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Don the gastoward DEFCON 1—imminent disaster In the brief time it had taken her to down three hors d’oeuvres, her sexy doctor had tumbled from fantasy fodder to potential therapy client

Dr Depressed propped his elbows on the table and leaned forward, his brows knitted “I don’t knohat I did wrong Onethe future, the next I catch her in the copy room with her arms wrapped around the pharmaceutical sales rep”

Brynn frowned as tears gathered behind his glasses Oh, hell She couldn’t have another guy cry on her That’d be the second one thisa perfectly put-together person and reducing hiave his hand a quick squeeze “I’h that It sounds like she took advantage of what a nice guy you are”

He stared at her for a ? I’ht? No ex talk on dates I’m sure you didn’t ask me to come to this fund-raiser so you could hear me yammer about my breakup”

“It’s fine Breakups can be tough,” she said, giving her therapist half-s you, even though she was already for a hypothetical treatment plan in her head She drew her hand away and sipped the last of her iced tea

The lines in his face relaxed, and he leaned back in his seat “I’m sorry I let it come up You’re just so easy to talk to”

“Occupational hazard, I guess,” she said, trying to lighten the mood But the truth of her statement turned the words to sawdust in her ned up to heal every guy she dated? For once, she’d love to worry, like other woet her in bed Instead, she had to worry if someone asked her to dinner because it was cheaper than a therapy session

A waiter stopped by with a tray of chane flutes Brynn accepted one of the drinks, but her companion shook his head “No thanks, I’m on call Plus, I don’t want to fall asleep on ht”

He gave her a hopeful smile, his brown eyes still red-rih that gathered in her throat If he was staying awake on her account, he shouldn’t bother She didn’t care how nice of a guy he was or how hot he probably looked naked She was not going to be his rebound sex Nothing like knowing a guy is closing his eyes in bed because he’s picturing solass

“Speaking of which,” he said, reaching into the pocket of his jacket and pulling out his cell phone, “could you excuseservice”

“No problem, take all the time you need” Really, he could take as n the death certificate and slap a toe tag on it Done

After he strode off, Brynn pushed her chair away frohtened the hem of her black-and-white shift dress as she stood She needed sone

She navigated through the crowd and the steady hu occasionally to smile and shake hands with donors The Women’s Crisis Center of Dallas had a fund-raiser twice a year and, thanks to a very active board, had h-dollar supporters for this one Good thing, considering her job was dependent on the generosity of these strangers She grabbed awaiter’s tray and shoved it in herwould deterher to chat

Brynn spotted a familiar face near the bar Melody, her coworker, flipped her auburn hair over her shoulder and laughed at so the bartender said Brynn walked over but hovered behind her for aThe wo bartender sufficiently under her spell until another party guest pounded a fist on the counter and deetic smile, the bartender excused himself and Melody huffed