The Best Medicine by Dellani Oakes – Part 3

Morgan offers to take Tanya home. Davida leads him to the house in Tanya's car. Tanya admires Morgan's beautiful classic car.

"So?"

He laughed a little sheepishly. "So now I can start looking for a real woman. The car's great, but she can't keep the bed warm." A blush rose above the collar of his jacket. "Sorry, I guess that wasn't too tactful."

"It's okay," she grinned. "I have two brothers. I've heard what constitutes male humor before. This conversation is several cuts above that."

Morgan laughed, tossing his head back casually as he stopped for a red light. "I think there's a compliment couched in there somewhere."

"I doubt it," she smirked, snuggling into the comfortable seat.

They drove in silence for a few minutes.

"You hungry?" Morgan's voice sounded unusually loud in the confines of the car. He seemed to realize it, and snapped his lips shut quickly. Lowering the volume, he started over. "What I mean is, when's the last time you ate? You certainly don't look like the type of woman who passes out on a whim."

"I can't remember when I ate," Tanya said quietly. "It got busy right after I got on shift, and I didn't really have much breakfast."

"Were you there for the multiple car crash, too?"

She nodded wearily. "They came in as I was clocking in."

"I was on the surgical team that worked on the three year old with head trauma. Brutal."

"Is he all right? I evaluated his films. It looked ugly."

"Yeah. He's stable but still critical. If he has a good night, he should be all right. I'm a bit worried." He stopped talking abruptly. "How about no shop talk? I think we both need to put it behind us for a while."

"Agreed," she said faintly. "I don't even want to think about bones unless they are attached to a medium well steak."

Morgan chuckled and pulled up in front of her house. Davida pulled into the driveway and walked back over to Morgan's car. He got out and met her on the sidewalk. They spoke for a couple of minutes, then Davida handed Tanya's keys to Morgan. He walked back to his car as another pulled up beside them. It was Davida's brother and her roommate. Davida got in the car and waved as they drove away.

"I invited her to go to dinner with us, but she's got plans. Some sort of family thing tonight. She wasn't specific."

Tanya chuckled and grinned broadly. "No she doesn't, she just didn't want to intrude. That's D.'s way of being subtle."

"Intrude?" He looked genuinely puzzled.

"She thinks I need a real man, not the heroes in romance novels," Tanya said, immediately wishing she hadn't.

Morgan turned his face away, pressing his lips together. Suddenly, an explosive snicker worked its way out. He put his hand firmly over his mouth, forcing himself to stop laughing.

"I'm sorry, it's not what you think. I'm not actually laughing because that's a ridiculous idea, I was remembering what I said about the car."

Tanya giggled, something she hadn't done since she was twelve. "Strangely similar, yes."

They laughed quietly a few moments, then Morgan forced his face into straight lines. "I believe we were discussing dinner."

"Were we? Oh, you asked when I'd last eaten. I've got some leftovers in the house, I'll just warm something up in the microwave. I don't want to be any trouble."

"It's no trouble. I don't have any leftovers to warm up, and I'm starving. I don't feel like cooking, and I hate to eat out alone. So this isn't a date, this is two hungry people having a meal."

Tanya's face softened as she smiled. "Put that way, how can a girl refuse? You make it sound so...irresistible. Will you at least let me pay for my own meal?"

"No, I invited you. My treat."

"Can I get a shower? I've been in this outfit for more than one dance. I'd like to put on something else."

"Sure, if I can grab one with you." At her shocked gasp, he chuckled. "I'm kidding! Yes, shower. I'll run home and change. I'll be back in what, thirty minutes? Oh, wait. Can a woman get ready in thirty minutes?"

"Watch me," she grinned, rising to the challenge.

"I'd love to watch you, but then I would get arrested, and you wouldn't get dinner."

Tanya smacked him playfully on the arm. "Naughty! The thirty minutes don't count until I get in the door," she countered, grabbing her keys.

"All right, I'll see you up to the house and start my timer."

"You don't have to escort me, I'm fine!"

"I have to insure a proper start. How do I know you won't lie about what time you entered your domicile. You could lie, and give yourself a few minutes. Besides, I must synchronize my time with that of your domicile, to be official."

They walked up to the door and he waited while she opened it. Leaning against the door jamb, he glanced at the grandfather clock across from the front door.

© 2020 Dellani Oakes

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