Chapter Sixteen
I HAD TO STOP MYSELF from constantly staring at Brooke Monday afternoon as we trekked with our fellow adventurers through the dense forest to the crunch of rocks beneath our boots, as we made our way toward the first platform of the zip-lining course. Even in a helmet and harness, she looked incredibly sexy.
But her cautious demeanor puzzled me; she was unusually quiet during the drive, only commenting on the beauty of the landscape as we crossed over to the California side of the lake. It made me wonder if her Friday night date with that yahoo, Dr. McDreamy , had gone well and if she was wishing he were her companion instead of me.
As far as I knew, Brooke hadn’t mentioned the date to Eden, and Dr. Everett and I hadn’t shared a shift at the hospital since last Thursday—an arrangement I was grateful for. I kept waiting for him to show up and spill the details of his date with Brooke. It was just the kind of thing he would brag about.
He’d made a point to ask me, as Brooke’s friend, if I thought she would like a sunset cruise. I swore he was taunting me using the word friend , knowing it would get under my skin.
I was ashamed to admit how much it had and how curious I was about how their date had gone. For all I knew, they’d been on more dates, seeing as I’d worked the entire weekend. However, part of me hoped they had hit it off. That way, I could work her out of my system and move on with my life. Or at least go back to just mourning my wife and not constantly feeling guilty for wanting to date a woman Erica would probably dislike, while simultaneously becoming the epitome of a midlife crisis.
I finally decided just to be a man and ask. What was the worst she could say? That she’d found her summer fling? If I were smart, that would make me happy. But being with her today only spoke to how unintelligently I was dealing with the situation.
“So, how did your date with Dr. Everett go? Are you going to be able to check another item off your bucket list?” I tried to sound casual, like a friend, but I wasn’t sure how well I pulled it off. And oddly, she hadn’t used the word friend the entire day.
Brooke looked down at her boots. “Actually, it didn’t go so well.”
I was unprepared for the rush of relief that surged through me upon hearing their date was a bust, and the fear that roared in my chest.
“Did he do something to you?” I was ready to beat the hell out of him if he had, even though it would probably cost me my medical license. At that moment, I didn’t care. All I cared about was protecting Brooke.
“No,” she giggled. “I actually did something to him. He almost choked on a melon ball because of me.”
A laugh like I hadn’t laughed in months erupted and spilled out.
She pursed her lips before saying, “It’s not funny.” But not even she could contain her smile. “Okay, it was kind of funny—you know, after I knew he was going to be okay. I don’t know. He was too shiny, almost like an illusion.”
Ah. Now her latest podcast episode made more sense. “Like ‘Hotel California’?” I surmised.
Her cheeks pinked in the most adorable way. “You listened to my new episode, I take it?”
“I did. It was excellent.”
“Thank you.” She beamed. “I was trying to be covert about it just in case Sebastian listened to it, but I don’t think he will. He said he didn’t really enjoy podcasts. Can you believe that?”
“That’s ridiculous,” I agreed, even though I actually didn’t begrudge anyone who didn’t like podcasts—except that tool, Dr. Everett .
That earned me another one of her perfect smiles. I’d missed them.
“After my date with him, it just got me thinking about how my mom had warned me that sometimes things shine because of the layers of gloss or varnish added to them to deceive you into thinking they aren’t flawed. Mom always said it was better to have something that was a little chipped and worn because it was real and you knew what you were getting. ‘Hotel California’ is a reminder that sometimes temptations, no matter how shiny they are, can trap you.”
I wanted to hug Brooke. Her judgment of Dr. Everett was spot on, in my opinion. But I kept my hands to myself. I was still reeling from all the hand holding and tattoo touching the week before. I’d made some lame excuse about wanting to help her apply the healing ointment to ensure she didn’t miss any spots. It was my doctorly duty.
“So, you think he’s a shiny trap?” It was sad how badly I wanted her to say yes.
“Well ...,” she exaggerated. “Let’s just say he was too polished.”
It wasn’t exactly what I was hoping for. “So, does this mean you won’t be going out with him again?” I held my breath, waiting for her reply.
Who she went out with was none of my concern. But as her friend, I supposed it gave me the right to care. Unfortunately, my feelings for her were becoming something more than friendly.
“I don’t think so. I can cross another summer fling candidate off the list.”
Slowly, I let out the breath I’d been holding. “Maybe it will be the one item you aren’t able to complete.” I knew my reasons for saying that were purely selfish. Brooke was free to date whomever she chose. I just wished it could be me. But that wasn’t a viable option. I’d resigned myself to a summer of torture being Brooke’s friend. Anything to be around her.
“I won’t think like that. Mom wrote it out in bold letters, and I’m taking life to the limit this summer. My summer fling is out there. I know it.”
