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“You had a date?” Blake’s brows rose, like her going out on a date was the most preposterous thing he’d ever heard.
His reaction tweaked her temper because what was so unbelievable about her dating? She might not do it often, but it wasn’t like she was undateable.
“Yes. I had a date.”
Blake’s surprise morphed to a scowl, and she decided she preferred his first response. “With who?”
“You don’t know him.”
“Is he another doctor at the hospital?”
She shook her head. “No. I met him on eHarmony.”
“eHarmony?” Blake shouted. “What the hell are you doing on dating apps?”
“Oh, I don’t know,” she replied sarcastically. “Maybe looking for a date?”
Blake ran a hand through his hair, taking a step back.
Until he moved away, Erika didn’t realize how closely they’d been standing to each other. He didn’t reply immediately, and she got the sense he was taking a moment or two to calm down. Though she didn’t understand his anger.
Or…maybe she did. Blake hadn’t just assigned himself the caregiver role by reminding her to buy food and feeding her when she forgot to eat. He’d also assumed the job of her protector, always looking out for her whenever they were together. For instance, one night at the pub, a drunk guy had been hitting on her pretty hard. Blake had stepped in and sent the man packing. And that was just one example.
She hastened to reassure him that she wasn’t doing anything stupid. “You don’t have to worry. I met him at a busy coffee shop a couple of times, and the first time he invited me to dinner, I met him at the restaurant.” Tonight was actually the first time she’d given Doug her address and allowed him to pick her up.
“What’s his name?” he asked, still somewhat belligerently, if quieter.
“Doug.” She withheld his last name on purpose.
He scoffed. “That’s a pussy name.”
She rolled her eyes. “No, it’s not.”
“What’s he do for a living?”
Erika sighed heavily, letting him know she wasn’t impressed by his fifth degree. “He’s a financial analyst.”
“Booooring,” he singsonged.
She laughed. It was either that or slap her best friend. “He’s very nice and interesting.” Turning away from him in an attempt to stop the interrogation, she walked over to his freezer and pulled out an ice pack. Wrapping it in a towel, she returned, handing it to him. “You should put that on your lip. It’s still swollen.”
He started to do as she said, but froze, his gaze sliding to her lips. “Your lips are swollen too.” Before she realized what he was doing, he reached out to caress the side of her mouth with his thumb. “Is that beard burn?”
She hated it, but she blushed, brushing his hand away. “Doug has a beard.”
“So things are getting pretty hot and heavy between you two?”
She shrugged. “I don’t know. Maybe.”
“Hmph,” he grumbled, grabbing his duffel and carrying it to his bedroom.
She followed. “You want Corky tonight?” She leaned on the doorframe as he upended the clothing in his duffel directly into the laundry hamper. “I took her out for her walk, so she’s good for the night.”
Blake didn’t answer her question. Instead, he grabbed his toiletry bag and carried it to the bathroom.
She frowned. “You’re being a grumpy ass.”
“I’m sore and tired,” he explained when he returned to the room.
