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Scarlet found me and slid a Long Island iced tea my way. “Hey, nice job! They seem really happy.”

“Ooh, drinks,” I gushed before taking a sip.

Scarlet smiled broadly. “It’s so cool to see you in a chill atmosphere, Dr. C. We’re all a little afraid of you, honestly.”

“Afraid?” I scoffed, putting a hand to my chest. “Of me?” I pinched my thumb and forefinger together and stuck one of my eyeballs between the gap. “I’m like this big. What’s scary?”

Scarlet laughed. “True. Okay, I’m going to walk around and make sure everyone is okay. You good?”

I took an enormous gulp of the drink I barely tasted. “So good,” I slurred.

Laughing again, she sauntered away, and I admired the way her red dress swished around her long legs. So cool to be tall. I wished I was tall. Why did I have to be a hobbit? How was that fair?

I watched the couples talk, some of them stilted and nervous, and others open and laughing freely as they chatted. I admired every one of them. I didn’t think I was cut out for the battleof love, but these people were determined, and I had to see the beauty in that. Maybe I should be matching them based on how they laughed. I peered at the couple closest to me, pushing my glasses further up my nose with my knuckle. The guy in plaid was listening intently, nodding along while the girl talked. He had dark blond hair he’d combed to the side, and heseemedquite attractive.

His eyes shifted to me suddenly, and his features changed from polite disinterest to keen intrigue. Or I was just very drunk, maybe.

The bell rang through the pub, and chairs scraped against hardwood floors as the men all stood to move on to their next table. The plaid guy hesitated, passing by my table. His steps faltered, and with his gaze trained on me, I watched in shock as his body angled my way. Suddenly, a large, muscled form plunked down in the seat opposite from me.

I turned a startled look at the stranger at my table. Only he wasn’t a stranger. Dr. Reed placed his large palms on the lacquered table, his summer green eyes fastened on me. He was still wearing the same sage green button-down I’d seen him in earlier, and he looked perfectly composed and put together. His lips curved into a wry smile. “Well, if it isn’t Dr. Love.”

I blinked at him, stupefied. “Callum?”

“Oh, I don’t think we’re on a first-name basis yet, Dr. Coldwell,” he replied with simmering anger in his sharp expression. “Itis‘Doctor,’ isn’t it?”

“Yes, you are,” I replied stupidly. My brain buzzed like a ball of insect wings, andI blinked several more times, just in case my head had conjured him, and he wasn’t real.

Callum’s eyes fell to the glass between my hands, and then back to my eyes. “Right. But areyou?”

My mouth felt numb, and I put my fingers to my lips to make sure it was still there. “Am I what?”

His dark eyebrows tilted up with a fraction of amusement. Slowly, he reached across the table, took hold of my glass, and slid it away from me. “I was hoping this would be a good time to talk, but now I’m thinking maybe… not.”

“Hey,” I scowled at the amber liquid as it drifted away from me. “Thass’stealing.”

“Hm,” he replied, his gaze narrowing on me. “Dr. Coldwell, aren’t you in charge of this event?”

“Correct,” I said, lifting my chin, and adjusting my glasses.

His lips twitched like they were fighting a smile, and I admired how bronze-y and full they were. “Then why are you completely plastered?”

I gasped. “Esscuse me?” I looked around the room, expecting someone to come to my defense. “Plas’stered?”I slurred.Oh. That did sound a little sloshy.

“I like that one because you can never say it when you’re shitfaced,” he grinned. His teeth were so straight. And white. And his dark copper hair was all long on top and swoopy before it faded away to a clean, short buzz along the bottom. Pretty.

I shook my head, straightening my spine and leaning away from him. “What do you want, essact—exscactl—essactly?”I asked sloppily.

“Iwantedyou to take responsibility for the horrible date you sent me on, and Iwantedyou to fix it and find me someone who might be willing to at least act like my girlfriend so I can take her to dinner with my parents this Friday.” Callum’s bright green eyes traveled all over me, from my curls to my blouse where I’d spilled a green tea shot. Wait, had I takenfive shots? Jesus, I couldn’t remember.

“Now, I’m thinking I might be out of luck,” he finished. He looked so goddamn amused. What was so funny? “How much did you have to drink?”

I glared at him in affronted outrage. “You’re a ver-ry rude doctor, Callum.”

“Cal,” he corrected. I swiped for my drink, and he easily slid it out of reach again. “Who’s driving you home after you’re done… working?” His lips flattened together, like he was tamping down another smile.

I put my hands on either side of my warm face, pressing hard. “I’m working.” The dawning realization that I was, in fact, totally hammeredwhile at a work eventfinally sank into my obtuse brain. “Oh, I’mworking,”I repeated despairingly.

Cal nodded in mock solemnity. “Poorly.”