Kristina sighed as she secured her hair back into a French twist. She was keeping her hairstyle simple yet elegant. Glancing at her reflection in the mirror she stuck her tongue out but it didn’t help lighten the situation any. To be honest she didn’t feel like going out tonight but she was going to make the best of the situation.

She smoothed her hands down the sides of the blue dress she decided to wear tonight, smoothing out imaginary wrinkles. Since they were probably going to end up dancing she put on her sandals that had a steady strap and heel. No need to make a spectacle of herself by wearing shoes that could be a hazard.

She put on a small dab of perfume before picking up her purse and keys. She was going to drive over to Leslie’s place where Alex and Brice were going to meet them. Over the past few weeks she and Leslie had become good friends. The more time she spent with Leslie and Jessica the more she realized Leslie had been completely honest about her connect to Robert. Their relationship was platonic.

Too bad Kristina was having trouble doing the same. She tried to keep her distance from Robert but it was difficult to do. It was as if he enjoyed cornering her when he could. She didn’t miss the smirk on his face whenever they were in tight quarters and she had to squeeze by without touching him. Robert enjoyed her torment a little too much.

It was part of the reason why she had decided to go out tonight. She needed a distraction in a bad way. Her wish had been granted a few days ago during dinner with Leslie, Brice had approached the table with his friend Alex. A very nice looking man whose interest in Leslie was transparent, very transparent.

Before the two men had walked away from the table she and Leslie had agreed to a night out with the men. As she drove to Leslie’s house she exhaled softly. This was a situation she didn’t want to be in. Yes she was attracted to Brice but there was something missing. What it was exactly she couldn’t put her finger on. Besides she had come to San Angelo for the employment opportunity. Not more trouble with men. Robert was already trying her patience and mental sanity.

If Leslie hadn’t been so nervous about going out on a date, her first since having Jessica, Kristina would be at the house. She could imagine being curled up on her couch in her comfy pajama’s and watching a romantic comedy. Instead she was out offering moral support.

Pulling up in front of Leslie’s apartment she shut off the engine and took a deep breath. All she had to do was relax and the time would fly by before she knew it. Reaching for her purse she slid out of her car and made her way up to Leslie’s apartment. Leslie opened the door before Kristina could finish knocking.

“Hi Kristina.”

She didn’t miss the tremor in Leslie’s voice as she stepped inside the apartment. “Hi Leslie. You look great.”

Leslie’s smoothed her hands down the front of her dress with a worried expression. “Do you think so?”

Kristina nodded. “Pink is your color. You should wear it more often.”

Leslie seemed to visibly relax before her. “Thanks Kristina. I needed that.”

Kristina was sincere in her compliment. The casual dress emphasized Leslie’s slim but curvy figure. Leslie was hiding a dynamite figure.

Leslie touched a hand to her hair. “I still can’t figure out what to do with this though.”

Kristina smiled. “Well if you lead me in the direction of your bathroom and hair pins I may be able to come up with something for you.”

Leslie glanced at the clock on the wall. “We don’t have long.”

Kristina looked in the direction Leslie stared in. “Twenty minutes is plenty of time.”

“Okay then.”

Leslie led the way to the bathroom and Kristina followed her wondering if there had ever been a time she felt so insecure. If there was a time she couldn’t recall it. Hopefully after tonight Leslie would see getting back into the world of dating wasn’t as bad as it seemed. She almost laughed at the irony. Courtney just uttered those same words to her a few nights ago.

She had to admit she was one to talk when the only thing she wanted to do was hiss or snarl at anything with a penis. Like she told Courtney it would get better in time. She wasn’t going to rush because she didn’t need a rebound situation.

She saw Leslie’s curling iron was already plugged up. The red light indicator wasn’t on telling her she had time to come up with a solid idea of what to do with Leslie’s hair. It was wavy enough to where she wouldn’t have to apply much heat for curls.

Leslie pulled a container of hairpins out of the drawer and sat them on the counter, then turned to look at Kristina.

“Do you need anything else?”

“Just a chair for you and a little holding spray.”

Leslie nodded and retrieved the items quickly while Kristina tested the iron and determined it was ready. When Leslie was situated Kristina took a little mousse and rubbed it together between her palms before rubbing it into Leslie’s hair. She curled the ends of Leslie’s hair before sweeping it to the top of her head and securing it with hairpins. When she finished Leslie smiled brightly.

“Thank you Kristina. You did a really good job.”

“You’re welcome. Now take a deep breath and relax. The guys will be here in a little while.”

