Chapter 9 Hot When He Curses

She nodded.

Out of nowhere, the image of her riding him while screaming Dr. Warren popped into her mind. Mortified, she ducked her head, hoping to hide her heated face.

He frowned. “Are you okay?” he asked, worried.

She cleared her throat and nodded. “I’m fine.”

She chugged her drink down, finally starting to relax. The alcohol gave her the bravery to sneak look at him and admire his face. She tried to be sly but he wore the knowing smirk. She had a feeling he knew what she was up to.

Brenden was still eating when she finished. She had nothing to do, so to keep herself busy, she nibbled on a piece of bread. He kept glancing at her the same way she did. But she was agitated by the silence and sighed.

She had to initiate the conversation again.

“How long has you been a doctor?”

“I finished my residency two years ago. And my fellowship last year,” he informed her. Indeed, he looked younger than she expected.

“And how long have you been a nurse?” he asked.

“Five years.”

“Where are you from?”

It was strange how they went from being at each other’s throats to having a civilized conversation. He was acting as though he was interested in her—which she doubted was the case. She was sure he was trying to fill the silence just like her.

She answered him softly.

“Why did you move all the way across the country?” he asked curiously.

The bit about Steve was not worth mentioning, and it wasn’t something she wanted him to know. But she did give him a truthful answer. “My dad lives a few hours from here. I moved around a lot as a child because of his job, so I just want to be a little closer to him now that he is retired.”

He smiled. “Was he in the military?”

His response showed his keen observation skills.

She nodded. “I wish he weren’t, but yeah…” They laughed and his eyes shined. He looked younger than before. “What about you? Are you from here?”

He shook his head. “My mom was born and brought up here so we moved back when I was a teenager.”

The answer was simply but it sounded personal. There was a personality hidden behind that cocky face. And now that her prejudice had been swept aside, she slowly saw a clearer picture.

Perhaps he was having a terrible day. He wouldn’t be the first person guilty of snapping after long hours in the hospital.

The server offered them dessert, which they declined politely.

“Do you want to grab a coffee?” Brenden asked. He was completely civil, as though they never had an argument. “Thay have great lattes here.”

Feeling bold from the alcohol, she sat back and rubbed her tummy. She must have looked obnoxious but she didn’t care.

“Looks like Andy set you up with an irresistible date,” she teased. “You don’t want it to end.”

He was being polite, but Irene had a way with making a fool of herself. Adding alcohol in her only increased the chances.

“Oh, now who is being cocky?” he joked. “I know how to treat a pretty woman on a date. I’m a smooth operator.” This time, he winked, playing along.

‘Did he call me pretty?’

“The doctor has a sense of humor,” she chimed in, ignoring the ‘pretty’ comment.

He leaned forward, his elbows on the table. If it weren’t for the smile tugging at his lips, she would think him serious. “What doctor spat into your coffee this morning, Irene?” he asked, his voice low. His eyes remained trained on her, catching her by surprise.

She cleared her throat and reached for the glass, hoping a sip of alcohol would give her enough time to think of a comeback. But the glass was empty.

She twirled the ire in the glass while Brenden looked thoroughly entertained.

“I had tea this morning.” Her response was so lame, she wanted to die. A cute man stares at her and she is suddenly unable to find anything witty to say? Usually, she was better than this.

“My bad.” He couldn’t hide his grin any longer. He took a sip of his own drink, which was full, and leaned back, looking completely at ease. “This is confidential, but doctors are mandated to take Arrogance101 at the beginning to medical school.”

“I knew that, actually,” she supplied helpfully. The doctor had a lot of jokes! “There is a recent study regarding the long terms benefits it has in the medical field.”

“Right, and they don’t let you graduate if you don’t pass this class. It wheedles out the modest ones.”

She clucked her tongue. “The last thing we need are modest doctors.”

He cleared his throat. “Fuck, no. They are the bane of our society. They spend too much time taking care of patients. It is an insult to our profession.”

‘He’s hot when he curses.’

“Right. No one goes to the doctor to get treated. We go to stare at hot people with money and feel inferior in comparison. Clearly.”

The banter was their definition of fun. Brenden was still smiling at her from over his drink. She wished she had ordered another drink to keep her occupied. She was already feeling the three drinks she had drowned and any more would destroy her.

The check was placed on the table.

“I can pay for my half,” she offered quickly and cursed herself for ordering expensive shit when she was poor. She hadn’t even received her first paycheck yet!

“We are on a date,” he emphasized, his words almost teasing. “Now, let the good doctor pay.”

She wanted to say something funny but the doctor insults had lost their charm. Well, they never had any to begin with, but at least Brenden was nice enough to play along.

After he paid, they stood up and turned to leave. Brenden didn’t hold her hand or offer her his jacket. Neither of them saw it as a romantic event. They were set up on a date by a scheming friend and it was meant to be a joke.

They survived it. And now, perhaps, they would be friends.

He walked her to her car, where the designated driver was waiting already.

“This turned out better than I expected,” Brenden offered.

She should have felt insulted, but she actually agreed. “Gee, thanks!” she teased again.

It was all she knew how to do. She couldn’t allow herself to have a serious conversation with a man who hated her a few hours ago. The same man who now made her insides turn into jello with a simple smile.

“You know what I mean.”

“You’re right, I do,” she agreed.

“It was fun.”

She unlocked the door and Brenden reached over to open it for her. When he pulled away, his hand grazed her arm, igniting a spark so loud they both jumped back simultaneously.

“Did you just zap me?” She snatched her arm far away from his, holding it with her other hand protectively.

He was laughing as he rubbed his hand. “Must be my electric personality.”

She huffed as she slid into the car. “Well, take it somewhere else because that hurt!” She shut the door and rolled the window down. He looked down at her, still smiling. “So… I guess I will see you at work?” she asked hesitantly.

He grinned once again. He was going to make great eye-candy when she was working and exhausted.

“I’ll be there,” he assured.

She tried not to blush. “Cool.”

“Cool.”

“I’ll see you around then.”

“Right… I’ll see you around.”

The driver pulled out of the parking space and she shyly waved at Brenden as she packed. She felt all light and tingly, and she couldn’t figure out why. She told herself it was a combination of the drinks and the expensive steak.

‘Yes. That is what I’ll tell myself.’