48
Ethan and I join the long line that leads to the registration table. After I’m signed in, the registration woman hands me an ID badge. It hangs on a long red lanyard. I turn it over in my hands, inspecting it.
American College of Advanced Radiology (ACAR)
22nd Annual Conference
Dr. Tiffany Hart
Columbus, OH
An extra green ribbon along the bottom says, Guest Speaker. It’s only given to doctors who are giving lectures. I slip the lanyard over my head and take in my surroundings. We’re in the conference area of the hotel. A wide lobby has beige carpet and paneled walls. Plump leather club chairs with small end tables line the room.
Other doctors, mostly dressed in khaki just as Ethan predicted, mill around chatting with each other or cluster around the breakfast buffet. This is one of the largest annual radiology conferences, so the lectures will be held in the hotel’s main ballroom. Large wooden double doors stand open, offering a view of the room filled with rows of uncomfortable-looking chairs.
Before we go in, I want breakfast and coffee. Ethan places his matching red lanyard over his head, messing up his hair. I almost reach up to smooth down the unruly spikes but catch myself at the last minute. “Want to see what they have to eat?”
“Yes, please. I’m starving.” Ethan heads to the buffet, his long legs eating up the distance between him and the food.
“You’re always hungry,” I say with an affectionate eye roll as I follow him.
The breakfast is spread over a long table covered with a white tablecloth. Baskets of appetizing pastries, toast, and bagels are interspersed with bowls of fresh fruit and yogurt. At the end of the table is a self-service coffee bar.
I choose a chocolate croissant and make a cup of coffee. I’m adding in three packets of sugar when Ethan catches up to me.
“Are you going to survive without your favorite coffee this morning?” Ethan teases as he hands me an extra packet of sugar, which I gladly accept.
“Don’t kid yourself. We’re totally going to a real coffee shop later.” I swirl the coffee and sugar together with a small wooden stir stick, thinking about how nice it is to be with someone who knows you, who remembers all your little quirks and preferences.
“Of course we are,” Ethan agrees affably, balancing his overloaded plate in his hand. He has so much food piled up that it looks like he took one of each item.
Gingerly biting into my chocolate croissant, I ask, “Did you do your Karate Kid routine at the gym this morning?” I wipe a spot of chocolate filling off the corner of my mouth with my napkin. Ethan’s eyes follow the movement and linger on my lips. I notice where he’s looking and remind myself that I want to work on my flirting skills today. To test my power, I use the tip of my tongue to lick the rest of the chocolate off. His eyes darken at the sight.
Ethan drags his gaze away from my mouth. “Yeah, I did my usual morning warmup.”
“Must have been quite the show. I’m sure everyone at the gym enjoyed seeing that.” I’m trying to tease him, but picturing Ethan so tall, and handsome as hell, stretching out his long, lean body in the gym makes my voice come out low and raspy. My breathing has sped up. I’m not thinking about the over 100 other radiologists at the conference.
All I can think of is him.
“I don’t remember you complaining about it,” Ethan says with a smoldering look. He steps closer to me. So close that I can see the rise and fall of his chest as his breath quickens. The way his full lips part with a soft exhale and his eyes grow heavy-lidded as they stare down at me.
We’re standing in the middle of the lobby, staring hungrily at each other.
Geez.
I pull at the neckline of my blouse, suddenly overheated. I’m trying to seduce Ethan, but now I’m the one hot and bothered. A chiming bell sound rings out, signaling the beginning of the conference. People start moving into the ballroom.
Hoping that the burning flush on my cheeks isn’t too noticeable, I take Ethan’s hand and pull him toward the room. “Come on. Let’s go find a seat.”
He intertwines his fingers into mine, startling me, but I don’t pull away.
That’s how we walk into the conference together.
Holding hands.