Chapter Nine
From: Keegan Baldwin [email protected]
To: Luna Oliver [email protected]
Date: December 27
I was surprised when I met your parents at JFK, and you weren’t with them. I was looking forward to showing you the city. Maybe next time.
From: Luna Oliver [email protected]
To: Keegan Baldwin [email protected]
Date: December 30
My boyfriend invited me to go to Big Sky because his family rented a house there. Give my parents a hug for me.
From: Keegan Baldwin [email protected]
To: Luna Oliver [email protected]
Date: January 1
Happy New Year, Luna.
On Saturday, Raven and I hit up several stores and finally found the perfect dress. Everything took so long and Forest will be here at 7:15, so I have less than an hour to shower and do my hair and makeup.
I decide to wear my hair down, because every day at work, all I do is put it in a messy bun. I blow dry it, then sit on the barstool in the kitchen and have Raven do my makeup.
“I’m going to give you a smokey eye.” She pulls out different shades of eyeshadow from a makeup bag. “Make the blue pop against your brown hair. Also, I never noticed all your little freckles on your face.”
“I hate them,” I say, grabbing the shade of eye shadow she’s chosen for me. “Remember, less is more. I’m not a big makeup person.”
“The sign of good makeup is to make sure it looks like you aren’t wearing a ton. I’ve got you, Luna.”
I check my phone and have a message from Forest that he’ll be here in twenty minutes—and he sent it ten minutes ago.
“I’ve chosen a golden rose for your lips. Your pouty lips are fabulous.” Raven stands back. “You’re so lucky. You’re going to a fancy gala, and I’ll be sitting here doing nothing.”
“I should have offered you up for the gala.” I smack my lips together. “I’m in the mood to put on jammies and watch mindless reels.”
Raven claps her hands together as she stares at me. “You are my masterpiece, Luna.”
I don’t even bother looking at myself in the mirror. Instead, I run to my bedroom where my kelly-green dress hangs in the closet. The fabric is so silky against my skin, and Forest is going to have sticker shock when he knows how much it cost, but the moment I tried this dress on, I knew it was the one.
The slender straps of the dress delicately trace the curves of my shoulders, while the length flows down my body, culminating in a dramatic slit up one leg, revealing the perfect amount of skin. The luxurious fabric clings to my body like a second skin, its silky texture caresses every inch of my frame. The delicate material and form-fitting design make me feel confident and beautiful.
As I hurry to the bathroom, my curling iron beckons me with a warm glow. My reflection in the mirror takes my breath away as I admire the masterpiece that Raven created. Subtle curls frame my face and perfectly complement the dress, adding a touch of playfulness and whimsy to the overall look. I can’t help but smile at the sight of myself. Well done, Raven.
My phone dings, and it’s Forest, letting me know he’s here.
“Don’t forget your clutch,” Raven says as I exit the bathroom and head for the door. “Luna, you look gorgeous.”
“Thank you for everything, Raven. Don’t wait up.” I wink at her before I leave.
When I get outside, Forest is standing against the car, and he even does a double take. “Well, shit, Luna. You look. . .” His voice trails off, and he clears his throat. “Like an actual woman. I don’t like it.”
“Umm, thanks.” I slug him on the shoulder and look down at my outfit. “I hope you like the dress, Forest, ‘cause this one cost you a pretty penny.”
The car takes us to a high-rise building downtown. We arrive and a stream of people get here at the same time and we all work our way inside. We reach the elevator and go with the group to the thirty-third floor. When we get up there, we walk into a large ballroom, decked out in American Heart Association signage. Forest checks in and hands me a name tag. What woman would wear this hideous thing over an evening gown? I decide to slip it into my clutch.
“We’re table nine,” he says and then waves to someone in the distance. “I need to go to say hi to someone I see from medical school. Will you go to the bar and grab us a couple of drinks? I’ll only be a minute.”
Forest rushes off before I can say anything. I know I’m nothing more than a seat filler for the expensive table, but I don’t want to stand alone all night either. I go to the bar, order two drinks, and put one of them on table nine. I look around the room and decide to walk over and look at the silent auction items.
