“They left.”

The lines on Walt’s face moved deeper. “Dale should have walked you out.”

“I’m a big girl, Doc.”

He rubbed his arm. “You don’t have to tell me that.”

She moved his hand and turned him toward the ambient light from the bar.

The angry red welt pulled a small cry from her lips. “Is that going to be OK?”

“Fine. I’m sorry I left you here alone.”

She shrugged and the night air made her shiver. “You should probably go home, get something on that.”

His soft eyes swept her frame and his frown finally started to shift. “You look great. Too good for this dive.”

“It was my suggestion.”

“Scrubs or sweats, not stilettos and spandex.”

She winked. “Got it. But I don’t own a pair of scrubs and only my workout pants are spandex.”

He laughed, stepped closer. “I’m sorry this didn’t work out.” She felt his fingertips push away a lock of her hair and tuck it behind her ear. The warmth of his hand had her leaning into his touch. “Let me make it up to you?”

“I just hit you with a stun gun, Doc. You don’t have to make up for anything.”

“For the reason you reached for it then.”

“As long as it doesn’t include a dive bar.”

His hand found the side of her neck and held on. “How about you pick and I pay?”

She lifted an eyebrow and held still as he closed the space between them. “I have expensive taste.”

He hovered over her lips. “I can handle it.”

Dakota lifted her lips to his, let the sensual shock vibrate through her. The long wait in the bar was quickly forgotten . . . that was until the catcalls from the yahoos watching them met her ears.

They both pulled back, laughing. “I won’t forget this night anytime soon,” he told her.

“Me either.” Admittedly, she wouldn’t have a burn on her arm from it.

Walt walked her to the door of her car and opened it for her.

She turned over the engine and rolled down the window before shutting the door.

He leaned over the car. “Do you own a gun?” he asked.

“A gun?”

“Yeah, you know . . . bullets?”

She pulled her hair over her right shoulder and looked up at him with a grin. “You snuck up on me.”

“I need to know what kind of medical kit I need to have on hand for our dates.”

“An almost date. Kissing in the parking lot doesn’t count. Not since high school anyway.”

Walt tossed his head back with laughter and moved away from the car. “Be safe, Dakota.”

“You, too, Doc.”

Chapter Seven

Brenda never called. Hearing her voice on his answering machine shot alarm bells off in Walt’s head.

“Who is the best little sister in the world?” she asked when the machine gave her time to talk.

“I am, that’s right. I just learned through several channels that Mom is setting up not one, but three potential love matches for you when you come over for Dad’s party.”

Walt groaned.

“Don’t you dare flake on this party since I told you this. Larry told me to relay that he’s already got a bottle of Crown stashed at Mom and Dad’s for you.”

Larry was his sister’s husband. Poor sap lived less than twenty miles from his in-laws and had to endure a whole lot more than Walt did.

“Take some advice from your younger, albeit wiser, sister. Bring your own dates and this shit will stop. Love you, bro. Can’t wait to see you next week.”

He’d been running nonstop since he watched Dakota drive away, his arm stinging beyond anything he’d experienced.

He was doing his best to get all his obligations out of the way so his date with her the next night could go on uninterrupted. He’d ordered flowers, and he’d even stocked his wallet with new condoms. That made him either a bastard or thoughtful. He still wasn’t sure which. One thing for sure, he was hopeful he’d use them. Dakota, and her stun gun, had invaded his head. He thought of her and couldn’t ignore the heat inside him.

The day after the incident at Joe’s, Walt took it upon himself to scout the area around the hospital to see if there was a better alternative than the watering hole they were all used to.

Sadly, everything else pushed his limits of dive bar or was so trendy and opposite from everything he and his colleagues looked for in a place to unwind.

Walt set his clean laundry, clothes that really needed to be folded and put away, aside on his sofa. He turned on his TV and opened a beer. He hadn’t watched a game in forever, knew he could get the last half of the Dodgers game.

He was cursing a ref’s call when his phone rang.

“Hey, Doc.”

Damn her voice was sexy. After quickly turning down the volume, he replied. “Didn’t I tell you to call me Walt?”

“You did. But I never dated a doctor before so you’re just going to have to deal.”

“So it’s a status thing?”

“Yep! I’m dating you for your title.”

“And a character profile.”

“Right. Both those reasons.”

He laughed.

“Don’t hate me,” she said with less laughter in her voice.

“Why would I—”

“I have to bail on our date tomorrow.”