Stitches and Scars (20 page)

“I’m sure I can find something that will work for whatever he has planned.”

“I don’t think so, missy,” Sophie said, waving her pointer finger. “Get your butt on that phone right now and call him.”

“I’m
not
calling him. He’s at work.”

“At least try. If he’s busy, you can leave a message, and he can call you back.”

“No,” Kate said, folding her arms.

Sophie stepped closer and challenged Kate. “Yes.”

As much as Kate wanted to stand firm, she could feel her defenses falling. Her friend’s persuasive ways were only part of it. In reality, she was aching to hear Ethan’s voice.

“When is he picking you up?” the blonde asked, watching Kate closely, no doubt seeing the defeat in her eyes.

“In roughly eight in a half hours, give or take five minutes.” Kate glanced down at her watch to confirm.

“Anxious, are we?” Sophie smiled.

“Maybe.”

Kate turned around and started to walk out of the room, hoping that perhaps her friend would forget about the phone call.

“Go ahead and try to distract me, Kate!” she yelled after her. “I’m not leaving until you call him and I get to help you pick out an outfit.”

Kate walked into her bedroom laughing. Planning to let her friend stew over things for a while, she settled in to do some work. Spending the next few hours at her desk, she finished editing pictures from a wedding she had recently shot. The entire time, she stole glances at her clock, feeling the butterflies get more intense as the time ticked slowly by. By the time five o’clock rolled around, she was so nervous she couldn’t work any more. While shutting down her computer, she decided to relax and watch some TV before her date.

But before she had a chance to stand, Sophie barged into her room. “Okay, I’ve waited long enough. It’s time to call.” She picked up the phone and tossed it to her friend.

Kate went back and forth, debating whether she wanted him to answer. On the one hand, she wanted to hear his voice, and on the other, she didn’t want to bother him. It only rang twice.

“Kate? Is everything okay?”

“No, no, everything’s fine,” she assured him.

He sighed. “Good. I thought for a minute you were canceling on me.”

Sophie, annoyed that her friend wasn’t getting to the point, gave her a not-so-friendly nudge.

“Ouch, Soph,” Kate said, rubbing her arm.

Now Ethan was laughing. “What’s she doing now?”

Kate eyed Sophie evilly. “She wants me to find out what you have planned for tonight.”

He paused for a moment before speaking. “I’m not sure it would be appropriate to tell her.” His voice was deep and sensual.

“Yes, well, I don’t think we need to tell her
everything
,” she flirted back. “But seriously, she won’t leave me alone until I know something. She has a problem when it comes to fashion.”

“You can tell her that I’ll be taking you somewhere casual but nice. You’ll be fine in pants.”

“Pants, I can do. Let’s see if she allows it.” Kate laughed. “Okay, so I’ll let you get back to saving lives. I’ll see you soon?”

“Soon. I can’t wait. I’ve been counting down the hours all day,” he said.

Her heart skipped. “Me too,” she admitted.

“I’m so glad to hear you say that. I’ll be there in an hour and a half and not a minute later.”

Kate ended her call with a big smile on her face. She looked to her friend on the bed beside her and was met with a smile that matched her own. “Work your magic,” she said simply.

Sophie jumped off the bed and ran into the bathroom. “Let’s get to work!”

With a calming exhale, Kate took once last glance at her watch.
One hour and twenty-eight minutes, one hour and twenty-eight minutes,
she recited as she followed after her friend.

***

The last half hour of work dragged on, and Ethan continually checked his watch, counting down the minutes until he would see Kate. He had been so excited when she’d called that it only made him want to see her more. He planned on showering quickly at work, cutting out any extra time it would take for him to go home first.

As he made his way out of the hospital, he stopped off at the gift shop to pick up some flowers. Sure they were a little cliché, but he was a classic romantic at heart, and Kate deserved only the best. He was just about to his car when he heard the voice of the one person he’d been avoiding all day.

“Hello, Dr. Montgomery.”

The thought crossed his mind to ignore her and continue walking, but it was obvious that he’d heard her. He turned around and was greeted by the ever-floozy Lisa.

“Where are you off to? Do you have a hot date or something?” she asked in a nasal voice.

Apparently, Ethan telling her that he wasn’t interested in repeating their impromptu surprise date the other night still hadn’t settled well with her. “As a matter of fact, yes, I do,” he stated.

Her face puckered slightly as if tasting something bitter. “Well, isn’t that nice. You have a great time, then,
Doctor
.”

“Oh, I will.” He smiled back pleasantly.

He climbed into his car and sped out of the parking lot, glancing down at his dashboard to check the time.
Forty-five minutes, forty-five minutes.

***

Ethan raced up I-95 and sped through the winding roads toward New Hope. By the time he pulled onto Canal Street, he felt winded and anxious, which was ridiculous since he’d been driving, but he did all the same. Hurrying out of his car, he made his way up to her door. Taking one deep breath, he knocked.

Only a moment later, the door swung open and he was met with the most beautiful vision. Kate stood in front of him dressed in all black. Her chestnut hair fell down around her shoulders, with a few strands sweeping in front of her wide expressive eyes. She smiled at him shyly, and he grinned back, feeling completely at ease now that he was with her again.

“Hi,” he managed to say.

“Hey.” Kate’s eyes trailed down his body. Even under his black coat, she could see how nice he looked.

“These are for you.” Ethan held out a bouquet of bright gerbera daisies. Her face lit up and he knew that no matter how cliché his decision to get them for her was, it was the right one.

“Thank you. That’s so nice of you.” She smiled.

