4. Kayla
4 KAYLA
I’ve spent the first half of my shift thinking about Mac Lancaster. Rock star Mac Lancaster. He was gorgeous up close, without the filter of a camera lens, but more than that, he was normal and down-to-earth with a great sense of humor. I enjoyed talking to him, and after a while, the whole rock star thing was just another fact about him. The problem was, I couldn’t stop thinking about him, which felt silly. Mac was gorgeous and probably dated models like my friend Rob, who was gorgeous, slim, and tall. No matter his compliments last night, he wasn’t interested in a busy ER doctor with a few extra pounds to lose.
Okay, more than a few.
At least fifteen pounds. “Garden salad and fries, please.” It was the perfect balance: healthy, fresh, high-fiber foods and carbs to get me through the second half of my shift. Note to self: start running again.
I ate quickly, not because I was particularly hungry, but because emergencies weren’t scheduled and almost always came at mealtime. I was halfway done when I felt someone’s gaze on me and looked up to find half of the Matchmaking Brigade headed my way.
My gaze scanned the cafeteria in search of an escape route, but there were very few customers and even fewer doctors.
Dammit.
I am a professional, so I schooled my expression into a smile as they approached. “Ladies.”
“Dr. Stevens, we hope you’re settling in well.” Sarah Kinley wore a kind smile, but I knew that wasn’t the complete statement. “You’ve been home for a few months.”
“Yes, and working at the medical center.” I wasn’t one to throw my title of doctor around, but sometimes it was necessary.
“Of course, and we’re all so proud of you and happy you’ve returned to Holiday Grove. But surely you can’t work all of the time?” Sarah was about as delicate as a Mack truck.
“What Sarah means is that we’re hoping to get more young people involved in the festivals, and our St. Patrick’s Day celebration is just around the corner.” Molly was more tactful in her approach.
“I’d love to, but I don’t want to commit to anything with my schedule. It would be a shame if you were counting on me and I couldn’t make it due to a medical emergency.” School and later work had always been handy excuses to avoid unwanted social engagements, but I paused and wondered if I was doing the right thing. I did need to get back into the swing of a normal life now that school was officially over. In Holiday Grove, that meant festivals and nights out with friends. “You wouldn’t happen to have a schedule of events, would you?” I could find a way to be involved and do my job.
Both women flashed satisfied smiles and handed me a packet of papers. “You can also find it online, dear.”
“Thank you.” I waited until they were out of sight before I turned my attention back to the fries on my plate. Less than a minute later, I was being paged because of a teenage skateboarder showing off.
For the next couple of hours, it was back-to-back emergencies, which made my shift fly by. With one hour to go, I worked on charts and daydreamed about a certain green-eyed hottie.
“There you are!” Rob’s voice had me looking up as one of my oldest friends strolled through the hallway as if she were still on a runway in Paris. “This place is like a maze, I swear.”
I smiled. “That’s why they tell you to wait up front.” But knowing Rob, she charmed someone into letting her wander the halls on her own.
“Blah, blah,” she waved me off with a smile. Even though Rob had officially retired from modeling, she looked like she was on her way to a fancy New York City party. “You want to grab dinner and drinks at Ol’ St. Nick’s Pub?”
I bit back the instinct to refuse the invitation and nodded. “Sure. I need to go home first to shower and change.” Mostly, I needed a second shower to get rid of the puke smell from the skateboarder, but I needed to up my game so I didn’t look like a bridge troll next to Rob.
“Fine, but don’t leave me hanging. Please.” She rolled her eyes. “The Matchmaking Brigade has decided I’m next on their list of victims.”
“It worked out for Torey and Ryan; maybe you ought to find yourself a fake boyfriend.”
“I need to figure out my future on my own first. Why aren’t you worried?”
I shrugged. “Because there’s a beautiful single model in town; no one cares about me.” I wasn’t fishing for compliments. I knew what I looked like and what my assets were, but being friends with Rob, Torey, and Nix gave me a very practical idea of my physical appeal.
