Operation Date Escape

to figure that one out.”
    A few possibilities came to mind. One being the worst case scenario for her friend. “Do you think it’s possible Joe didn’t go all the way because he has a problem getting it up.”
    Nanci snorted. “Believe me, that man has no problem whatsoever in the getting it up department. I think Joe’s trying to show me what it’s like to have a man take control in the bedroom.”
    “ Well, that would be a first for you.” Nanci had a deep-rooted need to be in control, no doubt stemming from the lack of control she’d had where her crappy childhood was concerned.
    “Tell me about it ,” her friend agreed.
    “ Are you okay with that?”
    There was a short pause before she replied, “Truth is I liked it. I think.”
    “You think? Either you did or you didn’t.”
    “It’s scary , giving up control and all.”
    “I’m sure. ”
    “I guess we’ll have to see where things go next time.”
    “So you’re going to see him again?”
    Nanci laughed. “Does a juggler have balls? Now getting back to your date with Cole...”
    Kelsie headed for the bathroom. “I promise we’ll talk. I just need to get dressed and dry my hair first.”
    “Which , when translated, means you’re not ready to spill about your date. Hmmm...”
    “Hmm...what?”
    “It must have ended up being one hell of a good date.”
    “What makes you think that?”
    “Because you’re always ready to vent about your bad dates. So this stall tactic tells me things with Cole went a whole lot better than you expected them to and you’re having a hard time dealing with it.”
    There wasn’t much she could get past Nanci . She hem hawed about before finally replying, “Maybe.”
    “No maybe about it.”
    “Tell you what,” Kelsie relented. “What do you say I pick you up on my way to the office? I need to pull charts and confirm appointments for tomorrow. We can talk then.”
    “ Maybe we can swing by the mall afterwards. I wouldn’t mind picking up something a little slinky for my next date with Joe. We’ll see who’s in control then.”
    “That man’s got his work cut out for him.”
    “I could say the same for Cole.”
    “ Well, don’t. Unlike you and Joe, Cole and I won’t be going out again. See you in an hour.” Before Nanci had a chance to delve into her response, Kelsie hung up and headed for the bathroom to dry her hair.
    * * *
    “You did what?” Nanci’s shocked gasp echoed loudly off the office walls. Thankfully, they were the only ones there.
    Kelsie continued pulling patient files for the next day’s schedule. “I said that I had the best sex I’ve ever had in my life.”
    “I heard that part,” her friend exclaimed. “I was referring to what you said after that.”
    She knew Nanci wasn’t going to understand her reasons, but she’d done what she had to do. “I told Cole I couldn’t see him again.”
    “That’s what I thought you said, but I was hoping like hell I had misunderstood. Now let me get this straight. You had the best sex of your life with an incredible guy and then you dump him? Have you lost your mind?”
    She’d lost something, but it wasn’t her mind. It was her heart. At least, a very big piece of it. Ridiculously fast and definitely unexpected. “Maybe so.”
    “Well, if you ask me─”
    “I didn’t.” She loved Nanci dearly, but she was having a hard enough time dealing with the feelings she was having for Cole without her friend telling her what she already knew. That he was everything she’d ever wanted in a guy.
    She grabbed a stack of files and walked back to her room, hoping that would put an end to their discussion.
    It didn’t.
    Nanci followed right behind. “Sometimes I don’t get you. Why would you ave you ditch a guy who’s a real hunk, has an admirable job, treats you good and, more importantly, knows how to steam up the sheets?”
    “That’s exactly why.” She deposited the stack of folders into the plastic holder on the wall. “Cole’s too good to be true. I’d end up falling for the guy, start thinking about the perfect little house with a white picket fence, dark-haired babies, and sex in his backyard, and then he’d up and leave me for someone else.”
    “Sounds to me like you’ve already fallen for the guy,” Nanci pointed out . Then her eyes widened. “You two had sex in his backyard?”
    Oh my god. Had she done it again? “Cookouts. I meant cookouts in his yard.”
    “Yeah, yeah,” her friend said with a