fulfillment. He was ready for a good meal, maybe a glass of wine and a game of some kind on TV. Though the baseball season was down to the wire and the Braves weren’t in the pennant race, he still loved to watch.
Tonight, though, none of that held any appeal, which was one reason he’d stayed late at the clinic. When his cell phone rang, he answered eagerly.
“Why are the lights still on at the clinic?” Greg asked. “Please tell me you’re not still working.”
“On my way out now,” he told him. “And how do you know the lights are on?”
“I’m taking the kids for ice cream to get them out of Lindsey’s hair for an hour. Want to meet us?” He named the ice cream parlor the locals frequented only a mile or so from the clinic. “We’re pulling into the lot now.”
“Sure,” Ethan said impulsively. At least it would drive Samantha out of his head for a little while. Greg’s kids always seemed to cheer him up...and leave him more than a little envious.
“Good. Maybe you can corral them. They listen to their uncle Ethan a whole lot better than they listen to me.”
Ethan smiled at the frustration he heard in Greg’s voice. “You’re a doctor. Hasn’t it occurred to you that if they’re out of control, feeding them ice cream at this hour might not be wise?”
“I’m desperate,” Greg admitted. “And I was not up for a round of miniature golf, which seemed to be the preferred alternative. See you in a few.”
“On my way,” Ethan said.
Five minutes later, he walked into the ice cream shop and immediately spotted Greg and his kids. To his dismay, Gabi and Samantha Castle were setting their purses on the same table and heading to the counter to order. He regarded his friend suspiciously.
“Scheming?” he inquired in an undertone.
Greg gave him an innocent look he didn’t entirely trust.
“They just walked in the door,” Greg swore to him. “I told them you were on the way and asked them to join us. Seemed like the polite thing to do. Are you going to run off?”
“Of course not,” Ethan said, though that was precisely what he wanted to do...or what he thought he ought to do. “I’d better go up and order.”
He stepped into line behind Samantha and Gabi. “This is a surprise,” he said.
“We’re having a girls’ night out,” Gabi said cheerfully. “We’ve been pampered and buffed and fed. I’ve bought out most of the clothes at my favorite boutique and now we’re having dessert.”
“And did you shop, too?” he asked Samantha.
“She didn’t buy a single thing,” Gabi said, her frustration plain. “I think she’s deliberately trying to make me feel guilty for splurging the way I did.”
Samantha shrugged. “I have a closetful of clothes I never wear. Why buy more?”
Gabi put her hand over her heart in an exaggerated gesture of dismay. “What sort of woman says a thing like that? You’re going to ruin shopping for the rest of us.”
Ethan laughed, though he wondered if Samantha’s restraint had less to do with an aversion to shopping than with finances. He had no idea how well an acting career might pay, especially one that was faltering the way she claimed hers was.
“All I can say is that Samantha’s attitude is music to a man’s ears,” he said. “And since you always look beautiful, I can’t see why you’d need a new wardrobe every few weeks, anyway.”
“Thank you,” Samantha said with a surprising blush on her cheeks.
As they reached the counter, Ethan said, “The ice cream is on me. Go crazy.”
“You might not want to say that,” Samantha warned. “Gabi’s been on a diet and I’ve already told you about my addiction. Between the two of us, we could blow your ice cream budget to smithereens.”
“I’ll take my chances,” Ethan said.
“Okay, then, you asked for it,” Gabi said, ordering a banana split that was big enough for two or three people. It was a favorite with teens double-dating.
Samantha showed only a little more restraint, ordering a double hot fudge sundae with extra hot fudge.
“I’ll have what she’s having,” Ethan said, pointing to the sundae. He grinned at her. “Of course, for me this is dinner.”
“And for me, it’s God’s gift to the dessert menu,” Samantha retorted. “You are not going to make me feel guilty.”
He laughed. “Never my intention.” He’d just wanted to see that quick rise of becoming color in her cheeks again. She hadn’t disappointed him.
Back at the table, Greg’s