Her eyes filled. The elevator’s doors opened, but he didn’t move, watching her. “Did I do the wrong thing?”
She shook her head. The fact he was so considerate made her heart sore. “You’re so sweet.”
His lips twitched. “Yeah, that’s what they call me on the ice.”
She smiled, they exited the elevator, and he escorted her a short way down the hall. Then he pressed another key code and the door unlocked, and he held it open for her.
“Now where…? There.” Luc switched on lights. “There you go.”
“Wow.”
She glanced around the room. Spacious, decorated with a mix of masculine leather and more feminine touches, like the vase of roses sitting on a side table. A large photograph sat on the mantelpiece showing Dan looking deep into his wife’s eyes on their wedding day. Her heart clenched. “I can’t believe your friends are doing this for me.”
“Dan’s a good guy. Sarah’s gold, too.” He half-smiled. “She’s a singer.”
“Really? Has she sung anything I’d know?”
“If you know a group called Heartsong Collective, then yeah. She’s written songs for them.”
“I like their music.”
He shrugged. “They play her songs in my church. It’s good stuff.”
She limped to the window, and looked down as a few lights from other apartments showed. See, there was so much to learn. Like where he went to church. Why hadn’t they had that conversation yet?
“Bails, come sit down.” He pointed to the dining table where he’d placed their boxes of food. “The doc has messaged that she’s on her way, and it’ll be easier if you’ve eaten before.”
She nodded, settling at the glass dining table. “What’s for dinner?”
“A bit of everything. I wasn’t sure what you’d like, so there’s everything from pasta to salad and steak and fries and cheese and fruit.”
“Where’s the salad and fruit?”
“You gotta eat more than rabbit food, okay?”
“Yes, Doc.”
“I mean it. Protein is important.”
“Fine. Give me some cheese as well.”
“And carbs.”
“I don’t do well with carbs.”
He eyed her seriously.
“But I’ll have a few mouthfuls, okay?”
He nodded, his smile poking out.
They ate, gratitude filling her as she savored the still-hot meal, and it wasn’t long before she’d finished. “I still can’t get over you doing this for me.”
“Like I said. I care about you, Bailey.”
His intense look drew a shiver inside.
Then his phone buzzed, and he answered it. The doctor, judging from Luc’s side of the conversation. He pushed his plate away. Glanced at her. “I’ll be back. The doc’s here.”
She nodded, and wondered what else this most strange night might bring.
“Thanks again, Callie.”
He shook hands with the petite doctor, Mike Vaughan’s sister, another of tonight’s surprises. They’d met at the January christening for Mike and Bree’s twins, but he hadn’t realized she worked at the emergency clinic he’d called. Last he’d heard she was supposed to be moving to Calgary, after working in Germany these past however many years. She and Bailey had had quite the conversation about European places during the examination.
“She needs to be careful not to bump it, which means you need to watch yourself with her, know what I mean?”
He didn’t have to be Einstein to know what she meant. In all senses. “She’s safe around me. How much do I owe you?”
“A ticket to next week’s show?”
“Done.” He didn’t know if it could be done but he’d make it happen somehow. “Thanks again.”
Callie nodded, yawned. “Don’t stay up too late.”
He nodded, not needing an interpreter to know what that meant, either.
