Arms of an Angel Read Free Page B

of
seriousness.
    “ Mere conversation, my dear.
You’re not exactly dressed for me to request that you lie down on
my couch.” He regretted the words as quickly as they’d spewed from
his mouth. The look on her face made him blush and he could tell
she was toying with her come back.
    “ Fair enough. Couches aren’t
exactly my first choice for… reclination, relaxation, or
recreation, let alone the reading of my mind.” He expelled the
breath he’d held making her laugh. “Do I scare you… is it actually
Mr. or should I be calling you Doctor?”
    “ I believe I have seen
enough in these few minutes to realize I should be on guard. I have
told myself that a time or two since I sat down, yet I continue to
fail to heed my own warnings. And I am addressed most often as
Doctor though Mr. is perfectly fine with me. I do happen to be that
as well. Although, to my patients and around the office Doctor
seems to be the name I go by.”
    “ Remind me to never ask you
a simple question if I’m in a hurry,” she laughed.
    What sweet melodic laughter. It seemed to
come so freely from her, yet there was something guarded about her
as well. Was there a hint of sadness, of longing, behind the
beautiful, mischievous sparkle of her blue-gray eyes?
    “ Stop staring. You’re giving
me the creeps. It’s as if you’re trying to look into my mind.” She
didn’t want him in her head, especially tonight of all
nights.
    He shook his head. “It’s just your eyes;
they’re such an unusual shade of blue. I didn’t notice at first.
It’s almost as if they…”
    “ They change color…with my
moods and feelings or most probably with my blood pressure,” she
finished his sentence. “Another gift from my dead
mother.”
    She was poking fun at him. At least she could
find humor in an undoubtedly trying situation. He wanted to inquire
about the particulars of their passing, though he knew she’d accuse
him of practicing his profession. He chose a hopefully less sticky
subject.
    “ Ms. Orion, do you suppose
we might dispense with the last name formalities? I believe as the
champagne loosens my tongue the Orion/O’Bryan similarities may
provoke me to an awkward slip. I’ll forget which of us is which.”
They both laughed.
    “ Garrett, correct?” He
nodded. “I shall welcome the switch. Last names are so formally
tedious at times; especially when we forget which one belongs to
us.” Free laughter flowed again.
    “ Claire it is then.” He
liked the feel of her name on his tongue. The thought made his brow
crinkle. She intoxicated him much more than the champagne. He
wondered why.
     
    The meal progressed quite pleasantly, capped
with a shared, decadent, raspberry chocolate dessert.
    “ Why are we celebrating?” he
asked as she dipped her fork into the corner closest to
her.
    “ What would make you say
we’re celebrating?” She was surprised by his suggestion.
    He shrugged, not wanting to ruffle her again
in any way.
    Reading his thoughts, she smiled. “You’re
suddenly wondering, as you did in the beginning, why a woman would
get all dressed up and take herself out to a fancy restaurant to
dine alone. It seems… dysfunctional? Emotionally unstable?
Downright coo coo?”
    He shook his head then laughed.
    “ Perhaps I was stood up as
well…”
    “ Nope. You called in for a
table,” he reminded her.
    “ Right.” She tried to think
of something else, though the quantity of champagne they’d consumed
made anything short of silly hard to formulate. “We need coffee. I
do anyway. Or maybe just a cab. It appears we’re about the last
ones in here.”
    Garrett looked around, surprised at the
number of empty tables. He looked back at his bewitching dinner
partner, remorseful at the thought of this evening coming to an
end.
    “ I have my car. Perhaps I
might offer you a ride?” he asked, holding his breath in
hope.
    “ It’s a big city. How do you
know I’m not far out of your way?”
    “ Statistically people