Chapter 6

“Morning muffins are going to keep me from fitting into my wedding dress next month,” Grace complained as she took another bite of her blueberry treat.

Krista looked at Abby. “Is she serious? She hasn’t gained a pound since graduation.”

“I have. I’ve gained ten.” Grace looked down at her slender body.

“And they’re all spread out perfectly,” Abby noted. “You’ll be a beautiful bride.”

“I’m glad you could join us this morning,” Grace told Abby.

Abby pulled her coffee to her with a yawn. “I’m getting sick of eating alone. I needed to meet up with you two before I started talking to myself. Although actually, I’m already to that point.”

“You could, I don’t know, find yourself a man to talk to,” Grace suggested. “Even Krista has finally moved on and found a date.”

Krista didn’t comment on the “move on” reference. Grace was talking about Noah. Krista could deny it all she wanted, but everyone seemed to know how she felt about him. “I’m actually canceling on Noah tonight for Wednesday Wings and going out with Chandler again.”

“Dr. Dale’s first name is Chandler?” Abby asked, biting into her bagel. Thick, white cream cheese squeezed out from the edges. “I will always associate that name with Friends. Chandler Bing.”

“What a crazy last name,” Grace said on a laugh. “I’m not sure I could ever marry a guy named Bing.”

“Well, you don’t have to worry about that because you’re marrying a Sawyer,” Krista said.

“It’s a good last name,” Abby agreed. “That’s why I’m keeping it.”

“Well, that and you are still technically married to Sam,” Grace said. “Unless you’ve filed papers.”

Abby shook her head. “Not yet. It’s just a technicality, though. Sam and I are done. I’d rather be married to Chandler Bing.”

Grace snickered as she picked at her muffin. “Grace Sawyer has a really nice ring to it, doesn’t it? I’ve always secretly wanted to be a Sawyer.”

Abby shook her head. “It’s never been a secret.”

This was why Krista loved morning muffins. The conversation was usually light and random—wavering between favorite sitcom shows and last names—and it was exactly what she needed to start her day.

“What did Noah say when you canceled on him for tonight?” Grace asked.

“I haven’t exactly told him yet.”

“Well, serves him right for bringing that date of his to your sacred Wednesday Wings a couple weeks ago.” Grace shook her head. “This is a dose of his own medicine.”

“I’m not dumping him as my best friend. Chandler just has odd hours. If I want to have dinner with him, then I have to adjust my schedule. And I do want to have dinner with him,” Krista said decisively. “It’ll be good for me.”

“You sound like you’re trying to convince yourself of that,” Abby noted, one strawberry blond eyebrow raised. “Don’t you like him?”

Krista shrugged a shoulder and drank more coffee. “He’s all right. I mean, he’s really funny.” But not as funny as Noah. “And cute.” But not as cute as Noah. “He has relationship potential.” Which was exactly where Chandler and Noah differed. And Krista was ready for love, marriage, the whole kit and caboodle. She envied her friend Grace, even while she was absolutely thrilled for her.

Krista’s watch buzzed on her wrist. She groaned. “Time’s up. I have to head to the hospital. Can’t afford to be late because that promotion is mine when Karen leaves.”

“Attagirl,” Grace said, also standing. “I have to head in, too. The deliveries go out in an hour and I need to check with the drivers and make sure they know to stop at our newest customer’s restaurant.”

“All the best fish comes to The Landing first.” Abby pointed a finger. “I don’t have the reputation as the best seafood chef on the East Coast because I serve low-quality fish.”

“You definitely have an in with the Sawyers,” Grace said with a wink.

They waved their goodbyes in the parking lot and Krista headed to work. She pulled in at the same time that Chandler Dale was pulling in with his pristine white BMW.

“Fancy meeting you here,” he said with a wide smile. There were no swoon worthy dimples like Noah had when he grinned.

Krista forced a smile that she hoped Chandler would believe was genuine. A lot of the women at the hospital would trade their massive shoe collection for a catch like him. He was fairly good-looking, smart, rich, nice. She wanted to want him.

