Page 77 of Fly with Me

She opened the door, and he was right. Stella was sexy as fuck in her uniform. She was also holding a houseplant. This was basically the beginning of a porno in Olive’s mind.

For a second, Stella too appeared speechless. Her dark brown eyes turned to molten bronze as they caught the light. She looked like someone had doused her with water. She swallowed once, throat bobbing, and met Olive’s eyes.

Stella held up the plant. “I was going to get you flowers but then I remembered you have a lot of plants around your apartment, and I’ve read something somewhere about the negative environmental impact of cut flowers. Also, this is a snake plant, and it’s supposed to be good for air purification and since you’re a nurse I thought that might be important to you. Side note, the fact that it’s a snake plant is not a clever joke about the hike. It’s coincidental. But on my way over it occurred to me that flowers were the more classic choice, and I have in fact just given you an extra chore.”

God, she was gorgeous when she talked a million words a minute. Gus came into the room and greeted her with a couple of low woofs.

Olive took the plant in one hand and kissed Stella on the cheek. “I love it. Thank you.”

Derek let out a low whistle, which was probably to remind Olive that he was still in the apartment.

“Oh, hi, I’m Stella.” With typical Stella efficiency she shook Derek’s hand. “You must be Derek.”

“Heard about me?”

“You’re Olive’s best friend who works at the hospital with her who she’s known since middle school.”

“All true.”

“She picks out all your shoes, and your favorite movie is Burlesque.”

“Olive? Dude.”

Olive cringed. “It wasn’t a secret.”

“Didn’t have to be the first thing you said about me to your uh—friend.”

“She also said that you’re the smartest nurse she works with, and your softball skills are legendary in the hospital league.”

“Better.” He grinned. “All right, you cool kids. Curfew’s ten P.M. I got a shotgun and a rake—”

“Shut up, Derek.” Olive hugged him. “Thank you again.”

A difficult to define emotion shadowed his face before he grabbed his keys from the counter along with the Tupperwared dinner Olive had made him. “I’ll come by after the gym and walk Gus.”

“Thanks.”

With another slightly concerned look at Olive, he headed out the door.

Olive checked the hem of her dress for stray threads. “I’m nervous I’m going to trip when I go get the award.”

Stella rested an assuring hand on Olive’s arm. “You won’t, but trust me when I say that wouldn’t even make the top ten most embarrassing things I’ve seen happen at these parties.”

“Phew. That’s a relief.” She forced a smile.

“You ready for tonight?”

“I studied the binder.”

Stella’s expression faltered. “That’s not what I… thank you.”

“Least I could do given how elegant the font was on the binder tabs.”

“You’re mean.” Stella narrowed her eyes.

“Is that Helvetica or something fancier? No way it’s just Times New Roman.”

“It’s Perpetua.”