Page 71 of Animal Instincts
Oliver stopped dead in the doorway leading into the waiting area.
“Why the hell are you still here? We made it clear you’re not wanted. Ever.”
“We leave first thing tomorrow, but I had to come and see you. Privately. Yesterday was a shock—”
Oliver barked out a laugh. “Something of an understatement, Spencer. We’ve nothing to say to each other. I’m busy, so I’m going to have to ask you to leave.”
Spencer looked around him, slowly and pointedly, at the empty waiting area. Every muscle in Oliver’s body tensed at the implied, silent suggestion that perhaps business in the small rural practice wasn’t too good.
“I’ve a client coming along in a few minutes.” Why the hell was he explaining? He had nothing to say to this man, no explanations to make.
“Then that gives us time to talk. We need to. You know that as well as I do.” Spencer sighed, as he took a step closer. “I’m so sorry about what happened, about the mess. You’ve no idea how sorry I am. If I could put the clock back, I would.”
Spencer took another step forward, as Oliver breathed in. The same light, musky cologne he’d bought for Spencer, one of the first of so many gifts he’d lavished upon him. Oliver closed his eyes, he couldn’t help it, as the early days flooded back, the memories tumbling over him, when things had been good before they’d gone—
Barking dogs and loud, raucous laughter, from outside.
Oliver’s eyes snapped open. What the fuck was he doing? He staggered back, out of reach. He’d been ensnared before, but he never would be again.
“The clock will never be turned back,” Oliver rasped. “Christ, Spencer. Is that why you’re here, because you want…?”
“We were good together, you know we were. But I was a fool, and threw it all away.”
Spencer’s lips curved downwards in regret, and his eyes glittered as his gaze met Oliver’s.
“I know we could never be what we were, and that’s my fault. It’s not the reason I’m here, but I hope we can be friends again? Or at the very least not enemies? Donald and I are aren’t just looking at opening a practice in Bath, we’re looking for a weekend place, too. Although he works every hour, so I don’t know when he’d be able to get away. But I could, and Bath’s not so far, is it? We could almost be neighbours.”
The tip of Spencer’s tongue smoothed its way along his lower lip.
“You have got to be kidding. What are you suggesting, that I become your secret affair? Haven’t you been there and done that? Come on,Spence, you must have the T-shirt somewhere, although I guess it’s well worn in by now.” A bitchy thrill of satisfaction burst through Oliver when Spencer stiffened at the shortened and hated version of his name.
“All I’m suggesting is that we remain on friendly terms.”
“We’re not on friendly terms, so how can we remain on them?”
Spencer huffed, exasperation pinching his features.
“Does Donald know you’re here, attempting to be friendly?”
A flush crept up Spencer’s neck and spilled over onto his cheeks. It was blotchy, and ugly.
Oliver narrowed his eyes, his lips lifting in a hard, tight smile.
“I thought as such. What lies did you tell him, about where you were going and what you were doing? Talking of Donald, he’s looking pretty ropey. Tense and strained. I was surprised by what I saw. Maybe he’s already wondering about the classes you’re signing up for, or the friends you can’t bear to lose touch with. Because he’s seen it before, of course. Is he seeing it again? Is he wondering if maybe history’s repeating itself?”
Oliver moved forward, and this time Spencer stepped back.
He was right. Oliver could see it, feel it; he could almost touch and taste it.
“Donald and I are solid. We’ve even talked about marriage.”
“I bet you have, although I wonder if he’s quite so keen.”
The blotchiness on Spencer’s face deepened, and spread further. Oliver’s lips twitched. It really was very unattractive, and Spencer would hate not looking his best.
“Donald’s a businessman, and I can’t deny he’s a good one. If being a businessman means touting questionable treatments and charging a small fortune for them. He was always smart and sharp where the money was concerned, and he’s not going to let you get your hands on it any time soon. Haven’t you realised that about him, yet? Oh, Spencer, I thought you were smarter than that.”
“Think what you like. You know nothing of our relationship. I came here in a spirit of friendship—”
