Page 49 of Doc Showmance
He radiated this energy, a kind of physical command in his strong body that was magnetic. He had some sort of power over me that I resented, but also needed to stop trying to ignore. It was visceral, for sure. He tempted me in an almost effortless way that I didn’t think he tried for.
His tech tugged at his arm to draw his attention away from me. I took the opportunity to move as if released from a trance.
The timeclock ticked. We had to establish our date before I left in an hour.
What I couldn’t figure out was if what he spewed earlier was real or a show for the camera. Kind of felt real right up until the camera guy said he’d done a masterful delivery. Did someone write those lines for him?
I inhaled a deep breath and moved in the direction he disappeared, growing more confident with each step. Finally, I found him in the radiology room. Alone. He glanced away from what looked like a hedgehog radiograph on the computer monitor, with all its little spikes. His hands were in his pockets in an almost indolent posture, but his eyes met mine, questioning.
“Where’s your camera guy?” I asked, swiveling around.
“Bathroom break.”
“Can we talk somewhere in private?”
He nodded. “How about out back?”
He led across the treatment room, out the back door, and into the fenced-in pet walking area, which at this time of the night was dark and desolate. The chill in the air had me hugging myself, even though it was only in the upper sixties outside. In Southern California temperatures this low drove us to wear sweaters and pull out fluffy blankets. The breeze blew around the smell of dog pee.
Real romantic spot.
He waved me over to the solitary bench and sat.
“Talk to me, Amber.”
I blinked against the sudden bleariness of my gaze.I’m afraid.
I wanted to tell him I could face down incompetent doctors to save a patient’s life or owners bullying the staff, but the thought of trusting him scared me. The concept of admitting to myself I had feelings for him frightened me. Somehow, even though this would be a fake date, it felt real.
“I don’t have a boyfriend. I’m not seeing anyone,” I started. Saying it out loud was me serving up my trust.
Ian’s brows lifted with a happy grin. Not his fake smile but a real one. “I know.”
“You don’t have to sound so smug about it.”
“I’m not.” His smile fell as he gazed at the lights of neighboring businesses glittering through the sparse shrubbery that blocked off the view into the gated walking area. So soft I almost didn’t hear it, he said, “This sucks.”
I knew what he meant. I knew they’d try to pick up our conversation on the outdoor cameras. I said, “So, we have to do a date. Can we do it tonight or does it have to be some sort of insane production with me dressing up, you in a suit, and there are flowers?”
“We can avoid fanfare if we do it tonight.”
I dropped my chin. “The whole point of this date is for you to ask me to your parents’ place.”
“This doesn’t have to be awful or weird. I say we do it our way. That means we wear the scrubs we have on and grab burgers and donuts. Or maybe just donuts, if you’re not hungry.”
“I’m always hungry.”
“Us dressing up and going to some hoity toity restaurant will make both of us freak out more than we are already.”
“Do you think I’m not worthy of that, though? A fancy restaurant?” I didn’t know why I prodded him or even why I asked.
“That’s not what I said at all. Do you prefer an expensive eatery with some fan in our face every few seconds? They’ll want pictures, and then it’ll be all over social media that theyfoundus on a date.”
“No. I want to do takeout. We’ll eat, get the big ask to your parents out of the way, and be done. I’m tired. I’m hungry. I want to eat somewhere fans of the show won’t assault us.” I shot him a pained look. “I can’t even go down the street to the taco place for lunch pickup anymore.”
“How about we do drive-through to get food and then take it down to the beach? You know anywhere we could sit and not be found?”
“Not really, but we can try. Maybe Pacific Beach?” I sighed. “You know Martin the camera guy is going to be our third wheel on this thing?”
