by Natalie Ann
“Do I get a scone first?” he asked sweetly.
“Always the smooth one. Of course you do.” She grabbed one and placed it on a plate and put it in front of him. “There you go. Now talk.”
“Maybe you should talk to her first.”
“Nope. She left like her rear end was on fire. You stayed, so you get questioned.”
He waited a second and debated on what he was going to say. “What’s her last name?”
“Oh no. Please don’t tell me you two had a one-night stand and didn’t even exchange last names?” Celeste said, narrowing her eyes at him.
Shit, talk about guilt creeping up his neck. This was worse than if he confessed it to his grandmother. “It wasn’t one night. And she knew my last name and that I worked for my best friend.”
“But she didn’t know the name of your firm?” Celeste asked.
“It never came up. Just like it never came up where either of us lived. And she gave me her last name, but I’m thinking it was a fake one.”
“I’ll ring her neck if she did. Why do you think that?”
“Because I’ve been searching for her for weeks and haven’t gotten a whisper of where she might be. And since I found your husband when no one else could, we know I’m good. I’m beginning to think she didn’t tell me her real name. I even wondered if Amber was her first name, but I talked to enough people at the convention who verified at least that much.”
“So after she left you—without saying goodbye—you tried to find her at the convention?”
“Yes,” he said, starting to squirm on the stool.
“Why is that?” Celeste asked. “If it was just a one-night stand.”
“Multi-night. And it wasn’t that for me.” Might as well be truthful at this point. He could use all the help he could get.
“And you’ve been searching for her for weeks and have come up empty. Yet you decided to come visit your best friend and ran into her by chance in my kitchen?”
“You just watched the same exchange I did, right? Or am I dreaming all of this? No, I can’t be. Caleb was here, and he’d never be in my dream.”
Celeste laughed. “No, you aren’t dreaming it.”
“So…”
“Well, I don’t feel right giving too much information at the moment. But since I’m a firm believer in fate and things of chance happening to us, I’m kind of softened to everything going on.” She stopped talking and opened a drawer, then put a brochure on the island in front of him.
“What’s this?” He looked down at the plastic surgeon pamphlet and started to open it up. Right there on the inside was a picture of Amber. Last name: Deacon. “Thank you.”
“Don’t thank me yet.”
“Why?”
“Because I’m going to tell you that you need to go get the girl, and I’m sure she may give you a run for your money. But never fight fate, Zach.”
Face the Music
If Amber could have avoided a trip back to the cottage to check on her patients at the end of the day she would have, but she couldn’t. It was her job and, despite what people thought of her personally, she took her job seriously.
Holding out hope, she parked in front of the cottage rather than around back between the main house and the cottage. Coincidentally, she avoided being in front of the cabin that Zach was staying in, too. She also went to the front door and knocked, her fingers crossed behind her back that one of the patients would answer the door.
Of course, luck wasn’t on her side, so she had to slip around back, punch in the code, and let herself in that way. If she glanced around like a spy on the lookout, no one knew but her.
Both of her patients were sitting at the kitchen island eating piping hot soup. It smelled delicious.
“Hi, ladies. You both look spectacular. How are you feeling?” she asked.
“Better now that I’m sampling the soup Max’s wife dropped off earlier. What a sweetheart,” Jill, a tummy tuck patient, answered, shifting slightly to a standing position. “The service I’ve gotten for this procedure has made it well worth the flight here.”
“We aim to please,” Amber said brightly. “Having trouble sitting right now?” she asked, concerned. Jill had her surgery two days before and was booked for a week before she flew home.
“Not really. I find that when I hunch over on the stools or in chairs eating, then it’s tight to straighten back up. If I stand to eat it’s easier. Plus, I eat less because I don’t want to stand,” she said, giggling a bit.
“I’ll check out your incision when you’re done just to make sure there’s no infection developing. How about you, Madison? How are those ta-tas doing?”
Madison had one breast larger than the other and hated how self-conscious she’d always felt. How she couldn’t find bras or bathing suits to fit. Out of all her options, she chose a reduction in the one breast, a lift in both, and a bit of fat grafting to even everything out. Not only was she getting new breasts out of the deal, she was also able to slim her belly down. Double plus in her eyes.
“They’re doing great. Jill and I were just talking about how we can’t wait for the swelling to go down to see our new abs.”
“It’s going to be a solid three to four months, maybe up to six months to see the final results. Just keep wearing the compression girdle. Either way, you will both be thrilled.” She took pride in her job and Max’s ability. “Matter of fact, you both might be so thrilled you’ll come back for a bit more work.”
She also happened to be Max’s best marketing tool.
“If I can talk my hubby into it, I’m getting my thighs done,” Madison said. “Maybe I’ll have some more fat put into my boobs. I bet my husband would love that.”
“Do you wish you’d gotten implants and went bigger?” Amber asked. She never wanted her patients to be dissatisfied with their choices. She’d spent a lot of time talking with Madison, explaining her options and what would look the most natural. Not everyone wanted to look like they had implants.