Tables are lined up, and as I move to the right, the auction items become higher stakes. Someone approaches from behind, and I turn to look. Keegan. He rapidly blinks when he registers that it’s me.
“Luna.” Keegan stares at me. His gaze starts on my face, and my skin pebbles when his eyes rake down my entire body. He lifts his hand, then drags it down his face.
But my eyes are drawn to him also, and I can feel myself succumbing to the magnetic pull of his presence. Keegan Baldwin looks hypnotic in his impeccably tailored tuxedo, which accentuates every contour of his sculpted physique. His broad shoulders and muscular thighs are emphasized by the form-fitting garment, and I can’t help but feel a rush of something I can’t quite articulate course through my veins. Tuxedos were made for men like Keegan. I try to avert my gaze, but I’m drawn back to him like an atom to an electron.
“Keegan.” I force my stare from his body to his eyes. I rapidly blink, and then start fanning myself with my clutch because it suddenly feels like it’s one million degrees in here.
“Forest dragged me here. I guess his date bailed, or at least that’s his story. So, he told me he’d buy me a dress, and I hate dressing up, and I have so much makeup on, and my hair, and yeah, anyway.” The words vomit out of my mouth.
He stares at me, mouth open, and then shakes his head back and forth quickly.
“You look…” But he doesn’t finish his sentence. He pulls his gaze off me and glances at the table with the auction items and points. “Well, I’m happy you were able to come. Will you bid on anything?”
I turn my attention from Keegan and stare at the picture of a beautiful, large home on a beach in Montauk.
“You know residents don’t make any money.” Half of Keegan’s mouth goes up in a smile. “I’m living on coffee and ramen noodles currently.”
“Yes. More healthy choices you are making.” I don’t think I imagine his eyes moving to my lips. “But if you were going to bid on something, does anything catch your eye?”
“This house in Montauk doesn’t look so bad,” I say. “I’ve never been, and now that I’m in New York, I’m so close, but so far away. But that house, Keegan. Look at that house. The thought that a short drive could get me out of this concrete jungle, if only for a couple of days.”
Keegan pushes the paper toward me, his hand brushing against mine, sending a jolt of electricity coursing through me. I need to quit lying to myself. Keegan is gorgeous. Perhaps he was always too big for Cherry, so he kept himself invisible. But he’s blossomed in every way. He’s done everything he said he was going to do, and now he glows and is magnetic.
I liked him better when I wasn’t imagining him roaming his large hands up my legs, bringing my dress up, lifting me onto this table, and pressing.
“You should bid on it.” Keegan leans down so he can speak closer to my ear, and his breath pebbles my skin with goosebumps. I look up at him and he winks, and for a moment, I forget how to breathe.
My eyes fixate on the glossy photo in front of me, my mind already drifting away to the far-off world of sun-kissed beaches and endless blue skies. The image captures the essence of luxury and relaxation, with a sprawling beachfront home nestled in the heart of Montauk, overlooking the pristine ocean.
But it’s the promise of the weekend ahead that truly makes me continue to stare at the photo and dream. The thought of escaping the city and spending lazy days lounging on the sand, sipping cocktails, and immersing myself in a world of beauty and relaxation. But I’m a resident. There will be no winning a weekend in Montauk for me.
“And,” Keegan continues, “the money goes to charity, after all.”
“True,” I say slowly. And to Keegan’s point, only the highest bid gets the house and is on the hook for the payment. I can come in low and make sure I don’t win. It doesn’t hurt to bid, right?
“I’ll bid if you do.” I hold the slip of paper against my chest like I’m guarding something precious.
Keegan steps closer to me, his presence enveloping me like a warm embrace. He reaches down for a piece of paper, and I’m hit with an intoxicating scent that sends my senses reeling. It’s a heady mix of camphoraceous with a soft soap.
“Deal, Luna Oliver.” He grabs a pen and turns his back from me just slightly so I can’t see the numbers he jots down. “If you win, you need to host a Fourth of July weekend and invite me. And if I win, I’ll do the same.”
