She looked around the room. “The efficiency makes it easier for Fifi to navigate. The fewer walls the better.”
That made sense. He thought about his mother and the way she trailed her fingers along the walls of the home she refused to give up. He was sure she knew every squeaky floorboard, every nook and cranny on each floor. He lifted Fifi and kissed her head as he eyed Ally. It took a special person to care for a blind pet, and as he watched Ally put fresh water into the cat’s bowl before pouring their wine, he knew she was the perfect person for Fifi. The question was, was she the perfect person for him, too?
On the coffee table he found her library books—all medical, which surprised him. He picked one up and waved it in Ally’s direction.
“So the lab is more than just a place to work for you?”
She shrugged as she joined him by the sofa and handed him a glass of wine. She sipped her wine, and Heath wondered how anyone could make skinny jeans and a turquoise blouse look sexy as hell.
He set Fifi in her bed as they sank down to the couch beside each other.
“There was a time when I thought I wanted to go to medical school, but I didn’t have the money, and I’m not sure I really wanted it enough to succeed. So, when something medical catches my eye, I read up on it. It’s really just hit or miss. A weird hobby, I guess.” She flipped through a book about human anatomy and physiology. “What I really like is the patient interaction and figuring out the puzzles. Fact finding, I guess. The ability to find definitive, or close to definitive, answers.”
“The lab work.” There were very distinct people in medicine, those who belonged behind the scenes and those who belonged with the patients. And Ally was definitely not a behind-the-scenes woman. She had a warm, charming personality, and he imagined she would have made a wonderful doctor.
“Yes, but I love the patient contact, too. Right now the position at the hospital fulfills both of those sides of my personality. It’s a good match.”
He took the book from her lap and set it and his wineglass on the table, then sat back, facing Ally with one arm across the back of the sofa. She set her wineglass next to his and relaxed beside him.
“You said you volunteered at the conference. Why?”
“If I volunteer, I get to take home transcripts of the lectures and discussions. I know that makes me nerdy, but I like it. It’s like Christmas several times a year.”
“So, it’s not the trip itself, or access to all the docs…”
She narrowed her eyes, and he held her gaze. “You think I went to hook up with doctors?”
“I wasn’t thinking that, but I’d be lying if I said it hadn’t crossed my mind. Considering the way we met, didn’t it cross yours that I might go to conferences to hook up with women?”
She lowered her eyes and traced the seam of her jeans with her finger. “Yes, but I’ve been trying not to think about it.”
He lifted her chin and pressed his lips softly to hers. “I’m an honest guy, and tonight I feel closer to you than I’ve felt to a woman in years. I want to keep seeing you, and I don’t want any secrets. I won’t judge you, and I hope that you won’t judge me either, but I know that’s a lot to ask.”
She searched his eyes, and he wondered what she was thinking. Would she be as honest with him as he planned to be with her? Would his propensity for semi-anonymous flings be the end of their relationship? More importantly, would he be able to handle her truth—whatever that might be?
“Are you sure you want to go there?” She nervously twisted a lock of her hair. “I mean, you might not like what you hear, and I know I’m not going to like what you tell me.”
“I think you just gave me indication enough of your answer, and you’re right. I might not like hearing it, but we can’t build a relationship on ignoring the past.”
She met his gaze. “So you want to do this? You want to date and see where we end up? Even though we both work at the hospital? Even though I’m a lab tech and you’re a doctor? That doesn’t bother you?”
“Allyson, do I act like the kind of guy who’s hung up on status?”
“No. But you have things you need to ask, and so do I.”
He smiled, because she was not a pushover, and he could see that her strength would push him in ways he wasn’t used to—and probably needed.