A STELLAR AFFAIR (A Hollywood Bad Boy Romance) (31 page)

“No problem,” he said through gritted teeth, hating the idea of her texting another guy.
 

What the hell is his problem?
Natalie’s unknown boyfriend shouldn’t be a concern.

You should. He’s competition
, his mind taunted.
 

He shook his head free from his wild thought.
Competition?
 

He would not go there.
 

She was off-limits. She would always be off-limits.
 

Keep telling yourself that, Braga,
the voice in his head mocked.
 

Natalie sucked a deep breath
to compose herself.
 

“So, tell me why this is all hush-hush,” she asked in her most formal, doctor-is-in-charge tone.
 

He sighed. “I’ve been in the crosshairs of the media for the past few months. It’s crazy. They were nothing but a bunch of whackos.”

If you stop being a total manwhore, you won’t be having these problems,
she almost blurted.
 

Of course she couldn’t say that out loud. But thinking about it felt good.

She motioned for him to take a seat. She
 
opened her tablet to retrieve an email she received that morning. It was a sent by Dr. Bruce containing Max’s records.
 

She flipped through the electronic files for several minutes, reading her colleague’s notes and findings.

He had a partial ACL tear which was successfully reconstructed. However, he experienced knee popping and residual instability which was quite common for those who went under the knife for this kind of injury.
 

 
She bit her lip, in deep thought.
 

“So…?” he asked.
 

“How long have you been experiencing the stiffening? Right after surgery?”

“No. It was fine after I had the surgery and the therapy. I never felt anything like it after I went back. It began when I started training for this upcoming fight. —”

She gave him a level look. “You might be overdoing it.”

“I’m not.”

“Really?”

“I’m sure. I know my body’s limits.”

“Then why are you even here? News flash:
 
you’re not superhuman.
 
You can’t hurry it. It’s not just torn muscle. You need to give it time to regenerate.”

“So I’m all done for? Is that what you’re saying?”

She knew that there was a big chance to turn things around in his favor. “I didn’t say that.”

“Then what?”

She expelled a long-drawn breath. She gave him the hard truth. “I think your ACL is not regenerating as it should. That’s why it feels out of place or pops when you’re using it. So you’re here for the direct autologous mesenchymal stem cell procedure.”

“That was mentioned by Allan, yes.”

“Listen, it’s still experimental. We just presented our findings last fall.”

“You’re in luck. I’m volunteering to be your guinea pig.”

“There’s nothing guinea piggy about you.”

“Thanks for saying I don’t look like a rat.”
 

“For now we only treat patients with either partial or non-retracted ACL injuries. In your case, I’m not sure if the procedure can still salvage a previously problematic ACL surgery. As for the risks...”

“I don’t care about the risks.”

“What I’m saying is it can go either way,” she pressed.
 

“Allan told me everything I needed to know.”

His was a very compelling medical case. And the healer in her wanted to help him.

“What we usually do is inject connective stem cell tissue into affected area. As I said, it’s still experimental. I don’t want to keep your hopes up.”

“As long as there’s a chance, I’m all for it. What’s the next step if the procedure works for me?”

“Your physiotherapy program had to be adjusted.”

“Great! You can come visit our camp so you can oversee the physio.”

“Oh no, Max. I’m not leaving the state.”

He looked like he wanted to push it but didn’t. “Okay.”

“I can get in touch with Dr. Bruce and your trainers on the adjustments.”

 
“How long will it take? The procedure?”

“It varies per patient. For some it takes a few weeks. But the average is about a month and a half.”

“I only have a month.”

Her brows rose. “As I said, it varies per patient.”

He gave her a look.
 
“I already did the pre-tests you need. It’s all in my file. I need this to be done in a month. Time’s not on my side.”

She gave him a level look. “Look, I don’t think —”

“Do you want to help me or not?” he asked pointedly.
 

The truth was, she was afraid. The resurrection of something she wanted buried in the past was holding her back. She had a high batting average when it comes to male rejection. She had no doubt she would recover if she’d be foolish enough to go down that rabbit hole again but...rejection was still rejection. It hurt like a million paper cuts.

On the other hand…

She was a grown woman.
 

She could deal with this stupid infatuation once and for all.
 

“I can’t leave my practice.”

“Okay, we won’t talk about the physio part yet. Let’s focus just on the first part of the treatment. For a month. Money is not an issue.”

“Max, I can ask another colleague who is also on the team to—”

“I don’t want another. I want you. I
need
you. Please, Natalie.”

His intense eyes unnerved her. It was like what he needed from her…had nothing to do with the treatment.
 

There you go again, reading it wrong,
her mind warned.
 

A pail of ice-cold reality quickly doused the romantic notion.

This was Max. He needed her expertise. Nothing more, nothing less.
 

He was just not into her.
 

But…

A crazy idea began to form in her head.

Why not flip the script this time around? She could friendzone him and work on his knee.
 
She can do that.
 

Exorcise the ghost,
her mind urged.
 

A part of her balked. But this time, her reckless side won. Carpe diem!

“Okay, Max.”

