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Dominic could hardly breathe. She was exactly right. Everyone admired him for his medical expertise, but no one ever bothered trying to get to know him as a person. The closest thing he had to a friend was Jonathan, who was more of a professional acquaintance.
Though I think Jonathan would be a friend to me if I let him get close. It’s my own fault I always hold him at arm’s length, just like I do everyone else.
Everyone else apart from Emily.
Somehow, she had gotten through to him. She had gotten him to let his guard down and be vulnerable. There was something almost miraculous about it.
And he was going to have to ignore it. To ignoreher. They would have to be colleagues to one another, nothing more.
There was a knock at the door.
“Wait here,” Dominic said.
Emily nodded and pulled the covers up over her head. Dominic found it so adorable that it was an effort to tear himself away from her and go and answer the door.
“You placed an order, Mr. Berger?” the receptionist said, holding out a couple of bags from a nearby department store.
Ordinarily, Dominic would have spoken up, would have corrected her that his actual title wasDr. Berger.He had worked hard for it, and though he didn’t think he was an arrogant man, the title was deeply important to him.
But today, he had too many other things on his mind.
“That was very quick of you,” he said. “We really appreciate it.”
“I hope you find our choices to your liking.”
“I’m sure everything will be fine,” he said. “Please add the fee for this to my bill, as well as the cost of the garments. And you have the receipts?”
“They’re in the bags.”
“Perfect,” he said. “I appreciate that.”
“I hope you have a good day,” the receptionist said with a smile.
She was pretty, Dominic thought. The surprising thing was that it came to him as an afterthought — he’d been talking to her for several minutes without even noticing her looks. He had never had time for dating or relationships, but he wasn’t immune to noticing a pretty woman.
Except that now, apparently, he was.
He took the bags over to the bed and peeled the blankets back to reveal Emily looking up at him. “Let’s see what we’ve got,” he said, handing her one of the bags.
“It’s like Christmas morning,” she laughed, pulling out the clothes inside.
God, it was impossible to feel unhappy with her around. Dominic felt as if he had just had a hit of a wonderful drug. His body was charged with the elation of it, and yet he was already full of fear at the question of how he was going to let it go.
“There’s too much here,” Emily said, frowning. “This is at least three different outfits.”
“Do you see anything you like? I’ll have the rest sent back to the shops.”
“No — actually, I’d like to keep everything,” she said, laying the clothes out on the bed. “I’ll pay for it all. But they made some good choices. And besides…” She trailed off.
“Besides what?”
She blushed. “I won’t have much to remember this night by,” she said softly. “These clothes will be a memento, or sorts.”
She darted a glance up at him as if she was concerned that he might laugh.
He wouldn’t have dreamed of it. Though he had never seen her look so vulnerable, he was glad he hadn’t been the only one to let his walls down.
And besides, he’d already put the coaster from the bar last night into his briefcase. She wasn’t the only one trying to remember the evening.
