Chapter 11 #3
“Why the fuck did this have to happen to her?” He wasn’t asking the doctor. He pushed himself to his feet and jabbed his cigarette in a tray until it was crushed into pieces.
He could feel the glaze of emotion in his own eyes. He knew the stark, raw look of terror and helplessness showed in every feature of his face. Even the implacable Dr. Oki could not help react.
The doctor stood and moved toward him. Brian turned aside.
“You’ll handle it. She’ll be a happy child again.” The doctor turned and walked toward the door. He paused on the threshold. “You should give Roxanne a call. She’ll make you feel better.”
Brian looked at the man and laughed as he ran the doctor’s words through his mind. “In more ways than one,” he said, half to himself. He wasn’t prepared for the wounded look that instantly appeared on the doctor’s face. A flush of color lit the man’s cheeks. He turned and left without another word.
“What the hell?” Brian muttered to himself. The sickening, leaden feeling settled in his stomach. The doctor felt protective toward Roxanne, Brian thought.
It didn’t matter one way or another. He wouldn’t call Roxanne. He wouldn’t see her again except professionally. She could make him feel better all right. But he couldn’t afford to feel that good.
“Thanks a lot for nothing, buddy. Roxanne Monet is the only one authorized to give out her phone number according to the lady herself,” Kevin said to Brian.
Dave McCall approached the bar in Houston’s at Faneuil Hall Market Place.
Brian glanced around over the heads of the crowd.
They’d picked a lively night for their so-called hunting trip.
“Struck out, did you?”
“I didn’t even get to bat. I wouldn’t want to be in your shoes the next time she sees you.” Kevin pointed a finger at Brian’s chest.
“What did I miss?” Dave asked. “Don’t worry about scoring, Kevin. We’ll find some prime babes tonight.”
“Prime babes?” Brian raised a brow. “It’s a good thing you’re already married, Dave, or you’d be in serious trouble.” They all laughed. But the humor didn’t reach Brian’s churning gut.
“By the way, Kevin, you don’t suppose I could have that number back do you? It was my only copy,” he asked, for no good reason.
“Nah. I threw it out. It’s not on my cell anymore either—I use the phone constantly,” Kevin said.
“Shit. She called twice on the house phone and left messages.” Brian knew he should leave it alone.
“Don’t you have Caller ID?” Dave asked.
“I don’t know. Hardly ever use the house phone.”
“No big deal. You’re better off without her,” Dave said.
“What do you mean?” Kevin asked.
Brian threw Dave a warning glance.
“Nothing. It’s a long story. Let’s have a drink,” Dave said.
Brian ordered Dave his usual beer. It turned out they didn’t have to do much hunting. Women were drawn to them. Brian and Dave towered over most of the crowd and were instantly recognizable. All the women who approached them were deflected toward Kevin.
But by ten that night they all went home by themselves, having had a good time nonetheless.
When Brian got home he did an internet search to find Roxanne’s number, but of course it wasn’t listed in any of the usual places.
He shut the notebook computer, muttering to himself that he must be crazy.
She’d be angry with him and rightly so. Even if he no longer wanted to see her, he hardly had a right to pass her along to another man.
If she did bother to call again, it would be to yell at him.
He would let her. Then he’d forget her and move on.
He’d gotten several phone numbers that evening for future reference.
Any one of them was as good a candidate for a casual affair—better.
None of them were nearly as interesting or exciting or intriguing as Roxanne.
He ran his fingers through his hair and headed for the stairs. When he was halfway to the top he heard his house phone ring. The answering machine in his bedroom could take it. He had to get to sleep.
Then he heard her voice. He lunged up the last three steps at once and dashed into his room, grabbing the phone.
“Rox, hi, I just got in.” Brian breathed hard into the phone before he realized it and then cupped his hand over the mouthpiece so he wouldn’t sound like some pervert.
“Out late, aren’t you? And I was worried I’d wake you.”
“Special occasion. What’s up?” Brian recognized the teasing note in her voice, but he steeled himself for her anger. He was sure she would let him have it—somehow. His pulse quickened at that thought and he shifted on his feet to try and relax.
“I have a business proposition for you, but I’d much rather go over it in person.
Can we meet for lunch tomorrow and discuss it?
” Her voice was as cool and businesslike as he’d ever heard.
Maybe this was her way of dealing with him.
Maybe from now on he was relegated to the unfortunate group of men who were to her strictly professional relations.
He was about to accept her invitation to find out when he remembered.
“I have a game tomorrow night.”
“I know that. So what? You still have to eat lunch don’t you?”
Brian could swear he heard the near laugh in her voice mocking him and the one side of his mouth curved upward.
“You know what happens to me when we get together. I can’t risk seeing you the day of a game. I’ll be useless by game time.”
Roxanne laughed and his grin widened. He figured she mustn’t be too upset with him after all.
“I’m sure you can manage to control yourself just this once. It’s very important.” She paused. “We’ll meet in public.”
He noticed a subtle but distinct change in her tenor from businesslike to teasing. This time he laughed.
“Okay. We’re on for lunch. I promise to control myself—if you do.”
“I’ll pick you up after practice?”
“See you around two then.” He probably should have said three, but he didn’t want to make their meeting too close to game time.
“Oh, and Brian—don’t ever give my phone number to another man again.” The line went dead. He stood holding it and blew out a long whistle. He tossed the phone on his nightstand and plopped down on his bed. That was that. Relief seeped through him. He thought she’d be a lot angrier.
He stood back up and stripped his clothes.
Glancing at the alarm clock he realized it was nearly eleven and he swore under his breath.
He would have been in bed, asleep, an hour ago.
He got in bed and lay down but his eyes were wide open.
She should have been very angry. He wondered about it for only another minute.
She must want something pretty badly from me.
A smile formed on his face as he anticipated their business meeting the next day.