Surgeon Book Boyfriend (Book Boyfriend Dating Agency)

Chapter 3

Chapter Three

T oday was the first time in years Kimora had slept in late. When she’d opened her eyes it was mid-morning and she hadn’t felt guilty about it. She got out of bed and did not get dressed right away. She went down to the kitchen, made coffee, opened a book that she had purchased months ago, and read half of it before she decided to throw on clothes. She had spent the afternoon doing things that she had desired doing for a while.

She’d driven down to the local farmer’s market, made some great purchases, then later found herself at the mall. She’d stopped at a favorite lingerie store that she loved and went on a shopping spree.

This day was for Kimora to spend by herself. Now that she had time to think, she didn’t need a date with a man to make herself feel better. She would continue to put a day aside for herself each week and spend it doing what she wanted.

That was her problem.

She didn’t take time for herself.

Kimora entered her kitchen from the garage entrance. She carried in her bags and set them down on the island. She stood back slightly out of breath and rested her hands on her waist.

“Maybe I overdid the shopping,” she muttered. The amount of items resting in front of her was astronomical. It wasn’t often she went out and put a dent in her credit cards as much, so who cared. With a shrug, she turned around and went over to shut the door that led to the garage. “Let me put these groceries away and figure out what the heck I’m going to do for dinner.”

Glancing at her watch, she had a few hours before she would need to cook dinner. She walked over to the bags and started pulling out all of the fruits, veggies, and baked goods she had bought from the market so she could put them away.

Her phone in her back pocket vibrated.

“Who is this?” she murmured. Maybe Laura was texting her to go out for dinner. Her friend usually checked with her about dinner plans, and Kimora always shot her down. Tonight, she would take her friend up on the offer.

But it wasn’t Laura.

It was a notification from the Book Boyfriend app. Kimora’s heart stuttered. She inhaled and swiped her finger across the screen. Her phone opened and went directly into the private message of the boyfriend app.

Kimora’s eyes widened at the message waiting for her.

Dr. Kane Livingston had not only acknowledged their match but had dropped her a little note.

Kimora! What a lovely surprise to find you on here and we have matched each other. Would you want to chat outside this app? If so, text me and I’ll give you a call.

Kimora bit her lip at his message. Was this truly the real Kane? What if it was a person pretending to be him? She didn’t want to just give a stranger her phone number. She hit the reply button, and her fingers flew across the screen.

Prove it’s you, Kane.

That was all she typed out. If this was truly the Kane Livingston, then she would go and down that horrible beer her brother, Aiden, had left in her fridge. He had brought over a six-pack the last time she’d cooked dinner for the family. That was his way of contributing to the dinner. He and their father, Ramon, were the only ones who drank beer. Kimora and their mother, Marlene, couldn’t stand the taste of the stuff.

She wrinkled her nose up at the thought of that liquid touching her tongue. She dropped her phone on the counter and went back to putting up her groceries. That couldn’t be Kane. She refused to believe that an accomplished, world-renowned surgeon would be on an app such as the Book Boyfriend Agency.

Kimora shut the fridge, and the phone vibrated again. She paused and tilted her head to the side. Whoever was using Kane’s profile must be desperate. Why didn’t people just use their own faces? What would happen if a woman showed up for the date and the face didn’t match the picture? How would one explain that?

She snatched up her phone while a small smile played on her lips. She paused and read the response.

I caught your lecture on gene splicing two years ago when you presented at the cardiac symposium. You wore a red dress, black heels, and had your hair in some crazy updo that I wouldn’t even begin to know how to explain. Charles tried to challenge you on the science if I recall, and you put him in his place. I was truly impressed with how you handled that asshole.

Wow.

Kimora blinked. This certainly wasn’t the answer she had been expecting. She had thought this person would have come up with a bullshit one-liner, but this proved without a doubt that this was Kane. Her lecture that he spoke of she remembered vividly. She hadn’t had the large lecture hall but a room that seated about fifty people, of which maybe thirty were present to hear her speak. With a symposium the size of the conference, there were many presenters to hear from, and apparently, molecular genetics wasn’t a big draw for conferencegoers.

Dr. Charles Santos was a visiting professor from Yale who had attended the conference. His work was well known for his theories and for his attitude and blatant opinion of women in science. He had tried to out speak her during her own lecture where she had to pause and put the man in his place.

