Chapter 5 The First Date
The moment Jamison left the hospital, the fourth floor exploded into chaos.
"TESSA!"
"Oh my goodness girl!"
"Girl, that man is fine!"
"Do you see those flowers?"
"Did you see that suit?"
"Did you see the way he was looking at you?"
Tessa sat frozen in her chair, clutching the bouquet against her chest while every nurse within hearing distance surrounded her.
Lizzie looked especially pleased with herself.
"I deserve a thank-you card."
"You deserve to be written up," Tessa muttered.
The nurses laughed.
"You forgot your own phone number," Denise pointed out.
"I was surprised."
"You were stunned."
"I was not stunned."
"Yes you were."
Tessa groaned and dropped her head onto the break room table.
The smell of roses surrounded her.
The memory of Jamison's smile refused to leave her mind.
And the way he'd looked at her...
That part was dangerous.
Because nobody had looked at her like that in a very long time.
Not with genuine interest.
Not with warmth.
Not with admiration.
Not with patience.
Especially not after Anthony.
However, thinking about Anthony didn't hurt so much..
Thinking about Jamison did something entirely different to her body.
The next afternoon, Tessa woke up around three o'clock.
Her phone buzzed on the nightstand.
Immediately, her heart started racing.
A text message.
Unknown number.
Though somehow she already knew who it was.
Jamison: Good afternoon, Nurse Tessa.
A smile appeared before she could stop it.
Tessa: Hello, Mr. Edwards.
His reply came almost instantly.
Jamison: I think we've moved beyond formal titles.
Tessa laughed softly.
Tessa: Says the billionaire.
Three dots appeared.
Then disappeared.
Then appeared again.
Jamison: Lizzie told you.
Tessa: The entire fourth floor knows who you are.
Jamison: That's unfortunate.
Tessa stared at the message.
Tessa: Why?
A longer pause followed.
Jamison: Because now you'll see me differently.
Something in the response made her chest tighten.
Tessa thought carefully before typing.
Tessa: I only know two things about you.
Jamison: And those are?
Tessa: You nearly died.
Jamison: True.
Tessa: And you listened to me read two entire books while pretending to be unconscious.
Several seconds passed.
Jamison: Fair point.
Tessa smiled.
The conversation continued for nearly an hour.
It was surprisingly easy.
Comfortable.
Natural.
Eventually his next message appeared.
Jamison: Friday night. 7 PM.
Tessa stared.
Jamison: Dinner.
Tessa: That's very bossy.
Jamison: Occupational hazard.
Tessa laughed.
Jamison: The location will make up for it.
Tessa: Should I be worried?
Jamison: Only if you're afraid of excellent food.
Tessa: Never.
Jamison: Then we're going to get along just fine.
For the rest of the day, Tessa couldn't stop smiling.
Friday arrived much too quickly.
By five o'clock, Tessa had changed outfits six times.
Lizzie sat on her couch watching the fashion show.
"No."
Tessa frowned.
"What do you mean no?"
"It looks like you're interviewing to be somebody's accountant."
Tessa rolled her eyes.
The black dress disappeared.
The blue dress appeared.
Lizzie immediately shook her head.
"No."
"Seriously?"
"You look like you're attending Easter service."
An hour later, Tessa stood in her bedroom staring at herself in the mirror.
A deep emerald green wrap dress hugged her curves perfectly.
The fabric flowed beautifully across her hips.
Gold earrings sparkled softly.
Her curls cascaded around her shoulders.
A touch of makeup highlighted her natural beauty without hiding it.
Lizzie's eyes widened.
"There she is."
Tessa turned slowly.
"You think so?"
"I know so."
For a moment, old insecurities whispered.
Too big.
Not enough.
Not his type.
Not billionaire material.
Lizzie must have seen something cross her face.
"Stop it."
Tessa looked at her.
"That man brought flowers to a hospital full of nurses and walked directly toward you."
A smile tugged at Tessa's lips.
"He did."
"Exactly."
“You are enough, Tessa.”
At 6:55 PM, Tessa pulled into the circular entrance of one of Atlanta's most elegant restaurants, Marcel.
Her stomach instantly dropped.
"Oh wow."
The building was gorgeous.
Massive windows.
Soft lighting.
Luxury cars everywhere.
Valet attendants moving efficiently between vehicles.
This was the kind of place she'd only seen in magazines.
A valet opened her door.
"Good evening, ma'am."
Tessa handed over her keys.
Her palms felt sweaty.
This was ridiculous.
She was a grown woman.
Yet somehow she felt sixteen years old.
Inside, the restaurant glowed with candlelight.
Conversations drifted softly through the room.
Crystal glasses sparkled beneath chandeliers.
Everything looked expensive.
Then she saw him.
Jamison stood immediately.
Her breath caught.
The charcoal suit from the hospital had been replaced by a black one that fit him perfectly. His broad shoulders filled the jacket effortlessly.
But it wasn't the suit.
It was his face.
The way it softened when he saw her.
The way his eyes lit up.
The way he looked genuinely happy she had come.
For a moment, neither moved.
Then Jamison crossed the room.
And once again, Tessa forgot how handsome he was.
Up close, he was devastatingly gorgeous.
"Wow."
The word escaped before she could stop it.
Jamison smiled.
"I was thinking the same thing."
Heat rushed into her cheeks.
