Romancing Dr. Bailey

Thinking Out Loud

"Baby, please, hurry up!" Ben called to Miranda who was just finishing up her makeup.

"Can't rush this," she answered moving her lips together. She looked into the mirror over the bathroom sink, satisfied.

"I'm not rushing you, I'm just begging you to come on," he laughed.

"I'm coming. I'm coming." Miranda came out of the bathroom. "I just have to put my shoes on."

"Shoes?! You're not even in your dress yet, Miranda."

"Eh, minor detail." Ben shook his head as Miranda stepped into the teal dress that she'd brought with her. "Help me." He came over and touched the small of her back as he zipped the dress up. "Thank you."

"Here are your shoes," he said handing her a pair of navy blue 4 ½ inch Louboutins that she received as a gift from Tucker a few years ago. They were her favorite pair.

"These are not just shoes," she told him raising an eyebrow. He held up both hands and Miranda finally got a good look at him. He was in a pair of dark blue dress pants and a white shirt that was unbuttoned at the top.

"I know."

"You look so handsome," she said standing in front of him. She brushed off his shoulders.

"And you look fine as hell," he told her. He kissed her neck.

"No, no, no," she laughed. "They'll be plenty of time for that."

Ben's lips found one of her shoulders. "When?" He begged.

"After." He kissed her other shoulder.

"After when?"

"After we come from dinner where you'll shcmooze and booze with your colleagues."

He turned her around and smiled. "And then?"

"Then we'll come back here and do our own kind of schmoozing." Ben kissed her lips softly. "And I am ready to go."

In the car, Miranda caught Ben staring at her legs again. She intentionally raised her dress up a little to reveal more. He chuckled. "Being funny?"

"Maybe."

They walked into the conference room turned dinner party and looked around for the table that they were supposed to sit at. There were already four other people at the table, two women and two men. Miranda could practically hear Ben exhale. "I know one of them."

"Oh, that's good."

He guided her to the table and they introduced themselves. Three of the table guests were starting their residency much like Ben; the last man was married to the one of the women. Ben pulled out Miranda's chair and she sat down next to the other non-resident. Ben sat next to the guy that he knew and immediately started talking and laughing like old friends. A small part of her wanted to leave. This party wasn't for her. She'd been there before, an eager resident, so caught up with trying to fit in that she ignored her date. It'd happened with Tucker. They'd gone to one of these together and she didn't even pay attention when he'd gotten up from the table one time and never returned. She smiled to herself. She would have felt bad except Tucker had been such a jerk that night. Ben turned to her. "So, y'all, my lady, Miranda here, is a senior Attending and the Head of General. She's also on track to be Chief of Surgery one day." His smile was so huge; she furrowed her eyebrows for a second. Somehow Ben's smiled widened. Everyone oohed and aahed, filling the table with laughter.

"What are you doing?"

He picked up her hand and locked his fingers between hers. "I'm just bragging," he said under his breath. She laughed. The waiter came by and took their orders. Miranda ordered white wine and was somewhat surprised that Ben was still holding onto her hand. She stroked his knuckles and he squeezed her hand. He would notice if she decided to leave. Ben went back to the ongoing discussion about the previous day. Miranda looked over at the other guy who was also absent from the conversations. He was a white man with long-hair and impeccably trimmed facial hair.