Jess’s eyes lit up, crinkling at the edges with a flash of a smile that disappeared just as quickly. It was almost unbelievable to have her in front of him again. Words tumbled from him, afraid the moment would pass and he wouldn’t get another opportunity.
“No, I was back in the hospital in London, and my boss told me I was mad too, leaving my consultancy role, but—”
A nurse appeared next to them and cleared her throat, interrupting his rambling.
“So sorry,” he said as he stepped out of the doorway and allowed the nurse through, making the space between himself and Jess wider.
Turning his attention back to Jess, she silently returned his gaze, clearly waiting for him to make the first move. Waiting for him to ask her out, maybe? He’d always found this part so awkward, which was why he’d barely dated anyone before his ex. “So…when does your shift finish?”
“I’m on call today.”
Why was this so hard?Just ask her,he scolded himself.
“Would you be free for dinner…tonight?”
Jess’s brows furrowed. “With you and Samantha?”
The mention of his ex’s name was a slap across his face. Of course Jess thought they were back together. He remembered the reporter. What had she said?Is this your fiancée?He instantly regretted not chasing after Jess that night when she left the premiere and being clearer about his feelings right then andthere. Politeness and a sense of duty to the show had held him back, but he should have ignored all that and run after her.
“I’m not with Samantha, we—”
“I saw your engagement announcement. I thought you must have… worked things out.”
She must have seen the social media posts. “No, well, yes,she’sengaged. I’m not. I mean—” He was royally messing this up. “She’s not engaged to me. Samantha is marrying my old school friend. The one she cheated on me with.”
Jess’s features softened. “Oh. I’m sorry.”
“I’m not. Not anymore. I’m happy for them.”
“Right. I’m sure.”
“I know it sounds…odd, but I realized a lot of things back in London, and one of them was I needed to make a change. That life wasn’t right for me.”
“And rural life in New Zealand is?” Jess frowned, unconvinced. “Leaving behind Doctor Famous and all the glory of celebrity?”
Nate scoffed. “That was the easiest part to leave behind. No, I was back in my role at the hospital and I realised I needed more time for fun in my life. Someone reminded me of that when they were getting me soaking wet at a river.”
He frowned at Jess, faking annoyance, and made her laugh. Her laugh, free and unrestrained, lit a fire within him. Jess was like no-one else. So relaxed in her own skin. So unapologetically herself. Next to her, he could drop all pretences and just be. She didn’t care about etiquette or status or any of that.
“Not engaged then?” Jess said. Did he detect a hint of relief in her voice?
Nate spread his hands. “Completely unattached.”
Jess smiled. “Yes.”
“Yes?”
“I’m free for dinner tonight.”
JESS SAT IN THE PASSENGER SEATof Nate’s car, stealing glances at his profile. Having a crush on Nate was safer when he was far away in London, and then being angry at him felt even better. With him right next to her, driving her out to his new house for a dinner date, the reality of it all made her head ache.
She wasn’t quite sure how to feel now that she knew he was single. He wasn’t the cheater. He’d been telling the truth about being cheated on, which was why he’d been all weird about Dave. Hard not to have trust issues after an affair. Clearly, she still had a few trust issues she needed to work on, too. Could Nate be a guy she could do that with? All the puzzle pieces rearranged in her head, shuffling to create a different picture.
Maybe it wouldn’t matter; this date could be entirely platonic. Two friends eating a meal, like they’d done many times after filming. She’d been the one to suggest a friendship. Why did it make her heart hurt?
“I think you’ll like my place,” Nate said, turning down a long country road lined with yellow and green paddocks full of sheep. His eyes twinkled in a way that set her skin on fire. She turned to look at the window to avoid him seeing her blush. There was something very familiar about this road.
“Here we are,” he announced, pulling into a long driveway.