When Leslie didn’t tense at the mention of the guys Kristina felt a little of her own tension evaporate. All she wanted was for this to be an uneventful night. The doorbell rang pulling her from her musings. Leslie jumped and Kristina laughed. She reached out and gave Leslie’s hand a reassuring squeeze.

“Breathe Leslie. Everything will be fine. I promise. Now let’s go have a good time.”

Even as Leslie left the bathroom and Kristina followed her to the front door. When it swung open Brice and Alex stood on the other side. The guys seemed to be speechless at the sight of them so Kristina broke the silence by speaking first.

“Hi Brice. Alex.”

“Hi,” Brice replied.

“Hello,” Alex said simultaneously.

Kristina smiled and Leslie seemed to collect herself. “Please come in. We just need to get our purses and we will be ready.”

The men stepped inside and Kristina saw that Alex couldn’t take his eyes off of Leslie.

“You look beautiful,” he told her.

Brice stepped closer to her and Kristina tilted her head slightly to look up at him. “Hey handsome.”

Even as the words slipped from her mouth she realized he paled in comparison to Robert. She felt guilty as soon as the thought entered her mind. Should she be comparing men? She made a small sound under her breath. There was nothing wrong with sizing men up. They did the same to women all the time. She wondered how often Warren had done it with her.

When the thought entered her mind it was hard not to frown but she realized Brice was talking and she needed to try to focus on what he was saying. She caught the end of his sentence and was able to comprehend that he was paying her a compliment.

“Thank you,” she murmured as she stepped away to grab her purse.

Leslie came to stand beside her. “I’m ready.”

The men offered each of them an arm and they walked out of the apartment, stopping to allow Leslie to lock the door. They all loaded in Alex’s SUV, Leslie riding up front with Alex, leaving her in the backseat with Brice.

When they arrived at the restaurant they were seated quickly and she was glad. She hadn’t realized how hungry she was. Then again Robert had been messing with her eating pattern. Poor Melissa didn’t know which direction to go in. She had begged her co-worker to switch lunch times with her. Just another way she could avoid being alone with Robert.

“Kristina?”

She looked up from her menu and saw that all eyes were on her. The waiter was staring at her expectantly and she could feel her cheeks heat with embarrassment.

“Tea,” she stated quickly, instinctively knowing she was expected to tell the waiter what she wanted to eat.

She needed to get herself together and fast. Otherwise Brice was going to assume she was crazy. She looked across the table at Leslie who was studying her with open curiosity and puzzlement. Kristina offered a small smile and dropped her eyes down to her menu trying to keep her mind focused on the present.

Right now she didn’t feel any better than Warren. Only she didn’t know whom she was cheating on. Thankfully dinner went fast, too fast. She couldn’t remember what she had ordered let alone eaten.

“Are you ladies ready to go dancing?”

She wanted to scream no but refrained. Leslie was having a good time and she didn’t want to ruin it for her. She knew what it felt like to have happiness ruined. A little over halfway into the date Leslie had relaxed. Alex made her laugh and Kristina liked him.

She looked over at Brice with guilt and gave him what she hoped was a smile. If he was bothered or upset by having just half of her attention the entire night he didn’t let it show. She should have waited until she wasn’t so angry and bogged down with her thoughts of Robert. It wasn’t fair of her to be out with him tonight but she had already committed to the date and she would see it through.

“Sounds like fun.”

The drive to Graham Central Station was a quick one and she could hear the music before they even made it to the door. They were able to find table but Leslie and Alex didn’t stay seated long. Kristina watched the head off to the dance floor. The two of them really were a cute couple. She looked over at Brice who was smiling at her. Now if she could just work on her feelings toward him.

****

Kristina sighed as she walked through her front door. She hadn’t even sat her purse down before the phone rang. The last thing she felt like doing was talking. Her body ached along with her head after the exhausting day at work. She scrambled around inside her purse until she found her phone. A groan escaped her when she viewed the Caller ID.

“This had better be good Courtney.”

“Wow! It sounds like someone has had a bad day.”

“Not bad, just rough. But do me a favor. I just walked in the door. Let me get situated and I’ll call you back in a few.”

“Okay’s that’s fine. Talk to you in a little bit.”

“Make sure you do.”

“Bye Court.”

Kristina disconnected the call and sighed. She so wanted to take a hot bubble bath and relax with a glass of Merlot but it was out of the question right now. If she did she would be out and quickly. Courtney would kill her if she didn’t call her back. She was expecting a full update from her date with Brice five nights ago. She would have to settle for a shower.