“No, no. I’m good with the size. But I know you said usually half of the fat from the grafting is absorbed back into the body, so I just thought…”
“You thought, why not get skinny legs to go with my perky new boobies?” Amber added, walking over and rubbing her hand lightly on Madison’s shoulder.
“Exactly!”
“Well, let’s get you through this surgery before you start hitting your hubby up for more. How about you, Jill?”
“How about me what? I’m good with this one surgery. I had to save for years for this as is.”
“Good for you. We want everyone happy.”
After Amber was done checking incisions and chatting with the ladies, she opened the back door by mistake rather than going out the front.
There was Zach, standing in the open doorway of the cabin, his arms crossed over his chest, his shoulder leaning against the frame, one ankle in front of the other. A challenging grin crossed his face as he was staring her down.
Run like last time, or face the music?
She wanted to be a coward and run, but regretted it last time. Besides, she had nowhere to go. He knew who she was and where to find her now.
Squaring her shoulders, she put her best foot forward and marched straight to him, stopping well within his personal space.
Put on a strong front, she told herself. Be the confident woman who had no problem going to his room that first night. Or the several wonderful nights that followed.
“Zach,” she said, looking up at his light eyes as they assessed her, his smile still on his face. Yeah, he was a happy guy. Happier than even her at times. Caleb was probably right: they were almost too much alike.
“Amber…Deacon,” he said, his eyebrows lifting just a touch.
She flushed. There was no stopping it. She’d never gone out of town and had a fling like she had with Zach. Maybe if she hadn’t been by herself in such a big and lively city, she wouldn’t have felt so alone that night.
But sh
e was there. She was alone. And memories of years ago were filling her mind and clouding her judgment. Still, she’d had enough wits about her to not give out any personal information.
It didn’t seem to matter though, because here he was, in her hometown, looking at her like they were meeting back up again for the night just like they did weeks ago.
***
Zach had been watching for Amber for the last hour. He knew she’d be back to check on her patients. He’d been able to wiggle that much information out of Celeste.
When Celeste failed to give him more than what he wanted, he looked up Max’s practice online and read all about their services and what they provided in this little cottage.
Since Amber had stopped on her way to work, he’d hoped she was on call all week, and as luck would have it, he was right.
So here she stood in front of him, her light brown eyes searching his. There was embarrassment hidden in them, but under it, something else. He hoped it was desire and maybe a touch more.
“Sorry about that,” she said. He assumed she was referring to her lie about her last name. “A girl alone in a big city can never be too careful.”
“Point taken,” he said, pushing away from the doorframe. “But after a few days, I figured we were more than strangers.”
“True.”
“Would you like to come in and talk?” he asked. Part of him didn’t want to ask, and just say “let’s talk” but the man who always got his way remembered what his grandmother said about bees and honey.
“I probably should,” she said, brushing by him. That slightest touch sent all those sparks right through him once again. Yeah, he didn’t dream any of it. They had a connection stronger than he’d ever had with another person.
On one hand, he was thrilled he didn’t imagine it and the time he spent trying to find her wasn’t a waste. On the other hand, he was unsure how to proceed. The last thing he wanted to do was make her run again.
Only this time, there wasn’t too far she could go.
Still, he was going to take Celeste’s advice and get the girl. Fate didn’t happen often and he wasn’t one to toss an opportunity out the window when it was presented to him so pleasantly.
He shut the door and gestured her to the couch, then sat in the chair across from her. As much as he wanted to sit next to her, he wouldn’t just yet. She wasn’t acting skittish, but he could see she was nervous.
“Why did you leave without a word?”
“You’re not pulling any punches, are you?” she asked, holding his stare. One of the things he liked about her.
“I think it’d be useless at this point.”
She nodded. “I don’t know why I left like that.”
“Yes, you do,” he told her.
“Would you believe me if I said I was scared?”
“Of me?” he asked, horrified.
“No,” she rushed out. “Not like that. I don’t think you’ve got a mean bone in your body.”
“You’ve touched and tasted pretty much every bone in my body, so you’d know.”
Rather than blush, she laughed. “I did.”
“And you’ve been remembering it, haven’t you?”
He’d know if she was lying, but she didn’t. “I have.”
“So what were you really afraid of?” he asked softly.
“What we had those few days…it was intense.”
“It was,” he agreed, happy to know she had felt the same as him, that he hadn’t imagined any of it.
“I guess I just panicked. It wasn’t like I planned on leaving like that. It sort of happened. I mean, we only had one more day left together anyway. Or one more night.”
“We did. But I would have liked to have gotten your number at the very least. Maybe said goodbye in a proper fashion. Not almost run out the door buck-ass naked searching the halls for you.”
“Did you do that?” she asked, her eyes lighting up like fireworks on the Fourth of July.
He hadn’t meant to admit that. “Maybe.”
