I'll Be Seeing You Read online

  "So, the girl we bumped into is your best friend?" I ask, thinking this is certainly a small world. That, coupled with the fact that Joy could very well be wearing the panties that I held in my hands. That is an intriguing thought for sure.

  "Yes. She had plans this weekend in Vancouver, but she canceled to go out with Jessie. If you think there’s a possibility he will just use her for the night and then dump her, you need to tell me."

  "Well, I will tell you that Jessie is rather 'randy' if you get my drift, but I also know that he connected with her and does in fact want to get to know her ... mentally, as well as Biblically. Jessie is very … physical," I explain the best way I can.

  "Well, Laura is too, so they’ll get along in that regard. If he's out to just to get with her though, I can't not tell her but if you believe he might be in it for more, then I won't say a word," she says, calming down a bit.

  "Why don't you wait until they actually go out first? I'm sure we will hear about it, and I’ll let you know where Jess is at on Monday, all right?" I ask, knowing full well I’ll get all the gory details.

  "Now, about our date. Let's just go out once and see how it goes. If it turns out that you have fun, then we can do it again. If you don't — then we won't."

  “Okay. I guess one date won’t hurt,” she grins.

  "All right. I’ll pick you up Saturday at seven. Does that work for you?" I ask before she changes her mind.

  "Perfect," she replies.

  Already having her phone number, I enter her address into my cell phone, I grin that I’m slowly gathering information on Ms. Johnson. Just as I finish and press save, I jump my phone rings in my hand.

  "Dr. Davis," I answer.

  "Hey, big brother," my twin sister, Maddie, blurts out. "I'm in your neighborhood, and Krista told me you were at the coffee shop and lo and behold, I see you there. Not only do I see you but it appears you are sitting with an enchanting young lady."

  "Maddie …" I draw out, looking out of the window, frowning at her. I know the minx is up to something, and I don't want her near Joy right now. It is still too new to bring family into the mix. "Don't, Maddie," I warn, but it’s too late — she's already through the door.

  "Hello, big brother," my sister says, cheerfully.

  Joy sits up straight, causing Conrad to do the same. Maddie frowns in curiosity and then turns to me with a questioning look on her face.

  "Joy, I'd like to introduce you to my brat of a sister, Madeline. Maddie, this is Joy Johnson.” Joy lifts her hand in greeting.

  "Nice to meet you, Maddie," she says with a smile. "I’d best get going, Dr. Davis," she says politely, gathering her book to pack in her bag.

  "No, stay. Please," Maddie pleads, placing her hand on Joy's arm. Joy jerks her arm away, and Conrad jumps up and growls.

  "Oh, God. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry," Maddie apologizes emphatically. "I hope I didn't offend you.” She looks at me and whispers, “Are there rules here, Matthew?"

  "Yes. Don't touch without permission. Conrad here is terribly protective of his mistress."

  "Maddie, I apologize as well. It was an adverse reaction. I'm not used to being touched when I'm not around my friends. They are the only ones that do, and I wasn't ready. I just wasn't expecting it, and it startled me," Joy explains. I can see a mix of panic and concern on her face.

  "Maddie is a physical person, Joy. She touches and hugs everything and everyone. It's who she is. She's more on the hyperactive side of life, if you will." I glance at Maddie as she looks at Joy.

  "And right now she's staring at you." I chuckle.

  "I know," Joy replies, smiling.

  "I'm sorry, I can't help it. You are so beautiful and your eyes … Matthew, how do you quit staring at them?" she asks grinning at me, goading me.

  "I can’t," I answer. "Now stop it. You’re making her uncomfortable. Tell me what you want and why you’re here?"

  "I'm having a small gathering on Saturday, and I want you to come. I met a nice man at the University bookstore the other day, and I want to invite him. I think he – Brian, would feel more comfortable with other people around."

  "Well, I'd love to, but I have plans on Saturday," I explain, looking at Joy, seeing her blush disappear below her collar.

  "Excuse me, Maddie, did you say Brian? That wouldn't be Brian Reed, would it?" she asks with a surprised tone.

  "Why, yes. Do you know him?" Maddie asks, excitedly. She literally bounces in her seat leaning toward Joy.

