Rescue Me (a quirky romance novel about secrets, forgiveness and falling in love)

by Allan, Sydney

  With hope that he'd already left, she tipped her head and stole a glance toward where he'd been standing. Her heart sunk to her toes.

  He stood in the doorway, the strangest expression, strained and red-faced, spread over his face. Was he going to laugh at her? No, he was a professional. She glared a warning, just in case, and resumed her efforts to heft herself onto the bed.

  Hiding a flood of embarrassment behind a false bravado, she gave him a smug grin, then looked pleasantly at Dr. Meyers, who couldn't be a day over fifteen, with long blond hair and huge brown eyes. "Now, shall we continue?" she asked the doctor. In illustration, she laid flat on her back, her arms at her side. "You need to punch at my belly, maybe have me hack or something?"

  A deep chuckle carried down the hall before the door closed, and a giggle sat in Hailey's throat, shooting out of her mouth when Dr. Meyers shook her head and released a heavy sigh.

  Chapter 5

  Rainer shook his head, trying not to laugh as he walked to his office at the corridor's end. Who wouldn't laugh at Hailey? She was the strangest, most perplexing woman he'd ever met. A bundle of contradictions, at one moment acting meek and sensitive, and the next a wild banshee. One thing was for sure, she had a nice backside.

  With a smile that refused to budge from his face, no matter how hard he tried, he went into his tiny white-walled office and sat down at his desk, the only substantial piece of furniture. Even though he was sharing this practice with several other docs, he was the youngest, and as such, he was hardly better off than a resident.

  Grateful for Sue Meyers's help with Hailey, he tipped the chair back until it knocked into the wall behind him. He closed his eyes. There was no way he would have been able to finish Hailey's examination, and that troubled him for more than one reason.

  First, he was shocked by the way his body had reacted to her. She wasn't exactly gowned in the most provocative clothes on earth, and yet, he found her incredibly sexy. Sexy!

  That was the second thing that bothered him. He had no time for distraction. He had his career and his friends. He'd learned years ago he couldn't handle more than that. She lived in California, anyway. Everyone knows long distance relationships don't work.

  And last, but most importantly, she was the estranged sister of his dearest friend, a friend who was seriously ill. He couldn't date Heidi's sister, not after everything Heidi had told him. Granted, she hadn't said much--nothing but how they didn't talk. Still, he could see there was some bad blood between the two sisters. It was sad--truly unfortunate--considering Heidi's condition.

  He recalled the hours he'd devoted last night to his plans. If he was going to have any chance of helping them reconcile, he had to remain objective. Letting himself nurture dubious fantasies about Hailey would definitely put an end to objectivity.

  Thank God for Sue! After she gave him word Hailey's examination was finished, he'd take Hailey to the nearest hotel, pay her bill, and give her some cash for a taxi back to the airport in the morning. Then he'd be done with her for almost two weeks. Hopefully, by the time he next saw her, he'd have his head on straight and his rebellious emotions under check. This was not the Rainer Hartmann he knew and loved.

  He almost wished he hadn't insisted on handling the donation end of the procedure. Heidi's oncologist, an old friend from med school, Dr. Evan Robins, had been relieved when Rainer suggested he take care of the donor. That had been all the encouragement he'd needed.

  Rainer stood, deciding he needed a visit with Heidi. It had been days since he'd seen her. That last visit the sight of her so sick had brought old fears to the surface. Damn if everyone he loved didn't die!

  He followed the corridor to the elevator, went to the basement, then walked the quarter-mile of tunnels to the hospital. The main elevators carried him six floors up, and then it was another lengthy walk before he stood outside of Heidi's room. He checked in at the nurse's station before going to see her, relieved when her nurse told him Heidi was having a good day. She was even eating a little.

  The tension released from the back of his neck. Before he stepped foot into her room, he tipped his head back, rocking it slowly from side to side, and prepared to see her. The door cracked open a little. Just enough to allow him a glimpse into the room. Immediately he realized Heidi had company.

  He stepped back and waited for someone inside to speak, curious to see who was visiting her. No one had visited since she'd been hospitalized--over two weeks ago. That had enraged him. It was nice to see she wasn't alone now. He didn't want to intrude.

  "When you get through this, I think you should marry that nice doctor friend of yours. He's been so good to you through this," a woman said. He recognized that voice and wasn't surprised by her suggestion. Margaret had done everything but ask him to marry Heidi at the last family gathering he'd attended. She even hinted at a family wedding ring.

  "Mom, I told you, he doesn't love me that way."

  "But you do. You love him. Why aren't you honest? You never know what he might say. And--"

  "No. You've got it all wrong." Heidi's voice wavered, sending a bolt of fear through him. Had he misread another woman? He'd made that mistake once before...

  "I do, do I?" her mother said. "If I have it wrong, why does he come to all of our holiday gatherings? Your brother's wedding, Christmas, Easter--"

  "He comes because he likes to," Heidi interrupted again. "We're friends. Plus, his family lives so far away. I feel bad for him. I wouldn't want him to spend Christmas alone. Now, will you drop this?"

  "But you're being silly. No man tags along with a woman unless he wants...you know, something."

  "Enough!" Heidi said.

  Taking that as his cue, and ignoring his pounding heart, he called out loudly, "Where's my best patient?" He pushed open the door and stepped into the room.

