He didn’t know if he could promise her that. “Why not?”
“I don’t like to be played with.”
Why would she think he was doing that? “Who said I was?”
“Like you really want to have a relationship with me. Up until today we barely tolerated each other.”
“Whoa, it was just a simple kiss, not a shot fired across the bows of your boat or a marriage proposal.” He backed away. “I didn’t mean to insult you.”
Her glare burned into him. “You didn’t insult me. I just came out of a bad relationship and don’t wish to repeat it.”
“So you’re saying that by kissing me you almost started another bad relationship?”
Tiffani moved farther away from him. “Right now, I need to concentrate on my job. Our interactions have to remain professional.”
“Based on that kiss, which was far too short, that might not be possible.” He took a step toward her.
“Then you’d better figure out how to make it so. Thanks for an informative day. I’ll be in touch.” With those words, she presented him with her back and hurried to her car.
“Tiff.” He waited until she looked at him. “It might be you who has to work at that.”
Looking stricken, she climbed into the car.
What had just happened? He’d given a girl he was attracted to a simple kiss and she’d made it plain she wasn’t interested. But there had been a second there when she’d returned his kiss that proved she wasn’t immune to him. Tiffani was just scared. But was she scared of him or herself?
When Tiffani started her car, he came out of the daze she’d left him in. He slammed the passenger door closed and went around to the driver’s side. Getting in, he put the truck into gear and drove off.
He wasn’t afraid to go after what he wanted.
* * *
Tiffani’s hands shook on the wheel of the car as she left the parking lot. Rex had kissed her. She’d liked it. Better than liked it. But it must not happen again. It was wrong on a professional level. A personal one too. She couldn’t handle someone with such a large personality after what had happened with Lou. She wasn’t prepared for humiliation again. Nothing more than a fling could happen between Rex and herself anyway. They were too different. She refused to let herself be played with again. Once was more than enough.
She’d made the right decision to push Rex away. Yet a part of her wished she hadn’t. She wanted him to kiss her again. Wanted the chance to run her hands through his mess of hair. His lips hadn’t demanded; instead, he’d teased and tested as if telling her he could be patient. That he would wait for her until she was ready, until she could trust him. When she had given in and kissed him back, she’d found pleasure she hadn’t known existed.
Being kissed wasn’t new to her but even the almost chaste one from Rex left all the others lacking. But she was going to have to forget about it and put all her energy into earning that promotion. If she did get it she’d be moving anyway. There were too many ways that Rex Maxwell was wrong for her.
At least she had no reason to interact with him again for a few days. That would leave her time to get her mind going in the right direction. She’d make sure she was back in professional mode before she saw him again.
* * *
On Monday morning, she opened her emails to find that Luke had sent over the proofs of the pictures of Rex for the billboards. She searched through them. The camera had captured Rex’s masculine attractiveness. When she’d been putting the stethoscope around Rex’s neck Luke had continued taking pictures. He had caught that moment Rex had whispered to her. She hardly recognized herself. The wonder on her face. Even now warmth washed through her.
Tiffani swallowed and clicked the picture off the screen.
She’d trust Luke’s opinion on the best picture to use for the billboards. By the weekend Rex’s picture would be up around the city. She pulled out her phone and searched for the picture she had taken at the clinic. In a few minutes, she would have that out on social media. Hopefully it would generate some positive buzz.
Later that day, she reported to her boss about her progress with the campaign. He seemed pleased. Tiffani returned to her desk and picked up her phone. She’d been putting off the necessary phone call all day. Had Rex been thinking about her as much as she’d thought about him? She didn’t need to go in that direction. There was business to attend to and her objective focus was required.
She punched in Rex’s number. With any luck he wouldn’t answer and she could just leave a message. On the third ring disappointment set in.
“Rex,” was barked in her ear halfway through the fourth ring.
Her heart jumped in panic at the sound of his voice. “It’s Tiffani.”
“Hey, Tiff. Give me a second. I’m right in the middle of something.” He seemed distracted.
“I’ll call back.” There was no response. Instead, she listened as he spoke to someone else. A minute later he said, “Sorry about that. I’m just coming out of surgery.”
“This can wait.”
“No, I can talk now. How’ve you been?” His voice relaxed on the last three words.
“I’m fine.”
“I’ve missed seeing you.” His voice was soft and deep.
He was flirting with her. If he kept that up it would be difficult to resist him. “I wanted to let you know I have an interview set up for you on WMEP This Is Memphis on Thursday morning.”
“I may have surgery scheduled then.”
The Rex she could handle was back.
“I can’t rearrange my schedule,” he continued. “My patients come first. What is it anyway?”
It was progress that he even asked that. “It’s the most popular local morning show.”
“I haven’t seen it. I’m usually in the OR before those come on.”
“Rex, this is an important interview. We’ll work around your schedule. I need you to do this one,” she pleaded.
“And what’s in it for me?”
She didn’t miss the suggestiveness in his tone. “Making the hospital look good.”
