"We've got three patients about to breach and you're choosing your dog's spring wardrobe?!"
Zoe walked away exasperated at her colleague's obsession with his pet dog and he heard her sigh loudly as she strutted across to a waiting patient.
"You two are like an old married couple the way you bicker." Linda joked, making Dylan look over towards Zoe, his eyes lingering on her longer than was necessary. He had obviously noticed how beautiful she was and, like every man in the department, he'd caught himself gazing at her curves, but he never thought it was more than that. Even when he lay in bed at night and his mind wandered and he thought of her he didn't put it down to being any different to any other attractive woman who he thought of from time to time. Despite that today she was getting under his skin. He caught her looking back at him a couple of times and it only made him wonder if she thought about him.
"Dylan, have you discharged Mrs Thomas in cubicle 4 yet?" Zoe was on the warpath again for the 3rd time that day.
"Just on my way now Dr Hanna."
"Thank you." There was no gratitude in her voice. Dylan was one of the best doctors she had in the department but he certainly knew how to push her buttons.
"Dr Hanna, Mrs Thomas is successfully discharged and she has promised a 5* review on tripadvisor." He smirked and even Zoe had to crack a smile.
"Zoe…" He stuttered, slightly unsure of what was going to come out of his mouth next. "Can I buy you a drink tonight? … To say sorry for today?"
"Well I never, Dylan going to the pub after work?! I suppose I should feel honoured. I'll be there so you can buy me a drink."
He opened the pub door, hearing the laughter of his colleagues struck fear into his heart. Social situations were never his forte. Thankfully he spotted Zoe standing by the bar on her own.
"I'll get that" he gestured to the large red wine in the barman's hand, "and an orange juice" he added.
"You made it then?!" Zoe flashed him a big smile and gestured to an empty table.
The conversation didn't exactly flow but they managed some small talk about patients and the department. Dylan normally made her laugh but he just didn't seem himself. It soon became clear why.
"Are you ok Dylan?" Zoe asked as once again Dylan seemed to have disappeared into his own thoughts.
"Urrrr, yes, I'm just not very good at this."
"Good at what? Human interaction?" He knew she was just teasing but he couldn't help to feel self conscious all of a sudden.
"Dates….." He mumbled.
"Dates? You thought we were on a date?" Zoe chuckled to herself until she noticed the hurt expression on her face. "Wait, you wanted this to be a date?" Suddenly Zoe was the self conscious one.
"Don't be silly." He looked down at his feet and made an effort to gather his things to leave.
"Dylan, wait." She reached out and put her hand on his. She moved towards him and their lips slowly made contact. He gently kissed her back, feeling her smiling against his lips.
"What? What are you smiling at?" He asked coyly.
"You may not be good at dates but you're very good at that. Let's make a move before the others notice." They'd been totally oblivious to the fact that half the department was sitting a couple of tables away from them. "Come back to mine." She got up to lead the way, glad to be seeing her colleague in another light.