“So are we on for tonight?” he asked.

“Yes. I’m looking forward to it.” Or she wanted to be looking forward to it.

“Great. Me, too.”

“Do you, uh, have a busy day here?” she asked, filling the silence as they entered the hospital.

He shoved his hands in his pockets. “Yep. Two back-to-back surgeries.”

Krista’s brows raised. “Pretty busy. You sure you’ll be up for dinner tonight?”

He narrowed his eyes and she could see why women wanted him. His brown eyes twinkled a bit and the corners of them crinkled. “I’ll be up for it. Don’t you worry about that.”

“Okay then.” They stepped inside the elevator and rode it to Krista’s floor.

“I’ll text you,” he said.

Krista stepped out and waved. “Great. See you later.” Then she headed toward the nurse’s station to get an update on her patients.

“It was a restful night. No incidents or emergencies. In fact, I got a little bored,” Olivia reported.

Krista exhaled softly. “Perfect. Let’s hope that continues.” Because she had a date tonight that she needed to somehow get excited about.

But first she had to cancel Wednesday Wings with Noah.

Noah frowned at the text on his phone.

Sorry. I have to cancel on you tonight. Something has come up.

“What’s wrong?” Joey asked, looking back at him.

Noah shook his head and stuffed his cellphone back into his pocket. Then he stepped up beside Joey at the front of the boat. Beauty barked and followed at his heels. “I’m going to have to get a bark collar if she keeps scaring off the fish,” he threatened for what felt like the millionth time. He wasn’t actually considering it.

“I’ll report you to animal services,” Joey said.

“Or I’ll have to leave her behind on the houseboat.” Noah stared out on the water. They weren’t having bad catches these days. In fact, since Joey had joined him, the catch had been great. They’d brought in four tunas this week alone. Not Mitsy, though. Every time he got a bite, he hoped it would be the fish that had gotten away from him last year. “Your sister canceled on Wednesday Wings,” Noah finally said. “She okay?”

Joey glanced over, his hand propped on the rig waiting expectantly for a bite. “Yeah. She just has a date with some doctor at the hospital.”

Noah’s stomach tugged hard, like a fish on the line. “A date?” He remembered seeing her with Dr. Dale at lunch the other day and wondered if she was going out with him again.

“I was surprised, too. She hasn’t been out in months. Maybe a year. I heard her talking to him on the phone the other night, too.”

“They talked on the phone?” Noah asked.

Joey looked over. “Don’t tell me you’re jealous.”

“No.” Noah laughed as if the idea was absurd. “It’s about time she went out. I’ve been telling her to date for a while. She’s never been one to like medical people, though. She always told me she wouldn’t date someone she worked with.”

“Guess she changed her mind. It’s good. I was beginning to think she was either in love with you or into chicks because she’s always hanging out with Grace and Abby. One of the two.”

“In love with me?” Noah laughed again. Another absurd idea even though something warmed inside him at the thought. “She’s more likely to be in love with Grace or Abby,” he said. “I’m glad she’s ditching me for a date. That’s a good thing.”

“Frees you up to find a date of your own.” Joey grinned.

“Exactly.” Noah thought about this for a moment. There had never been any shortage of women wanting to date him in Blushing Bay. He, on the other hand, had no desire to take any of them out. All he really wanted to do was hang out with Krista, but she’d canceled on him tonight. She’d chosen an eligible doctor over him. Jealousy grew like an unruly weed inside his chest. He had no right to be jealous. He knew that. He’d actually pushed Krista to say yes to Dr. Dale—even if he’d never thought she actually would. This was what he wanted because it let him off the hook.

So why did he feel like someone had just plowed over him with a bulldozer?

Later that night, Noah tipped his beer back. His plan was to drink enough to where he just didn’t care that Krista had ditched him. He hoped Dr. Dale royally screwed things up tonight. Even if he did, though, Krista was the most forgiving person he knew. Heck, Noah had brought a date to Wednesday Wings with him two weeks ago and she’d forgiven him. He was the king of screwing things up.