“Come on, Tiff. You can do better than that,” he teased, but there was a hopeful note in there as well.
Every time he called her Tiff she quivered. “I’ve already asked Dr. Nelson if we can set up in one of the consult rooms near the OR. You can do the interview in your scrubs. It’ll look more authentic anyway. When the interview is over you can go straight back to surgery. How does that sound?”
“Like you’re being all business. I’d still rather not do it. Again, what’s in it for me?”
“It’d make me happy.” Tiffani kept her voice even.
“That’s better but still not good enough.”
There was the faint sound of his name being called before he said, “I’ve got to go. I’m looking forward to seeing you Thursday.”
Even over the phone Rex had her thinking of things better left alone. Thursday couldn’t come soon enough.
* * *
It was around mid-morning when Rex entered the small consult room just steps from the surgery suite. Once again the table and chairs had been moved against the wall. This time there was a great deal more equipment than there had been for the photo shoot. Two large light stands, glowing brightly, faced two tall chairs situated close together, almost facing each other. Heavy-duty electrical cables ran along the floor. Two men stood behind two different cameras on tripods.
He’d walked into another world. A world he didn’t understand and where he had no control. The urge to leave grabbed him.
Tiffani wore an expensive suit with matching shoes that made her look as edgy as she acted while she conversed with a blonde woman he recognized from billboards around town. As the women talked, they kept referring to a piece of paper. He didn’t turn on the TV or often listen to the talk stations so he had
no idea if the woman had given the malpractice case a lot of air time.
Tiffani glanced his way, said something to the woman and came to meet him. “Hey, there. Glad you’re here.” Her smile was hesitant.
Had she been nervous about seeing him? He liked that idea. If he had her uncertain then he had a chance. She would be more open to getting to know him better. He hadn’t had to chase a woman since high school. Doing it now was both exciting and daunting.
“I’ve missed you.”
“Rex!”
He grinned. “Well, it’s true.” Glancing around, he noted, “There sure is a lot of stuff here just for a short interview.” Weren’t these the same people who’d had nothing kind to say about the hospital weeks ago? “I don’t have much time so can we get started?”
“They’ve almost finished setting up.” She moved toward the set chairs on the set and he followed. “All I want you to do is answer questions honestly and positively. Remember this is about improving the hospital image.”
“I always answer honestly.”
She looked at him. “Don’t forget the positive part.”
The blonde woman joined them. She wore makeup so heavy she appeared cartoonish. Extending her hand, she announced, “I’m Maggie Martin. You must be Dr. Maxwell.”
“Please, call me Rex.” He took her hand. It held no warmth.
Maggie’s smile was syrupy. “It’s nice to finally meet you.”
Rex nodded acknowledgment then gave Tiffani a winsome smile.
“We’ll be ready in just a minute,” Maggie said as she hurried away. Over her shoulder she added, “I’m glad you’re wearing your scrubs. I like a touch of authenticity.”
“I’m in scrubs because I am an authentic surgeon,” he muttered through gritted teeth, watching her go.
Tiffani touched his arm lightly. “Be nice. Also, would you mind taking off your head cover? And you’ll need to see the makeup person.”
This was getting worse every second. “Why do I need makeup?”
“Please, Rex. It won’t be much. This is too important. Please, just go along with it,” Tiffani begged.
He leaned in close so that only she could hear him. “You know, I like the sound of my name on your lips.”
Her blush was his reward. “Stop,” she hissed. “Come on over here.”
Rex wasn’t sure the hospital’s image was worth this aggravation as Tiffani led him to a young woman. “She’ll do your makeup and brush your hair.”
Rex narrowed his eyes and tightened his lips to let her see his disgust before she hurried off. Five minutes later the woman pronounced him ready for the camera and directed him to the chair on the right. He took the seat. One of the assistants hurried over and attached a tiny microphone to the V of his top and clipped the power pack to the waistband of his pants in the back.
Maggie joined him, settling in the other chair. Tiffani stationed herself beside one of the cameramen in front of a monitor.
“Rex, I’ll be introducing you then we’ll just talk. Easy-peasy,” Maggie quipped.
Something warned him not to believe it would be that simple. This couldn’t be over soon enough.
“Okay, here we go,” Maggie said.
Rex straightened, eyeing Tiffani. She gave him a reassuring smile. He returned a less enthusiastic one. Because he had nothing to hide he wasn’t nervous, but it was nice to have Tiff on his side.
“Good morning, Memphis,” Maggie announced with professional enthusiasm. “Today we have a very special treat for you. We’re coming to you live from Metropolitan Hospital. We’re going to highlight the hospital and share a little bit about what happens in the daily life of the staff here. A staff made up of many dedicated and special people. This morning we’re talking with Dr. Rex Maxwell, a surgeon here at Metro.” Maggie turned toward him and beamed. “Welcome, Dr. Maxwell.”
“Good morning.” He answered with all the pleasantness he could muster.
“I’d like to start off by asking you to tell us what a usual day would be like for you.”
