Miles
I’d grabbed another beer from the bar before making my way to the patio. Jameson already had CC in his arms by the time I got there. My brother had it bad. Good for him. He deserved all the happiness coming his way.
“Miles!” CC hugged me. “Where have you been all night?”
“Working.” I nodded at Jameson. “No one wants to bother him.”
“Tell them not to bother you either.” She kissed my cheek before returning to my brother’s arms. “Kirsten, do you remember Miles?”
“I do.” She stepped closer to me, extending her hand. “It’s been a long time.”
“Too long.” I took her hand but not to shake it. She was far too graceful for that. Swiping her knuckles along my lips, I gently kissed her hand. Her eyes widened briefly before a delicate smile crossed her mouth. “How have you been?”
“I’m well, thank you.” She discreetly removed her hand from mine. “I’m impressed with all you and Jameson have accomplished in the last ten years.”
“I could say the same for you, Dr. Dunlap.”
“Thank you, I got lucky with my practice.”
“She’s very modest,” Jameson said. “I have people calling me and asking if I have any pull with getting their kids in her office.”
“We’re in the process of hiring another physician, so hopefully we can expand our patients.”
“But they want you,” CC said. “Not a new doctor.”
“If I had ten more hours in the day, I’d see them all.”
When she laughed, two subtle dimples revealed themselves. I hadn’t remembered those. I also hadn’t recalled how perfect her posture was or how toned her frame appeared. She was a pretty teenager but she’d morphed into an exquisite woman. Back then, I was too busy trying to get into her panties to notice just how spectacular she was.
“There’s Judge Howell,” CC said to Jameson. “Will you go say hi with me?”
“Of course.” He rested his hand on the small of her back. “We’ll see you two in a bit.”
“Take your time.” I sipped my beer. “Kirsten and I will get reacquainted.”
As Jameson and CC walked away hand in hand, Kirsten spoke softly. “Were we ever really acquainted?”
Not as acquainted as I would have liked. “We were friends in school, weren’t we?”
“For a short time, we were.”
When she played with the diamond pendant that dangled from her neck, I wondered where she’d gotten such an elaborate piece of jewelry. A boyfriend? A lover?
“If I recall,” she continued. “You weren’t very pleased with me when I refused your request for a ride in your fancy car.”
“Ah, yes.” I wasn’t pleased at all. “You said no. I wasn’t used to hearing that word.”
“I know.” She let go of the pendant. “You never spoke to me again.”
“Didn’t I?” I was stubborn and immature. There were enough girls interested in me but I wanted her attention. You always want the one you can’t have.
“No.”
“Then I was a fool.”
“You’re still as charming as ever.”
“That was twelve years ago. Should we still be held accountable for hormone fueled teenage choices?”
“Which one of us?” She grinned. “You for asking or me for saying no.”
“Both of us.” She had a playful side. “Maybe we should start over. As adults.”
“The past is forgotten, Miles.” She held up her champagne glass. “We’re adults. I’m not holding any grudges.”
“Adults who will be spending the next few months together as we get through these wedding festivities.” My beer bottled clinked against her glass. “God help us.”
“I look forward to it.”
“Me too.” I peered around the yard. “It seems to be getting more crowded as the evening goes on. My mother invited the whole town and then some.”
“I’m not used to such large functions.” She set her glass on the tray a server held. “I’ve been working so much lately.”
“I have too.” I finished my beer. “I don’t remember the last social function I attended.”
“I guess I haven’t seen you in the papers lately.”
“Do you look for me?”
“The Clark brothers are hard to miss.”
“Max gets most of the press these days. They used to torture Jameson but I’m pretty low key.”
“Middle Child Syndrome?” She gazed into my eyes, lingering a second or two before continuing. “I see it all the time in my line of work.”
