Page 67 of Perfect Distraction
The sigh that came through the speaker was so heavy, she felt the weight on her own chest.
“Lauren.” The rough, husky tone of his voice sent a tingle down her spine. “If you only knew what happens to me every time I look at you…”
He trailed off, and Lauren’s pulse picked up speed. She closed her eyes and placed her hand across her chest, feeling the pound of her heart underneath her palm. No one had ever made her feel this way, of that she was certain.
“If I could act on my thoughts, you’d never doubt the attraction I have to you,” he said. “But I have to be honest. I do want something from you.”
Lauren waited in silence, not confident in her ability to speak.
“I want your words, your breath, and your touch. Your thoughts and ideas, and your ridiculous puns. I want to know every dream and desire you have so I can give them to you. Every single one.”
Silence.
Or, what she thought was silence.
“Are you crying?” he asked.
“N-no.”
“Damn, I wish you weren’t six hours away. Why are you crying?”
“T-that is so s-sweet.” She swept a finger under her eye to catch a tear. “I don’t know what to do when you say things like that. No one’s ever said things like that to me.”
“Then everyone else is an idiot. I mean every word. And I think you’re incredibly beautiful, do you hear me?”
“I hear you,” she whispered. Her feelings for this man overwhelmed her, and it was both wonderful and frustrating. She let out an irritated groan. “Alex Trebek,” she muttered.
“Did you just cuss at me? After I said nice things?” An air of humor was back in his tone.
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because this sucks, Andrew!” She jumped off the bed and paced around the small room. “Why couldn’t I have met you before? Or some other way? Why did you have to be a patient?”
“Believe me, I’d prefer if I hadn’t met you the way I did, either.”
Lauren froze mid-step. Had she seriously just complained to him about the fact that he had cancer? “Oh my gosh…I’m sorry. I wasn’t thinking—”
“Lauren, I’m messing with you. Finish what you were saying.”
She resumed pacing but chose her words with care. “I like you, Andrew. I liked you from the beginning, and those feelings grow stronger every day. But I shouldn’t like you. Not like that, and not right now. And it’s hard.”
“I know exactly how hard it is,” he said dryly.
Lauren slapped her hand over her mouth. “Andrew Bishop!”
He chuckled, and she was relieved to hear the sound. “You set me up for that one.”
She supposed she had.
“I’ve liked you from the beginning, too. From before you were my pharmacist.” He paused, and they seemed to inhale simultaneous breaths. “You had me at William Shatner.”
