Page 71 of Doc Showmance
I hated this. Couldn’t wait to put a door between myself and the camera. “You do remember this is fake, right? That all of this is inflated baloney for TV?”
“Getting a room at the hotel? That’s pretty hot stuff.” Martin had the camera on his shoulder.
Amber’s face looked pinched.
“Come on, Amber. We’ll probably see Martin again when he colludes with my parents. For now, Martin, I’ve got one hell of a hangover and just want to sleep until next Christmas.” I wheeled both mine and Amber’s suitcase toward the elevator after we checked in.
“Bye-bye,” I waved at Martin as the doors shut. “Thank you, Jesus. He’s gone.”
“Yeah, it’s a miracle.” She didn’t sound sarcastic, but also quieter than normal.
I had to use the key to get the elevator to move to the floor where the room was located. At least Martin couldn’t barge in for a surprise visit.
“Wow,” Amber said as she exited the elevator and I keyed us into the modest room that had one double bed. “This place is into the simplistic Scandinavian look. It’s so…white. Kind of makes me uncomfortable.”
“I’m going to have a water. You want anything?” I moseyed to the mini refrigerator and pulled out a chilled water.
“That probably costs over ten dollars,” she eyed the bottle.
“Probably does.” I twisted off the top and toasted it her way. “I don’t care. I’m sending the bill to the show.”
“So, last night… Do we chalk up yesterday as us getting drunk and weirdness?”
“Sure.” I pulled her into me and set down the water bottle. One hand slid into her hair to guide her face up to meet mine. I almost kissed her but didn’t want to push whatever this was. Not yet. “I’m not drunk now. Feels pretty real, doesn’t it?”
“What is this?”
“I’m not sure yet, but I recognized something between us even back in vet school. Call it chemistry or hotness or whatever you want. Now that we found our way back to each other, we’re locked into a game of insincerity that won’t give us a chance.”
She threw her head back, holding my stare. “I’m not sure what’s going on, either, but I’m intrigued by this new version of you. Seeing your family helps me understand you more. I see why you ran from your life here, but I don’t know how that family made a person like you.”
I let out a harsh laugh. “I wonder that sometimes, too.”
“They did make you. I can see it in your ambition and determination, which are the same as I saw in your mother last night. You learned beyond what they taught you, though. Somehow you found compassion.”
I thought I’d wanted her back in veterinary school, but it was only a spark compared to the inferno I now tried to contain.
“You also developed that fake smile that drives me nuts.” She glared.
“Other people like it.”
“Looks good on TV. I’ll give you that. It also makes you hard to read, which is the intention, isn’t it?”
“Nothing fools you.”
“I’m good at watching people and figuring out their nuances.” When she met my gaze, the sincere interest in her gaze, interest inme, stole my breath.
I moved my hand up her body to touch her chin.
“Stop teasing me, Ian.”
“I don’t tease. Not you Amber. There’s always been something about you that makes me barely able to control myself when I’m around you. In the past when I couldn’t touch, I lashed out in frustration.” I swallowed as I forced myself not to pull her into me. “I’ve never met anyone else who looked beyond my exterior and got what’s inside. You’ve always been able to see me when no one else could.” I dropped my hand and shook my head. “I’m not sure you comprehend the magnitude of that.” I didn’t want to walk away from her like our lives dictated must happen. I didn’t want to lose someone who felt like she was a part of my soul. That scared the hell out of me.
“We need to be strong, Ian.” Her shoulders dropped. “All of this is fake, and it’s on TV. I want you to know I value our tentative friendship.”
“Jesus,” I groaned as I let her go. I kicked off my shoes. “Friendship? You feel nothing more?”
“I’m not sure. Last night had to be a fluke. Right?”
