“Yes, why?”
“I think I met her when I went upstairs to get your file earlier today. I’m pretty sure she insulted me, but I can’t be sure.”
Merrick smiled. “I don’t even know what she said, but I’m sure it was insulting. Bree’s not a big fan of women.”
“The entire gender?”
He shook his head. “She’s a model, and apparently it’s very competitive.”
“She’s a model—one who is very pretty with great legs. So why would you blow her off?”
“I don’t shit where I eat, Dr. Vaughn.” His eyes dropped to my lips for a fraction of a second. If I’d blinked, I would have missed it. He caught my gaze again. “Getting involved with a neighbor is almost as stupid as getting involved with a coworker.”
An odd disappointment hit me. “Oh… Yeah, that makes sense.”
When we turned the corner to my block, my sister was coming out the front door of her building with Buddy on a leash. I leaned forward to let the driver know which building it was, and we pulled up right next to where Greer and her dog were standing. I had a sneaking suspicion she was out here on purpose, waiting for me to pull up so she could take a look at the man sitting next to me since she’d told me she just took out her dog with the neighbor’s.
“Thank you very much for the ride home.”
Merrick nodded. “Of course.”
I grabbed the door handle, but Merrick stopped me. “Hang on. Don’t open that side. This is a busy road, and no one pays attention. I’ll let you out on this side.”
“Umm… You might want me to risk it.” I pointed to my sister, who was smiling like a loon. “That’s my sister, Greer, who wants your sperm. I’m not sure you want to get out.”
Merrick chuckled. “This should be interesting.” He climbed out of the car and offered his hand to me.
Greer’s eyes sparkled as she watched the scene. I had no choice but to make the introduction. “Uh, Merrick, this is my sister, Greer. Greer, meet my boss, Merrick Crawford.”
The two of them shook, and Greer looked Merrick up and down. “You’re tall.”
He smiled politely.
“What, about six two?”
“Exactly. Very good guess.”
She nodded. “It’s nice to meet you. I’ve met your grandmother. She’s a hoot.”
“That she is, indeed.”
I could see the wheels spinning in my sister’s head. “How old is she now? She and our grandmother were born the same year. So that must make her close to eighty?”
“Seventy-eight. But if she were seventy-nine and three-hundred-and-sixty-four days, I wouldn’t call her close to eighty to her face.”
Greer smiled. “Longevity in the family. You must have good genes. Any family history of severe illness?”
Oh my God. I shoved my sister toward the apartment building and waved behind me to Merrick. “We definitely need to run. Thanks again for the ride, boss.”
He chuckled.
Inside the lobby, I shook my head. “I cannot believe you just did that.”
“What?”
“Questioning him like he was a serious sperm-donor candidate. He’s my boss, Greer.”
“Sorry. I got carried away. He’s even better than you described, though. Those eyelashes. I pay eighty dollars a month, and mine aren’t nearly as full and dark. If I can’t have his sperm, you definitely should take some.”