He gently pulled out her chair.
"Thank you."
"My pleasure."
Once seated, they studied each other for a moment.
No hospital bed.
No scrubs.
No monitors.
No excuses.
Just two people.
Meeting for the first time.
The wine arrived.
With two menus.
Neither paid much attention to either.
"So," Tessa finally said.
Jamison smiled.
"So."
"How long?"
His eyebrows lifted.
"How long, what?"
"How long could you hear me?"
Jamison laughed softly.
A rich, warm sound that immediately made her smile.
"Most of it."
Tessa's eyes widened.
"Most of it?"
He nodded.
"Unfortunately."
"Oh my goodness."
She covered her face.
"I told you everything."
"You did."
"I complained about cafeteria meatloaf."
"You did."
"I talked about my patients."
"You did."
"I cried."
Jamison's expression softened.
"You did."
Tessa groaned.
"I am never recovering from this."
He laughed again.
The sound wrapped around her like warmth.
"Tessa."
She lowered her hands.
"I'm glad you came into that room."
The sincerity in his voice stole her response.
For a moment, silence settled between them.
Comfortable.
Not awkward.
Just honest.
Then Jamison continued.
"The doctors thought my recovery was unusual."
"At least that's what the notes said."
He nodded.
"They are convinced a miracle happened."
Tessa smiled softly.
"Maybe one did."
Their eyes met.
Something passed between them.
Something neither was quite ready to name.
Their dinner arrived.
As the conversation begins to flow easily.
They talked about books first.
Then movies.
Then childhood memories.
Then family.
Somewhere between appetizers and dessert, they stopped feeling like strangers.
Jamison learned that Tessa wanted to write a novel someday.
Tessa learned that Jamison secretly loved old jazz records.
Jamison discovered she collected bookmarks.
Tessa discovered he hated public speaking despite leading boardrooms.
And little by little, walls began to fall.
Eventually the conversation turned serious.
"Can I ask you something?"
Tessa nodded.
"Why did you keep coming back?"
The question lingered.
Tessa looked down at her glass.
Then back at him.
"You looked lonely."
The honesty surprised them both.
Jamison stared then cleared his throat.
"I know that sounds strange."
"It doesn't."
She smiled sadly.
"After Anthony and Nicole..."
His jaw tightened slightly.
"...I felt invisible."
Her fingers traced the stem of her glass.
"Then I walked into room 415."
She shrugged.
"You were alone."
For a moment, neither spoke.
Then Jamison quietly said:
"So were you."
The words landed softly.
Perfectly.
Because they were true.
They had both been lonely.
Both hurting.
Both carrying wounds nobody could see.
Yet somehow they had found each other in a hospital room.
A place neither expected.
In a time neither planned.
Now a connection neither understood.
Hours passed.
Neither noticed how long it had been.
The restaurant gradually emptied.
Staff quietly reset tables around them.
Finally, Jamison glanced at his watch.
"I should probably stop keeping you out so late."
Tessa smiled.
"I do have work tomorrow."
"Responsible adult."
"Sometimes."
Jamison laughed.
Then stood and offered his hand.
This time, Tessa took it immediately.
The moment their fingers touched, both felt it.
That spark.
That pull.
That awareness.
Not mentioning it.
Neither let go too quickly either.
Outside, Atlanta glowed beneath the night sky.
The valet brought Tessa's car around.
Neither seemed to want the evening to end.
"Thank you for tonight," Tessa said softly.
"For dinner."
Jamison shook his head.
"No."
She frowned.
"No?"
"Thank you for being you."
His blue eyes held hers.
"For reading to me."
Emotion tightened in her throat.
"You don't owe me anything."
"I know."
"But I'll always be grateful."
For a moment, they didn’t move.
The city hummed around them.
Cars passed by them.
People laughed nearby.
Yet somehow the world felt very small like they were in a bubble of their own.
Just him and her.
Then, Jamison stepped closer.
Close enough to smell her perfume.
Close enough to see every detail of her face.
Close enough to make her heart race.
"Tessa."
Her breath caught.
"Yeah?"
"You saved more than my life."
The confession settled between them.
Raw.
Honest.
Dangerous.
Before either could say anything else, instinct took over.
They hugged.
Simple.
Warm.
Comforting.
Yet neither was prepared for what happened next.
Tessa fit perfect against him.
Jamison's arms felt stronger than she imagined.
His cologne surrounded her.
Woodsy.
Rich.
Intoxicating.
Not wanting to let go.
But eventually they had to.
Slowly.
Reluctantly.
Stepping apart.
Their eyes met immediately.
And suddenly both became very aware of how close they still stood.
Close enough to kiss.
Neither moved just stared as if they didn’t know what to do next.
The moment stretched.
Then reality returned.
The valet cleared his throat politely.
Tessa laughed softly.
Jamison smiled.
"I'll text you."
"I'd like that."
He opened her car door.
She climbed inside.
Looking back at him one last time.
Jamison stood beneath the restaurant lights watching her.
Still smiling.
As if he couldn't quite believe she was real.
Tessa drove home with butterflies in her stomach.
Jamison stood there until her taillights disappeared.
And for the first time in years, neither of them felt lonely.
But later that night, lying awake in separate homes, both found themselves wondering the same thing.
When would they see each other again?
And when that day came...
Would friendship still be enough?