Page 56 of Doc Showmance
I felt myself puff up.
“Settle down, porcupine. You’re adorable. And—Oh my freaking God. That tattoo on your back is incredible. It’s as if my dress was made to show off the ink. The way the artist has it weaving down your spine is exquisite.” She leaned toward my back. “Amazing work. That’s an Asian dragon, isn’t it?” She scooted around to my arm. “This is gorgeous, too. I’ve got a bit of ink, but nothing like this. I need the name of your artist.”
“He’s in San Diego.”
“Girl, I’d fly to Timbuktu to get work like that.”
“I’m thinking these are the kind of people who can’t handle me showing off ink. Do you have something a little less revealing?”
“There’s going to be attitude toward you no matter what you wear with your red-streaked hair, nose ring, and tattoos. There’d be attitude simply because his parents didn’t approve of you before you showed up. So, forget about them. You need to fly the badass flag you wear on TV to handle these people. Don’t take their shit or their attitude. You be the girl who saves lives with your hands and beats down assholes. And has a sexy Latino brother.” Her cheeks flushed. “He’s something. They don’t show his full face, but that voice…”
I laughed. “Bruno? He’d romance you right into bed if you let him.”
“Oh, I’d let him, hon. I would.”
“Maybe you should come visit me and get some ink. I could introduce you. You’re his type, you know.”
“I think I might. You know what I like best about watching you on TV?” She didn’t wait for me to answer. “I know you’re going to give Ian hell. You’re not all gushy about him like every other woman in his path the second he smiles. You’ll make him work for it. Maybe already have, but don’t tell me. I want to see it on TV. That boy has had it too easy when it comes to women his whole life. He’s got a face that looks good on magazine covers. He deserves someone who doesn’t strip the second he throws her a grin.” She’d placed a few pins in the bottom within seconds. “Get out of this so I can hem it. It’ll take me a few minutes. Move. Move. Move.”
She threw a silk robe at me on my way to the bathroom. “Grab one of the bags in there to throw your things in.” Minutes later, I stood in the bathrobe while she hemmed. Nabi talked around a mouthful of pins, “What are you doing about your hair?”
It was up in a ponytail. “I can put it down, I guess.”
“And hide that ink? I think not. All right, I can do hair, too. Ian owes me big time, but I’ll tell you what, if you mention Nabi made your dress on TV, we’ll call it even.”
In the ten minutes between getting the dress back on and Nabi doing an updo, I got a whirlwind of information. I liked Nabi. She seemed a genuine friend to Ian.
When I emerged back to the front room, Ian blinked at me. No comments. Just flipping stared.
“Is it okay? Acceptable for this thing?” I did a slow twirl.
Just like Nabi, he walked to look at the back of it. “That’s really something.”
Nabi leaned against him. “So, you and her haven’t, you know, yet?” Her gaze darted to the camera. “Seems a bit premature to be bringing her home to the ’rents.”
Ian’s cheeks flushed. “It’s none of your business.”
Nabi said, “My dress fits like I made it for her to show that ink off, right? I’m genius. You can say it.”
“You’re talented.”
Nabi elbowed him. “Tell her she looks beautiful. I think she’s about to lose her shit with a nervous meltdown in that getup. The heels alone are waaaayy out of her comfort zone. Then you can tell me I’m genius again.”
His eyes dropped to the several inch strappy heels Nabi said were hers since no model would fit an eight.
He took my hand. “You look good.”
Nabi hit him in the shoulder again. “Come on, lover boy, you can do so much better than that. She’s freaking miraculous, and all you can say isyou look good.Man, you suck.” She flicked him on the side of the head.
“Ow.” He ducked away, massaging his head.
I laughed.
Nabi marched toward the kitchen. She yelled out, “He doesn’t deserve you yet, Amber.”
He grabbed my hand. “You’re too beautiful for them. I don’t want them to destroy you.” The intensity in his eyes stole my breath.
“I’ve never had a dress like this. I’m also not used to walking in heels. Guaranteed I’m going to fall on my face.”
