When Katherine replied, her voice was hesitant. "I don't think so…"
"Come on, live a little,” Dave said, pushing things as usual. “I've been trying to get you to go out with me for a long time. Why not tonight? Muse is just around the corner from your place. We could have a drink and something to eat."
I watched her in the rear view mirror. She shook her head and caught my eye.
"I don't think so," she said. "I have class tomorrow early…"
"Kate, you are just such a mean woman," Dave said, laughing. He turned to me. "See what I mean? Turned down again!"
"Maybe you should take a strong hint," I said, trying to give him the message that she didn’t want his attention.
Dave made a face at me and turned back to her. "No offense meant, Kate."
She shook her head, and in the darkness, I could see her face was flushed. "No offense taken." She smiled but I could see it was forced.
Dave was never one to give up easily. "One of these days, you will have to go out with me, Kate. Live a little. Nigel told me you've been practically a hermit for the last two years."
"Final year of classes before I write my thesis," she said. "I've been working hard trying to keep my grades up."
We arrived at her apartment block and Dave hopped out as soon as the car stopped. He opened the door for Katherine before I could even get out of my door.
I watched helplessly as Dave walked Katherine up the stairs to the front entrance of the building.
"Good night, Kate," Dave said when they reached the door. "Call me about that interview."
"I will," she said, and then she turned back to the car where I stood watching. She smiled at me and in that smile, I saw appreciation as if she was glad that at least I had shown her more respect. "Thank you for the ride. Nice to meet you."
"Nice to finally meet you," I said and smiled back. "Take care of those knees. If you have any problems, feel free to call me."
She turned and went inside.
Dave returned to the car and sat in the front beside me.
“You know,” I said, trying to choose my words carefully. “I can tell from her response to you that you make her uncomfortable.”
“You think so?” he said as if genuinely unaware of how he affected Katherine. “I thought she was flirting with me.”
“No,” I said firmly. “She was trying to be nice. She was not flirting.”
Dave turned to me and frowned. “What makes you an expert? I barely ever see you with a woman. In fact, I never see you with anyone beside that lawyer woman, Lara.”
“I can tell by watching her with you that you make her feel uncomfortable. You might want to dial the attempt at seduction back just a bit.”
I raised my eyebrows for emphasis, but Dave only frowned. He watched out the window as we drove to his apartment.
“Well, no loss,” he said finally and shrugged. “Women are like buses. If you miss one, there’ll be another along in a few minutes.”
“Not like Katherine,” I said to myself more than to him.
He turned to me and made a face. “You like her?”
I said nothing, trying hard not to smile or respond.
“Drake Morgan, the great Doctor, likes the Hangin’ Judge’s daughter?” He laughed at that and shook his head. “Well, I’ll be damned. OK,” he said and smiled, punching my shoulder playfully. “I’ll back off if that’s the case.”
“It’s not that,” I said, not willing to admit to anything. “It’s just that I’m very fond of Ethan and he’s very protective of Katherine. She’s not a trifle.”
“A trifle?” Dave laughed at that and peered at me as if I’d lost my mind. “What are you? A throwback to the Edwardian era?”
He chuckled to himself and watched out the window as we pulled up to his apartment.
“Drake Morgan, you surprise me,” he said as he left the car. He stood with the door open, leaning in so he could talk to me. “I thought you stuck with nurses or physicians. She’s kinda out of your league, isn’t she?”
“She’s very smart,” I said. “She writes very well.”
“She has a hot little body,” Dave said and wagged his eyebrow in the most annoying manner. “Admit it.”
“You know, I am your boss,” I said to him, trying to look stern.
He broke out laughing at that. “What? Are you going to fire me because I made a pass at her? Good God, Drake, you’re smitten.”
I frowned at him, but then I realized I was being a bit of a prude. I took in a deep breath for a moment and then I finally smiled at him. “She does have a very hot little body. Now, get the hell out of here and leave her alone or else it’ll be sabers at dawn,” I said, laughing at his expression.