He glanced at Tiffani. Her expectant smile reminded him how important this interview was to her. He’d agreed to do this, so to please her he would play the game and play it well.
“I’m a general surgeon. Most of my cases are people who come through the ER. My typical day starts at five thirty in the morning and I’m at the hospital by six. I do paperwork and see patients until seven, when my surgery schedule starts. After that I see patients in ICU or on the floor.” How he could have said more and told less, he didn’t know.
Maggie nodded, wearing a thoughtful expression. “Wow, that sounds like a busy day.”
He’d leaned forward a little, tilted his head. “Some days more so than others.” A covert glance at Tiffani made him think she was pleased with his efforts.
Meanwhile Maggie gave him a practiced smile. “I understand that recently you and the hospital were involved in a malpractice suit. Would you care to comment on that?”
There it was. What his gut had told him was coming. His gaze found Tiffani. She wasn’t moving a muscle and her expression implored him to give a positive answer. Was she afraid he was going to lose his temper? Taking a page from Tiffani’s playbook, he went on the offensive.
Leaning closer to Maggie as if he were going to tell her a secret, he said, “I can’t say much but I’ll tell you this. I use every skill I have to care for and save lives. Every time I, or my fellow surgeons, enter the OR our priority is saving patients’ lives. Our livelihoods are the last thing on our minds when we’re operating. This hospital puts its patients first in every case. Sometimes we simply can’t win the war between life and death, but we do everything within our knowledge and with our experienced skills to fight the battles.”
Maggie blinked, as if she needed a moment to regroup, then asked, “So you’re telling me there was nothing to the malpractice suit?”
Rex sat back and clasped his hands in his lap. “When your loved one dies, it’s only natural to seek a source of blame.”
“Does that mean you’re not guilty?” Maggie’s look bored into him.
Rex squared his shoulders. He wasn’t going to rehash old news for anyone. “No one likes being accused of doing something they didn’t do. How many stories have you had to retract? Or weather forecasts have you issued that turned out to be wrong? Should you be fired for acts of God?”
Maggie’s head jerked back as if she was astonished. “I guess we’ve all faced that at one time or another.”
“That’s true. But most people don’t have to live with the accusation they caused someone’s death or the fear they might lose their job because of something completely out of their control.” Rex held her gaze with confident humility.
Maggie’s eyes softened and her voice became sympathetic. “I imagine you do have some days when it’s hard to go to sleep.”
He smiled. “Yes, I’ve had more than a few. But I love my job and find being a doctor rewarding.” Sneaking another look at Tiffani, he was relieved to see she no longer appeared worried.
Maggie’s fake smile turned genuine. “Tell us why you wanted to become a doctor.”
“Well, Maggie, I worked at a local nursing home when I was a teenager. I needed a job and wanted to do something where I could make a difference.”
She nodded and leaned toward him. “So tell me, what does a surgeon do in his off time?”
“I don’t know, what does a popular newscaster like to do?” He winked at her.
Maggie giggled. “You sure there’s nothing you want to tell?”
He gave her his best grin, hoping it looked sincere. “It isn’t an adventure if you know the destination.” He then relaxed against the back of his chair.
“Before you get back to work, I’d like to know if you’re participating in the Walk with a Doc event sponsored by the hospital an
d this station this weekend?”
Rex looked at Tiffani. She put up her hands in a praying manner and nodded her head.
“I wouldn’t miss it.” He tried to sound eager.
Maggie looked at the camera. “So everybody come out and join Dr. Maxwell and I this Saturday for a chance to Walk with a Doc in Tom Lee Park. As well as the walk, there will be qualified medical professionals providing free health checks.” She turned back to him. “Dr. Maxwell, thanks so much for being here with us today.”
Rex nodded, relieved it was over, and as the cameras cut out, the assistant quickly came over and removed his microphone. Tiffani’s smile was wide, happy. It was nice to have her pleased with him. To have earned her genuine pleasure.
* * *
Tiffani couldn’t believe her eyes or ears. Rex had actually had Maggie flirting with him. He’d used his charm to get around her probing questions and had come out the winner. The hospital had as well. The interview could have been a train wreck but he’d turned it into a PR triumph.
She watched as he stood, speaking to Maggie one more time, then came over to her. She met him halfway. Without thinking, she threw her arms around his neck and hugged him. “You were great!”
His arms encircled her, pulling her against the hard wall of his body. “Thanks. I’ll take a rain-check on your enthusiastic expression of gratitude because I have to go. They’re waiting for me in the OR.”
Tiffani quickly released him, feeling heat flushing her face.
He whispered, for her ears only, “Don’t ask me to do that again.”
“But I had another in the works for next—”
“I won’t do it. I’m not explaining my actions. Especially when I wasn’t guilty of anything.” He walked away and out of the room.
Was he going to fight her on every front? He’d done an excellent job and now he wanted to quit. Today’s interview was the type that changed people’s minds. It helped them to see him as a person, a dedicated doctor, significant. Was there something more than the malpractice suit eating at him?
Redeeming the Rebel Doc Page 8