Page 384 of The Doctors Will See You Now

I checked in with Jenna, a crooked eyebrow refusing to go down on my face. She looked like she wanted to laugh, but she didn’t open her mouth to do so—or otherwise explain the dog and pony show. She stepped forward, and I followed, all the way into Nick’s office, where I realized suddenly one of the cameras from reception had come along for the ride.

Not to mention that once I’d stepped inside of his office, another cameraman had already set up shop, filming anything and everything that occurred around him.

What in the ever-loving fuck was happening?

I felt like I was on Candid Camera or something. Any second, I wondered if a clown would jump out of a closet and scare the ever-living shit out of me.

“Hey, Charlotte,” Nick greeted me from behind his desk, that all too familiar smile of his holding my attention hostage. “Hungry?”

“Uh…” I muttered and glanced at the white elephants, otherwise known as a fucking film crew, standing in the room. “What in the hell is happening right now?”

“I guess I forgot to mention that I’m currently being filmed for a docuseries about the hospital, huh?”

“Yeah,” I said through a surprised laugh. “I think it’s safe to say you never mentioned the fact that I’d be on camera while stuffing my face full of meat. Deli meat!” Jesus Christmas, Charlotte.

Nick chuckled. “Don’t worry. They won’t be following us to lunch.”

“Well, that’s good news.” A snort escaped my nose before I could stop it. Instantly, my cheeks heated, and I covered my face with my hand. Now is not the time to snort like a freaking pig.

His big brown eyes locked with mine, and a hint of a smile crested his lips.

It was cute. Really cute. But I resisted the powerful pull and sighed instead. I mean, a little heads-up would have been nice. Cripes, if I’d known I was going to be on camera, I might have considered brushing my hair or applying fresh makeup before leaving my office.

I wasn’t looking for some kind of big break into Hollywood, but I’d prefer that my on-screen debut didn’t occur after speed-walking five blocks and sweating like a glass of fucking iced tea.

Nick stood up from his desk and slipped his phone, wallet, and keys into the back pockets of his dress slacks. He glanced to the camera once as he was closing the distance between us, but any apprehension at a public display must have disappeared as he made it within striking distance. His arm was warm and heavy around my shoulder, and his breath felt like sex in disguise as he whispered into my ear. “You look beautiful, Charlotte. I’m sorry I was dense, but I’m glad I’m not anymore.”

For a man who hadn’t dated since George W. Bush was president, he definitely had the capability of charming a woman. Signals weren’t his strong suit, but when it came down to saying the important things, he hadn’t let me down yet.

“Me too,” I whispered back. “Though I should probably mention, I’m just here for the food.”

He laughed, and with a hand to the small of my back, he led me out of his office and toward the main elevators of the Medical Arts Building wing. And, as we cleared the lobby doors, we finally lost our third wheel—the cameraman.

Once we arrived at Mitch’s Deli, I scavenged a booth in the far corner of the restaurant while Nick rounded up our sandwiches and drinks from the counter—two pastramis on rye, a water for him, and an iced tea for me.

He set our plates and cups on the table and slid into the cushioned seat across from mine.

“So…” I started, and he quirked a brow in my direction, seemingly already anticipating my words.

“I know,” he muttered as he added extra mustard to his sandwich and then offered the still partially full packet to me. I took it and likewise adorned my meat. “The cameras and film crew shit is ridiculous, huh?”

“A bit?” I laughed and he grinned.

“I didn’t want to do the show. At all.” He shrugged. “Looks like I got talked into it, though, doesn’t it?”

I shrugged. He was involved all right. I had the thirty pounds in camera weight to prove it.

Yes, I know cameras don’t actually add weight. Just visually. Yeah, yeah. Just go with it.

“Of course, then I was so busy getting you to forgive me, and you know, occasionally working…” He smirked. “I kind of forgot they were there.”

“How anyone could forget they were being filmed is a mystery,” I muttered, and he chuckled.

“Considering this was the first day of filming, you’d be surprised how quickly you get used to those bastards.”

“So…what kind of reality show is it?” I asked and took a small bite of my sandwich.

“It’s a docuseries about my and two other doctors’ careers,” he explained after a quick sip of water. “Actually, I have Will and Scott to blame for roping me into it.”