Chapter 2
CHAPTER 2
D ex
M y muscles ache in the best way as I wipe sweat from my face with a towel. The gym isn’t just a place to stay in shape; it’s my sanctuary, my way of unwinding after grueling shifts in the ER. But today, it seems like I’m not going to escape unscathed from the well-meaning meddling of my friend, Scott.
After a quick shower, I perch at the protein shake bar, sipping my usual chocolate fix while Scott nurses a green smoothie that looks like pond water. We’ve been friends for years, ever since I saved his life during a cardiac emergency. Now, he considers it his personal mission to inject some excitement into my otherwise quiet existence.
“So,” Scott begins, leaning back in his chair with a knowing smirk, “how are things in the dating arena? You know we married men like to live vicariously through you young studs.”
I roll my eyes. “Very funny. And to answer your question, I haven’t dated since the Ginger debacle.” I grimace at the memory. “That redhead was crazy—as in stalker crazy. I’m good the way I am.”
“Come on, what are you? Forty-one? Forty-two? You’re hitting your peak. You’ve got to get out there. Live a little. Not every woman is a Snapped episode waiting to happen.”
I snort. “Says the man who’s been married for forty years. You don’t know what it’s like out there. Women have changed. Trust me.”
Scott leans forward, his grin widening. “You’re a young, handsome doctor who is bachelorette-worthy. Women would kill to go out with you.”
“Exactly.” I nod sagely. “And I don’t want to be the one killed.”
Scott laughs, shaking his head. “I bet I can find you the perfect woman.”
“You think so?” I chuckle. “Go ahead, knock yourself out.”
“I know so. Hold on.” Scott whips out his phone and holds it up, snapping a picture before I can protest.
“What are you doing?” I ask, frowning.
“Just wait,” Scott says, waving me off. “Go get me another grasshopper shake. I’ll have your woman by the time you get back.”
Shaking my head, I get up and head to the bar. Scott’s in his early sixties and must be starting to lose his mind along with his hair. A woman is the last thing I need after the Ginger nightmare. I still have the metaphorical scars to prove it.
By the time I return with a second shake, Scott’s grinning like the cat that swallowed the canary.
“Meet Violet,” he announces, spinning his phone around. On the screen is a profile picture of a woman with curly blonde hair and piercing blue eyes that seem to look straight through me. My heart does a weird little skip.
“She’s a fox, isn’t she?” Scott says, clearly pleased with himself.
“She’s not bad,” I reply, keeping my tone neutral.
“Not bad?” Scott laughs. “You haven’t even seen the best part yet. Let me read it to you. ‘Looking for a kind, discreet man willing to be my pretend boyfriend for one night. No strings attached. Compensation included.’”
I chuckle, shaking my head. “There’s no way a woman really wrote that. It’s got catfishing scheme written all over it.”
“You never know until you try,” Scott counters. “Besides, she’s offering to compensate you for one night.” He waggles his eyebrows. “And you know what that means. Live a little, son. Get out there.”
Before I can respond, Scott starts banging away at his phone, his expression triumphant. “You’re meeting her tonight at seven at Louie’s Pub. Dress casual.”
“Scott,” I warn, but he just grins.
“And make sure you have condoms,” Scott adds with a wink.
I groan, but as I glance back at Violet’s picture, something stirs in me. Maybe Scott’s onto something. Maybe one night with a woman like her wouldn’t be so bad.