“My house isn’t far from here,” he said. “I cleaned up before coming to get you just in case you’d accept my invitation for a nightcap. Or, if you’re not comfortable with that, I’d be happy to take you home.”
“Not comfortable? I know where you work,” she said with a laugh.
“I’m pretty harmless,” he assured her.
Nonetheless, she did a little math. They’d been talking on the phone for a week and change; she knew he was close to his mother and knew her name. He’d lost his father to a brain aneurism when he was young, which could account for his specialty. So he said, not her assumption.
“I bet you’re not, but I’d like to have a nightcap, and you can feel free to join me. I’ll be happy to Uber home.”
They took a cab to a Victorian atop a steep hill, a large home divided into three apartments. His was classically male, decorated in dark wood, off-white and tan paint, brown and beige furniture, a long curved sectional, a marble fireplace and a very impressive window seat from which there was a view of the city. She was drawn to that window seat and with a long, Ooh, she sat there and was captivated by the view.
“How about a brandy?” he asked.
“That sounds perfect. This is beautiful. How long have you lived here?”
“Just a few years,” he said. He kept talking from the kitchen. “One of the doctors I knew was renting it out right about the time I was looking for something and we came to an agreement in an hour. The closeness to the hospital and city—it was an easy decision. When he decided to sell, I was ready to buy.”
“I love it,” she said.
He returned with a brandy and sat down beside her. “What’s your schedule this week?”
“Monday through Thursday I have clinic and on Saturday I’m on call for the practice. You?”
“I’ll be working all week between clinic and surgery. But I’m not working tomorrow. Do you have any interest in going out on my boat? The weather is supposed to be perfect.”
“I’d love it. Aside from a ferry or party boat, I’ve never been sailing. I have no real experience.”
“But you’re willing to learn?”
“Absolutely, but I don’t want to be a lame sailor! Are you sure I wouldn’t be any trouble to take along?”
He grinned at that, shaking his head. His hand wandered to her shoulder and he gently massaged her. “It could be wonderful. We can just sail around the bay with all the other weekend sailors.”
She had already started to fantasize about sailing, pulling ropes and setting rudders and learning all the rigging moves. Then his hand was on her elbow, then stroking her arm. He moved close and his lips slowly touched her cheek. Then her neck. Then her lips. He took the brandy from her hand, put it aside and kissed her again. He investigated her mouth with his tongue and then took possession. His arms went around her, hers went around him, and their lips were locked together for a long, delicious kiss. Minutes, by her estimate. Several times his lips slid to her neck and he moved her long, dark hair away and inhaled her scent.
While he was busy kissing her, she was deciding what to do. Let him touch? She wanted to be touched. Desperately. It had been a long time. His caresses roved around a bit, sliding to her butt, her thighs, her knees. Then he whispered against her lips. “We could get more comfortable...”
This was what she had longed for since that day in the hospital parking lot, to have someone as smart and handsome and accomplished as Patrick want her. But she didn’t want to seem too eager. “On our first date?”
“Not really, though, is it? How many hours have we logged on the phone? We know almost everything about each other.”
“True. But...”
“It’s entirely up to you.”
He treated her to a little more kissing and caressing and when his hand slid deftly over her butt and under it she sighed and said, “Yes.”
He took her hand and led her down the hall to his bedroom. They passed a couple of rooms that she took no real notice of but what she did notice was how the hardwood floors shone and how immaculate the walls and floorboards were, as though freshly painted. And then the main suite—large king-size bed, dark wood chests, large-screen TV on the wall. She couldn’t help but wonder if he had tidied up in anticipation of bringing her to bed or if he was naturally so neat. Nothing was out of place, no clothes tossed over the furniture. She glanced into the large closet and everything was hanging in perfect rows.