Page 24 of Out of Left Field

As I slipped into bed I switched the music to a soft jazz playlist and turned the volume down low. My room was simple and tidy. It was my oasis from work so I was pretty strict about keeping the space clean and the ambiance chill. I never brought my work to bed. If I needed to work from home I did it in the kitchen or living room.

I loved to sleep, so I spent some of my hard-earned money on an expensive bed. I also spent a pretty penny on the heavy curtains that covered the windows of my room. Sometimes my sleep schedule got out of whack, depending on the requirements of the job, so it was important to me that I could close my door and curtains and sleep in the dark, day or night. Basically, my bedroom and attached bathroom were my version of a home spa.

What was Isaac’s room like? When I tried to picture it all I got was a vision of his spring training office: blank walls and dry erase boards. The chemistry between us was there, but the man truly remained a mystery to me. When I got to know him better, would the chemistry grow or would the truth snuff it out? The fact that I had no idea what would happen excited me.

Until my phone began vibrating on the bed beside me. All thoughts of Isaac vanished as I nearly jumped out of bed.

“Hello?”

“Is this Dr. Kate James by any chance?” Isaac asked.

I froze in shock. “Isaac?”

“There she is. I forgot to ask for your number so I bribed Carla in human resources to give it to me. Told her I had an epiphany that I needed to share immediately and email simply wouldn’t do.”

My silly heart beat a million miles an hour. I thought about giving him my contact information a dozen times, but always stopped myself. Work was work. We would have time to date later. But now? It felt really good to hear his voice. “Yes, well, epiphanies are important to capture while they’re fresh. What is this idea you’ve had come to you?”

“Oh, just that I don’t see any reason why we can’t talk in our free time. Neither of us is on the clock, unless you’re a complete workaholic and I’ve just interrupted your eighteenth hour of the work today.”

Flirty phone conversations at night? Yes, please. “I actually just had dinner with my sister and niece and now I’m in bed getting ready to read.”

“Well that’s nice. How old is your niece?”

“Twelve. And I’m pretty sure we emotionally scarred her for life tonight.”

Isaac chuckled and it sent a shiver through me. “That sounds like fun. I just had dinner with Wes Allen and Seth Butler and I’m pretty sure I’m also emotionally scarred for life.”

“That is a one-two punch. I’m sorry. It was nice knowing you.”

He laughed again. “I can’t let them beat me. I must persevere. It would be a shame to leave this life before I got a chance to kiss you.”

I couldn’t breathe.

“Sorry if that was too much,” he said so softly I almost didn’t hear it.

“It wasn’t too much. I liked it.”

“I like talking to you, Kate. I like looking at you, too. I really like being near you.”

“Same,” I said on a sigh.

“You know I was thinking. I don’t think I’ve flirted in years. I mean, like for more than a night.”

It was my turn to laugh. “I was thinking the very same thing earlier.”

“Huh.”

“Yeah.”

“Well, I don’t mean to keep you from your book.”

I glanced at the paperback, suddenly not interested in reading at all. “I think I’d rather talk to you.”

He sighed, sounding relieved. “It sucks that you had to go back to Tampa.”

“Someone has to get to Eli. Besides, we’re still talking, aren't we?”

“That we are. Do you have any other brothers and sisters?”