Chapter 5 #2
“Okay,” he stepped closer, and a pack punch of her tantalizing perfume nearly did him in. He cleared his throat. “Can I help you with your coat? It’s chilly. You won’t last long without it on.”
“Yes.” Brooke handed him her coat. Their eyes danced with one another for a moment, before she added, “I’d appreciate it.”
He held it out for her to slip on. She twisted her back to him then weaved her arm through one hole then shifted her clutch to the other hand and then slipped the other in.
Gently, he lifted her hair out of the collar of the jacket where it tucked in.
The silky strands sifted through his fingertips while her womanly aroma filled his lungs.
He wanted to stay there forever and breathe in the perfect scent, but he forced himself to remove his hands and step away.
He managed to say, “Ready?”
“Yes, I’m starving.” They walked across the lobby to the exit. “I haven’t eaten since this morning. My day was slammed. How about you?”
He grasped the door and held it open for her. Her body brushed against him as she passed through to the outside. He wondered what she would feel like pressed up against his body, but he shook the thought off and reminded himself to listen.
“It was good. I had to perform kidney stone surgery this morning.” They made it outside, and the door shut behind them. “The worst I’ve ever seen, the person had stones that were centimeters, not millimeters.”
“Kidney stones, huh?” Brooke waved goodbye to George. George exchanged a smirk with Brooke that Logan caught. They strode on the sidewalk toward the restaurant. She continued, “Luckily, I’ve never had the pleasure of experiencing kidney stones, but I’ve heard they’re incredibly painful.”
“Consider yourself blessed.” Logan plunged his hands into the pockets of his peacoat to keep himself from reaching for her hand. “I’ve had the unfortunate experience of kidney stones. I thought I was dying. I survived, but I required heavy medication to pass them.”
“Yikes.” Brooke winced. “That sounds terrible. How old were you?”
“Oh,” he tried to remember, “I was in high school—I think it was my senior year. My mom slept on the floor of my room, because I wrung in pain and threw up the entire night.”
“Wow.” She slowly nodded and gazed out at the sidewalk before them. “Your mom sounds great. I don’t think my mom ever did something like that for me.” Brooke leaned in and clutched his forearm and squeezed. “But I’m glad you had your mom.” She dropped her hand.
He wondered how to respond. He wanted to ask her a million questions about her past, but he knew it wasn’t appropriate, not if they weren’t really together. Not before she offered the information and wasn’t prodded for it.
Logan smiled. “I think you’ll like her when you meet her.”
“I am sure I will,” she remarked. “What is she like?”
“Oh, you know, besides being way into my business?” he teased.
She nodded.
“She is kind and thoughtful. Patient.” A flood of happy memories from his childhood came to the forefront of his mind.
Ones where Mom sprinkled in her goodness at every turn.
He never realized what a blessing it was to have good parents until he came to hear the sad and hard upbringings of others.
“I’d do stupid things, and she’d always find a way to help me learn and desire to do better the next time around.
I loved that she’d tell me again and again that no matter what I did, or how much I messed up, she’d be there for me and love me. ”
She smiled. “I can’t wait to meet her.”
They arrived at the restaurant. After they checked in with the host, they were led to a table in the corner pocket of the place.
It was loud and crowded, but Logan liked the vibe.
His day to day was quiet, and during surgeries his mind went blank and silent.
Being out in the vibrant city night life made him remember why he wanted to live in Chicago and not in one of the surrounding suburbs.
They removed their jackets and hung them on the back of their seats.
Brooke opened her menu first. “Besides your mom being wonderful what else do I need to know about your parents? I need the basics.” The small candle in the center of the two-top table provided enough light to read the menu and create a more intimate atmosphere.
“My dad is a surgeon too.” Logan opened his menu too.
“Ahh, the family business.” Brooke flipped to the next page in the menu. “What type of surgeon?”
“Heart.”
“Wow, okay.” She glanced up and tilted her head to the side. “And you didn’t want to be a heart surgeon too?”
“I didn’t place in the specialty.” Logan ran his finger down the list of entrée selections.
He hated how his stomach still twisted when he revealed this to someone.
“I tried. I really did. It’s a sore spot with my dad, please avoid bringing it up when you meet him.
” His back stiffened, and he cranked his neck back and forth to loosen the tense feeling.