Kristina trudged up the stairs to her room. She turned on the shower setting the temperature of the water to as hot as she could stand it, before taking off her clothes and stepping under the spray. She stood there for a few minutes trying to relax, letting the water beat the tension out of her body, then she began to bathe.

A few moments later she stepped out of the show feeling more relaxed now than she had before she had when she came home. She put on her pajamas and headed back downstairs. Picking up her cell phone off the counter she dialed her sister’s number. Courtney answered the in the middle of the first ring.

“Hi Kristina.”

“Hey Courtney. I just wonder what you would have done if it hadn’t been me calling.”

“I would send my cell phone back for repair because my Caller ID would be off.”

Kristina rolled her eyes and walked into the living and plopped down on the couch. “You have serious issues Court.”

“Actually it sounds like you are the one with issues. Now tell me all about the hot date and the rough day at work in either order.”

“The date wasn’t hot. I can’t even say lukewarm. I was a chaperone and matchmaker more than anything else.”

“What? Oh come on now Kris. It hasn’t been that long since you have been on a date for you to forget how it really goes. You are supposed to concentrate on your own date.”

Kristina sighed. “You know Courtney I would love to argue with you but I know you are right. It would have been nice just be able to focus on the guy I was with.”

There was a pregnant pause before Courtney responded. “What do you mean by that?”

“Brice isn’t my type. I wasn’t sure at first but by the end of the date I was positive.”

“Is he a bad looking or a bad kisser?”

“No to both. He is gorgeous and a okay kisser . . .”

“Just not as good as someone else?”

Kristina groaned. “Oh my God Court. What is wrong with me? Why do I keep picking the wrong man?”

“Because you need a better matchmaker besides who says you have chosen the incorrect one.”

Kristina laughed. “I shudder at the idea.”

“Which one?” Courtney exhaled softly. “Seriously Kristina you know Brice isn’t the guy for you.”

“And Robert is?”

“From what you have said about him, yes.”

Kristina sat up straight and her mouth dropped open. “I haven’t said much about him and when I do it’s because you ask.”

“How long are you going to play this game Kristina? Do you honestly have the energy to keep it up? You sound more and more exhausted every time I talk to you. Instead of fighting your attraction to Robert why don’t you give into it?”

“I can’t,” Kristina moaned. “It would be disastrous. I can’t date my boss.”

Courtney laughed. “Who said anything about dating?”

Kristina gasped. “What are you suggesting Courtney?”

“Hot. Sweaty. Mind-Altering sex.”

Kristina dropped her phone and scrambled to pick it up. When she was able to get it back to her ear she could hear Courtney laughing again.

“This isn’t funny Courtney. If I won’t date my boss why would I have sex with him?”

Kristina could hear her sister struggling to stop laughing. “Easy. You can avoid the emotional attachment you seem to be so afraid of.”

Kristina sat back on the couch. “Oh please. With my luck I would still end up getting hurt.”

“Not if you go into it on your terms. Set the rules and if Robert wants you he will follow them.”

Kristina pondered what her sister just suggested to her. Robert had been the one to proposition during their first meeting. Sure he had been intoxicated and sure he had been embarrassed about how he had come across to her when he sobered up. Still he wanted her and he made no effort to hide it. If she gave him the go ahead they probably would end on the hood of the car as he suggested to her. The idea alone made her flinch.

She wouldn’t date him but she would have sex with him?

She didn’t know which thought scared her more. Both of them bordered on brink of being pure insanity and she wouldn’t have any part of it. She wasn’t that desperate or mindless.

“I can’t do it Courtney. With my luck it would blow up in my face.”

“So you are going to force yourself to like Brice?

Kristina could hear the disappointment in Courtney’s voice and it was similar to what she felt but for a different reason.

“No Courtney, I’m going to tell Brice we are better off as friends and leave it alone.”

“What about Robert?”

Kristina rubbed her eyes with her thumb and index finger. “I will ignore him like I have been. I have already decided to put my resume in at a few other places. I need to get away from him, far away from him, before I do something I regret.”

“Good luck,” Courtney replied in a mocking tone. “Let me know how it goes for you.”

“Whatever Courtney. I’m tired and hungry. I will talk to you later. Have a good night.”

“You know I just want the best for you right Kris?”

She exhaled softly. “I know Court and I appreciate it. I love you and have a good night.”

“I love you too Kristina.”

She disconnected the call and dropped the phone beside her on the couch. She had gotten herself into a hell of a mess. Now she had to figure out a way to get out of it and remain sane in the process.