I turn my back to him too, but we’re so close that I can feel the heat of his body up against my backside. I write my name on the paper and think about how much to bid. I wasn’t joking when I said residents don’t make much, and it is expensive living in New York, even if the rent is reasonable due to the building being hospital subsidized. But this is also a high-ticket item, and realistically, no amount I put down will get me this house for the weekend.
After some thought, I write down my number. Three thousand, five hundred dollars. High enough to be respectable, but low enough that it won’t have any shot of winning. Because I don’t actually have that much money lying around. I peek my head over my shoulder to look at Keegan, just as he’s turning to face me.
He slowly takes his piece of paper and folds it, and I do the same with mine. I dramatically put my paper in the bowl, and Keegan’s lips turn up in a smile.
“Good luck.” Keegan reaches his hand out to shake mine. It envelops mine, and my breath hitches in my chest. “And to you,” I say. He looks down at our clasped hands, and realization seems to spread across his face before he drops it.
“There you are.” A voice rings out behind me, and I turn to look, as a woman walks up to us and stands at Keegan’s side.
She eyes me and puts her arm around Keegan’s waist and squeezes him.
“Hi.” She continues to study me like she would a painting. “I’m Dr. Elise Smith.”
Keegan clears his throat. “Elise is a Congenital Heart Pediatric Surgeon at Presby. Elise, this is Dr. Luna Oliver. She’s a general surgery resident at Presby. She’s also Forest’s sister.”
“You’re Forest’s sister?” Elise’s eyes light up and a look of amusement spreads across her face. She holds her hand out to shake mine. “It’s great to finally meet you. He said you’d be coming tonight. He and I have been friends for ages.”
I smile but can’t focus. Instead, I study Elise’s proximity to Keegan, but his eyes never leave me.
Someone on stage with a microphone asks us all to take our seats, as the presentation and dinner portion of the evening is about to start. Keegan and Elise also walk to table nine. Forest is already there, and I take a seat next to him. Keegan and Elise sit near each other on the other side of the round table. Forest introduces me to the other people. A married couple, both cardiologists. Graham and Layla. And then directly next to me, another couple, Ford, also a cardiologist, and his wife, Hadeel, a trauma surgeon.
Food is served during the program. And a patient tells their story, which is a great reminder of why we became doctors in the first place. When I glance across the table, Keegan stares back at me. As he tilts his head, a lock of his chestnut brown hair falls over his forehead. I used to find his intensity annoying, but now, it makes me curious and draws me in. His gaze is like a laser beam, cutting through all the distractions and noise of the world around us. And when he looks at me, I feel like I’m the only person in the room, even if he is seated next to his date for the evening.
When dessert is served, someone comes back on stage. “We’ve been busy tallying our silent auction totals all night, and we’re finally ready to announce tonight’s winners.”
She goes through all of the items, starting from lowest to highest. A signed baseball from a Yankees player I’ve never heard of. Tickets to the Met, a Broadway show, and the list goes on. I sip my white wine and let it warm my body.
“A weekend in Montauk,” The lady says into the microphone, and I sit taller in my chair. “A gorgeous home on the ocean, with the most picturesque views you’ve ever seen.”
She looks down at the clipboard she holds. “And the winner at twenty-three thousand dollars is Dr. Keegan Baldwin.”
When I hear his name, I raise my brow, and my mouth hangs open. He looks at me, but only briefly, and then Elise pulls him into a hug. He won. He actually won. Not only that, but he donated twenty-three thousand dollars for a weekend. Two nights in a house—for all that money.
“Wow,” Forest says, bringing me back to reality. “I better be invited out this weekend. I’ll request it off now.” Forest laughs, and I can only shake my head.
Yes, it’s a good cause, but twenty-three thousand dollars is not something I could just donate. The woman goes to the next auction item, but Keegan glances at me. Finally, I give him a smile and shrug.
We all work our way to the door when the event wraps up. Men and women in their most elegant clothes are herded into the elevators because no one cares where we go, but we can’t stay here.