Getting up, Noah nearly stumbled over Beauty, who was standing at attention at his feet. She wagged her tail, giving him unconditional love. Beauty was all he really needed. Man’s best friend and all that—and he’d need a new best friend if Krista continued to bail on him.

“Wanna go for a walk?” he asked the furry bundle of energy. She wagged her tail in response. “Yeah, me too.” He grabbed Beauty’s leash and latched it to her collar, then headed out along the boardwalk, hoping the old adage was true and that walking really did clear your head. He circled past the marina, stopping to allow Beauty to sniff every random smell that wafted under her muzzle. His head was almost clear when he saw a beautiful brunette standing by the all-night diner. Alone.

Krista?

Noah veered in that direction. Had Dr. Dale left her stranded alone? The jerk.

“Hey,” Noah said, signaling the woman’s attention. She turned to look at him, and Noah stopped in midstep. Not Krista.

The brunette smiled with interest. “Hey, yourself.” There were similarities, but the woman was younger, maybe in her early twenties. She had a longer face and brown eyes instead of Krista’s baby blue color.

“Sorry,” he said, wondering if it was the beers he’d had before taking the walk, or if he was going crazy—all over the fact that Krista was out with another man.

“I’m not. Do you want to get a coffee?” the woman asked. She seemed nice enough. A couple weeks ago, Noah would have said yes. But tonight he had no desire.

“I, uh, can’t. I’m sorry.” He looked down at Beauty who had her gaze pinned on the woman. “We have to get back.”

She nodded, her brow pinching over her narrow nose.

Yeah. He’d chosen his dog over an attractive female. He tugged Beauty’s leash and she trotted up in front of him, leading the way back home, wishing with every step that he could forget how Krista’s lips had felt against his last week. How her body had felt in his arms for that brief second that he’d been replaying in his mind on a loop. Wishing that he could be her date tonight instead of stuffy Dr. Dale.

You can’t, Noah. If you feel like you’re losing her now, just wait until you drag her along, then refuse to marry her or give her children.

Noah swallowed bitterly, remembering how good she was with the young boy, Adam, the other day on the Summerly. A born mother. There were things that Krista wanted, needed, out of life that he wasn’t equipped to give her. He knew that about himself, had learned it the hard way. She deserved better than what he’d given his college girlfriend more than a decade ago. If he somehow hurt Krista, he’d never forgive himself. Which was why he had to let her date guys like Chandler Dale, stuffy and boring. At least they wouldn’t break her heart. He couldn’t promise the same about himself.

Krista was unfortunately drinking water. Chandler had more authority than she did in the hospital, so she didn’t feel comfortable drinking alcohol in front of him. And after the other night with Noah, she wouldn’t anyway. Who knows what she would say to the good doctor? Who knows what she’d actually said to Noah?

Except Noah. And judging by the way he’d acted around her since, she’d definitely said something to make him a little squirrelier than usual.

Chandler let out a rip-roaring laugh.

Krista startled out of her thoughts.

“Oh. Sorry. Did I scare you?” he asked, his laugh slowing down like a roller-coaster ride. The guy liked to have a good time. That was something she could admire about him.

“No.” She shook her head and started giggling, too, as if she’d actually heard what he’d just told her. She hadn’t and if she was forced to comment on his joke, she’d embarrass herself.

“So how do you like working in peds?” Chandler asked. He had a large slab of steak on the plate in front of him. When he’d ordered, he’d made a point of commenting that it was the most expensive item on the menu. So he had money. That was always a plus in a date. But he didn’t have to make a show of it. She didn’t admire that part of his personality.

Krista added that to her mental pros-and-cons list for going on another date with Chandler after tonight. “I love peds. I’ve always enjoyed working with kids.” She shrugged her shoulders, feeling that gooey feeling that ran through her when she thought of her little patients. She sincerely loved them, each and every one, even the difficult ones that fussed and fought her tooth and nail for a vital. “When I’m in a bad mood, I can get to work and everything inside me changes.” She felt herself beaming at Chandler.

