A Reason To Stay by Julieann Dove Read Free Book Online Page B

a slender arm, from which her matching willowy fingers were attached to her cunning hand. That hand could’ve doubled as a model’s hand, the kind that advertised lotion or jewelry in magazines. Elise shook it and noted the Calvin Klein fragrance she wore. The blond was real. It accented her blue eyes perfectly. She was graced with the natural beauty that made make-up almost unnecessary, although she wore it impeccably. No doubt after a twenty-hour shift of saving people’s lives.
    “Of course, Darren. We met at Tom’s party last summer. I believe you two had just started dating.” Stacy directed her conversation to Darren, almost speaking as though Elise were a thought they were having together.
    “That’s a phenomenal memory because I don’t remember you at all.” The white lie danced past Elise’s steady tone and jealousy crawled under her skin. She wasn’t used to competition. Even if it was only in her imagination.
    Tension took its place among the two of them, forcing out a moment of awkward silence. Stacy began her exit strategy.
    “Well, Darren, thanks for the advice. I guess I’ll let you know tomorrow what happens.” She turned to leave and then stopped. “It was good seeing you again, Elise. Have fun on your trip.”
    After she exited the room and took all her poise and that sweet smell with her, Elise turned to Darren. “How in the world does she know I’m going on a trip?”
    He came around the desk and squeezed her tightly. She fought the embrace, her elbows becoming bent and jammed against his chest. “Darren, answer me. Are you discussing me with her? What did she want, anyway?”
    Darren backed up to explain. “She was consulting with me on a case. That’s all.”
    “And how did she know I was leaving?” Elise waited for him to answer. She was naive to think Darren didn’t have female colleagues and friends. Especially ones that could pose on the cover of Sports Illustrated.
    “She saw me in the flower shop buying you the roses. I told her you were going away for a week.”
    Easy enough. Innocent enough. So, why did it bug Elise just enough? Perhaps it was the fact of the woman’s legs that went up to there, or the beach-perfect complexion, or the fact that she read it all over that blond bombshell that she was interested in Darren, not just for medical advice, but for his own anatomy. But wasn’t that a good thing? Wouldn’t that take Elise off the hook? One would think. Sometimes it took a nudge from someone else to finally get you off the diving board and into the water.
    “What are you doing here, anyway? I was going to pick you up.”
    Elise drove a finger around the edge of his desk, wondering how to treat this delicate situation. The right thing would be to let him go. She knew she had issues and he deserved better. Anyway, space was limited in her comfort zone. Nothing more could be promised than a toothbrush firmly planted next to his. Nothing more and nothing less. Why not release him back into the wild, to the waiting arms of Blonde Bimbo? Maybe, but not now.
    “I got off early and thought I’d swing by.”
    “Well, aren’t I the lucky guy?” He slipped his medical coat off and grabbed his briefcase off the corner of his desk. “By the way, I made reservations at Ollie’s. We’ll get there a little early, but it should be okay.”
    Elise suggested they drive separately so they wouldn’t have to make a special trip back downtown to pick up her car. It gave her a chance to strategize about their last evening before she left. She certainly didn’t want to offer him false hope, but she didn’t want to gift wrap him for Stacy What’s Her Name, either.
    Why couldn’t all relationships just live in the beginning month? There was no drama in the first couple weeks of dating. Only pure fable living at its best—everyone on their kindest behavior, no pouting, and more importantly, no scary commitment talk.
    With green lights the whole way there, they arrived more