Page 61 of Doc Showmance
“Will you do it?” the senator asked.
“Do what?”
“Ultrasound her and take out the spleen?”
“I can, if you want. But I’m down in San Diego. I assume you live up here or in D.C.”
“I can have her in San Diego tomorrow, if you’re there.”
“I’m sure there’s a great vet up here that I can help you find. Or you can ask for a referral from your vet to a specialist for evaluation. I can ask a few friends if they know someone who—”
“I want you to do it. Just tell me when and where to have her. Money’s not a problem.”
“You don’t know me.”
“Seth trusts you. That’s enough for me.”
“Let me call the clinic and check the schedule. I’m not back until Monday.” I glanced around, disoriented, patting my empty sides. Not like this dress had pockets. “Crap. My phone’s still packed. Can I borrow yours?” The senator handed me his phone. I called and spoke to the receptionist, getting Winnie on the schedule for Monday. “If you can have her there between eight and nine on Monday, I’ll get her worked in. I’ll do the ultrasound first and maybe chest radiographs to make sure she has no mets. That’s movement of tumor to other spots. We’d need to recheck her blood work to see if she needs a transfusion. If it looks good, we can do the surgery right then. She might need to stay a day. Do you want to talk about complications and risks or anything?”
“Nope. I trust you. How about you type in your contact information so I know where to go?”
“Why would you want me to do it or trust me? I’m a random person you met at a party who’s only here as arm candy.”
“Dr. Hardin, I’ll admit I might be addicted to your show on TV. In the last episode you totally kicked Kovac’s ass and saved that dog’s life. Besides, I’m arm candy, too. My wife’s the real reason we got invited. I just look good.”
I belted out a laugh that evolved into a full belly chortle before I slapped a hand over my mouth and glanced around, realizing I’d gotten way too much attention from the noise.
Senator Daymond said, “I did wonder if that look between you and Dr. Todd in the episode was real, but the way he’s looking at you now, I’d say there’s something. Please tell me there are more episodes to fill in the gaps between the last episode and tonight.”
“Not you, too,” I muttered, laughing harder. “The whole world is obsessed with my love life.”
22
Ian
Istill hadn’t gotten a moment to corner my father about his surgery. Sure, we’d been corralled by the show to be here, too, but concern over Dad was the real reason I caved.
That belly laugh of Amber’s rolled through me straight to my stomach with a jolt of recognition. No one else had that infectious kind of laugh that made you want to look, and I couldn’t help but smile. I wanted to be the one to make her laugh like that. Not a senator and… Who the hell was the guy in the cowboy hat? He and Amber seemed chummy.
The way she stared up at him with the crinkle at the edges of her eyes inspired me to punch him.
My jaw hurt from clenching so hard as I marched over and pulled her into my side. When she didn’t resist, the release of tension almost made me laugh. I leaned in and whispered, “You doing okay?”
“Yep.” She took a huge sip of wine. “I found someone I know, scheduled a splenectomy for the senator’s dog, ran into the twins—who griped about service on a million-dollar cruise when they didn’t get their towels folded before lunch—and got threatened by your mom. It’s turned out to be an eventful evening. Should make some great TV.”
The cowboy hat guy held out his hand and drawled, “Seth Briscoe.”
“He’s the San Diego County sheriff,” Amber added.
“Sheriff Briscoe, good to meet you.” To her I asked, “How do you know him?” Images of her in jail after doing something outrageous in defense of a patient ran through my head. Could’ve even been a dog on the street mistreated by its owner or neglected. God only knew what she’d do.
“I didn’t get arrested.” She leaned away to stare into my face. Then whacked me in the arm. “Oh my God. That’s exactly what you were thinking.”
Seth chuckled and gave Amber a warm, familiar look. “That’s totally where his mind went.”
“Did you treat his pet or something?”
“We met through Joley,” she said.
