Clinical Sensations

Chapter 4

Lydia

It was early afternoon and Lydia was doing up her pants after a quick jog around the block. She was still fuming over the failed opportunity and the way the doctor had treated her. Maybe it was because he was as good looking as he was that she had taken offence as much as she did. Trying to rationalize it wasn’t helping and yes, he wasn’t hard to look at in the least.

Cindy was making coffee in the kitchen. They were close and even had a fling together when they were in college but had decided that they were better friends anyway and left it like that. Now her hair done up in curlers, she popped her head around the corner,

“Are you going to get that?”

The phone had been ringing steady and it had to have been the fifth ring by now.

“Alright, alright. I’m getting it.”

“O by the way the doctor…”

“Wait, what?” But it was to late she had already picked up the phone and the sound of a familiar voice met her ear.

“Ms. Harold? Are you there?” Lydia waved away her friend who was trying to get her attention.

“Yes, this is she. Do I have the “pleasure” of speaking with a Dr. Beckman?” Already she felt her temperature rise. It was so much easier to stay mad when she wasn’t looking at his perfectly chiseled features.

“Look,” he said quickly, “I want to apologize for the way I treated you. Let me make it up to you and you’ll get your interview too. What do you say? Are you up for it?”

“Up for what?”

Somehow Lydia was able to hear the slap of her friends’ hand on her forehead from the other room. Then she poked her head around the corner to make a face as if to say: “What the hell?”

“Your friend, what’s her name, Cindy. Didn’t she tell you? I am taking you out for dinner and I am bringing my friend Brad to meet up with us.”

There was a pause.

“OK.”

“What?”

“I said, YES!”

“Geez, do all journalists get this nippy? Joking really.”

“Mr. – I mean, Dr. Beckman I hope you are going to take this dinner seriously and be open with your responses when I ask you a question.”

“Yes, luv. I will. You might not want to put it all in the report though.”

Damn he had a sexy voice. It was like melted chocolate and paprika sure to heat you up in no time flat. Lydia knew she had to get off the phone. It wasn’t like her to be so distracted by a man. “Luv”? She tried not to like it, but it wasn’t working. This dinner date was going to be interesting.

“See you at Amberdeen’s at 8:00pm?”, she said.

“With bells on.”

The call ended.

“What the hell, Cindy?! Why didn’t you tell me?”

“Sorry, friend, really, it wasn’t supposed to be like this.”

Lydia snatched the peace offering that Cindy was holding out with her hand. A coffee, freshly brewed. She knew me so well.

“Well on the upside it sounds like the guy might not be that much of an asshole. He had to call me, Luv.”

“Luv, really? He really seems to want to get to know you. Maybe you should take advantage of that a little. Just saying.”

“Cindy, I am not going there. I am not about to use somebody just to get a story. No matter how juicy the details might be.”

“Alright, it’s your bacon.”

Cindy slid a plate of food in front of her and then made her way to her bedroom to get ready for later that evening.

Shaking her head, she didn’t know what she was getting herself into. Her boss had let her know that the biographical piece would have to be approved by the doctor in the end. And, she really hoped that he would give her his consent to write a post about him for the local news.

They arrived just in time to meet up with Jonathan and he looked resplendent in his casual tailored pants and shirt. Lydia was grateful that she had worn the little black dress that she stowed away for occasions like this. She imagined for a second that the doctors’ hands were a soft as the material was that glided over her body. She’ll go back to that thought later.

Standing at the front of Amberdeen’s they all introduced themselves. Cindy and Brad went in first so that Lydia and Jonathan could get some business done.

“That was nice of your friend.”, Jonathan said.

“Cindy is nice. Which is more than what I can say for you, sir.”, she said it without any pause.

He waited for a second then let out a little chuckle.

“You’re right. I was a shit. I want to –

“Can you believe this! Look at you….”, a woman with dark hair and large breasts with a slinky outfit slid between the two and began to put her hands on the lapels of Jonathan’s jacket. It was the woman that had passed by on the street and had been upset about the conversation they were having.

“Angelica! I knew you’d show up.”, he said while stopping her hands from going to his pants.

“Who is the slut?”

Lydia nearly choked. Then she had the strangest idea. This woman wasn’t going to leave Jonathan alone. She decided to help him out.

“Who me? The slut’s name is Lydia.”

It seemed as if Jonathan was reading her mind because the next thing, he did was sidestep Angelica to put an arm around Lydia.

“That’s right. My fiancée.”

The look that Angelica was giving Lydia could have melted stone.

“Since when?”

Lydia wrapped her arm under Jonathan’s and gave Angelica her best smile.

“Since around a month ago. It was love at first fight wasn’t it? I mean, you were so rude. I couldn’t help but find you adorable that you’d get mad at someone for something so silly as bumping into them.”

“Figures.”, Angelica huffed and when she couldn’t think of anything else to say stormed off.

“Wow. That was your ex or something? She really has it bad for you. Everything alright now though.”

“That was a brave thing you did.”

“No worries you can pay me back with answering a few questions when we are having dinner.”

Lydia grabbed his arm and they headed into the restaurant to have their meal and to discuss the blog post.

Even though they were sitting at the same table Lydia didn’t take her eyes off the man in front of her. And, it seemed that her friend was having a good time with Jonathan’s friend.

“So, you don’t mind that I put that into the piece, do you?”

“Not at all.”

There was a small silence then Jonathan looked up from his beer and said bluntly, “You are really beautiful,” he smiled, “any chance a man like me could take you up on a date outside of work?”

She could feel her cheeks flush and she thought to herself that not to take this man on his offer would be the mistake of the decade. She could tell he wasn’t going to back down if she gave him an excuse. This time there wasn’t going to be any running. She went for it.

“Your place or mine?”

A devilish grin spread across his face that made her want to laugh and all she could do was return the favor and give one of her own. The chemistry was instantaneous and they both knew it.