“I’ll bet you do.” I never complained about being the middle child except when I had to run interference between Jameson and Max. “Would you like to go for a walk with me?” There were too many people on the patio and I wanted to be alone with her. “There’s a lake down that path.” I pointed to the side of the yard. “Beyond the pool.”
“Sure.”
“Would you like another drink before we go?”
“No, thank you. I’ve already had too much.” She followed me to the path. “This is the first night in months that I’m not on call.”
“Do you have other doctors in the practice? Maybe you could rotate?”
“In theory that’s what we’re supposed to do but they have families. Small children of their own. I don’t, so I offer to do it.”
“That’s very kind of you but what about your social life?”
“What social life?” She giggled. “I don’t have one.”
“Maybe I could help with that?’
“Didn’t you say you were too busy to attend social functions?”
“I could make an exception.”
“What kind of exception?”
“Dinner.” We proceeded down the pathway, in the direction of the gazebo. “What night are you free?”
“Are you asking me on a date?” She stopped and studied me as if my request was a foreign concept.
What are you thinking, goddess? “Would it be inappropriate if I am? We just said we were going to get reacquainted.”
“I’m just curious why you would.”
“Seriously?” Was she playing with me? Making me work for this? “Why wouldn’t I?”
“Well, I don’t know. We haven’t seen one another in years. We weren’t that friendly when we did know one another.”
“Let’s forget about high school. That was a lifetime ago. We’re not the same people.”
“You’re not?”
“You’re not going to make this easy, are you?”
She tried to suppress a smile but I saw those dimples. She was teasing me. I liked it.
Before I could respond, Max came toward us.
“Where are you going?” He stumbled into me with a stupid grin on his face. “The party is that way.” He pointed behind me. “Where’s Jameson?”
“Over there somewhere.” I motioned toward the house. “Why?”
“I need to fill this and I don’t want him to see.” He held out his flask as he made eye contact with Kirsten. “Hello.”
“Hi.” She laughed. “Having a good time?”
“A really good time.” He patted my back. “My brother is a great guy.”
“I’m sure he is,” she said. “All of you Clark men are irresistible.”
“I won’t keep you.” Max looked at me. “I need a drink.”
“If you’re out here with who I think you are.” I noted his loosened tie and the lipstick stain on his collar. “Getting caught filling that flask is going to be the least of your problems.”
“Don’t worry, big brother.” He headed back to the house. “I can handle Jameson.”
No, you can’t.
“What was that about?” Kirsten asked as Max swayed down the path.
“Nothing.” Max needed to find his way. The same way Jameson did.
“You seem stressed.” She took my hand, taking me by surprise.
“My family can be a little complicated.” I led her to the gazebo, searching it quickly to make sure Rayne wasn’t down here. It was Max’s business. Jameson would have to deal with what the two of them chose to do. It wasn’t my problem.
“It’s lovely.” She glanced out at the lake. “So serene. Breathtaking.”
“I was thinking the same about you.” How had I missed such an extraordinary woman? “I really would like to get reacquainted.”
“Are you the same guy you were in high school?”
“I thought we were starting fresh?”
“I’d like to know the man you’ve become before I make any decisions.”
“You’re a tough one.” I took a seat facing the lake. “If you must know, I’m not as wild as I once was but that doesn’t mean I don’t enjoy the company of a beautiful woman.” I patted the spot next to me. “I’ll be honest with you.”
“Please.” She settled in next to me, close enough that I was fully aware of the scent of her floral perfume. “Honesty works best with me.”
“I’ve slowed down some in my late twenties. I’ve never really done serious but it doesn’t mean I can’t.” What did she want me to say? Was this an interview?
“Oh, I’m not looking for serious.” She rubbed the top of her arms as the breeze from the lake blanketed us. It was a warm May evening but it could get cooler under the trees when the sun went down. “I didn’t mean to imply that.”
“You didn’t.” I removed my jacket and draped it over her shoulders. “You asked who I was and I’m telling you.”
“Thank you.” She held my jacket over her. “It’s a bit cooler down here.”
