They made small talk about their different hospitals and reached The Lakeside Grill up on a hill overlooking the city. “I’ve never been here.”
He shut off the engine. “I don’t go anywhere else. This is the best.”
She wondered briefly why he kept saying things like that. To impress her? Oliver drove a Prius. He liked all kinds of eateries.
Don’t think about him.
The interior was dimly lit and swank. The floor was marble and the chandeliers were made of crystal. When they were seated at their table, the linen napkins were heavy and soft.
He said, “I ordered champagne ahead of time.”
She wasn’t crazy about the bubbly. She preferred wine but didn’t make a fuss. When the bottle came, the cork popped loudly as if to saywe ordered the best. Now, she was embarrassed by his ostentatious behavior.
She picked up the leather covered menu, hoping to speed things along. “Not yet,” he said, chiding her. “Let’s talk.”
“Okay. Do you like your job?”
“Yes. You?”
“Yes. Actually, I—”
“You know our facilities are better than yours.”
“The Downtown Hospital is newer than Memorial. Tell me about your equipment.”
“We just got this fancy new diagnostic…”
She pretended to listen. But her mind went to another man who made fascinating conversation about his job, books, movies and her and her babies.
“Anabelle, where’d you go?” His tone was demanding.
“I was listening. Look, I’m hungry and I’d like to order.”
“You don’t drink much?”
“I can’t. I have to take care of my twins.”
“You have twins? I didn’t know that.”
“They’re adopted. Do you have any kids?”
“No. And I don’t intend to.”
The waiter approached them. He was a young man with already graying hair and a beard. Without even looking up, Jonathan quipped, “We haven’t decided yet.”
She said. “We will. Come back in few minutes.”
“I can order for you.”
“No, I’d like to do it.”
Dear God in heaven. What did I get myself into?
The night couldn’t end fast enough.
* * *
Oliver stared over at the lovely—and sexy—woman sitting across from him. She was the exact opposite of Anabelle: a flight attendant, who dressed in a low-cut, dark red dress that looked like it had been painted on her. She had fiery red hair, moussed and wild. Just what he needed tonight.