“Thank fuu—God for that!”

“Under three conditions.”

“Fire away.”

“First, we’re doing the treatment here. I’m not leaving the state.”

“Done. But I’m still gonna try to change your mind.”

“Hah. You can try.”

“Second condition?”

“Zero drama. I’m not having any of that.”

He folded his arms, looking as if she just insulted him.
 

“Do I look like a drama queen to you? Seriously?!”

She grinned at him. “I’m just saying! I’ve treated athletes who are basically huge babies.”

“Well, I’m not one of them.”

“That’s good to know. And now, my last condition is err…”
 

How would she say it without sounding desperate?!
 

“Whatever it is, consider it done.”

“No, no, no… hear me out first!” she insisted.

“I’m listening.”

“Uhm. You see…I need assistance.”

“O-kay…”

“Let me explain a bit. Well, guys from around here, they see me as their gal pal. They don’t really look at me …I mean…of course they see me as a woman but not date-material-kind,” her words tumbled in a rush, afraid she’d lose her nerve.

He frowned. “What?! Who are these guys? Idiots, all of them.”

She smiled.
Exactly my point. You’re an idiot.
 

“Well. Let’s just say I’m sick of being in the friendzone and wanted do something about it.”

His eyes narrowed as he tried to follow what she was saying.

“Will it benefit the knobhead who made you cry?”
 

“It might.”

“No.”

“Max!”

“Forget him. He’s a waste of oxygen.”

Her heart melted. He was just being sweet, but still…
 

She was done
 
waiting on the sidelines.
 

“You already agreed in principle!” she reminded him.

“No. Douchebag doesn’t deserve you. I ain’t lending him a hand. No way.”

“Don’t call Dickster a—”

He snorted. “Dickster? That’s his name?!”

“Yes.”

He cackled like a lunatic.
 

She scowled at him. That made him laugh some more. The man had no shame.
 
“That’s not funny!”
 

His laughter finally died down to sniggers.
 

“Anyone who calls himself like he would his junk is clearly overcompensating. Wait ‘til Leo finds out about this—”

“No you’re not telling my brother anything!” she screamed, poking the middle of his chest with her index finger to stress her point. “Or else…forget it!”

He sobered quickly.
 
“I’m not making fun of you, Nattie-cakes. I just think you deserved someone better.”

“That’s for me to decide. I just need you to help me. Are you with me or not?”

He was shaking his head.
 

“Your brother will never agree. He’ll put a bullet through me once he finds out I went on with this crazy idea of yours.”

“He didn’t have to find out. Besides, he’s in a happy place to stress over me. So that’s all covered. He’s getting engaged by the way, in case you didn’t know. He’ll be here in a month.”

“What?!” he blurted. “That’s…no. No way is my man giving in.”

Seemed that she wasn’t the only one who was left in the dark.

She shrugged. “Yes. Surreal, isn’t it? My brother’s getting shackled. Anyway, as I was saying—”

“I can’t do it, Nats. I won’t betray your brother that way.”

“You can. And you’re not betraying him.”

“Why not ask your best friend? Leo mentioned you have one. A redhead named Chantal. Said you two were as thick as thieves. ”

Her brows rose. Hearing that Leo even mentioned Chantal to Max was surprising. Her brother and bestfriend detested each other.
 

“That’s the thing! Chantal’s in Quantico chasing her dream to be Scully. I don’t have any guy friends I can really confide without feeling like an idiot—”

“Woman, I fight for a living! I’m no Pygmalion! And there’s nothing wrong with you! But I can hire a stylist if you want—”

“I don’t need a stylist, Max. I just need…well…tips.”

“Tips?!”

“Let me finish! Argh! Stop interrupting me and hear me out first, okay?! Yes, tips! You’re a guy. You must know a thing or two about hooking up.”

That got his attention all right. His expression turned to a dark scowl.
 
“You want what?!”

“Uhm…well not necessarily hook ups like well… hook ups. But more like seduction tips? Oh, don’t give me that look! The media said you’re the smoothest operator in the cage!”

“Fuckin’ no, Natalie!” he boomed.

She pushed. “Yes, or else…find yourself another doctor. And watch your mouth!”

“That’s blackmail!”

“No, it’s not! It’s just a mutually beneficial arrangement between two old friends.”

They were glaring at each another now. She wasn’t backing down. What she was experiencing right now was nothing but residual feelings. She was over him.

She would move on from him and win Dickster from her former patient. And Max would help her.

“You’re crazy! Your brother will kill and cut me into pieces!”

That made her eyes roll. “No, he won’t! You’re like his brother. Nobody has to know our little arrangement. I just needed your help to cast a wide net out at sea,” she declared, pleased with herself for being so bold.
 

“No.”

Another idea entered her mind. “Let fate decide.”

“What?!”

“Coin toss, dummy! We used to settle everything with a coin flip, remember?”

He was exasperated with her but he still took out a coin from his pocket.

“Heads means yes, tails means no.”

“I dunno why I’m even doing this,” he grumbled.
 

He flipped the coin. He covered it with one palm before it landed on the top of the
 
table.