“Whatever I did to you in school, I hope you can forget.”
“I told you, I’m not holding a grudge.”
“Neither am I.” I smirked. “Not at all.”
“What would you have to hold a grudge for?”
“You shot me down.”
“Your inappropriate advances.”
“How do you know they were inappropriate? You didn’t give me a chance.”
“I... what?” She shook her head. “You wanted to have sex with me.”
“That’s probably still true.”
Her eyes widened.
“You wanted honesty.”
“Yes but I...” The fluster in her face was cute. I’d thrown her off balance. I could work with that. “What were you warning Max about?”
“Changing the subject?”
“CC once told me you were the keeper of sorts. Is that true?”
“I look after my brothers when they seem to be spiraling in the wrong direction. Jameson has found himself and now that he has CC he’ll be just fine.”
“Max?”
“Max thinks he’s different from Jameson but they’re very much alike so they clash. I’m stuck in the middle when that happens. I usually side with Jameson because he’s right most of the time. Max sees that as a betrayal. He doesn’t understand that we have more experience. I’m in his corner, he doesn’t always see it.”
“That must be difficult for you.”
“I bury myself in our business. I’m learning that I need to let the two of them to work it out. I wish Max would come home for good. He’s fighting us on coming to work at the agency.”
“Maybe that’s a good thing if he and Jameson don’t get along.”
“Coming home will do Max some good. He needs our guidance, or I’m afraid he’ll travel down the wrong path.”
“Like Jameson did?”
Max’s obsessive drinking had been on my mind lately. “I don’t think he’s as far gone as Jameson was at that age but addiction runs in our family.”
“What are you addicted to?”
Women... especially intelligent, sexy women who will indulge my whims.
“This topic is too heavy.” I stood, extending my hand. “We can hear the band from here and they’ve slowed it down.”
“You want to dance?”
“Yes.” I guided her into a standing position as my jacket fell behind her onto the bench. “Will you dance with me?”
“I haven’t done that in a long time.”
“I’m sure you haven’t forgotten.” I took her hand in mine as I wrapped the other around her waist, wondering what else she hadn’t done in a long time. “It’s like riding a bike.” I gazed into her eyes as we swayed to the soft music. “See, you’re a natural.”
“Maybe it’s my dance partner.”
“Have you decided if you’re going to have dinner with me?” I spun her around the gazebo. “Fresh start and all?”
“You’re not too busy for dinner?”
“I’m not too busy for you.” I leaned her back, holding her in a dip. “Tomorrow night?”
“I can arrange for that.”
“Perfect.”
I brought her back to meet me, bringing her close enough for her breath to caress my lips. Kissing her would be so easy. Like breathing. What would she taste like? Lowering my gaze to her mouth, I bit my bottom lip as she closed her eyes in anticipation. Something sparked between us. An electricity of sorts. I couldn’t explain it. I wanted to kiss her but should I? We’d be spending time together this summer and then there was the wedding. What if there wasn’t any chemistry between us and it didn’t work out? Only one way to find out. I could deal with the consequences later. The kiss would be worth it.
Those lips...
“There you are.” Rayne stepped into the gazebo, effectively killing the moment.
Damn it! I released Kirsten from my hold as she opened her eyes, an expression of shock crossed her face. Was she disappointed?
“Sorry to interrupt but your mother is looking for you.” Rayne eyed me with a mischievous look. “Max said you might be down here.”
“Why is she looking for me?” I straightened my tie and retrieved my jacket from the bench. “Is everything okay?”
“She wants you to make a toast.” Rayne took Kirsten’s hand and led her toward the house. “You know, as the best man.”
You mean as the keeper of the gate?
Kirsten turned and smiled at me as Rayne hurried her up the path, giggling as they went. I took a deep breath as they disappeared into the trees. It would have been one hell of a kiss.
Until tomorrow, Dr. Dunlap...