Page 40 of Doc Showmance
Islid a pan of barbeque wings into the oven. Only a few minutes until people arrived to view the “special” edition of the show. Bruno had invited a friend, which for once I hoped didn’t mean a block party. He’d assured me it would only be one or two fellow law students. Historically, he was too magnanimous about invites and parties. Last Super Bowl he said he invited a neighbor but forgot to mention he posted an open invite on the neighborhood social page online.
Although I hadn’t heard from him, I assumed Ian would show. Yesterday, which was Friday, had been my day off. I kind of dreaded seeing him after our disastrous friendship discussion.
Distracting myself by preparing food and cleaning, which I’d been doing for hours, helped.
I’d tried to warn Joley I mentioned her in the episode and offered an apology, but she had no time to listen while making herself pretty. Guess whoever was coming over on her invitation might be future hookup potential. No judgment. Just fact.
The spread I put out on the kitchen counter looked like a professional caterer had been hired. I loved cooking and was decent at it. Plus, it distracted me from everything else. Like the fact everyone was about to see me lose my shit on TV.
Marino leaned across the counter and dragged a celery stick through the dip. Ranch dressing dripped across the vegetables. I flicked him on the ear.
“Oww.” He flinched away from me.
“Clean it up, please. I worked hard on this in case you hadn’t noticed.” I held out a handful of napkins. “Don’t wipe your fingers on the counter.”
The doorbell dinged.
Since no one else moved to answer it, I pointed between the napkin holder and Marino as I departed.
Wade stood at the door with two other guys. Based on their level of buffness and the shirts with firehouse insignias on the left lapel, they were coworkers. “Wade? What’re you doing here?”
“Hey, Doc Hardin. Joley invited us. Well, actually, I called her.” Wade waved a hand in a tentative hello motion and dropped it stiffly to his side. Color suffused his face. “That doesn’t mean she and I are getting back together or anything.”
Silence descended. This was that awkward moment when we had to bridge from the world of being his veterinarian to a life outside the hospital. Worse, I was pretty sure he’d already previewed tonight’s episode. Him knowing what had happened hung there in the air between us.
“You can call me Amber. We’re not in the office. Come in.” I waved them inside and got brief intros to the other two, whose names I promptly forgot. I sucked at names unless I was involved in something traumatic or memorable with the person.
Wade hovered in the open front doorway despite his friends going inside to talk to Joley and eat nibblies.
I asked, “How’s Mac?”
“He’s good. Got his appetite back.” He lowered his voice. “They showed me the episode or at least part of it about what went down between you and Dr. Kovac. They also interviewed me after I saw it.” He was quick to add. “I only said good stuff. Don’t worry. What you did…” He jumped forward and hugged me.
Over his shoulder, I caught Ian’s gaze as he walked up the driveway.
I waved from behind Wade’s back when Wade didn’t let go.
Ian’s eyes narrowed, and a cloud darkened his face. Without an ounce of hesitation, Ian leaned in, towering over Wade by a few inches, and said, “Hey, I’m Ian. You’re the one who owns Mac, right?”
Wade jumped, but at least he released me. He frowned. “You work at the clinic?”
“I’m the new doctor there.” Ian threw out his radiant smile.
The magnetic grin caught me off guard. I blinked at him. That smile was like staring into the sun. I didn’t want to look, but I couldn’t look away. I felt blinded.
Wade took a step backward as if even he wasn’t immune to the radiance of the smile.
Ian pulled me into his side. “Thanks for inviting me over, Amber.”
I didn’t do the inviting.
I gazed up, still trapped in his smile and how incredible he smelled. I had to find out what aftershave he used because it made my knees weak. Somehow, I yanked my brain out of the mush zone to focus on Ian’s eyes, which remained hard. He wasn’t as happy as his dazzling grin. Far from it. To guess, I’d say he was plotting Wade’s demise.
Was he jealous? Of Wade? Over a fake showmance?
Didn’t that just set up a host of butterflies in my belly? I’m not one who aims to instigate a fight between two men. Never been in that situation. Sure didn’t need the drama. But I had to admit, it felt flattering to have a smidge of jealousy incited by me.
Oh my God. No.