****

Kristina tried not to pace nervously while she waited. She almost cried out when the doorbell rang and placed a hand to her chest. The jitters she felt made her nauseous. All she had to do was get through her spiel without losing her dinner. She walked toward the door and opened it the corners of her mouth tilting upward when she saw Brice.

“Hi. Come on in.”

“Hi,” Brice stated before kissing her check.

She wanted to curse her body for the lack of response. Why couldn’t her skin tingle, the earth move like it seemed to when Robert was near? She bit back a growl. Tonight wasn’t about Robert. It was about Brice and her.

“How are you?” she asked as she escorted him inside.

“I’m good.”

She led him to the living room and sat down on the couch, relieved when he sat on the opposite end. When he looked over at her she felt a twinge of guilt. He was so good looking. Why couldn’t she be attracted to him?

“Tell me what’s wrong Kristina.”

She looked up at him in surprise. “What?”

He smiled. “You asked me to come over to talk on a weeknight and at the last minute, so I figure something is wrong.”

Kristina shook her head. “No, nothing is wrong. At least not . . .”

Brice moved closer to her and took her hand in his. His comforting touch filled her with even more guilt. She didn’t deserve his kindness.

“Tell me.”

Even before she opened her mouth to speak she could see in his eyes that he knew what she was going to say. His expression was somber as if he expected the worst.

“I’m sorry Brice but I feel like I’m misleading you and I want to stop it before it gets out of hand. I think we would make better friends more than anything else.”

She could see the disappointment in Brice’s expression and the corners of his mouth turned down a little. He released her hand slowly.

“I had a feeling you were going to say as much. Is it still too soon after your break-up?”

Her mouth opened but no sound came out. She closed her mouth swallowed a few times and tried again.

“No.”

He was silent for a moment and then his left brow rose. “Is there another guy?”

She sighed and looked away from him briefly before looking back. “Yes and no.”

His frown deepened. “So it’s me?”

Kristina shook her head. “No it’s me. I know the line sounds lame and I wish I could come up with something better but I can’t.”

She exhaled deeply. “In a way there is another guy but I don’t want it to be. He isn’t the right guy for me.”

Brice frowned. “If you aren’t involved with him how do you know?”

Kristina shrugged. “I just know. It is complicated to explain.”

“Is he a bad guy or something?”

Kristina couldn’t lie on Robert. For the exception of the disastrous first meeting Robert had done nothing but prove over and over again that he wasn’t a bad guy. However she had thought the same of Warren and how wrong she had turned out to be. She just didn’t want to get hurt again. She looked over at Brice.

“No he isn’t. He seems to be a good guy. I just have my reservations and for good reasons. I don’t want you to think I am putting the breaks on us for him. You are a great guy and you are going to make another woman very happy. However you deserve a woman who will do the same for you in return and I’m not that woman.”

Brice remained silent for a moment. “I would be lying if I said I wasn’t disappointed but you have made your decision and I can respect it because you are being honest with me. I can deal with being your friend.”

He chuckled. “I don’t think we have a choice. Alex and Leslie seemed to have hit it off.”

Kristina nodded. “They have and we will see each other around. I mean it when I say you are a nice guy. If things were different . . .”

“Yes, well I’m one who doesn’t believe in dwelling on what could have been giving different circumstances, since nothing changes. I also hope you figure out your relationship with the other guy. In the short time that I have gotten to know you I realize you are a good person and you deserve a good guy.”

She couldn’t agree with Brice more. Her fear was what would she do if Courtney was right and Robert was that guy.

****

Kristina came around the corner and shrieked loudly as she placed a hand to her chest. It took her a few moments to compose herself and she was glaring by the time she did.

“You almost scared me to death!”

Robert stood before her sans his lab coat leaning against the file cabinet she needed to get into as if he had been waiting for her. After the week she had so far this was the last thing she needed. Her conversation with Brice last night was still fresh in her mind. After she let him down gently he had stayed and talked and it became clear he was a good friend. Now she stood facing the man who had become a pain in her backside. Even as he stood looking so sexy he made her eyes hurt.

“I didn’t mean to.”

Her eyes widened at the lack of sincerity in his voice and the fact he didn’t make any attempt to move. “Is there a problem?”

He straightened from his reclining position against the file cabinet, and she took a step back before she could stop herself. When she realized what she had done she stood her ground. She couldn’t allow him to see how much he got under her skin.

