he’d been involved with still obsessing over him. Debbie might be crazy over Gabe, but the woman didn’t have any real psychiatric problems.
“And risk encouraging her nonstop calls and texts continuing?” He winced. “Thanks anyway.”
Kami raked her gaze over his six-foot frame. “You’re not that bad, Gabe.” She patted his hand as if reassuring a small child. “There will be other bidders.” Faking a look of uncertainty, she shrugged. “Well, hopefully.”
One side of his mouth cocked upward. “Gee, thanks for the compliment, friend.”
“Anytime,” she assured him, her lips twitching. “What are friends for?”
Eyes sparkling, he gave a pointed look. “To rescue each other when one’s relentless ex plans to buy her way back into your social life.”
He had a point.
If Kami believed he was in real need, she’d probably empty her house-deposit fund to bail out his butt. Good thing he wasn’t because she’d been hoarding every spare penny for years, had a hefty down payment saved, and would hate to have to start over to make her dream of owning a home come true just as she finally had enough saved to actually start looking for the perfect house.
“Just because Debbie plans to bid doesn’t mean she’d be the winner,” she said on a more serious note. “Stop worrying.”
He didn’t look assured. “Debbie doesn’t like to lose.”
Kami gave a semi-shrug. “Who does?”
He raked his fingers through his hair. “Come on, Kam. Place the winning bid and I’ll show you the night of a lifetime.” He waggled his brows. “We’d have fun.”
Kami laughed. As if. “You must have me mixed up with one of the other women running around the hospital who actually wants you to show them a ‘night of a lifetime.’ I’ve better things to do than mess with the likes of you.”
Looking as if she’d said exactly what he’d expected her to say, he chuckled. “Or maybe I want you to buy my bid because I know I can ask this huge favor and not worry about you freaking out down the road when I break things off.”
Yeah, there was that. She wouldn’t freak out over a man. Never had. Never would. She’d watched her mother do that one time too many.
This time it was she who gave the pointed look.
“If I ever gave you the privilege of dating me—” she stared straight into his blue eyes, held her chin a little higher than normal “—who says it would be you to break things off?”
Although she adored his friendship, his arrogance irked. Then again, was it arrogance if it was true he’d been the one to end every relationship he’d had during the time he and Kami had worked together? Probably his whole life?
Gabe chuckled, then surprised her by tweaking his finger across the tip of her nose.“You might be right, Kam. Only a fool would break things off with you. Speaking of which, how is Baxter?”
Ha. Talk about turning the table.
“Our breakup was a mutual decision,” she reminded him, not that she hadn’t already told Gabe as much a dozen times previously. “We aren’t talking much these days, but he’s fine as far as I know.”
Just as she was. Baxter had been sweet, only she’d realized continuing their relationship was pointless. When he kissed her, she felt nothing. No sparks. No butterflies. Nothing.
Kami wasn’t so delusional she thought someone would come along, sweep her off her feet, and give her a fairy-tale romance. But she wasn’t going to settle for nothing, either.
Good friendship and sparks—it could happen.
Not that it had, but she was only twenty-seven. There was plenty of time for someone special to come into her life.
And, if not, she’d rather be alone than like her mother and with the wrong man over and over.
“Keep telling yourself that he’s fine. Dude was devastated last week when I bumped into him.”
Baxter hadn’t been devastated. When she’d broached the subject of their relationship not working, he’d seemed relieved. Obviously, he hadn’t felt any sparks, either. On paper they were a good match. In reality, there had been little chemistry beyond their initial attraction.
“When did you run into my ex?” Baxter, an accountant for a law firm, and the usually laid-back man in front of her didn’t exactly move in the same social circles.
“At the gym.”
Kami’s jaw dropped. “Baxter was at the gym?”
She shook her head to clear her hearing because she couldn’t have heard correctly. Not once during the time she’d known Baxter had he ever gone to the gym. To her knowledge, he’d not even had a membership.
“Pumping the iron in hopes of winning you back.” Gabe’s eyes twinkled with mischief. “Too bad you aren’t up for grabs at the auction ’cause he could buy a night to remind you of all you’re missing out on. You, him, Debbie and me could go on a double date and reminisce about the good ole days.”
Kami rolled her eyes.
“Baxter is a great guy,” she defended the man she’d dated for over six months. He truly was. He’d been steady, quiet, dependable. She’d wanted to feel something, had tried to convince herself she did because he’d make a good husband and father someday, but nada.
“Just not the guy for you?”
“Exactly. Now, was there a reason you interrupted my work other than to whine about Debbie?”
“As if she isn’t enough of a reason.” He gave an overly dramatic sigh that should have put him up for an award or two. “I can’t believe you’re refusing to help, Kam. You know I’d do it for you.”
“I wouldn’t want you to.” She curled her nose and shuddered at the mere thought. “Can you imagine the rumors that would start around the hospital?” She gave a horrified look. “Uh-uh. No way. I can, however, put out word you’re hoping someone outbids Debbie at the auction. I’m sure there’ll be a few takers.”
He shook his head. “I’m disappointed in you, Kam. I was sure I could count on you to save me.”
“You have the wrong girl, but no worries. You’ll find someone over the next few weeks to outbid Debbie.”
* * *
Gabe disagreed. He had the right girl. The perfect girl.
Kami wouldn’t get happily-ever-after ideas. He always had fun when she was around. And, best of all, she already knew the real him. The him who had no intentions of settling down anytime in the near future.
But he changed the subject instead of pursuing the topic further. As she said, they had a few weeks before the fund-raiser. A lot could happen during that time.
Like