He nodded and poked a piece of steak into his mouth.

“I’m sure you feel the same way about fixing people’s hearts. That’s got to be an awesome feeling.”

He chewed and swallowed, then cocked his head to one side as if he’d never considered the question. “Honestly, it’s just a job to me. It pays well. I guess I like the process of doing surgery. I’ve done most of the procedures so many times now that I’m almost on autopilot.”

Was he bragging, she wondered, unable to decide if she should feel impressed by his confession or sorry for him. She’d done most of her procedures a million times, too, but each one was different. Each kid was different.

Krista focused on the salad she’d ordered. She stabbed a lettuce leaf, working out her frustration. She wasn’t enjoying this date. She’d rather be home in her pajamas, watching TV. And Chandler’s steak was still a mile long. She’d be here for at least another hour.

“Dr. Dale!” a woman’s voice said, approaching Krista from behind. “Looks like we’re in the mood for the same thing tonight.”

Krista sat rod straight, tipping her chin toward the table. She’d know Karen’s Southern drawl anywhere. Oh, God. If Karen saw her out with a colleague—she hadn’t even considered that when she’d said yes to dinner tonight.

Krista let her hair fall across her cheek, using it as a shield.

“Yep. Krista and I were both in the mood for fine dining,” he told Karen.

Krista’s heart sank into her no longer hungry belly.

“Krista?” Karen stepped up beside her. “Oh, it is you.” She looked between Dr. Dale and her.

Crap. Krista could kiss her promotion goodbye for sure now. If getting personally involved with patients wasn’t unprofessional enough, now she was dating the hospital’s lead cardiac surgeon.

And she didn’t even like him romantically.

“Hi, Karen,” Krista said, her skin burning. She was positive that even the dim lighting couldn’t hide her fully flushing cheeks.

“You didn’t mention that you were going on a dinner date with Dr. Dale today,” she said.

Krista shook her head. “No, this isn’t a date.” Her gaze jumped to Chandler, who looked disappointed. “I mean, it is. Yes, it is, but it’s our first. Unless you count our lunch date the other day.”

The corners of Karen’s mouth dipped down. Krista didn’t have to guess what was running through her mind.

A sinking feeling settled over Krista, pushing her down farther in her seat.

“I see. Well, you two enjoy your meal. I’m going to go get one of my own.” She smiled at Dr. Dale and then looked at Krista with what wasn’t exactly a smile. Or maybe Krista was imagining it. Maybe this wasn’t as bad as she thought.

“It’s okay,” Chandler said after Karen had gone. “People date at work all the time. We’re not supposed to, but it’s not going to be a problem.”

Krista was surprised he even knew what she was thinking. “Really?”

His eyes were warm. “Really. I could name about a dozen off the top of my head right now.” He leaned in. “And Karen has been known to have dinner with a coworker in the past, too.”

Krista’s mouth dropped open. “No way. Who?”

Chandler held up his hands. “I don’t spread gossip around. But it’s a certain doctor who frequents your floor and specializes in orthopedics.”

Krista gasped as her hands flew over her mouth. “No way,” she said again. “Dr. Peters?”

Chandler pretended to zip his lips and Krista laughed out loud, enjoying herself for the first time tonight. “Feel better?” he asked.

She nodded. “Much. Thank you.”

He shrugged. “I don’t want you to regret having dinner with me.”

A little warm tingly sensation lit inside her chest. Maybe Chandler did have some dating potential. She added a tally to the list of pros for seeing him again. He was sweet and he’d just made her laugh as hard as she did sometimes with Grace and Abby. And with Noah. That was a good thing.

She picked up her fork and started eating, not worrying about Karen anymore. Instead, she was on a mission to find out how many more tallies she could add to Chandler’s pros list.