water. Just someone.
* * *
Kai took a final look in the bathroom mirror, dropped her lipstick in her purse and returned to her bedroom just as the front doorbell rang. Self-consciously she pulled on the deep V of her dress to no avail. She drew in a breath and went to the front door.
“Andrew,” she greeted, pasting a broad smile on her face, a combination of nerves and more nerves.
For an instant his eyes widened with pleasant surprise. “Wow.” He grinned. “You look...great.”
Her face flushed. “Thanks.” She swallowed. “So do you.”
“Guess doctors can clean up pretty good, huh?”
“Guess so.” She stepped aside. “Come on in for a minute. I need to get my purse.”
Andrew came inside. Kai shut the door behind him. “Have a seat. I’ll be right back. Can I get you anything?”
“No. Thanks.”
“Be right back.”
He took a slow look around the airy living area, which was dominated by a soft taupe-colored sectional couch with a bronze-and-gold stripped throw that looked like it had been meticulously hand-sewn. One wall held a bookcase filled with a cross-section of titles that included medical journals, British classics, contemporary thrillers, romances and a full shelf on photography. A flat-screen television was mounted on the wall. But what drew his attention was above the mantel. It was a near life-size black-and-white photo of the beach during a storm. The composition was breathtaking. Andrew could feel the fury of the surf as it roared toward the shore. Beyond the shoreline, the inky black sky was illuminated by a flash of lightning that exploded from an angry gray cloud and sliced through the horizon. He stepped closer to see the name of the photographer.
“Ready.”
He turned and his heart knocked hard in his chest at the sight of her. She was so gorgeous. “Yep. Incredible photo,” he said, hooking a thumb over his shoulder. “Who’s the photographer?”
She gave a shy smile. “Me.”
“What!” He chuckled. “You. Are. Good.”
“Thanks.” She gave a slight shrug of her right shoulder.
He crossed the gleaming wood floors to stand a few feet in front of her. “How long have you been taking pictures?”
“Years. It was always a hobby of mine, but with patients, working at the hospital for an inhumane number of hours a week, there wasn’t much time to indulge in my little hobby.” She drew in a breath and smiled. “When I moved here and my life slowed down...” She shrugged again.
“Well, you definitely have skills, doc.”
“Thanks.”
They stood facing each other in an odd moment of silence.
“Guess we better get going,” Andrew finally said, snapping them both back to the moment.
“I’m looking forward to meeting Mr. Coben.”
“You have quite a few of his novels on your shelf.”
“Ya think?” she teased as they walked to the door and out.
* * *
Andrew held the door for her and she slid onto the smooth leather of the Mercedes-Benz CLK. The interior still smelled showroom-fresh and she briefly wondered how long he’d had it.
“I made reservations at Drummonds, the new place on Main. Have you been there yet?”
“No, I haven’t.” She settled herself in the car and fastened her seat belt.
“Good, it’ll be a first for both of us. A colleague from the hospital said the food was great and they usually have live music.”
“Really? Sounds great.”
“I can’t remember the last time I’ve been out for dinner where I could simply relax and enjoy myself. Dinners always seem to invariably revolve around business, patients, and hospital administration.” He cut a quick look in her direction as he pulled onto the narrow two-lane road. “So I hope you won’t mind if we don’t utter a word about anything that has to do with patients and health care.”
Kai laughed lightly. “Fine by me.”
They drove for a few moments in silence. “I’m really glad you decided to go out with me,” Andrew said, his normally assured voice laced with a hint of uncertainty.
Kai stole a look in his direction. His profile was set against the backdrop of the darkening sky. “Thanks for asking...again.”
They both laughed at the obvious implication. Andrew had lost count of how many times he’d asked Kai out and she’d always found a reason to gently say no.
“Had I only known that all it would take to lure you out was a Harlan Coben book signing, I would have found a way to get him here long before now.”
Kai laughed. The dimple in her right cheek deepened. “Was I really that bad?”
“Yes. Good thing I have a healthy ego or I would be permanently scarred.”
“I doubt that very seriously.” She relaxed in her seat, glanced briefly at the crest of the horizon beyond her passenger window then turned slightly toward Andrew.
“Do you even like mysteries?”
He gave a slight shrug. “I’m more of a Stephen King kind of guy.”
She gave a fake shudder and a little frown. “Horror! Really? I would have never thought that in a million years.”
“Why?” He stole a quick look at her and was delighted to see the amusement in her eyes.
“Hmm, I’m not sure. I guess I figured you for a history or a biography buff.”
“Real straight, no rough edges.”
“Not exactly but...”
“I get it. I totally get it. That’s why it’s more important than ever that you get to know the real me. I’m much more than a pretty face and brilliant mind, you know.”
Kai tossed her head back and laughed. “That’s to be determined.”
Drummonds was everything that Drew had said and more. The circular tables were draped in brilliant white linen, with sparkling crystal glasses and gleaming silver. One entire wall was smoked glass from end to end and looked out onto the pier, giving view to the gently flapping sails of the docked boats undulating on the water. The circular bar was a mixture of chrome, dark red wood and marble. Every stool was taken.
“Welcome to Drummonds. Do you have a reservation?” the slim hostess donned in all black asked.
“Yes, two for Clarke,” Andrew said.
The