“I can’t believe you have that house for a weekend in Montauk.” Elise loops her arm in Keegan’s, and he stiffens. “How do I get on the short list of people you’ll invite?”
“Seriously, Keegan,” Forest says. “How does one get on this list?”
I don’t say anything, but I secretly wonder if he meant it when he said I would be part of the group. He probably wasn’t serious because of all the people he could invite, I don’t think I’d make any list.
Keegan, Elise, Forest, and I stand outside on the warm summer night, and Forest looks at me and yawns. “I’m headed to Chelsea. Are you fine getting home without me?”
My mouth opens to answer, but before I can, Keegan jumps in. “I’m headed to the Upper East Side. I can share a car with Luna.”
“I’m headed to the Upper East side too, between seventy-seventh and seventy-eight. Is that close to you?” Elise asks.
“We’re both going around fifty-ninth,” Keegan says before I can respond and let her know we can all share a cab.
“Okay, it’s settled then,” Forest says. He hugs me and pulls his phone out to get a car. “Tonight was really fun. Thanks for having us, Keegan.”
“Goodnight, Keegan.” Elise lifts onto her toes and hugs him. She then turns to me. “It was nice meeting you, Luna.”
“Yes. You as well.” Elise then heads off in a different direction, right as Forest’s car arrives.
Keegan and I are left standing on the sidewalk, as people continue to file out of the building who were all at the gala, talking loudly, and deciding if they’ll call it a night or head somewhere else in the city.
He shows me his phone, and it says it will take at least twenty minutes for a car to arrive. “Let’s walk a few blocks. We’ll have a better chance to catch a car. There are too many people here.”
I nod in agreement, and Keegan and I walk in silence. The farther away we get, the quieter the street becomes. My feet ache from the uneven sidewalks, and I start regretting my fashionable, but impractical, heels.
Keegan stops in front of an ice cream shop and looks at me. “I could go for some ice cream. You?”
My stomach growls. Our dinner was good, but the serving sizes were on the pretentiously small side.
“I can always go for ice cream.” I stop in front of the bright light of the ice cream shop, happy to not be walking more than anything else. “Have you been to the Icy New Yorker by me? It is literally the best.”
We order through the outside window. Keegan gets cherry, and I go with mint chocolate chip. We then walk to a bench, and my feet thank me. I slip out of my heels, pull a foot onto my lap, and start rubbing it.
Keegan turns to me on the bench. “Since when do you wear heels?”
“I tried on my Chucks with this dress, but they didn’t look right.” I squeeze my foot and dig a thumb into my heel.
“You’re hilarious.” Keegan leans back against the bench, his gaze on me. The corners of his lips twitch like he’s trying hard not to smile. “You just look so grown up.”
“Well.” I push his arm. “I’d like to think I am grown up.”
The air is thick with the sounds of the city, the rumble of the traffic, and the chatter of the pedestrians providing a constant backdrop to our silence. Keegan hands me his cone and loosens his bow tie. It’s like watching a butterfly emerge from its cocoon, each movement slow and deliberate. His fingers deftly work at the knot until it finally gives way.
He reaches up and unbuttons the top of his shirt, revealing a hint of his chest. He breathes out heavily, and it’s like the tension melts away from his shoulders. He stands up and removes his tuxedo coat, revealing a crisp white shirt. I find myself holding my breath as I watch him, transfixed by the way his muscles ripple under his skin. These new intrusive thoughts about Keegan overwhelm me.
Then he sits, and I hand him his ice cream cone, which is close to dripping. He takes a long lick, and then rests his arm on the back of the bench. “I meant it.”
Confusion spreads across my face. “Meant what?”
“A weekend in Montauk.” Keegan’s tongue darts out of his mouth as he wets his lips. “I mean if that isn’t too boring for you. Because the last thing I’d want to do is bore you, Luna.”
“Keegan,” I say, covering my face with my hand. “You are never going to let me forget saying that, are you?”
“Not likely.” Keegan finishes his cone and turns his body toward me. “I need to find a way to prove to you that I can be fun.”
