Chapter 11

GEORGIA INJECTED a teasing note into her voice, lest Rob think she were interested in the man. "He said to tell you he thinks you're a lucky man."

His laugh was abbreviated. "I don't remember from the gym what this Medlock guy looks like. Should I be jealous?"

She pressed her ear closer to the phone. His head cold had fogged his voice until she could barely hear him. "Of course not. I m-mean, the man isn't repulsive, but he's just not my type."

"Oh?"

"Kind of big and bulky," she said quickly, floundering for words. "And pushy." And he called her "ma'am," as if she were... special.

"Pushy? Well, I guess that's how he was able to get so many policemen down there to give blood."

"I suppose," she said, leaning back on the pillows she'd stacked against her headboard. It had been quite a sight, all those blue uniforms standing in line. One hundred and six donors. Ken Medlock seemed determined to get that hot dog—and her attention. Trouble was, he had it. She considered telling Rob about the impromptu deal, but then thought better of it, lest he think she was actually looking forward to spending time with the man.

"Rob," she said quietly, unable to identify the emotions pulling at her. "I know we've been having... fun... on the phone lately, but I was wondering if tonight we could just talk." The way Ken Medlock had wanted to talk today, about family and things that were important. She'd held back with Ken because she hadn't wanted to become invested in a virtual stranger, but she did crave that kind of closeness with Rob.

"Talk," he mumbled. "Sure. What do you want to talk about?"

"I don't know," she admitted, casting about for a topic. "How about us?"

"What about... us?"

She smiled and burrowed deeper into the pillows. "Well, what first attracted you to me?"

"That's easy. You're beautiful, smart, beautiful."

A warm, tingly feeling bloomed in her stomach. "That's sweet, but I wasn't fishing for a compliment. What do you think makes us a good couple?"

"Isn't it enough that I'm crazy about you?"

Her grin widened, and she closed her eyes—the words she'd been hoping for, spoken with ringing sincerity. "Are you happy with the way things are going between us?"

"I... guess so. Yes. Yes, I am."

"Good. So am I." Remembering her earlier conversation with Ken, she said, "Tell me more about your family and where you're from."

"I'm from... Cincinnati."

Georgia laughed. "I know that. I mean, what was your childhood like? I don't even know if you have brothers and sisters."

"Oh, well, you know... I'd rather hear about you."

"What about me?"

"Have you ever told me why you became a nurse?"

She smiled. "I don't think so."

"So tell me."

Georgia squirmed against the pillow at her back as memories flooded over her. Not all bad, not all good. "I guess I was always the family fixer. My father worked a lot." And then there were George Adams's occasional affairs, which she wasn't ready to share. "My sister and my mother were so much alike, they communicated through arguing."

"So you were the peacemaker and the healer."

"I suppose. And I was into photography. When I was seventeen, I came upon a car accident scene and pulled out my camera. But when I developed the pictures, I realized I'd used all my film to capture the paramedics and a nurse who had happened by. They were amazing... selfless."

"There were survivors?"

"Yes," she murmured, the memory keen. "Everyone survived. I decided the next time I came upon an emergency, I wanted to be able to do more than take a picture."

He was quiet for a few seconds, then said, "You got your wish."

She gave a little scoffing laugh. "If I don't get myself fired for taking care of dogs."

"It was that cop's fault, not yours."

She sighed. "Well, he was trying to do a nice thing—he just caught me at a bad time and put me in an awkward situation. In hindsight, I shouldn't have reacted so... strongly."

"I'm sure he feels the same way. Don't lose sleep over it."

She wouldn't, although the memory of the man hiding his arousal with his hat might make for a bit of sheep-counting.

"Anything else interesting happen today?" he asked.

She liked this change in him. Rob was never much on small talk, but she rather enjoyed sharing the ordinary bits of the day. "Not much happened today. But yesterday I received a letter from my mother."

"Oh?"

"Even living across the country, she has the uncanny ability to make me feel twelve years old."

"Mothers are good that way. Did she give you grief about still being single?"

"W-well, sort of."

"Just doing her job."

She sighed. "I suppose. Is your mother just as bad?"

"Er, aren't they all?"

