Page 28 of Doc Showmance
Ithrew the surgical gloves in the trash and stretched my neck. The day started out with a bloat surgery that had been admitted overnight, followed by a femoral fracture repair. Surgery proved a perfect place to hide from Mr. Sexypants and the camera drama. Even Martin in his corner spot was yawning by the time I finished.
The ride back to my car last night had been uneventful, but my mind churned everything that had happened over and over. Revelation number one: Ian thought I looked cute and that my curves worked. That opened a whole can of worms, starting with a gush of emotions equivalent to being a high schooler with a new crush.
Last night, those gray eyes had been honed in on me, making me incredibly self-conscious. I wondered if I should slap on more makeup today than normal. Usually, I went with a little mascara and eyeliner.
I needed to rise above this type of minutia. I was a good vet and a decent person. I repeated that to myself and held my head a little higher.
“Dr. Todd wants to consult you on a case,” Susan said. “He’s over on the other side.”
I watched Susan closely. She seemed to have no clue about our planned showmance.
The clinic was shaped like a horseshoe, with surgery rooms and treatment banks in the center. On either side were exam rooms. The thought was to keep exotics and cats on one side and dogs on the other.
I texted Bruno on my walk.
Amber:Can you pick me up lunch on your way to your classes today?
Bruno:Already on it. Be there in ten minutes.
Amber:Thanks.
When I had a high surgical load right off the bat in the morning, I’d ask Bruno to bring lunch. Surgery takes it out of me to the point whatever homemade sandwich I brought won’t cut it.
As I walked to the other side of the clinic Martin leaned in, camera off. “Producer lady says it’s time for you two to have on-camera time today.”
“So thisconsultisn’t real?”
He shrugged.
“Does she want me to flirt or something?”
“She wants you two talking.”
I rolled my eyes.
“Hey, Amber,” Dr. Cathy Carmac, my surgery mentor, called out from the radiology room. “Can you look at these films?”
“Sure.” I deviated into the small dark space where radiographs of some small mammal were on the screen, thankful for the delay. “Didn’t know you did exotics, Dr. Carmac.”
“Good job on the fracture repair today. You’ve come such a long way as a surgeon.”
“I learned from the best.”
“You sure did.” She smiled proudly and waved at the digital images. “This two-year-old rabbit broke her femur.” She pointed to the shattered bone. “I think an external fixator might work.”
I nodded, unsure why I was needed in here. Also, I wasn’t sure why I was nodding like a bobblehead figurine. I didn’t know jack shit about rabbits. If Dr. Carmac had any rabbit surgery experience, then she knew way more than me. “You seeing exotics now?”
“It’s Dr. Todd’s case. Have you met him yet? The new guy?” She had a strange, almost impish glow on her face. When I didn’t jump to reply she said, “He’s…” She fanned her face. “I think he’s been on TV before. Sure looks like an actor. Nice kid. Also, he’s about your age, you know. No ring on his finger.” She held up her ring finger to tap her own wedding band and wiggled it. “So, he’s not taken.”
“Lack of a ring doesn’t necessarily mean he’s a free agent.”
“A smart woman like you would get a ring on that finger.”
“Are you trying to fix me up?” I acted affronted. “My love life doesn’t need an intra-office romance.”
“If you haven’t met him… Let’s just say sometimes you have to make an exception. If Hugh Jackman walked in that door and asked me out, even Jordan said he’d give me a free pass.” Dr. Carmac adored her husband, Jordan, and their one-year-old son.
“Are you saying this guy is Hugh Jackman material?” I tried not to laugh but failed.
