Reign A Romance Anthology - Nina Levine Page 0,296

setting up. Last one for the day,” I sigh.

Charlie leaves.

I hover my mouse over the deactivate button on my account and then click.

Instantly, a wave of relief washes over me.

I didn’t realize this whole dating thing was causing me so much stress. After today’s tenth failed date in a month, I’ve decided I’m going to become a lonely spinster and be happy with the joy I get from my job.

I rise from my chair as my cell rings with Mom’s name lighting up the screen. An exasperated sigh leaves me as I hang my head and press the green button. “Hey, Mom,” I greet.

“Oh, Dylan, I didn’t think you’d answer.”

“I’m between procedures. Is everything all right?” Mom doesn’t usually call during the day unless it’s an emergency.

“Yes, everything is fine. I just wanted to check you are still coming for dinner tonight?”

“Of course I am.”

Mom’s silent for a beat then says, “Will there be a young man accompanying you?” She sounds hopeful.

“Mom,” I sigh. “You can’t be serious? How about you go annoy Jasmine and Ariel about their love lives and let me be.” This isn’t our first talk about this. Every week we have dinner, and she expects me to bring a man. In fact, now that I think about it, I’ve never taken a guy home. I guess this explains why she’s at me all the time.

At the moment, men are weeds that keep popping up between the cracks in the pavement. I’m waiting for a flower to grow instead. Right now, it’s as though I’m wading through the swamp water, all muddy and murky, with no end in sight.

“Dylan, you’re my eldest girl. I want to see you happy and settled down.” She sounds on the verge of tears, and I can’t help but roll my eyes.

“Mom, like I said, go annoy my sisters. They’re not that much younger than me. They’re old enough to get married and have kids, too. I’m way too focused on my work right now.” Telling Mom any tidbit of information about my failed dates would mean an endless tirade about how my job is a turnoff for men. To which I usually reply, ‘If he can’t handle a woman in power, then he’s not worth worrying about.’

“Dylan…” she sighs.

“I’m sorry to be your biggest disappointment, Mom. I love you, but this constant nagging doesn’t help the matter.”

Charlie shows up at my doorway again and points toward the waiting room.

“I’m sorry, Mom, I have to go. My next patient has arrived. I’ll see you tonight. Table for one.”

“We’ll talk about this later.”

Closing my eyes, I clench my hand into a ball. I love my mother, but this constant pressure is pushing me to the limit of my patience on the matter. “No, we won’t. Bye, Mom.”

She says goodbye, and I end the call with a loud sigh.

Pulling on my white coat as quickly as I can, I exit the office and close the door behind me then make my way to the procedure room. The preparation has been done, but I quickly check over everything on the tray to make sure I am happy with the placement. Once I know the positioning is correct, I call through the intercom to Charlie who steps into the procedure room.

“Do you want me to bring him in?” Charlie’s face turns a nice shade of pink, and I cock an eyebrow.

“Are you okay?” I ask, curious by her sudden flush.

“Yeah. You’ll see soon enough. I’ll go fetch him.”

“Okay.” Turning back to the job at hand, I pull new gloves from the box on the wall after sterilizing my hands.

A minute or so later, I sense them entering the room.

Charlie ushers the patient in like always. “This is Dr. Dylan Rhodes. She will be carrying out your procedure today.” She sounds a lot chirpier than usual.

I take the tray and turn around, and as I look up, I say, “Hell—” My greeting becomes lost, as does my voice.

This can’t be right.

I have to be dreaming.

2

Dylan

The leather jacket the man is wearing hugs his huge shoulders.

My eyes rake over him—dark hair that’s short and a tangled mess. What would it feel like if I ran my fingers through it?

Taking a step forward, without taking my eyes from his dark ones that seem to claim me the moment ours connect, I don’t pay attention as I keep walking. The table connects with my leg, and the tray that I am holding drops to the floor with a series of