She stood up and adjusted her purse on her shoulder, getting ready to leave. “I’m sorry, Zach. I never meant to do that. If I hurt you, that wasn’t my intention, either.”
“I think I was more confused than hurt.” That was about all he was willing to admit to her.
“Then I’m sorry I confused you,” she said, taking a step to walk past him.
He held his ground, which brought her right in front of him. Close enough to smell the floral of her hair.
“Stay with me tonight,” he whispered, his eyes searching hers, looking for any sign.
“I can’t.”
“But you want to,” he said, pushing her just enough.
She took a step to the side without answering, but he reached his hand out to slip it into her hair then pulled her forward. He wanted to grab and yank, but thought it wasn’t the time.
Instead, he lay his lips across hers, gently feeling his way again, wanting to know if it was still there. If the spark would kindle and start a fire.
Then there was an explosion of heat when she gripped his shirtfront and yanked him closer, kissing him like she never wanted it to end. Like she hadn’t walked out of his life without a word weeks ago.
He could stay there like that all night. He could be seeped in the scent, the feel, and the taste that was all Amber. But he didn’t. He stepped back. He had the answer he wanted for the moment.
“Have breakfast with me tomorrow,” he said.
She let out a shaky laugh. “I told you I can’t stay the night.”
“But you can stop in after you check on your patients tomorrow before work,” he said.
“I could,” she said, leaving the rest hanging between them in silence. He watched her walk by him, then stop at the door, turn and smile at him. “Goodbye, Zach.”
Only he knew he’d see her again this time.
Decision Time
Zach hopped up swiftly when he heard the knock at the door. Opening it wide, he watched as the uniformed staff rolled the tray into his room.
He pulled a bill out of his pocket and discreetly put it into the hand of the young man, shot him a grin and wink, then shut the door quickly.
A few minutes later, the water shut off in the bathroom and Amber walked out wearing nothing more than his T-shirt and a smile, her wet hair lying over her shoulder, soaking the cotton in places that had his mouth watering.
“Aren’t you just full of surprises,” she said when he lifted the domes off the tray.
Fresh strawberries and blueberries, along with big fluffy pancakes and a pot of coffee. Just what the doctor ordered.
“I figured we both worked up an appetite last night,” he said, walking forward and kissing her deeply. “I wanted to give us energy before we left for the day.”
“What happens if we burn this off?”
“I’ll order us more, so no worries there.”
“I thought I’d have to do the walk of shame on you this morning while you snored away in bed. I’m glad it didn’t work out that way.”
“I don’t snore,” he said, trying to look outraged.
“I wouldn’t know. I’m not sure either of us slept,” she said, letting out a quick giggle.
“Maybe tonight we can sleep some,” he added.
“Maybe,” she said coyly.
She walked past him and reached for a mug and the pot of coffee, then sat down at the little table by the window. His shirt—that was barely covering her as it was—rode up even higher. Now she was playing with him.
But she hadn’t been playing with him that morning, the first morning they’d spent together in Vegas, Zach remembered.
No, they ate breakfast. Everything. All but licking the plates clean they were so starved, and then just like she teased him, they worked that breakfast off and ended up getting more food before they went to the convention for the day.
So now he sat in the little cabin on the lake, waiting for Amber to come to breakfast. She’d be he
re, he knew. He was never wrong.
***
Amber had no intention of having breakfast with Zach the next morning.
Walking into the cabin to talk to him yesterday had been a mistake.
Yanking him forward and kissing him hard had been a huge mistake.
Having breakfast with him would be a disaster.
Yet she woke up an hour earlier than normal, spent extra time getting herself ready, and then wondered why she bothered when she was dressed in scrubs anyway.
When she got to the cottage to check on her patients, the lights were all off. Letting herself in, she noticed the silence and decided not to wake them.
Looking at the clock on the wall, she knew it was easily an hour before her shift started. She’d thought she’d killed enough time this morning, but guessed not.
She could just go into the office and finish up her notes.
Or she could go see if Zach really did have breakfast waiting for her.
Since she noticed the light on in the cabin, she knew he was up.
Go or stay.
Take a chance or stay locked in the time warp she’d holed herself up in the last several years, trying not to punish herself for past mistakes.
With more confidence than she was feeling, she forced her feet to move toward the cabin.
It didn’t take long before her knock was answered by Zach.
There he stood in jeans, a navy sweater, barefoot, with a huge grin spreading across his face.
“How’d you know I’d come?”
“Good guess,” he said.
She looked past him to the island where she noticed the same breakfast that was served to them their first morning together. Pancakes, coffee, and fresh fruit.
“You’ve got some tricks up your sleeve, I see.”
“I told you before I was full of surprises.”
“There is a lot more food here this time than the last time. Is there a reason for it?” she asked.
“No ulterior motive. Though I’d like to say we’d burn it off, but unfortunately it’s nothing more than Celeste spoiling me.”