  "Yes. Very well. He's my best friend's brother. When you said his name and that you met him at the bookstore, I know he works there, so I put two and two together." I watch as she shakes her head and sits back in her seat.

  "What is it, Joy?" I ask her.

  "Well, your best friend has a date with my best friend, and now your sister has a date with my best friend's brother, and I have somehow wound up having a date with you. I don't know who the common denominator is, you or me," she giggles.

  I laugh as well, her sweet sound reaching me at my core. My overly hyperactive sister interjects before I can respond.

  "I know! You should all come to my place on Saturday. We can have a barbeque, and with Brian's sister there, he’ll feel more comfortable." Maddie, clearly excited by her brilliant idea, claps her hands enthusiastically.

  "Joy? Would you like that? It might ease your earlier concerns," I suggest. Although I would like to spend time alone with her, this setting might be better for her. Having her friends around might make her feel more comfortable as well.

  "Sure, if that's what you would like," she says, blushing again.

  "Okay, kid, we'll be there. What time?" I ask my sister.

  "How about five o’clock?"

  "Is that okay with you, Joy?" I ask, making sure that this new time is okay with her.

  "Yes, five is fine. Is it all right if I leave Conrad at home? I don't want to make everyone uneasy with him being around. He's a good dog but can be intimidating at times when he feels something may be a threat to me. It means that I will need to depend on you," she says quietly.

  A slow grin appears on my face. Not only does it mean she trusts me to take care of her, it also means that I will be touching her all evening, and that’s something I could never pass up.

  "I am very okay with that," I answer quietly, hoping Maddie can't hear.

  "Good. All right, I need to get home to finish the book I’m working on," Joy says firmly, packing her bag. "Maddie, it was nice meeting you, and I’ll see you Saturday. Oh, would you like me to bring anything? I can bake a mean pie," she says, straightening the straps to her bag.

  "Apple?" I ask before my sister says anything, and she blesses me with her bright smile and giggle.

  "Especially apple. Do you like Sour Cream Apple Pie?"

  "I've never had it, but if it has apples in it, I'm sure I’ll love it."

  It's sad that she can bring me, a grown man, to my knees at the mention of pie.

  "All right. Sour Cream Apple Pie it is. Maddie, I know Brian is fond of cherry pie. Would you like me to make one of those as well?" Joy asks.

  "Really? No, let me, please?” she asks, her eyes wide with excitement.

  "You really like him, don't you?" Joy asks, giggling. Maddie nods enthusiastically.

  “She can't hear you nod your head, brat." Getting up to give a hand to Joy, Conrad gives me a protective growl.

  "Oh, sorry. Yes, I really like him, but please don't say anything to him. I want do this on my own … unless he asks you about me, of course."

  When I reach for Joy's arm, Conrad releases a low growl again. He clearly does not want anyone touching her.

  "Conrad, you better get used to me, pal," I say directly to him, petting his chest, knowing that’s his soft spot. "You too," I whisper in Joy’s ear and I’m gifted with her brightest blush yet.

  "Can I call you later?"

  "Yes, I'd like that," she replies, lowering her head. She really is shy in the way of flirting. "I'll talk to y
ou later then. Bye, Maddie. Conrad, home." She gives her command and he guides her to the door.

  Realizing that this is the first time I've seen her when she’s not sitting, I take in the full length of her. It looks like she's about five foot seven; that's a nice fit with my tall frame. She walks with confidence and a nice little sway to her hips. She’s also comfortable in her own skin. I like that.

  We continue to watch her walk a short distance down the street, and when she crosses, she enters a brownstone. It only takes a few minutes before movement on the third floor catches my eye. Opening the windows, she leans out and takes a deep breath with a huge smile on her face. Then she giggles, covering her lips with her fingertips.

  "Oh my god, Matthew," Maddie says, gripping my forearm. "Did you see that? She likes you."

  "What makes you say that?" I ask with a knowing grin on my face.

  "That, my dear brother, is what a girl does when she is in like with someone. She was just thinking about you. You like her too, don't you?" she asks, butting her little self into my love life again.