"When will I get to meet your parents?"

He lapsed into a coughing spasm. "Georgia, I'm suddenly not feeling very well. I think my medicine is wearing off. Could we—" He coughed again, longer and harder. "Could we finish this discussion some other time?"

"Sure," she murmured, feeling contrite for her ill-timing. Darn Ken Medlock for stirring things up inside her. She squirmed against her pillows. "How about—"

"I have to run," he cut in. "Call me tomorrow night?"

"Okay."

But he'd already hung up. She replaced the phone, chastising herself for being so inconsiderate while he was under the weather. They would have plenty of time to talk on Saturday at the wedding. Georgia noticed the light on her message machine was flashing; someone had called while she was talking to Rob. She pushed the Play button.

"Thank you for buying this Temeteck product! This is a test message to allow you to adjust the volume. Press 1 if you don't want this message to play again."

Georgia groaned and pushed "1." She hated the stupid machine. Maybe something was wrong with it. Hoping a bowl of ice cream would help her go to sleep—in lieu of an orgasm—she walked to the kitchen in T-shirt and panties, stood in front of the open freezer door for a couple of minutes to cool off, then carried the snack to the living room and dropped onto the couch.

An upholstered brick. She had furnished what was supposed to be the most comfortable room in the house with a beige upholstered brick. What on earth did Rob see in this horrid couch? She spooned in the first mouthful of Cherry Garcia, then wondered idly what Rob saw in her. He'd said she was beautiful, but did he see the secret side of her that loved to try on hats and eat ice cream in her underwear?

A few days ago, she'd been on the verge of calling it quits with Rob, but now... now she'd discovered this surprisingly erotic and vulnerable side of him. She was anxious to see him on Saturday, to see if he acted differently, more relaxed. Hopefully the phone sex would open other doors of communication; it had so far. Perhaps they would discover they had more in common than their penchant for detail and fondness of foreign films.

The phone rang, and she reached for the extension. "Hello?"

"You've been holding out on me," Toni accused.

Georgia laughed. "What are you talking about?"

"I'm talking about that big hunky cop who delivered the entire Birmingham city police department to our door. He's gorgeous, and you were so witchy to him!"

"Ken Medlock almost got me fired," Georgia reminded her.

"But he tripled the blood bank reserves single-handedly in a matter of hours."

"He only pulled that stunt so I'd have to buy him a hot dog tomorrow afternoon."

"Oh, how romantic!"

"Toni, the man knows he gets on my nerves, and this is just another way to get on my nerves. I went along with it because it was for a good cause."

"That man has the hots for you. All that 'yes, ma'am-ing'—Lord, he's downright fattening."

"Stop it!" She didn't want to think about it. More than she already had.

"I'm serious—it's probably all that phone sex."

"Okay, you lost me."

"Vibes! You're giving off sex vibes, Georgia, and the cop is picking up on them. Sex begets sex."

" I thought that to beget is to have sex."

"You know what I mean."

"Well, I'm not interested."

"Why not?"

She swirled her spoon in her bowl and frowned. "Because I have Rob, and I think we're finally getting over the emotional plateau we've been on for so long. He's starting to open up."

"That's good... I guess."

"Of course it's good. Why wouldn't it be good?"

"I don't know... the expression on that cop's face. I've never seen Rob look at you that way."

"You mean with ridicule?"

Toni laughed. "If you ask me, I think this Medlock guy is getting you all worked up, and Rob is getting the payout."

Her spoon clanged against the bowl. "That's absurd. And I don't take love advice from a woman who lets a man call her by the wrong name just to spare his ego."

Toni sighed. "I'm going to tell Dr. Baxter tomorrow."

"Good."

"I'm going to tell him I changed my name legally from 'Terri' to 'Toni.'"

"You're hopeless."

"I'd better let you go so you'll be rested up for your date tomorrow with Officer Medlock."

She rolled her eyes. "It's not a date. It's vending food in a public park."

"Did you tell Rob about it?"

She hesitated. "No."

"I rest my case. Night-night."

Georgia frowned at the phone, then, pretending it was Ken Medlock, bounced it off a stiff cushion. Who was he to barge into her life just when things were starting to go so well with Rob?