“Mom! Cut it out.” Taking control, I decide what to do. “Thanks for handling the next patient, Harry. I’ll be in the back if you need me.”
I walk through the double doors leading to the back rooms but remain close by so I can hear everything. I can’t help but be curious.
“Marsha, are you okay?” Harry asks, concern in his voice.
“I’m fine. I just…” My mother whispers something I can’t hear.
Before I can find out what my mother is up to, the bells over the outside door ring, announcing the patient has arrived. I curl my hands into fists, my short nails digging into my skin as I wait.
“Good afternoon,” my mother says in a chirpy, happy voice. “What can we do for you?” Obviously, my mother is pretending not to recognize him.
“I was hoping Dr. Stillman could see my dog.” Axel’s voice is familiar yet not, deeper and sexier than I remember.
“Yourdog?”
I peek out in time to see my mother lean over the counter to look at the animal in question. “Axel Forrester, are you bringing Bella Kingston in for Sasha and Xander?”
“Busted,” he mutters, looking adorable. Dammit. “Mrs. Stillman, it’s good to see you. You looked familiar, but I thought you lived in California, so I didn’t think it could be you.”
“What’s with the Mrs. Stillman nonsense? It’s Marsha. And my last name is Davidson now. I remarried after my husband passed away.”
Glued to my place and unable to tear my gaze away, I watch as his eyes grow wide, his expression turning sad. “I’m sorry. I had no idea.”
“Thank you. It was right after you left town. Anyway, what’s wrong with Bella?”
I tear my gaze from his handsome, grown-up face with more defined and chiseled features, and look around the waiting room. Harry is gone. He must have slipped out the door as Axel walked in. My mother definitely deserves an A in scheming.
Awkward or not, it’s time to grow up and face him. I draw a deep breath and step through the doors into the reception area. “Whatiswrong with Bella?” I ask.
“Tara.” My name on those sexy lips turns my insides to mush.
“Hello, Axel.”
We stare at each other for an uncomfortable few moments in which my mom remains shockingly quiet.
“Is Bella okay?” I break the silence first.
“She’s fine.” An unexpected red flush rises to his face. “I was scrolling through Facebook, came across your picture, and realized you were only a mile away, so I…”
“You borrowed a dog as an excuse to see me?” I don’t know whether I’m more flattered or shocked. But my traitorous heart skips a beat.
“Yeah.” He clears his throat. “Now that we’ve discussed Bella, my icebreaker, I’ll just get to the point. Would you have dinner with me?”
I blink. He’s taken me by surprise. “I can’t,” I say, the words automatically coming out of my mouth. Getting to know this man could only lead to heartbreak. I know it just by seeing him again.
“Why not? Do you have a husband? A boyfriend?” His jade-green eyes bore into mine. “Because your Facebook page didn’t mention a relationship.”
I’m certain his persistence helped him succeed in the hard-to-make-it-to-the-top music world. “No, no relationship. I’m just… busy.”
“No, you are not,” my mother says.
I was aware of my mom watching us, looking back and forth like at a tennis match. “You don’t know my schedule,” I snap.
My mother ignores me and picks up one of my business cards, then a pen, writes something on the card, and holds it out to Axel. “Here. Her address and cell phone number.”
He doesn’t accept it, and his gaze remains steady on mine. “If you really don’t want to go out with me, I get it. Too much time has passed, too much water under the bridge.” He shrugs, but disappointment is clear in his expression and hunched shoulders.
His very real desire to see me again tugs at me, causing a heavy pain in my chest. Because I do want to have dinner with him. Catch up. Learn about his life. I just don’t want to open myself up to heartbreak.