Part of me wanted to tell her that her mom was nuts, and you can’t tell someone they have to have a summer fling. Relationships were tricky—even the transient ones. Sometimes things just didn’t click. You couldn’t force it. “If it doesn’t happen, don’t beat yourself up about it.”
“I’ll try not to, but maybe Roman will be the one.”
Who the hell was Roman?
“Roman?” I questioned, feeling a new weight in my gut.
“Oh.” she perked up. “Lola is setting me up on a blind date with him this week. We’re going to double with her and Alejandro, her on-and-off-again boyfriend. But let’s talk about something else.” She strung her arm through mine.
I wanted more information about this Roman. And how was it she was already ingratiating herself with the likes of the Harrington family? They were practically Aspen Lake royalty.
“I feel like we need to catch up. How’s work?”
Brooke’s touch immediately made me relax and forget about this Roman character. Her fingers were warm and gentle, and her skin was soft and silky, reminding me how much I missed a woman’s touch. Her scent enveloped me—it was perfectly feminine.
I was so wrapped up in her, I could hardly think. I knew she had asked me something, but I didn’t care what the question was—I only hoped the answer had something to do with her staying next to me. She didn’t need a summer fling. Maybe she could settle for a summer of friendship. I would be her willing victim.
“Logan? Did you hear me? How’s work?”
Work? Yes. Work.
“It’s better,” I said offhandedly, trying to shake off the pull Brooke had on me, all the while wanting to give in to it.
“Better? Was something wrong?”
“Me,” I admitted.
She shot me a quizzical glance. “You?”
“Yes, I had forgotten for a while that my job was more than physically healing people. I forgot that sometimes a listening ear and my time heal as much or more. You reminded me of that.”
“Aww, Logan.” She leaned into me more. “You’re going to make me cry.”
“All right,” our guide, Rico, called. “Here’s our first of ten platforms.” I hadn’t realized we’d walked so far. Brooke was far too easy to get lost in.
Brooke gave my arm a squeeze. “I’m so excited.”
I realized I was too. It had been so long since I’d felt anything other than loss and dread, I’d forgotten what it felt like to be happy. I’d forgotten I could go on adventures. Probably because the greatest adventures I’d ever been on were with Erica. She would plan the most elaborate vacations, making sure we hit every tourist attraction. Surely, she wouldn’t begrudge me an adventure with a friend ... even if that friend was a beautiful woman.
In my heart, I knew she would want me to be happy. Probably just not long-term happy with someone like Brooke. Erica would pick someone like her friend Zuri. In fact, she’d once joked I could marry Zuri in the event of her death. That was never going to happen. Zuri, while intelligent and beautiful, and driven like Erica, lacked a certain warmth I desired in a partner. The kind of warmth Brooke had in spades.
“Up first are Brooke and Logan,” Rico informed us.
“Yes!” Brooke put up her hand to high-five me.
I slapped my hand against hers, and for the briefest moment, she curled her fingers around mine. Embarrassed, she let go and rushed to the ladder.
As I followed her, I wondered if perhaps she shared some of my same more-than-friendly thoughts. But then I remembered she was going on a date with Roman and that she was bound and determined to find a summer fling.
“Careful on your way up,” Rico instructed. “Shawn is there waiting for you.”
Brooke smiled at me before she began her climb. “I’ll see you at the top.”
Why did every word that came out of her mouth sound so good?
“How long are you in town?” Shawn was asking Brooke by the time I made it up the ladder.
It sounded like Brooke was already making friends. I had to say I didn’t care for the way Shawn’s eyes were roving over her. I was beginning to think Brooke was a man magnet. At this rate, she was definitely going to find her fling.
“Just for the summer,” she sang before coming to my side.
That seemed to give Shawn some pause, and his eyes stayed where they belonged. “Okay.” He clapped his hands together, nervously eyeing me. He probably thought I was Brooke’s date, and I wasn’t going to tell him any differently. “Let’s do this. Get your gloves on, and then we’re going to clip your carabiners to the zip line cable. Always make sure it’s locked and secure.”
Brooke and I got into place. We were going to do a tandem ride on the parallel cables.
“When you’re ready to zip, step off the platform with confidence. Keep your hands on the handlebar or your harness, and keep your legs slightly bent. Enjoy the ride and take in the scenery! As you approach the next platform, gently press down on the cable with your gloved hand to slow yourself down. One of us will be there to help you land safely,” Shawn said before we took off.
“Do you want to race?” I playfully asked Brooke. Erica would have initiated the race. We were both very competitive.
“I was hoping we could just take it slow and enjoy the ride together.”
That sounded like an invitation for much more than a ride through the trees. And damn if I didn’t want to RSVP.
“I like the sound of that,” fell out of my mouth before I could overthink it.
Her eyes and her entire countenance seemed to light up. “All right, partner. Let’s do this.”
Partner? Was she giving me a promotion? Or was that just wishful thinking?