Only Yours (Fool's Gold #5)(65)
She straightened, waved at Simon and walked away. Montana covered her face with her hands.
“This is when I think I should’ve stayed in L.A. I never ran into anyone I knew there. Maybe it was better.” She dropped her hands to her lap and looked at him. “How mad are you?”
“I’m a little offended that you didn’t defend my honor.”
She frowned. “What are you talking about?”
“You didn’t tell her how great I am in bed.”
“Is that what you wanted? I’m sure I’ll be invited back to the city council in the next week or so. I can put it on the agenda.”
He picked up his glass of iced tea. “I would appreciate that.”
“If I really did that, you wouldn’t know what to say.”
“I’m not so sure.” His gray-green eyes sparkled with humor. “The first few weeks I was here, everyone was very polite. Now I’m getting not-so-subtle hints that I should live in Fool’s Gold permanently. Oh, and yesterday, some old lady in a tracksuit told me I should make an honest woman of you.”
Montana winced. “My guess is you ran into Eddie and, yes, that does sound like her. Sorry.”
“Don’t be. This is a good place. I like it here.”
“I have a PowerPoint presentation illustrating all the reasons you should consider relocating here.” She kept her tone light and made sure she was smiling as she spoke. She wanted him to think she was kidding, and she was, sort of. “Color graphs?”
“What is a PowerPoint presentation without color graphs?” She reached for another chip. “Doesn’t this happen everywhere you go? Don’t they always want you to stay?”
“Mostly.”
“Does that surprise you? You’re a very gifted surgeon. Having you around would mean a lot to any community. And you’re good-looking.”
His expression tightened. She did a mental rewind, trying to figure out what she’d said wrong. Nothing came to her.
“What?” she demanded. “You have scrunchy face.”
“What the hell is scrunchy face?”
“When your face gets all scrunchy. Like you’re mad. What did I say?”
“You talk about my face as if it’s normal.”
He was choosing his words carefully. She could tell from the cadence of his speech and how he paused between the words. But why?
“Yes, I said you were…”
She got it then—what she’d said. Not knowing if it was good or bad, she admitted the truth.
She leaned toward him and lowered her voice. “Simon, I don’t see the scars. I haven’t for a long time.”
Something flashed in his eyes. She would have given a lot to know what he was thinking, but he’d always been incredibly good at keeping his thoughts from her.
“How can you not?”
She shrugged. “You’re just you. That’s who I see.” They were getting into dangerous territory. “If we’re going to have this conversation, I think it’s about time you returned my never ending compliment. I mean, hello, I’m the girl here.”
She spoke confidently, which was a complete crock, but he didn’t have to know that.
One corner of his mouth turned out. “You’re right. We don’t talk about you enough.” He stared into her eyes with an intensity that made her squirm. “Have I told you how beautiful you are today?”
She tilted her head. “Are you asking me if you said it today, or are you asking me if you’ve told me I look beautiful today? They are very different.”
He surprised her by leaning back in his chair and laughing. The sound was loud and came from his belly and made her feel good all over.
When he straightened, he looked more relaxed. Younger. “You are very beautiful all the time and I don’t think I’ve told you that yet today. While we’re on the subject, I am lucky to be with you. You’re extraordinary, Montana.”
She felt herself blushing. “I was just playing.”
“I was telling the truth.”
She felt awkward and flustered, and didn’t know what to do with her hands. Fortunately their server arrived with their meals.
By the time the food had been placed and their drinks refilled, the topic of conversation had been forgotten. Or at least not brought up again.
“Reese came by to visit Kalinda,” he said.
“I’m glad he’s still doing that. How did it go?”
“I think it helped to have the distraction of company.”
Montana wanted to ask how the girl was healing but knew Simon wouldn’t discuss that with her. The last few times she’d been there with Cece, one of the nurses had been in the room. She’d only been able to drop off the dog and then excuse herself. Next time she would try to speak with Fay.
“I know you think I’m counting the minutes until I leave,” he said, “but that’s not true. Kalinda is an example of a patient I will regret leaving behind. She needs so many surgeries.”
“The implication being another doctor won’t get it right?”
“That makes me sound arrogant.”
“You kind of are.”
He gave her a reluctant smile.
She was such a liar, she thought sadly. Pretending this was about Kalinda, when in truth his words had made her want to ask if he’d meant it when he’d said he would miss her. If he would have regrets about ending their relationship. When he left, would he remember her at all?