Page 22

TWENTY-TWO

Meredith tried to form coherent thoughts.

Failed.

Tried again.

And again.

Finally, she managed to say, “Gray?”

“Yes?”

“What happens now?”

He grazed her forehead with the lightest of kisses. “Right now? I’m afraid you have to go back to work.”

The intercom buzzed on his desk. He stood and answered it. “Yes, Glenda?”

“I’m so sorry to bother you, sir, but Lucy is here. She’s, um, well, a little concerned. She said Dr. Quinn has a patient in three minutes, and she tried to call but—”

Was it already time to be back in the office? Had her phone buzzed and she’d missed it?

Gray had his professional voice going when he said, “Tell her she can return to the office. Dr. Quinn will be a few minutes late, but she’ll be there shortly. Thank you.”

“Yes, sir.”

Meredith was pretty sure she should say something at this point, but she was still having trouble getting her brain in gear.

Gray stood in front of her chair, took both of her hands in his, and pulled her to standing. He didn’t move, and the motion brought her body flush against his. “Hi.”

“Hi.”

“Could I make dinner for you tonight? My place. Seven p.m.?”

She nodded.

“Okay. I’ll pick you up at six forty-five.”

“That’s silly. If we’re eating at your place, I can drive.”

He shook his head. “I wouldn’t say yes to that even if there was no danger at all. But given that you are in danger, that’s not just a no. That’s a no way, under no circumstances, absolutely not.”

Well, that was ... firm. “Okay. What can I bring?”

“Yourself.”

“I can do that.”

“Great.”

“So, I should go.”

“Yeah.”

But she didn’t move. They stood there. Bodies almost touching. Hands held between them. Eyes locked on each other.

The intercom buzzed again.

“I swear I’m going to throw that thing out a window.” Meredith laughed as he answered, “Yes, Glenda?”

“Sorry to bother you, sir, but I thought you should know that Lucy called and is holding.” Glenda’s exasperation was evident. “She said she can see Dr. Quinn’s patient waiting outside the office. I believe she’s running down the sidewalk.”

“Please tell Lucy that Dr. Quinn is on her way.”

“Thank you, sir.”

As he’d spoken to Glenda, Meredith had backed up until she was at his door. “Tonight.”

“Tonight.” Meredith had no idea how she managed to get out of Gray’s office. Or out of the building. She walked down the street in a fog. It was a miracle she didn’t get run over. When she entered her office, she was extra thankful that she had a back entrance and didn’t have to walk in through the lobby. She landed in her office chair and dropped her head on the desk.

What had just happened?

She slid her phone from her pocket and texted Bronwyn.

I have a date with Gray tonight.

Bronwyn wasn’t known for her lightning-fast responses to text messages, but the three dots began dancing almost as soon as Meredith hit send. Then they stopped, and her phone rang.

“Hello.”

“Details. Now. Spill. Fast.” Bronwyn’s rapid-fire commands held concern and also a heavy dose of hope.

Meredith filled her in. “I don’t understand him at all. I was so mean. And he’s all, ‘I want to go to Iceland with you.’”

“Oh, sweetie, you don’t get it at all. But I think I do.”

“Explain it to me. Please. Fast.”

“Meredith, you’re so gentle and loving that you don’t lose your temper often. And the only time you’re truly angry is when you’ve been hurt badly. He figured out that the reason you reacted the way you did isn’t because you don’t love him. It’s because you do.”

“That’s messed up. I don’t want to be mean to people I love.”

“That’s not what I meant. You don’t bother getting angry about things that don’t matter. You’re angry with him because he does matter. And he’s realized that. So now he has hope that he can fix things. And he’s not wrong. I mean, really, of all of us, the only person who is worse at holding grudges than you are is Cassie. She can’t stay mad to save her life. Literally.”

“I love Cassie.”

“So do I. Stay on track, sweetie. You were hurt. You lashed out. That doesn’t mean you don’t care about Gray. He understands that you took a risk with him by showing how you felt. You put yourself out there and got your nose smacked for it.”

“More like a black eye.”

“Fine. You got punched in the face. Or, more accurately, the gut, the heart, the feels. He kissed you and then claimed it was a mistake. And you reacted in anger while in pain. But if he hadn’t been important, you wouldn’t have cared.”

“If he wasn’t important, I never would have kissed him.”

“Exactly. And now he’s come to his senses. Took him long enough. If he’s smart, he wants to restore things to the point where you’ll be crazy for him again.”

“I’m pretty sure that part never went away.” Meredith fiddled with the calendar on her desk. “I tried to make it go away, but...”

Bronwyn sighed. “Yeah. I know. So, what time is your date?”

“Seven. He’s picking me up at six forty-five. He says there’s no way I’m driving to his house for a date, which is super polite but ridiculously inefficient.”

“You sound like Mo when you say things like that. Love isn’t about efficiency. Love is supposed to be inefficient, inconvenient, and even a little weird.”

“What’s with all the love talk? It’s a date. A first date.”

“But can it be a first date when you’ve already had your first kiss?”

“Not funny.”

Bronwyn ignored her. “I’ll be at your place at five thirty. We’ll find the perfect outfit, freshen up your makeup, and have you ready to leave for the ball at six forty-five.”

“I don’t need help getting dressed for a date. I’m not fifteen. I’m thirty-two.”

“I’m not coming to help you get dressed, although you should let me help you pick out your outfit. Maybe I’ll bring a few things.”

“Then—?”

“I’m coming to run interference.”

“What?”

“As soon as Gray pulls into the driveway, Mo and Cal will lose their minds. If I’m there, I’ll be able to smooth the way.”

Meredith made it through the day in a blur. She focused on her patients and thanked the Lord, sincerely and fervently, that her entire afternoon was nothing but routine cleanings. If she’d had to do a root canal, she might have needed to reschedule.