“You’re gorgeous, and you’re the only one who doesn’t know it. One hour,” she pointed at me. “Don’t be late.”
The moment my shift was over, I rushed home without checking to see if Mac’s car was parked in his driveway, showered, and changed into jeans, a lightweight sweater, and black ankle boots that made me feel like a sexy badass. I painted my lips red, and when I walked into the pub, I smiled at the sight of Torey, Nix, and Rob seated in a booth with Lee and Mac. Be cool, I told myself as I approached the table. I will not be upset when Mac fawns over Rob. I will not take it personally. They make sense together. We don’t. “Hey.”
“Kayla.” Mac spoke first; his voice was thick and low. “Looking good.”
Don’t blush. Don’t blush. “Thanks, Mac. You always look good.” Dammit, do not blush. I looked around the pub to avoid seeing the varying expressions on my friends’ faces, ranging from what the hell was that to somebody has a crush .
“Take my seat,” Torey insisted as she stood. “Rob and I haven’t caught up in ages.” I didn’t believe that for one second, given the way her blue eyes sparkled with mischief.
I sat down beside Mac and smiled at Nix and Lee. “How’s everyone doing?” I bit down on the inside of my mouth when Mac’s arm brushed against mine.
“Good. The bakery is keeping me busy. How’s the ER?”
“Really good,” I smiled. “Always busy. Always different.”
“Didn’t figure you as a pub-type of girl,” Mac whispered.
I turned, which was a mistake because he was close—too close, and he smelled too good. “It’s the only bar in town.”
“Still,” he shrugged.
“I could say the same about you.”
“Sure.” He arched a brow, and his smile grew a little brighter. How did he do that? “Yet here we are. Both of us.” His gaze held mine hostage—not that I wanted to look away, but the intensity in his gaze was far too engaging. “Can I buy you a drink?”
“Sure,” I shrugged. “I’ll have a?—”
“I know exactly what you like. Trust me?”
Yes. “I guess I will. Don’t disappoint me.”
Surprise flashed in his emerald eyes. “Wouldn’t dream of it.”
I kept my gaze fixed on him as I stood and let him and Lee out of the round booth.
“Damn girl, what was that ?” The question came from Rob.
I blinked to clear my vision and turned to find my friends staring at me with shocked expressions. “What was what?” There was no way they saw what I felt in that moment, right? It was one-sided. It had to be.
“What?” Nix laughed. “The sparks that almost set this place on fire!”
I shrugged off her words despite the warmth flowing through my veins. “We’re neighbors.”
“He’s been in town for five minutes,” Torey insisted, that familiar gleam in her eyes.
“There was a pizza delivery mix-up, and we ate dinner together. That’s all.”
“No,” Rob shook her head. “That’s not all. There’s some serious chemistry between you guys, and did you see how he couldn’t take his eyes off you?”
“Don’t, please. I know what I look like and who I am. He’s out of my league, not to mention temporary.” He’d be off on another world tour with women far more beautiful and interesting than me to keep him company.
“So was Ryan,” Torey answered. “Until he wasn’t. In fact, we’re meeting up in Belgium as soon as his latest mission is over.”
That sounded exciting, but I wasn’t the girl who got an exciting whirlwind romance. It was always the same thing with men. I was too boring. Too curvy. Too nerdy. Not exciting enough. And those were regular men, not a millionaire musician. “Belgium seems nice.”
Torey groaned. “Come on, Kayla, he’s really a nice guy.”
“I know that, but I’m not setting myself up for humiliation. Or worse.” I already knew how easy it would be to fall under Mac’s spell, and I knew exactly how that would end: tears and heartache for me, not to mention watching him move on every time I turned on the TV or went to the supermarket.
“Just think about it,” Torey insisted before the guys returned with drinks.
It was all I thought about for most of the evening as Mac showered me with attention: his scent, his big hands, and his beautiful mouth. I wondered how it would feel against my lips, on the rest of my body.
Then I wondered if I could have a casual, temporary fling with my rock star neighbor.