Ethan stepped forward with the flowers held out and leaned in, placing a soft kiss on her cheek. “There. That’s a much better hello,” he whispered, against her cheek. “Why don’t you go put those in some water before I do something else and cause us to lose our reservations.”

She giggled quietly and spun around. As she took a step away from Ethan, he finally got a view of the shirt she was wearing. The back of the sweater scooped down low and left her entire back open. Her skin looked so soft and fair in contrast to the dark sweater that all he wanted to do was touch her. He wasn’t aware that he’d moaned out loud until Kate looked back at him.

“Are you okay?” she asked.

His mouth hung open as he searched for words. “I’m more than okay,” he finally stammered. “That shirt is amazing on you.”

Kate looked down and fiddled with the hem of the shirt. “Thanks.”

“No, thank
you
,” he said, not able to hide the rough tone his voice had just taken.

She smiled again and shook her head as she walked in the direction of the kitchen. With her out of sight, Ethan allowed himself a minute to regain his composure. If he was going to make it through this night without throwing her down on the table at the restaurant, he would need to get some control.

“So,” he said when she walked back into the hall. “I thought that maybe we’d eat at a restaurant here in town. And since it’s not too cold out, I thought it would be nice to walk there. I haven’t had a chance to see much of the main street yet.”

“That sounds like a perfect idea.” Reaching out her hand, she intertwined her fingers with his, and pulled the door closed behind her.

They walked in comfortable silence until they hit Main Street. That’s when Kate started pointing out the shops that were her favorites. Ethan noticed the way her eyes lit up when she spoke about the town she’d grown to love. The galleries, the little boutiques, the diverse culture that surrounded her were what drew her in. She grew excited about the littlest details, and he couldn’t help but smile as he watched her.

“Oh, and Gerenser’s has got the most amazing ice cream. Their strawberry is my favorite.” She gave him a playful wink and went on to explain the next shop they passed.

It didn’t take long before they reached the bridge that crossed a section of the canal. They both slowed to a stop. “Have you seen a show at the playhouse?” Ethan asked, looking across the water.

“No, not yet. I plan on it though.”

“Maybe that’s something we should plan together,” Ethan suggested, wrapping his arm around her.

“I’d like that.” Kate nodded as she pressed herself into his side. The two stood, wrapped up in each other, listening to the sounds of the water rushing below them. In the back of her mind, Kate knew this moment was one that she’d remember forever. The feelings she was experiencing, the happiness of being with him, of simply being in his company, were something she would never forget. It would forever be engrained—a perfect memory.

Eventually it was time to head to the restaurant. Side by side they walked, and Ethan veered them to the right, down Ferry Street. There, nestled along the water, was the yellow house with white trim that was Martine’s River House Restaurant.

Her eyes lit up. “I’ve wanted to try this place.”

“Well, it’s a good thing we’re eating here then.” Ethan smiled and pulled the brown wooden door open.

They were greeted immediately and led through the restaurant to their table. Kate lifted her eyes to the dark beams that ran the span of the ceiling. Green plants and white lights announced the entrance to the glassed-in porch where tables were set in white floor-length cloths with accents of blue. They sat down at a table by the window, which offered a beautiful view of the Delaware River.

“So, is tonight my turn?” Kate asked, once their drink orders were placed and they were left alone.

“Your turn?”

“To ask you every question imaginable.” She laughed.

“Go right ahead.” Ethan motioned for her to begin.

Her brows rose as she thought. “Favorite color?”

“Blue.”

“Favorite food?”

He withheld a laugh and tried to answer with a straight face. “Peaches and strawberries.”

Immediately, Kate dropped her head back and laughed freely. “I should have known that one,” she said, shaking her head from side to side. “Okay, what about childhood make-believe friends? I told you all about my imaginary unicorn, which by the way, you’d better never tell anyone about. What about you, did you have any?”

“George.”

“Who?” she asked with a smirk.

“George,” Ethan repeated in a matter of fact tone. “George was my make-believe friend that helped me fight crime. I didn’t have a brother so I had to be imaginative.”

Kate burst out laughing. Ethan soon joined her, and it took a minute before they could speak easily.

“Favorite movie?” she asked, after composing herself and taking a sip of water.

“‘Quiet … what’s that smell?’” Ethan quoted.

She swallowed. “What?”

“It’s from
Batches
. I guess you haven’t seen it. One of my favorite lines is when Mike Myers asks him how he got home and he says—”

Kate cut him off before he could get another word in and recited the line from the movie perfectly, even attempting a British accent. When she was finished, she realized how loud she must have been and clamped her hand over her mouth. “Sorry,” she said in a hushed voice, trying to suppress a giggle.

“Are you kidding?” he laughed. “That was great.”

“Yeah, well, it’s one of my favorites too.”

They continued quoting lines back and forth until their waiter took their order. It wasn’t long before their meals arrived, and once they did, the conversation slowed, but only slightly. Kate continued to ask questions between bites, and Ethan continued to answer, adding bits of random information here and there. He couldn’t remember the last time he was so engulfed in a conversation or so consumed by a person in all his life. It was thrilling, to say the least.

On numerous occasions, he found himself staring at her mouth, watching the way it moved as she talked or the way she licked her lips between bites. Not wanting her to notice, he attempted to focus on something else, but that didn’t work either. Her expressive eyes were just as intoxicating and had a way of pulling him in. He hadn’t realized how entranced he was until Kate stopped talking and cocked her head to the side.

“What?” she asked, breaking him out of his trance.

He blinked. “I’m sorry. I just got a little distracted.”