Page 13 of Already At Risk
Something hot turned in my stomach, and I internally chastised myself. I wasnotgoing to be jealous that he was on a date with another woman when one, he was mylawyer, and two,I’dbeen the one to rejecthim. That would be so very unreasonable of me.
“And then when my friend filed for the patent…”
I flicked my attention back to Josh, trying not to focus too hard on how poorly he’d arranged his tie. It might have been endearing if he had kids and his four-year-old had tied it, but as far as I knew, he was childless.
He kept talking. For so,solong. I’d finished my meal, and he’d still only taken a few bites of his, simply because he didn’t seem to want to pause his boring story long enough to put food in his mouth.
I tried, more than he was probably worth, to stay engaged with what he was saying and not focus on the heat that kept warming the side of my face, coming from where Cameron sat. It felt like his eyes were on me, but that would be ridiculous, right? For him tokeeplooking at me when he had his own date right there in front of him.
Picking up my gin and tonic, I took a long sip, hoping that maybe I’d find an escape from this situation at the bottom of it.
“Dr. London, it’s so nice to see you.”
I looked up in surprise to find that Cameron was standing beside our table. Right there. Next to me.
What was hedoing?
I thought during our mutual once-over we’d also mutually, silently, decided not to acknowledge one another.
“You’re a doctor?” Josh said from across the table, coming to an abrupt halt in his story.
Thank God.
Cameron’s gaze turned sharp as he looked toward my date. His brows pulled together as if he couldn’t quite understand what was wrong with this man.
“Yes,” I said with the kind of patience I usually used on my daughter. “That’s why I said I worked in the emergency department at Suffolk County Medical Center.”
“I mean, yeah,” Josh said with a shrug. “I just didn’t know that meant you were a doctor. I assumed you were like a?—”
“Do yourself a favor anddon’tfinish that sentence,” Cameron cut in.
“I’m a trauma surgeon,” I said kindly. Too kindly, I think. I watched Josh’s eyes grow wide before I turned to Cameron. “It’s nice to see you, too, Mr. Bryant.” And because I didn’t know what to say after that, I decided introductions were the best course of action. “Josh, this is my lawyer.”
For some inexplicable reason, Cameron’s jaw, which was covered with a light scruff I had the strange urge to run my fingers over, ticked.
This was goinggreat.
So great that I could not have been happier to see the waitress approach our table, giving us all a distraction that we needed.
“Are we ready for the check?” she asked.
I nodded. “Yes, please.”
“Will that all be on one?”
“Two, please.” Josh held up two fingers. “But I’m happy to take the appetizer.”
The waitress could not have walked away faster.
Damn, I needed her.
“Ah, I thought this was a date,” Cameron said, his voice like a caress. I hated that it made me feel things, that all he had to dowas speak a few words to send my pulse haywire, when after listening to Josh for what felt like hours, I still feltnothing. “Since it’s not, I’d love to steal Natalie away after dinner. I have a few things I’d like to discuss.”
Josh choked on air.
Finally, some speechlessness.
“Sure,” I said breathlessly, not really knowing what else to say. I tried not to feel satisfaction that Cameron had put Josh in his place so effectively, but it was impossible. And while I’d been kind to Josh, I didn’t feel kind enough to stick up for him. Because while ithadbeen a date, it had been averybad one.
