Doctor January by Rhoda Baxter

going to let him leave his arm exactly where it was. She was going to spend the evening feeling the warmth from his lean body. Sitting too close for friendship. She had no intention of being another notch on his bedpost, but it was nice to have someone flirt with her. At the end of the night, she was sure this brief flirtation would end and things would go back to the way they had been. Until then, she may as well enjoy it. ‘Yes,’ she said. ‘Very.’
    Hibs smiled and little creases appeared by his eyes. She’d noticed them before, but now she realised they made his eyes more gentle.
    â€˜Excellent,’ he said.
    Beth grinned back.
    Someone said something and Hibs’s attention was taken away from her. It was as though a lighthouse beam had swept past and plunged her back into darkness. Behind her back, Hibs’s thumb slowly drew circles on her back. She looked across at him and he gave her a glance full of humour before he turned back to his conversation. Hibs was playing with her. So this was how he pulled in all those girls. He made them feel like they were special. The only ones in on a private joke between them. Beth smiled and turned to talk to Vik. She’d never been party to his secret before – she realised she liked it. His thumb traced another lazy circle on her back. Oh yes. She definitely liked it.
    Hibs drew another circle on Beth’s spine. He couldn’t look at her now. If he did, his resolve might break and he would have to kiss her right there in front of everyone and Beth wouldn’t thank him for that. He could tell she thought his flirting with her was just a joke.
    The kid next to him was still talking about the tournament and Hibs nodded on autopilot, not really listening. Dear god, how had it come to this? He was touching up his friend. How sad was that?
    She laughed at something Vik said and her head touched his shoulder. Well, she wasn’t objecting. Maybe he was reading this situation all wrong. Maybe she was interested. Certainly, she’d stopped going on about Gordon. Maybe she was finally ready for someone else. He stole a glance at her. Maybe. He could ask her out. His heart rate increased. He frowned, nervous. Nervous about asking a girl out? That hadn’t happen in years. Come to think of it, he hadn’t asked a girl out in years. They usually just came to him. His gaze flicked across to Anna, who had been looking at him all evening. Just like that.
    Beth’s lab timer, which had been set on the table amongst the glasses, went off. She jumped. ‘I’d better go,’ she said, giving Hibs an apologetic glance. People started to move to let her out. Bugger. That bloody timer had ruined the atmosphere. It had all been going so well up to then. He had to regain that feeling of intimacy somehow. If he let her disappear now, he might never get another chance like that.
    â€˜Will you be okay going back by yourself? Do you want me to walk with you?’ Hibs said. He needed to talk to her. He couldn’t treat her like any other girl. This was Beth.
    â€˜It’s okay, I’ve got my b—’ Beth started to say, but she stopped. ‘Actually, that would be good. I’m not sure I have bike lights.’
    â€˜Right. Give me a minute to nip to the loo and I’ll be right with you.’
    Beth nodded as they both left the table. She seemed a little flushed, Hibs thought. It made her look like she was glowing. ‘I won’t be a minute,’ he said and dashed off.
    â€˜I can’t believe you brought your lab timer to the pub,’ Anna said.
    â€˜It’s my turn to do the night shift.’ Beth pulled on her coat and her bike lights clinked in her pocket. She hoped Hibs didn’t notice them when he walked her to the lab. She could have got back quicker on her bike, but she didn’t want to leave Hibs right now. Not when things were starting to get interesting.
    Her back tingled where his