He took a step toward her, and another, and another, until he stood directly in front of her making her tilt her head back to look him in the eye. She clutched the patient’s charts to her chest like a shield, a useless shield. He disarmed her quickly, sitting the files on the counter.

“Yes there is. I want to know why you are avoiding me. Did I do something wrong?”

This time she didn’t stop herself from taking a few steps back. She almost sighed in relief when he didn’t follow her. It made it easier for her to be honest.

To think.

His nearness seemed to incapacitate her, mind, body and common sense. She shook her head trying to pull herself together. All she had to do was get rid of him, put the files in her filing cabinet and leave.

Probably going to be easier said than done.

“No Robert. You haven’t done anything wrong. I’m just keeping space between us.”

His brows furrowed together in a way, which made him look even more handsome. “Why?”

She folded her arms across her chest. “Because I’m tired and ready to go home. Besides after what happened between us the last time we were in this file room, you have to ask?”

His frown deepened. “Is there something wrong with a healthy attraction between a man and a woman?”

She gasped. “Yes when it is between co-workers, not to mention a boss and subordinate.”

“It happens everyday.”

She opened her mouth to deny it but couldn’t. He had a point and a good one. Office romances weren’t uncommon but she knew well enough that it was discouraged when it came to direct relationships within an organization.

“It’s not wise Robert. I’m not ready to get involved with another man.”

“Are you saving yourself for any particular reason? If so is there a time frame I need to be aware of?”

Her mouth dropped open. “You are being rude.”

His left brow rose. “I was serious. I’m just trying to figure out what is going on in your head. I can’t understand why a woman would fight such a strong attraction. We are very compatible.”

“What if we aren’t compatible, Robert?”

“Excuse me?”

Her mouth curved into a smile. Apparently he found the idea ludicrous. In a way she did too but she had to fight this attraction. The end results could be devastating if it didn’t work out.

“I said what if we aren’t compatible? How do we know we’re really attracted to each other? That we’ll be able to click?”

He chuckled softly. “Trust me. We are very compatible?”

“How do you know?”

“Because you still remember the heated kiss we shared the last time we were in here. You just mentioned it, remember?”

She tried to keep her expression blank not wanting to let him know he had just back her into a corner without taking a step toward her. Still she wasn’t going down without a fight.

“I believe that was a fluke, a one-time occurrence. It wouldn’t happen again if we wanted it to.”

One of the first things she had discovered about Robert was that he didn’t like challenges. He preferred things to go smoothly and normally had a plan of action and back up plan in place before he did anything. At least that was his mode of operation at work. However, she could tell from his expression that proving she was incorrect was exactly what he wanted to do. Still, she hoped he would decline the opportunity to so.

It wasn’t going to happen.

She released a long, slow breath as he stepped closer to her. His eyes never left hers as he came to a stop in front of her.

Reaching out, he touched her arm and the shock of that touch for some reason almost took her breath away. This was the zing, thrill missing when Brice had touched her. It unnerved her and she struck out at him verbally.

“I thought you were a dentist not an expert on sexual attraction,” she said in a low, raspy tone.

She didn’t dare clear her throat. He already heard the effect he had on her with just a simple touch. She might be better off just remaining quiet.

“You are right but I am also a man and I know sexual chemistry on any level. Yet I think this will eliminate any doubt in your mind on whether or not we the first time was a fluke.”

Before she could respond he lowered her head, cupped the back of her neck and brought his mouth to hers. Her heart pounded hard in her chest the moment their lips touched. And when their tongues began mating with an intensity that shook every nerve in her body, she had to fight the urge to break the connection for fear of losing control.

In that moment she wasn’t aware of anything but the feel of his tongue stroking hers, the feel of hers stroking his, the rush of sensations flooding and overpowering her. She was also aware of the dampness between her legs increasing and of the way her body was beginning to ache with need. Slowly, he pulled back, their lips reluctantly separating and she felt a tremendous sense of loss.

“Now tell me,” he said slowly, dragging the words out as he eased away from her lips. “Are we compatible?”

She struggled to clear her mind, as well as hide the way her nipples had hardened. It was too late for his eyes zeroed in on them. Her lips felt thoroughly kissed. Her response to him was as potent as the intoxicating drinks she’d at Burk’s the first night they met. And from the heated look in his eyes, he was just as affected by the kiss as she was. There was no way she could answer his question without being truthful. It would be a moot point. She was surprised they hadn’t combusted with that kiss.

“Yes,” she finally said, pulling in a deep, hot breath. “I can say with all certainty that we are compatible. The question is what do we do about it?”