  "I just met her, but yes, I like her and I plan to get to know her better," I say, looking up to her window again. "Now, I need to get back to the clinic. I have surgery in the morning, and need to review the case file this afternoon." Mentally scolding myself for not remembering it sooner, I make a mental note to tell Joy tonight that I won't be able to meet her for coffee in the morning.

  "See you Saturday, kiddo," I say, bending down to kiss her offered cheek.

  "See you then, brother," she replies, and then cups my cheeks in the palm of her hands; "I really like her, Matthew."

  I glance up at Joy's window one last time before quickening my pace back to my office.

  Walking through the doors of the lobby, I’m so deep in thought that I nearly miss the familiar voice saying in a self-important tone, “My name is Emma Ford.”

  I immediately look around the lobby for the face to match the voice. Hurrying to the elevator, I check for her one last time, but don't see her anywhere. When I'm certain she isn't around, I walk up to the security desk to see if she signed the guest sheet.

  "Eugene … Emma Ford? What did she want?" I ask, knowing my breathing has quickened and my pulse rate has skyrocketed.

  "I told her you weren’t here. She left a message for you,” he says, “She said to tell you that she was here and that she would be back tomorrow."

  "I am not available to her, Eugene. Ever. I have surgery tomorrow and don’t want to be disturbed. She is not to get on that elevator, do you understand?"

  “I understand, sir,” Eugene says, puffing out his uniformed chest.

  After stepping off the elevator and heading toward my office, I stop by Krista's desk to pick up my messages.

  "Emma was just downstairs looking for me." Krista gasps at hearing this bit of disturbing news.

  "What the hell does she want?" she asks angrily.

  "I don't know, but she threatened to return tomorrow. I'm in surgery all day, so if you get the opportunity, will you please take care of it? I don't want her to step one foot on this floor. In this building for that matter," I say turning toward my office.

  "Oh, don't you worry about that, Matthew. I’ll take care of it," she says, picking up her phone and dialing as she speaks, determination written all over her face.

  As I read my messages, Jessie comes bounding down the hall toward me. I quickly make it to my office and slam the door before he reaches it, laughing aloud when he curses me from the other side.

  "Fuck you, Matthew," he bellows opening the door, slamming it behind him. "So, did you ask her out?" he asks as he drops his body onto my leather couch.

  "I did."

  "And?"

  "She said yes."

  "And?"

  "We’re going to Maddie's barbeque on Saturday," I answer. "And so are you."

  "What?" he blurts out, sitting up straight. “Why do we need to go?”

  "Well, it's kind of a long story. Laura is Joy's best friend and you are mine, best friend that is. Maddie is ‘in like’, or whatever, with Brian. Brian is Laura's brother. We all have a connection and Maddie wants us all there when she makes her move on Brian. Got all that?" I ask, reading my emails.

  "Ah hell, Matt, I had a different set of plans for Laura for Saturday night. A romantic dinner at my place, wine, sex, music, more wine, more sex, then more sex," Jessie says, sitting back and closing his eyes, visualizing.

  "Jess, listen, I made a deal with Joy that she won't say anything to Laura about your lack of monogamy if you treat her friend right, but if all you want is a fresh fuck, then she will steer Laura away from you. Apparently, Laura is a good girl. In the past, men have treated her badly, and Joy won't see that happening again if she can help it. So, what I'm saying is, don't do it, man. Don't use her. Call her and cancel the date."

  He just sits there and glares at me. We are in the throes of a stare down. I know he’s contemplating what I’ve said, and he sits up, placing his elbows on his knees, twisting his hands.

  "Okay," he says getting up to leave.

  "Okay, what?" I ask before he reaches the door.

  "Okay, I heard you." He slams the door behind him.

  Having no clue what that means, I shrug and know there is no way I want to get involved in his sex life. Seeing Joy hurt because my friend used her friend, is not something I want either.

  Spending the rest of the afternoon reviewing my patient's file, I’ve planned the surgery and gone over the details with a fine-tooth comb, outlining the procedure step by step. Intending on inviting three interns to observe, I give Krista the names to send out the notice. Then my stomach growls at me.

