“Fancy,” I said. “I do love some champagne. But what’s the special occasion?”
He sat back in his chair and looked at me solemnly. “You. You are the special occasion.”
I felt my cheeks redden. And it was real excitement. Suddenly, I didn’t feel like I was pretending so much anymore. “I’m flattered.”
“So, I have a confession,” he said, resting his elbows on the table and his chin on his hands.
“And what might that be?”
“I may have gone onto your company website from time to time to catch up on what work you were doing. I may have also watched the ads you shot, and I have to tell you that the one you did for that men’s fragrance—”
I laughed. “The one with the unpronounceable French name.”
“That one. You sold me.” He stuck his wrist out and looked down at it.
“You did not!” I leaned down and smelled it. “Oh my God, you did.”
“You got me! I was sold in seconds.”
I laughed again. Hang on, had he always been this funny, and playful? Or perhaps this was a new development, along with his new state of mind.
“That shot when the bottle of perfume fell out of the air and into the water in black and white slow motion, those droplets flying out, you almost had me there. But you seriously got me when that shirtless guy was standing in the rain with the lightning behind him and then fell to the ground and crawled like a panther over the marble floor.”
I laughed again and put my face in my hands. “I want to state for the record that I have no control over what those creative directors come up with. I only try and make it look good.”
“You made it look good. Very good.”
“Thank you, that’s nice to hear. And how was Malawi?”
He shook his head and his smile was gone. “If you could see what terrible conditions those doctors are having to operate under. Sometimes with no electricity and barely any medication. Their dedication is astounding. They’re saving lives with so few resources.”
“It’s awful. I must confess, I also did some research on you before I came. I didn’t realize it was actuallyyourcharity foundation—that’s amazing. I saw some of the photos on your website . . . I’m sure they’re very glad to have someone like you helping them.”
“We did manage to get a lot of supplies to them, but it really made me realize how lucky I am to practice medicine where I do.”
“Well, it’s amazing you were able to do that.”
“I’m thinking of doing it more regularly.”
“That would be great.”
“Maybe one day you could come with me and do some filming for us? We’ve been looking at doing something like that for ages. Hopefully a video could get us some attention and bring in more funding, which we are always in desperate need of.”
I sat up straighter in my chair. “It would be my absolute honor and pleasure. I’d love to do something like that.” As I said it, our eyes locked and a small flitter of something made itself known in my stomach. The flitter was spontaneous and totally unforced. I smiled. The flitter had given me hope, hope that maybe this could actually work this time. The champagne arrived and we toasted together and the conversation flowed so easily. This was good. Very good. It was actually better than I expected. I was not pretending anymore at all.
Max . . .who?
CHAPTER 56
Max
I watched them, feeling sick to my stomach, and it took every last drop of restraint not to walk up there and throw him out. Christ, the way they were laughing and sipping expensive champagne together was enough to make me want to blow up the entire restaurant. I stood there feeling like I was a part of her life in some way, but alsonota part of it. She had her own life and it did not involve me. Her own friends whom she laughed with, a cat, neighbors who she hung out with, a job, a car, and an apartment. And now she had her own doctor date, and all I could do was sit on the sidelines and watch.
No. Fuck this. I was going to march up to that table and put an end to this wrist-smelling and laughing and everything else that was happening right under my nose. I was going to be an asshole! And I would probably hate myself for it tomorrow, but I wasn’t sure if I would hate myself more if I let her fall for this guy, and lose her. I straightened up and walked over.
“Hey,” I said as soon as I reached the table. I could tell Ash was shocked and her champagne shook in her hands. I turned my attention to Dr McHottie and stuck my hand out.
“It’s you!” Ash gasped, and spluttered.