I wrinkle my nose. “Do you think you’ll have time between all your doctoring and Mathletics practice?”
Keegan’s head rolls back, and he belly laughs. “You do realize I’ve changed in the past twelve years since leaving Cherry, right?”
“No more Mathletics, you’re saying?” I smile, lean my elbow against the bench, and prop my head up. “Because you’ll need a lot of time to change my mind about you. I’ve got a lot of years of bias working against you.”
“Wow.” Keegan nods, but smiles, and with every word, we’ve managed to inch closer together on this bench and now, our knees are almost touching. “You’ve always been my toughest critic, Luna Oliver.”
“Well.” I bite my bottom lip to suppress my smile. “This new Keegan who wears fancy clothes, grew all these muscles, and has perfected mysterious and intense looks from across the room may fool a lot of people, but you aren’t fooling me.”
Keegan’s mouth falls open with amusement.
“And just so we’re clear.” I tap my bottom lip, aware that I should have quit talking about eight sentences ago. “I have not noticed your muscles. At all. But when you were young, you were so tall and gangly, and. . .” I bite my lip, forcing myself to stop talking.
Keegan puts his hand on my arm and smiles. I don’t think I imagine that somehow, we’ve managed to move so close together, that I can practically feel his breath on me. His hand is so warm against my upper arm.
“Luna,” Keegan says, tilting his head slightly. I’m torn between needing to know what he wants to say and being too scared to hear whatever is going through his mind, so I don’t let him continue.
“Elise seems really nice.” When I say the words, Keegan’s hand drops from my arm. “We could have all shared a cab. We were going in the same general direction. And wow. A congenital pediatric heart surgeon. She must be brilliant too.”
Keegan backs away from me. “Elise is nice. She went to medical school with Forest.”
I slip my shoes on and stand. “Are you two, you know?”
“Friends.” Keegan stands up too. He releases a deep breath, and I can’t help but feel like I’ve said something wrong. “We should probably get a car.”
We wait at a street corner, and a car arrives. Keegan opens the door for me and then slides in the backseat beside me. He gives the driver my address.
I look down at my gown, the long slit to my thigh, and Keegan’s leg pressing against mine. When I glance at him, he’s staring but then quickly shakes his head and looks away.
The car stops, and we’re here. Keegan gets out and holds the door open for me, and I slide through his side. He walks me to the door of my building and tucks his hands into the pockets of his tuxedo pants.
“Thanks for making sure I got home.” My heart thumps in my chest. “And for the ice cream. Oh, and a weekend in Montauk.”
One of my dress straps escapes my shoulder, and before I can adjust it, Keegan reaches his hand up, puts it in place, and squeezes my shoulder.
“Hopefully the ride back to your place didn’t utterly bore you.” Half of Keegan’s mouth goes up in a smile.
“It wasn’t the worst,” I say, holding my clutch close to me.
Keegan nods. “Let me know if I need to pull some strings to make sure you get off the Fourth of July weekend. I know Thomas Parse well.”
“I’ll do what I can.” I take a deep breath. “Who else will you ask to come? Forest of course. And I assume Elise.”
Keegan narrows his eyes and adjusts the tuxedo coat that’s draped around his shoulder. “Why would I do that?”
“I know you said you’re just friends,” I say. “But it’s obvious she’s into you.”
“No,” Keegan says. “It’s not like that. Not with her.”
Relief builds in me for no good reason, because even though he isn’t with Elise, that little fact changes nothing for me. I decide I don’t care that I’m on a dirty New York sidewalk, and I lean down, and take my shoes off, losing several inches of height.
He looks down at my bare feet and then shakes his head. “Did you know that in a recent study, there were over thirty-thousand different types of fecal bacteria found on New York sidewalks?”
The moment he says it, I start laughing. “There he is. The boy from Cherry I remember so well.”
My laugh seems to surprise him, as he jumps at the sound. I put my hand on his arm and smile. “Goodnight, Keegan. Thanks again for getting me home.”
He watches me go into my building, and I get into the elevator, with my dirty, bare feet.