Midnight Caller

Tony didn’t know whether to breathe a sigh of relief or be offended.

“Ouch,” he said. “Men know those words are the kiss of death.”

“You’ve been really good to Jack…and to me,” Erin said. “But I’m not looking for a relationship right now. And even if I was…which I’m definitely not…I have an ironclad rule. I don’t date cops.”

“Rules are meant to be broken,” Tony replied.

Wasn’t that the truth? Wasn’t he breaking his own ironclad rule to avoid all women with strings attached? No one had more strings than a single mom. He cocked his head and studied her. “A man must have hurt you deeply.” Maybe that was what pulled him. Just his protective instincts rising up. He could deal with that. Before she could answer, he said, “It doesn’t matter. I’m not asking you for a date.”

She arched an eyebrow. “Dinner Friday night is not a date?”

“Nope. It’s another opportunity for you to shower me with thanks for a job well done. It’s a chance for me to talk about myself to a captive audience. It’s even an opportunity to discuss world events and the weather. But it certainly isn’t a date.”

His lopsided grin almost broke her reserve. She ducked her head so she didn’t have to look into those gorgeous brown eyes. She liked this guy. And she didn’t want to.

She carried the tray to the trash. Lost in thought, she didn’t notice a person trying to squeeze past until it was too late. He slammed into her with the force and speed of a defensive football player. Making a frantic grab for the nearest post to break her fall, she glanced over her shoulder. The man not only hadn’t slowed down, he had already disappeared. Steadying herself, she vowed to pay closer attention to her surroundings and keep her mind off of Tony before she got plowed over.

When she returned to their table, Tony’s silence made her think he had accepted her answer. Erin bent down to gently wake Jack, but before she did, she stole a glance in Tony’s direction. When their eyes met, he did the only thing he could have done to stop her dead in her tracks. He winked.

“He did what?” Carol asked as they sat together behind the nurse’s desk in the emergency room.

Erin chuckled. “The egotistical, know-it-all winked at me.”

“Are you going to go out with him Friday night?”

“No. He can wink all he wants. A rule is a rule.”

Carol finished writing her nurse’s note. “The nerve of the man. Well, that’s it, then. You have to kill him. And there’s not a jury in the world that would convict you.” She leaned over Erin’s chair and stage-whispered in her ear, “Because they would be too busy finding you certifiably insane.”

“Ms. Erin?” Lenny Richards, one of the hospital phlebotomists, interrupted their conversation. “I’m headed to the lab. Call me if you need me.”

“Sure, Lenny.” Erin smiled at the man and his face lit up. She watched him walk to the elevator and a pang of sympathy hit her. Nature had played a cruel joke on him. Deeply pitted skin left over from adolescent acne coupled with ears sticking out from his head seemed harsh enough. But his mouth didn’t quite fit his face. He held his lips slightly parted so often she wondered if he could close them.

“The guy gives me the creeps,” Carol said.

“Says the Christian, Bible-toting woman in the room,” Erin chastised.

“I’m polite when he’s around. I don’t speak negatively about him to anyone—”

Erin raised an eyebrow.

“Except to you. And you don’t count because you’re my best friend. I tell you everything.”

Erin shook her head and gave an exasperated sigh.

“Besides,” Carol said. “I don’t remember reading anything in the Bible about ‘Thou shalt not recognize creeps.’”

“I’m sure there’s a passage in there somewhere.”

“Tell you what, you find me the passage and I will not only repent, I’ll bake the man cookies every week for a month.”

“You’re just trying to get me to read more of my Bible. I recognize your underhanded ways.”

“Is it working?” Carol smiled widely. “Trust me, Erin. The more you read, the more you’ll want to read. God will speak to your heart and you’ll delve in there all on your own.”

Erin mentally pictured the leather-bound Bible that Carol had given her two weeks ago. She’d been reading it every night before bed. She knew what her friend said was true. The words moved her, inspired her, and she found herself getting up a half hour early each morning to read more.

“Why do you dislike Lenny?” Erin asked.

“I don’t dislike him. I feel sorry for the guy. I’ve even put him on my prayer list.”

Erin knew her expression revealed her skepticism.

“I have,” Carol insisted. “But he’s creepy.”

“He’s probably lonely. It wouldn’t kill you to be friendlier to him.”

“Okay. You’re right. I’ll work on it.” Carol leaned on the arm of Erin’s chair. “Speaking of being friendly, you should be friendlier to Detective Marino. Ever since the Easter parade, the nurses have placed Tony at the top of their eligible bachelor list.”

Carol looked Erin straight in the eye. “Anyway, you have to admit he’s got the ‘it’ factor. Maybe it’s those brown eyes. Or that drop-dead-gorgeous smile. Or his soft, sensitive side when he leads a parade for kids or accompanies other kids on buses.”

Erin laughed and threw her hands in mock surrender. “Okay, enough already. I get the point.”

“All I’m saying is if you don’t want him, then you better step out of the way before you get trampled by the ladies in line behind you.” Carol’s eyes softened. “The man is kind to your son…handsome…gets along well with your aunt…handsome…makes you laugh.” She placed her index finger to her lip. “Oh, yeah, did I say he’s handsome?”

“He’s a cop.”

“He’s a man.”

“Yeah, that, too. Strike two.” Erin took a swig from her water bottle.

Carol scooted her chair closer. “He’s a good man. And we both know from experience the good ones don’t come along very often.”

“Isn’t that the truth? I haven’t met one of those ‘good men’ yet. I’m beginning to think they belong in the same category as glass slippers,” Erin said. “Even if I wanted to take a chance—and I don’t—to see if he really is a good guy, I can’t. He’s a cop.”

“Cop is what he does, not who he is.”

“We both know that’s not true. They don’t turn off at five o’clock. They live and breathe their jobs 24/7.”

She reached out and cupped one of Erin’s hands. “You know I wouldn’t suggest something I thought would hurt you. You’re my BFF, remember?”

Erin smiled at the memories of the BFF, or Best Friends Forever Club, they had formed in middle school. She squeezed her friend’s hand in acknowledgment but remained silent.

“I think you’re wrong for not giving this guy a chance,” Carol said. “He’s the real deal. Single. Hardworking. Kind.”

“Yeah, a real Boy Scout,” Erin said.

Carol threw up her hands. “What am I going to do with you? This is the kind of man most women pray for. When the Lord blesses you by plunking him smack dab in your path, you don’t chase him away.”