“Hey,” the softness of her voice made him pause and peer across the table at her. “I would never bring up something like that. I understand more than anyone how complicated families can be.”
And with every fiber of his being, he believed her.
“Thanks.” Logan forced himself to look back down at his menu. “My dad was disappointed. Honestly, it was a huge blow to me too. But I’m happy where I ended up even if it wasn’t the original plan.”
“I understand.” Brooke shut her menu and fidgeted with the silverware in front of her.
“I always wanted to specialize in internal medicine, but when I did the rotations, I didn’t connect with it as much as I would’ve liked.
Being a pediatrician wasn’t ever the plan.
I honestly didn’t have any experience with children, but it’s where I placed. I’m happy with how it worked out.”
Logan smiled. “Thanks for telling me that.”
Brooke nodded. “Is your mom a doctor too?” She took a sip of water from the glass in front of her.
“Heavens no.” He shook his head. “She’s a retired school librarian. A quiet gentle person who loved to spend her time among books.”
From the outside, his parents seemed like an odd pair, but their marriage was one that Logan admired. They evened each other out. His mom was steady while his dad was loud and fierce. Each parent helped to shape him into the person he became.
“I wish I had more time to read than I do.” She traced a finger over the edge of her glass. “Usually, when I get off work, I’m too beat to do anything other than eat and binge true crime stories on TV.”
“Hence your Ted Bundy reference,” he smirked.
Her lips twitched. “You know me too well.”
The server came by. They ordered a selection of tapas, meat and cheese, and grilled vegetables. After the server left, Brooke didn’t waste time getting down to business.
“Besides hashing out the details of our relationship timeline,” she placed her folded hands-on top of the table, “I think we need to make a list of rules for our fake relationship. Rules will ensure neither of us gets confused about what’s real and what isn’t.”
“Umm,” Logan leaned his forearms on the table, leaning in closer to her. “Could you give me an example?”
Brooke unfolded her hands and fished for her clutch. She unsnapped the front of it and retrieved her phone. After she opened up a note saved on it, Brooke slid it across the table toward him.
She motioned at it. “That’s what I came up with.”
Slowly, Logan picked up her phone. The lengthy list included every possible scenario of physical touching.
Rules-like when hand holding or arm around the shoulder were okay.
A hand on the knee was allowed when it was visible to others.
Possible kissing had so many addendums that it made his head spin.
He slid her phone back to her. She snatched it.
The list doused whatever had or hadn’t been building between them.
It wasn’t lost on him that this wasn’t a date, not even close.
To Brooke this was a business deal, a mutually beneficial exchange.
The realization depressed him more than it should.
After all, he was the one who had suggested it.
But then Brooke showed up looking the way she did.
“I’m not sure any of this is necessary.” Logan found her gaze. “I promise not to do anything to make you feel uncomfortable. If I do, simply tell me to knock it off.” Unnecessarily, he adjusted the ends of his sleeves. “I’m a good listener and take directions better than most.”
“I like to be prepared.” Brooke scrolled through the list again.
“And I don’t want to be confused on what’s real and what isn’t.
We’ll have to touch. We can’t avoid it.” She placed the phone face down on the table.
A seriousness settled on her face. “We need people to think we’re really dating, and you’re into me.
Like head over heels, I’m so in love I can’t remember anyone else who came before type of performance. ”
Logan knew he wouldn’t need to fake anything. He already found Brooke beautiful.
“Text me the list. I’ll review it tonight.” Logan took a sip of his water. “And I’ll make people believe I’m in love with you. I promise.”
“Great.” Brooke’s stiff posture loosened. “I’m glad we’re on the same page.”
“I know it’s hard to believe,” he shifted and leaned back against his chair, “but I have dated before.”
“I never said—” She almost made her hand graze his but she clenched her hand into a fist and brought it back to her lap. “I only know we both need the people in our lives to think we’re in love.”
“I can play the part.”
“I believe you now,” she muttered. A plate dropped three tables away. They both twisted in their seats to look toward the commotion. When they confirmed the situation was under control, they faced each other again. She continued, “I—I—”
“I understand.” He placed a firm hand on her forearm. “I’ll memorize the list. I’ll play the part. I’ll be the perfect doting boyfriend.”