DESTINED AFFECTION

NINE

Camila made her way through the crowd gathered around the barbecue grill to where Lauren was arranging the food that Perrie passed to her. There were two large platters nearly filled with chicken and burgers.

"I hope you don't mind that your...mother-in-law..invited me to have lunch with you," Camila said, feeling inexplicably shy. In the hospital, Dr. Camila Cabello knew instinctively how to interact with Dr. Lauren Jauregui. But this was different. Lauren was different here; so was she. Outside the ER, Lauren seemed unapproachable, remote—as if she didn't want anyone, except Ally and Perrie, too close. Camila was used to maintaining emotional distance, most surgeons were. But all she wanted now was to find a way through Lauren's invisible shield, to get Lauren to look at her with that special smile in her eyes. That longing for connection was new to her, and damn scary.

"Why would I mind?" Lauren said without looking up. She was still feeling off balance from the unexpected surge of anger evoked by seeing Camila with Mandy. She'd almost been... jealous. And that was absurd.

"I just didn't want to intrude on your family time." Camila reached for the full platter of barbecue chicken. "Here, let me help you with that."

In a move that surprised them both, Lauren wrapped her fingers around Camila's forearm, stopping her from moving away. She looked up into Camila's eyes and smiled. "It's fine. It will be nice. And I'm sure Kyle will be thrilled."

"Good, I'm looking forward to it." The brunette doctor's heart beat triple-time, and for once, it was a wholly pleasant experience. "I'll take this up to the table for you."

"Thanks. I think Kyle and Phyllis have snagged seats under the tree." Lauren's fingers drifted down over the top of Camila's hand in a light caress. She didn't even realize she'd done it until she felt the faintest of tremors in Camila's arm and saw the brown of her eyes shade to almost black. Lauren's voice came out husky and low. "I'll be right there."

"I'll be waiting." Camila backed up a step, because as long as Lauren was touching her, no matter how lightly, she wasn't going to be able to move. "I'll save you a seat."

Lauren nodded appreciatively. You are a charmer, Camila Cabello . "I don't care if I sit on the ground. Just save me some food. I'm starving."

"I'll do better than that. I'll fix you a plate." Camila smiled, slow and easy. "You want a leg...or a breast?"

Startled, Lauren's lips quirked and then she laughed out loud. "Wing."

Camila laughed, too, glad that her hands were full, because she desperately wanted to run her thumb over the tiny cleft in Lauren's chin. She had to force herself to keep walking away. "See you in a minute."

After Camila delivered the chicken and fixed a plate for Lauren, she found Phyllis and Kyle seated around a small glass table under a dark green canvas umbrella. They had paper plates piled with food, drinks in plastic cups, and happy smiles.

"Hi, Camila" Kyle said enthusiastically.

Camila settled in a lawn chair nearby and balanced her plate on her knee. "Hi, Kyle. How's it going?"

"Great. I have a shiner."

"I see that," Camila agreed seriously, narrowing her eyes and leaning forward to take a quick look at the suture line. No swelling or redness, incision look clean. "It's very impressive."

"Yeah, and cool, too."

"Absolutely."

Lauren picked up the plate from the chair next to Camila and sat down. "Thanks for this." She smiled at Kyle. "We took a picture this morning for Kyle's scrapbook."