At five thirty, she was waiting on her porch when Bronwyn brought her BMW SUV to a stop behind Meredith’s 4Runner.

Meredith doubted that Bronwyn could see him, but she knew Mo stood in his doorway, watching as Bronwyn came toward her holding three garment bags and a makeup case.

“I don’t need your clothes.” Meredith opened the door for her to step inside and then followed.

“You might. You never know.” Bronwyn divested herself of her burdens, turned, and threw her arms around Meredith. “How are you feeling? It’s been a few hours. Are you sure you want to go out with him? Because I can head him off if you don’t.”

Meredith’s phone buzzed, but she ignored it. “I’m excited. And terrified. I’m worried about whether my deodorant will hold up. What if I start sweating?”

“Sweat is a normal bodily function. And in your case, all Gray will see is that you have a translucent glow about you.” Bronwyn slipped into a snooty upper-crust accent at the end, then dissolved into laughter. “Since when do you worry about sweat?”

“Since I started breaking out in one every time I’m around him,” Meredith confessed.

Bronwyn gave her a shrewd look. “How long has this been going on?”

“Since the day I met him.”

Bronwyn grinned. “Then I guess we should plan for you to wear layers. If you start glistening, you’ll need to be able to bare some skin.”

“No one bares skin in February.”

“I’m not talking about wearing a bikini.” Bronwyn shot her a look. “What is wrong with you? He really does have your brain scrambled. I’m talking about scarves, jackets, sweaters, etc. You can bundle up for the drive over there and in case he decides to take you on a walk.”

“To Gossamer Falls?” Meredith snorted a laugh. “Pretty sure that won’t be happening.”

“Not to Gossamer Falls. He’s too old for that. But there is that gorgeous spot in the park...”

“Yeah. And he’s the chief of police. I doubt he’s going to be big on public displays of affection.”

“I wouldn’t be so sure. The man has been spoiling you all week. Quite publicly.”

“Fair point.”

An hour later, Meredith was dressed comfortably, with layers, and her hair was extra shiny thanks to some miracle spray Bronwyn had pulled from her Mary Poppins makeup bag. She was sipping a chamomile tea that Bronwyn had assured her would help settle her nerves and her stomach.

Both of which had lost their minds in the last fifteen minutes.

Mo had come over earlier and checked everything for listening devices, so she was 99 percent sure she could talk to Bronwyn without anyone hearing. She’d have to risk it.

“What is wrong with me?” She blew on the tea. “I’m a grown-up. I’m not a teenager with a crush.”

“You have more to lose. And you’re smart enough to know that.” Bronwyn’s answer wasn’t unkind or unfeeling. It was the truth Meredith needed to hear.

“Yeah. He’s Cal’s best friend.”

“You’ve turned into a romance trope. You’re dating your brother’s best friend. Except he’s your cousin. But ‘cousin’s best friend’ doesn’t have the same ring to it.” Bronwyn sipped her own tea. A decaf Earl Gray. “Everyone knows the biggest problem with dating your brother’s best friend is that if things go south, it’s not just your relationship that suffers.”

“Aren’t you Suzy Sunshine this evening? You’re supposed to be helping me.”

“I am.”

“I’m not feeling comforted at the moment.”

“Gray wants to be with you enough to risk it. What was it you told me once? That you wanted someone to choose you?”

“Yeah.” She did want that.

“Well, you have your wish. He’s chosen you, the hope and the promise of what a relationship with you could be, over his friendship with Cal. That should settle your nerves. Those two are tight. Gray wouldn’t take the risk if he wasn’t serious about you, and serious about making your relationship work.”

Meredith studied Bronwyn over her teacup, then caught a glimpse of a man approaching and hissed out a warning. “Incoming.”

Bronwyn didn’t miss a beat. She grabbed a magazine from the coffee table, settled herself more deeply into Meredith’s sofa, and was in mid-sip when the front door to Meredith’s tiny house opened.

Mo stood in the doorway. “Is there a reason you aren’t answering your messages?”

Meredith gasped and pulled her phone from her pocket. “Sorry. Been busy.”

Mo took in the room, including Bronwyn as she studiously read the magazine and didn’t look up to acknowledge Mo’s presence. “You don’t look busy. Why did Bronwyn bring all that stuff? Is she in trouble?”

Meredith didn’t miss the way Bronwyn’s mug trembled at Mo’s words. “No. Nothing like that. She came to help me get ready.”

There was a slight lessening of the tension in Mo’s jaw, and then he asked, “Get ready for what?”

Before Meredith could answer, another vehicle pulled in and parked beside the carport. Gray was here.

Mo rolled his head around in a slow circle. Meredith heard his neck crack twice. But all he said was, “Seriously?” Then he walked to the kitchen, poured himself a glass of water, took two cookies from her cookie jar, and planted himself in the chair opposite where Bronwyn sat on the sofa.

Now it was Meredith’s turn to say, “Seriously? What is this? Go home. Both of you.”

“I think it’s good for him to see what he’s up against if he hurts you.” Mo took a bite of his cookie and spoke around it. “Oh, wait. He already did that.”

Bronwyn pinched her lips together but didn’t come to Meredith’s aid.

“We’ve discussed it. That matter is between us.”

“No, it isn’t. He hurt you. You’re my sister. That makes it my business.”

“Told you.” Bronwyn’s murmur was just loud enough for Meredith and Mo to hear. Which was good, because Gray was almost to the door, a bouquet of flowers in his hand.

“Would you shut up?” Meredith spoke to both of them, then went to open the door. “Hi!”

Gray extended the flowers to her.

“These are gorgeous.” She took them. “Let me set them in a vase and then we can go. Come on in, if you dare. My bodyguards are here.”