  I realize I haven't eaten anything but half a muffin, which, of course, brings my mind back to Joy. Krista walks into my office and finds me daydreaming.

  "Honeysuckle girl?" she asks, placing a stack of files on my desk.

  Looking down at them then back to her, I faintly nod my head, noting her smile as she walks out the door.

  With that, I decide now’s the time to go home because I'm tired and hungry and need to rest up for surgery in the morning.

  After carefully pulling my Jag into the garage, I enter the house through the door adjoining the kitchen, noticing the silence — the loneliness. I dislike this part of the day the most. There’s no one waiting to greet me or to ask how my day went. No one is here to just sit with me and enjoy the quiet evening. Walking over to the stereo, I turn it on just for background noise.

  Despite my hunger, I decide to go to the basement and work out to shake this feeling of loneliness instead.

  Even after eight miles of running, still all I can do is think of her. Exasperated that a few rounds with the boxing bag doesn’t get her off my mind, I run upstairs to take a long, hot shower then see about dinner.

  Pulling a large pan of lasagna that my housekeeper left in the warmer, I inhale the luscious aroma and smile because it’s still warm. Thank you, Rebecca! Dishing up a plate, along with salad that she left she left in the refrigerator, I sit down at the breakfast bar and devour it all.

  Bored, I dish another helping of lasagna and pull out my cell to look at my texts and emails. Seeing a text from Jessie, I read it first.

  I like her, all right. ~ Jessie

  Okay, good. Just don't fuck this up. ~ Matthew

  I won't. Do you have time for a beer? ~Jessie

  Not tonight. Surgery in the morning. Going to crash soon. ~ Matthew

  OK. See you in the a.m. ~Jessie

  Yep. ~ Matthew

  Finishing my second helping of lasagna, I rinse my plate and put my dishes in the dishwasher, deciding to call Joy before I call it a night.

  "Hello," she answers on the third ring.

  "Hi, Joy. It's Matthew."

  "Matthew," she says in a whisper.

  "How was the rest of your day?" I ask, fishing for something to talk about.

  "It was good. I'm nearly finished with the book I started on Mon
day. So that's good. How about yourself?"

  "Uneventful. I reviewed case files all day. That's one of the reasons for this call. I wanted to let you know I won't be at the café tomorrow because this surgery is scheduled early and will take all morning." I wait for her to say something, but there is complete silence, and I begin to wonder if she has hung up.

  "Joy? Are you there?" I ask.

  "Yes, I'm here. I was thinking about the wonderful things that you do. What you do with your hands? With your eyes? It's truly a wonderful gift you share and I'm honored to even know you.”

  "What a kind thing to say. Thank you," I say, astonished at her thoughtful encomium.

  "Hey, I have news for you. I spoke with Jessie today. I let him have it regarding Laura and told him that if he was only out for sex, I wanted him to cancel his date."

  "Oh, Matthew, thank you. I appreciate it."

  "I received a text from him a little bit ago that said he wasn't canceling because he actually likes her."

  "That's wonderful because she really likes him, too. I didn't want to tell you that, fearing you would relay that back to him. From here on out, though, I'm staying out of it," she vows.

  "I agree. I have enough on my plate to be worrying about his love life." Again, I notice the deafening silence on the other end.

  "Joy?"

  "I want to say this before Saturday, Matthew. I'm a communicator. I don't hide things, and I like to talk about things that are on my mind. Does that bother you?" she asks cautiously.

  "No, actually it's rather refreshing and saves a lot of time. Do you have something you’d like to say now?" I ask, grinning at her sweet confession.

  "I don't do casual sex. In fact, I don't do sex at all. It’s not that I don't want to but it’s just that men aren't attracted to me in that way. If you just want to see me for a casual sex relationship, I need to tell you right now … don't. I've never been with a man, intimately. So … that's it." She ends her rant with a deep cleansing breath.

  "Joy, I will have to argue your point that men don't find you attractive. I've watched how they look at you. Just because you can't see it, doesn't mean it isn't so. Trust me when I say, they want you … that way. Unfortunately, most men don't know how to approach a beautiful woman. I just took the coward's way out and approached Conrad.”