I also had to bump it up a notch tonight, so I had heels to fix my height problem. At only five-five, I needed to compete with the many models trying to make their break in New York. Tonight, I was wearing my four-inch-clubbing heels. If he hadn’t noticed me before, there was no way I wouldn’t get his attention tonight.
I texted Sarah, but no response. Her last text had given the address of The Bartlett’s Night Club. Per our conversation last night, we had decided to meet there at nine, so I anxiously waited for her to get back to me.
Giving myself a satisfied grin, I strolled out of the bathroom. My heels clip-clopped against the hardwood floor as I sauntered into the kitchen. I opened the fridge for my boxed wine. Nobody was allowed to judge my love of the box. From the overhead cabinet, I reached for my pretty wine glass etched with a floral design, which Beth had given me for my twenty-first birthday, and poured myself a glass.
I rocked back and forth in my heels, just staring at my phone. My fingers twitched at my sides, causing the nervous jitters to jump up a notch as I waited for Sarah to call. Five minutes and an empty glass later, I texted Sarah I’d just meet her at the club.
I didn’t want it to seem like I had showed up to a place where Dr. Klein would be, so I had to get there before him. As if he would be showing up to my party.
I checked the mirror in the hallway one last time after grabbing my tiny silver purse from the counter. My gloss dazzled a perfect pink with added shimmer. I nodded once, satisfied with my ensemble, and then darted out the door.
***
BRIAN
When Trey asked me where I wanted to go tonight, he’d mentioned a couple of bars, one being The Bartlett’s Night Club. I knew it sounded familiar and, when I tried to recall if I’d been there, I suddenly remembered Kendy’s friend had mentioned it last night.
Ironically enough, Trey knew the owner’s son. There really wasn’t anyone Trey didn’t know. He was part of the ‘in’ crowd of Manhattan.
After moving to New York after high school, he’d gone out and lived it up, partied with the elite. His father had money and, as long as Trey worked for him, he kept those funds coming.
As soon as I stepped into the establishment, Trey spotted his friend while my eyes zoned in on Kendy, already sitting at the bar and looking so smoking hot I couldn’t tear my eyes away. Not like she hadn’t looked good in scrubs, but she was dressed to perfection tonight, and I hadn’t realized how hot her body was under her plain blue scrubs.
Before I could even figure out what I was doing, I was walking toward her, my feet moving against my own free will. Apparently, not talking to her tonight wasn’t even an option.
***
KENDY
The club bounced with the hip-hop music playing in the background. If Dr. Klein had chosen this place on a Saturday night, I had picked the right man. Because Kendy-Mendy loved her some hip-hop-hooray.
I pulled down my white scoop-neck halter and bobbed my head to the beat. I’d had to leave the panties at home since my dress wrapped my body in a tight vise and I didn’t want any panty lines. I was convinced tonight was my night, and he’d be mine for the taking.
My knees bounced as nervous butterflies stirred in the pit of my stomach. To say I was excited was an understatement, as evidenced by my overly large grin, but my stomach was in knots. The center of my palms began to sweat as I tried to keep the bouncing to a minimum.
I hadn’t had my sights on a guy in a long time. My pain was too great and it was easier to hide behind men who wanted nothing more than a quick lay. But now, I was done hiding my pain in one-night stands. I’d been looking for certain qualities in my forever male, and Dr. Klein possessed them all.
The truth was, he made me nervous. I wanted him so bad that the confident Kendy transformed into a school girl with a big crush when I was anywhere in his vicinity.
I’d been sitting here for so long, the ice in my Long Island ice tea had already melted. The only thing that was keeping my mind occupied were the three attractive males eyeing me from across the bar. A couple of them had offered to buy me drinks, but I didn’t want to do small talk, so I’d been upfront and told them I was waiting for someone.
When my phone vibrated in my pocket, I knew before I took a glance that it was Sarah. Suddenly, my smile vanished and worry seeped into my skin. She hadn’t responded to my last four texts, and I hoped she was okay.
My face fell as I saw the text.
Sarah: Sorry, babe. I’m not feeling well. I have this major stomach virus and everything I put in is coming out.
I lowered my head, hunching over to type her back, and released a heavy sigh of disappointment.
Me: It’s okay. I hope you feel better.
I leaned against the bar as my excited mood from earlier quickly faded. Why hadn’t she messaged sooner, preferably before I’d left the house?
My selfish side wanted to tell her to take some medicine and get her ass over to Bartlett’s ASAP. How the hell would I do this without my partner in crime?
We had rehearsed our lines and everything, and now my wing woman was unavailable. This blew.
I felt my full-on Kendy pout coming to the surface. I looked around, but I didn’t see the entourage of doctors that Dr. Klein was usually with, so I knew they hadn’t shown up yet. I didn’t even have a game plan, because Sarah was supposed to start the night cracking her random corny jokes. My job was to sit back and relax until he noticed me. I gritted my teeth as a shadow of disappointment crossed my face.
Now, what was I going to do?
I bit my pinky nail and tried to formulate a plan. Maybe a, “Fancy seeing you here”?
I shook my head and cursed at my lame, cliché line. Maybe I should just go home.
All talk . . . no action. I realized my bravado only surfaced when Sarah was around, especially when it came to Dr. Klein.
Before I could let my negativity take over, I heard a familiar voice behind me.
“Well, well, well. Look who I found.”
I cringed. My night had just turned from bad to worse. Slowly, I spun around and locked eyes with the blue-eyed culprit staring back at me, sporting a cocky smirk.
Brian.
I didn’t even try to hide my scowl. “Great, just great. I hate my life.”
He sighed dramatically, resting against the bar right next to me. “We’re running into each other way too much lately. It must be a sign,” he said, his voice tinged with humor.
I shot him a look and he laughed, which only piqued my annoyance. “Not a sign—luck,” I said, angling toward him. “Bad luck,” I quipped, using the line he’d used at the hospital.
His eyes raked my body, landed back on my face, and then he beamed with approval, which shifted my mood.
With a small sly smile, I rested my hand on his bicep and noted the well-defined muscles straining against his fitted white button down. My eyes focused on his face, pretending I wasn’t even remotely affected as I squeezed his arm, not noticeably hard, but just so I could feel how firm his muscles were.
Any woman had to admire a man who took care of his body and it looked like Brian did that well. I came closer until we were inches apart. Suddenly, his smile faltered and his look started changing. His eyes raked me in with a lust I was all too familiar with.
My chest was almost touching his, and I knew I had his undivided attention. It was as if he wanted to eat me for dinner, and then for dessert, too. Heat rushed my insides at our closeness. My breath caught in my throat as electricity zinged between us. The air shifted and there was an unexpected and abrupt attraction so strong that I forced my eyes shut and pulled back to find my bearings and give myself room to breathe.
I blinked a couple of times, still admiring the view in front of me. I wasn’t totally immune. No doubt, he was one attractive male. Just not the one I’d come for, I silently reminded myself.