There was one thing that Kimora didn’t go for, and that was someone thinking they were better than her. After she’d kindly taken care of Dr. Santos, he’d stormed out of her lecture with his beet-red face and an attitude. She was sure he wasn’t used to people speaking up for themselves.

And Kimora did and would.

Well, since this was the Kane Livingston, then it would look as if Kimora would get her wish. She would get his ear and be able to find out why he’d been blocking her research. Before she chickened out and changed her mind, she sent him her cell phone number.

“What have I done?” She set her phone back down on the island and stared at it as if it had grown legs. She chewed on her lip and contemplated texting Laura. She would get a kick out of hearing that it was truly Kane. A few seconds later, the musical notes of her ringer played. She snatched it up and slid her finger across the screen and answered. “Hello?”

She winced, hoping she didn’t sound too desperate answering. She took a deep breath and exhaled slowly.

“So it is you.” A deep chuckle greeted her.

A small smile played on Kimora’s lips. Apparently, Kane had been having doubts that the person on this side of the profile was really her.

Great minds think alike.

“Yes, it’s me. What are you doing on this app?” she blurted out. She spun around and leaned back against the counter. What was a man like him doing on a dating app? How could he not find women to date? Every female with a pulse around the hospital would probably give their left boob to go on a date with him. Young, old, married, or single. It didn’t matter. Dr. Livingston turned heads when he walked down the halls of the hospital.

“Funny story.” Kane laughed again.

Kimora wondered what he was doing at the moment. Was he at the hospital? If anyone worked liked crazy, it was this man. She’d seen his schedule, and his patient waitlist was almost out a year, and his surgery schedule was booked out as well. When did he have time to fill out a profile?

“It would appear my younger sister feels I don’t get out much away from work, and she put me on this damn thing.”

He had a younger sister? Kimora felt herself soften at the idea that his kid sister was behind him having a profile on a dating app.

“Can’t get a date on your own?” she joked. She couldn’t help it. When she got nervous, her snarky sense of humor always showed itself.

“Ouch.” He barked another laugh. “I didn’t think I had issues, but according to Lizzie, the women I was dating weren’t good enough.”

Kimora already found herself liking Lizzie. There was nothing like a sibling looking out for the other one. It showed his sister truly cared for him if she didn’t like any of the women he had been dating.

“What about you? How is a beautiful woman like you on here? Don’t tell me you don’t have men beating down your door to take you out.”

Kimora sighed. If only that were true, but she had chosen her career and she was happy with that. At least she had thought she was.

“Well, according to my friend, I work too much and don’t get out enough. She put me on here and instructed me to at least go on one date.”

“What are you doing tonight?” he asked.

Kimora froze and looked down at her clothing. She had on leggings, a t-shirt, and sandals. Definitely not appropriate for a first date. Today was going to be for her. If Laura had asked her to go grab a bite to eat, her attire would be fine.

“Umm…” she hesitated.

“The answer is yes,” Kane murmured.

His voice deepened, and it resonated with Kimora. She inhaled sharply and felt the pit of her stomach quiver.

“What do you have in mind?” She wasn’t going to answer quite yet. She chewed on her lip, trying to decide if she could do this. Could she go on a date with a physician from her job? Technically they worked together. Different departments, but she needed his patients to be entered into her study. And if going out with him gave her his ear, then she should do it.

“I was thinking of that new steak place that opened up down in the Flats. I hear they have a great wine bar and have live music.”

Kimora had heard of the place. The Cleveland Steak Company. It was located down on the water in Downtown Cleveland. It was also said to be quite expensive, but the reviews were outstanding. The opening had been all over the news and television channels. She had even seen some content creators on social media post about the restaurant. She had been wanting to get a reservation, but there was a waiting list already.

“Say yes, Kimora.”

“They have a waiting list. I doubt we can just go and show up.” Kimora was stalling. She knew it, and by the deep chuckle echoing in her ear, Kane knew it.

“How about you let me worry about that. Shall I pick you up in two hours?”

Kimora glanced down at her watch and pushed off the counter. Her heart skipped a beat. Two hours. She could be ready by then. Going out with him would allow her to change his mind and put his patients back in her study.

She would do this for science.

Not the fact that he was one sexy-as-hell surgeon.

Not the fact that the sound of his voice was sending waves of desire through her.

And not even the fantasy of where the date could possibly go.

She would do this for the good of the patients who relied on her to probe her theory.

“I’ll text you my address,” she replied.