything else. Expanding would mean hiring a staff, buying or renting out a bigger space, increasing overheads… It’s just a lot. I kind of like that it’s just Haley and I at the moment. It’s more personal.”
“I can understand that,” I nodded. “A true family business.”
“Exactly,” Kami nodded eagerly. “We have complete control now. I like having that kind of freedom.”
I nodded. “Your food is amazing, by the way,” I said. “And I’m not just saying that. We ordered everything on your menu, and it was seriously the most delicious culinary experience I’ve ever had.”
Kami’s cheeks flushed scarlet at the compliment, but this time, her hazel eyes met mine and she looked delighted. “Thank you,” she said.
“Where did you learn to cook like that?” I asked.
“My mother,” Kami said, after a small hesitation. “She was a brilliant cook and loved experimenting with different flavors and cuisines. She hated using cookbooks and following recipes. I cooked with her a lot of the time. She was the inspiration behind my dream. That’s why our restaurant is named after her.”
