middle of the room in a stupor of emotions.
Sophie didn’t know how long she stood there. All she knew was she had to steel her heart against Alex and his charms.
As she pulled herself out of her trance and made her way to her bathroom, she considered all the reasons why she wasn’t in the market for a new relationship, especially not a work colleague. She’d traveled that road once and wasn’t going to do it again.
She’d just started as NUM again, and at this moment in her life, her career was extremely important to her. She’d let her insecurities, and her family’s disappointment in her career choice, overshadow her previous appointment as NUM. It was embarrassing when she’d been demoted, but she’d survived and had grown and learned from her past.
She would also learn from her previous relationship with Neil and make it clear to Alex that a personal relationship was out of the question. She’d been down that road. She knew nothing good ever came from a relationship between work colleagues.
She showered and dressed in a casual silk sheath — the pale blue complemented her blonde hair and aquamarine eyes. With a swift application of makeup, a twist of the wrist and some pins for her hair, she was ready to meet Alex.
As Sophie rode the elevator down to the ground floor, she told herself the fluttering in her stomach was from hunger, and not from nerves of spending the evening with Alex.
She smiled as she walked past the doorman, pausing when he called her name.
“Miss Franklyn?”
“Yes, Cliff, what can I do for you?”
“Dr. Scavoni told me to tell you he has secured a table at Bridges and will be waiting for you there, not at the bar.”
“Thanks, Cliff. Have a good evening.”
She didn’t think Alex would’ve had a problem securing a table — Monday night was not a big social evening — but she had hoped they could’ve shared a relaxing drink first before going into the romantic atmosphere of a restaurant.
Sophie placed her hand on her quivering stomach before turning the handle of the restaurant’s door. She was a grown woman having a pleasant dinner with a work colleague.
Nothing more and nothing less.
She spied Alex the moment she walked into the restaurant. He was seated at a table by the window, the river sparkling and twinkling in the background. The dining room wasn’t crowded and Sophie was grateful for that. She didn’t want prying eyes observing her and Alex as they ate, especially not the press.
Alex stood as she approached the table and held out her chair for her. She smiled at his gallantry, murmuring her thanks.
“I took the liberty of ordering us some Turkish bread and dips to start off with.” He handed her the menu. “The waiter will be here shortly to take our orders.”
She took the menu from him and opened it up to peruse the contents. Even though she lived a few floors above the restaurant, she hadn’t visited it too often, so she took her time to read through the contents.
“Dips sound perfect. I think I might have the fish of the day with a fresh garden salad,” she said as she closed the menu with a snap. She didn’t think her stomach could take anything heavier.
“Would you like to share a bottle of wine?”
“Yes, wine would be lovely. Thank you.”
“White or red?”
“White.”
Sophie had to stop the laughter bubbling up inside of her. Their conversation was so polite it was bordering on the ridiculous.
She and Alex had spent a wonderful night together in each other’s arms. Today they’d worked as a team to save a patient’s life. He’d kissed her before coming to the restaurant and yet the mundane task of making small talk seemed all but unachievable.
Enough was enough. She leaned forward. “Alex?”
Her smile widened as she saw him take a moment before lifting his eyes from the wine list.
“Yes?”
“Do you think we can stop acting like polite strangers? I think we’re a bit past that. Considering all we’ve
Sophie didn’t know how long she stood there. All she knew was she had to steel her heart against Alex and his charms.
As she pulled herself out of her trance and made her way to her bathroom, she considered all the reasons why she wasn’t in the market for a new relationship, especially not a work colleague. She’d traveled that road once and wasn’t going to do it again.
She’d just started as NUM again, and at this moment in her life, her career was extremely important to her. She’d let her insecurities, and her family’s disappointment in her career choice, overshadow her previous appointment as NUM. It was embarrassing when she’d been demoted, but she’d survived and had grown and learned from her past.
She would also learn from her previous relationship with Neil and make it clear to Alex that a personal relationship was out of the question. She’d been down that road. She knew nothing good ever came from a relationship between work colleagues.
She showered and dressed in a casual silk sheath — the pale blue complemented her blonde hair and aquamarine eyes. With a swift application of makeup, a twist of the wrist and some pins for her hair, she was ready to meet Alex.
As Sophie rode the elevator down to the ground floor, she told herself the fluttering in her stomach was from hunger, and not from nerves of spending the evening with Alex.
She smiled as she walked past the doorman, pausing when he called her name.
“Miss Franklyn?”
“Yes, Cliff, what can I do for you?”
“Dr. Scavoni told me to tell you he has secured a table at Bridges and will be waiting for you there, not at the bar.”
“Thanks, Cliff. Have a good evening.”
She didn’t think Alex would’ve had a problem securing a table — Monday night was not a big social evening — but she had hoped they could’ve shared a relaxing drink first before going into the romantic atmosphere of a restaurant.
Sophie placed her hand on her quivering stomach before turning the handle of the restaurant’s door. She was a grown woman having a pleasant dinner with a work colleague.
Nothing more and nothing less.
She spied Alex the moment she walked into the restaurant. He was seated at a table by the window, the river sparkling and twinkling in the background. The dining room wasn’t crowded and Sophie was grateful for that. She didn’t want prying eyes observing her and Alex as they ate, especially not the press.
Alex stood as she approached the table and held out her chair for her. She smiled at his gallantry, murmuring her thanks.
“I took the liberty of ordering us some Turkish bread and dips to start off with.” He handed her the menu. “The waiter will be here shortly to take our orders.”
She took the menu from him and opened it up to peruse the contents. Even though she lived a few floors above the restaurant, she hadn’t visited it too often, so she took her time to read through the contents.
“Dips sound perfect. I think I might have the fish of the day with a fresh garden salad,” she said as she closed the menu with a snap. She didn’t think her stomach could take anything heavier.
“Would you like to share a bottle of wine?”
“Yes, wine would be lovely. Thank you.”
“White or red?”
“White.”
Sophie had to stop the laughter bubbling up inside of her. Their conversation was so polite it was bordering on the ridiculous.
She and Alex had spent a wonderful night together in each other’s arms. Today they’d worked as a team to save a patient’s life. He’d kissed her before coming to the restaurant and yet the mundane task of making small talk seemed all but unachievable.
Enough was enough. She leaned forward. “Alex?”
Her smile widened as she saw him take a moment before lifting his eyes from the wine list.
“Yes?”
“Do you think we can stop acting like polite strangers? I think we’re a bit past that. Considering all we’ve
Similar Books
