give her that, but in his estimation, she couldn’t hold a candle to her fair-haired friend.
At that moment, the blonde returned from the dance floor—sans cowboy, Bennett was pleased to note. She passed right by where he and Grant stood. Bennett narrowed his eyes, desperate for a closer look. Her scent caught his nose as she floated off.
Roses. He’d smelled that perfume before.
Lacy?
His heart skipped a beat. Nah. Couldn’t be. This vibrant young lady simply couldn’t be the shy scrub nurse.
Then she stopped, turned, and met his gaze. There was no mistaking those Alps-blue eyes. He’d stared into them for hours at a time. Stared at those eyes and lusted after the woman who possessed them.
Coquettishly, she pursed her lips and blew him a kiss.
4
Lacy felt physically ill. Dancing with that cowboy and then blowing Bennett a kiss drained every ounce of courage she possessed. What had come over her? Hands trembling, she sat down at the table beside CeeCee and Janet.
Had Bennett recognized her? She had wanted him to, and yet the thought of holding a conversation with him caused her chest to squeeze so tightly it was a miracle she could breathe.
“You did great,” CeeCee exclaimed, pounding Lacy approvingly on the back. “First time out of the hat and you dance with a guy! I’m so proud of you.”
“He dragged me around the dance floor,” Lacy muttered. “I don’t really call that dancing.”
“Jake’s a nice guy, though, don’t you think?” CeeCee glanced over her shoulder at the cowboy. “He was a good friend to help ease you over your first dance and break the ice.”
Jake the cowboy might be good friends with CeeCee, but he had let his hands do a little more roving than necessary. Lacy, of course, hadn’t had the courage to tell him to keep his hands to himself, so she’d suffered in silence.
Lacy sighed. It was this ridiculous eye-popping dress and these silly three-inch spike heels CeeCee had forced her to wear that caused the problem. In her scrubs, the cowboy wouldn’t have glanced at her twice, much less tried anything.
“Are you all right?” Janet asked. “You’re pale as a sheet, and you’re perspiring.” She placed two fingers on Lacy’s wrist. “Goodness, you’re tachycardic, too, and your pulse is thready.”
“I think I’m going to be sick,” Lacy confessed, remembering what she’d done.
“Put your head between your legs, take a few deep breaths. You’re going to be okay,” Janet said firmly. “It’s just an attack of nerves.”
“I’ll get you a glass of water,” CeeCee volunteered and sprang up from the table.
Janet laid a comforting hand on Lacy’s shoulder. “CeeCee doesn’t get it, but I know how hard this is for you. Hang in there. I promise flirting gets easier the more you do it.”
“He’s here,” Lacy whispered, ducking under the table and tucking her head between her legs. She studied the cement floor and noticed a piece of broken pretzel wedged in a crack and focused on it. She took several deep, cleansing breaths.
“Who’s here?” Janet asked.
“Dr. Sheridan.”
“Where?”
“Over near the restrooms.”
“Which one is he?”
“Tall. Black hair. Great build.”
“Nice tan?”
“Uh-huh.”
“Oh, my, Lacy, he is gorgeous.” She heard the approval in Janet’s voice. “He’s definitely worth overcoming shyness for.”
Lacy closed her eyes. The nausea wasn’t getting any better. “I blew him a kiss.”
“What?” Janet asked in disbelief. She lowered her head beneath the table and peered at Lacy. “You’ve got to be kidding.”
“No,” Lacy said miserably. “That’s why I feel so shaky inside. I can’t believe I did it.”
“Well, that’s great. CeeCee’s right. You have made a lot of progress tonight.”
“It was a stupid thing to do. He’s going to think I’m some sort of hussy.”
“He will not. And even if he does, that’s the point. But tell me, how did you work up the courage to blow him a kiss when you can’t even speak to him at work?”
“I don’t know,” Lacy wailed. “You guys had me all gussied up in this sexy outfit, and I guzzled that wine.”
“You had half a glass,” Janet told her.
“I took your advice and pretended I was a sexy actress. I don’t know what came over me. It’s as if I was standing outside my body watching someone else inside my skin. I stopped, turned, and blew him a kiss.” She covered her face with her hands and groaned.
“It’s not the end of the world, sweetie. What’s the worst that can happen? He doesn’t ask you out.”
But he has to ask me out, Lacy thought desperately. He’s the one I’m