  Two green eyes with deep purple shadows under them searched his face as he looked at Heidi. She smiled, and he continued to wonder if her argument with Margaret had been a cover, if the professings of friendship over the years had been a cover, too. He'd never questioned the truth of those words before, but for some reason he did now. Had it been that slight waver in her voice? Or the way she'd so quickly defended his actions?

  "There you are!" she called out, interrupting his troubling thoughts. "Where have you been? You've never stayed away so long. I was beginning to wonder if you'd left me for another patient."

  "Oh, God no. How could I do that?" He smiled a greeting at Heidi's mother. "Margaret," he said as he brushed past her toward Heidi's bedside. He gripped Heidi's cold hand in his. The skin felt dry, the bones fragile.

  "So, tell me. What's the story?" Heidi tipped her head. "I know you. You wouldn't leave me if it wasn't important."

  "I don't want to talk about that now, okay?" he asked.

  His evasion wasn't well received, not that he'd expected it to be. "You're not going to get away with that. I'm stuck in this cubicle with nothing but ancient movies and 'How to Lower Your Cholesterol' videos to watch. What's going on?"

  He chuckled. "You could learn a thing or two from that cholesterol program, you know your cholesterol levels were--"

  "No way. No doctor-ese here. Friend-to-friend. Where have you been? I can see there's something going on."

  He sighed and nodded, deciding a part of the truth couldn't hurt. "We found a potential donor for you."

  "Oh, that's wonderful!" Margaret said, beaming at him. Then she looked at Heidi. "See sweetheart? I told you they would find one."

  "Now, nothing's for certain yet," he added. "We still have some blood tests to perform. We're doing that now."

  "So the donor is here, at the hospital?" Margaret asked, stepping closer to him.

  "Yes."

  Margaret grabbed his arm. "Oh, that's wonderful! I'd love to meet her... or is it him? I'd love to thank them, tell them how much this means--"

  "I'm sorry, but no one can meet the donor. That's standard procedure." Releasing Heidi's hand, he glanced from Mar
garet to Heidi and back. Both their raised eyebrows and scowls suggested they didn't like his response. "It's hospital policy. The donors and recipients may not meet for at least six months. And then, only if both parties agree."

  "Why all the secrecy?" Heidi asked.

  "To protect both the donor and patient."

  Margaret nudged her way between Rainer and Heidi and reached for Heidi's hand, clutching it between hers. "I don't see any harm in meeting him or her. Can't you do something? Break the rules? Or just bend them a little? I'd love to thank them for giving my angel a new life."

  "No, I'm sorry. That's not the way things are done." His pager buzzed, and he glanced down. It was the office. Grateful for the interruption, he said, "Heidi, Margaret, I'll be back later. That's the office. I need to be getting back." He leaned down and left a soft kiss on Heidi's forehead. "You get some rest. If this donor proves acceptable, you're in for a rough couple of weeks. You need to build up as much strength as possible."

  After a nod to Margaret, he left the room and walked back. No sooner did he sit at his desk, than Sue stuck her head through the doorway and looped her stethoscope around her neck. "Hartmann, your donor's almost finished. Blood's being drawn now. How is your other patient?" she added with a smile.

  "There was another patient, honest. You don't believe me?" Hadn't she noticed he'd been gone?

  "Sure. Down in the cafeteria, no doubt." She rolled her eyes. "Although I admit, you've got some interesting taste. Don't get me wrong, she's absolutely stunning, and very funny, but she's not the kind I've always imagined you with." She plunked down in a chair and gave him a Cheshire grin. "She looks familiar, though."

  "She's Heidi Jensen's identical twin, and she's nothing more than a stem cell donor."

  "Say no more," Sue said, leaping to her feet and raising her hands in defeat. "She's nothing like Heidi, from what I can see, not that I know either of them."

  He leaned forward in his chair and rested his forearms on the cool desktop, wishing the cold would seep through his skin and chill the blood that suddenly burned in his veins. He forced a smile. "Thanks again for helping me out. I owe you one."

  "Not a problem. Hey, since you offered, how about taking my night Thursday? It's our anniversary, and Bob wants to take me out."

  "Sure," he said, imagining himself sitting in a restaurant sharing a candlelight dinner with a faceless woman, toasting five happy years. Then the woman's face materialized. Heidi--no, Hailey? No. Not possible. He wasn't attracted to her. Not at all. It had be a subconscious thought planted by Sue's comments.

  "Thanks, Hartmann," Sue said as she stepped through the doorway. A moment later, she popped her head back in. "I think the Jensen twin is all set. She's out in the waiting room."

  He smiled and leaned back, suddenly dead-dog tired. He hadn't scheduled any patients this afternoon, thank God. So he had the rest of the afternoon off. Tomorrow, he'd pay. He'd taken a peek at his schedule. Booked solid until late tomorrow night. At least he'd have a quiet night tonight.

  Standing, he took one last look around his office, feeling like he was forgetting something. Not sure what that might be, he walked down the corridor to the waiting room.

  Hailey's thankful smile greeted him when he stepped into the room, and he couldn't help returning it, even though inside he was a mishmash of conflicting emotions. "Ready to go?" he asked, walking toward the exit.

  He could come back later, visit with Heidi. He wouldn't ask her about the conversation with her mother, he decided. As tempting as it was--as vital as it was to know the truth--he didn't want to upset her.

  That could cost her dearly. Her life, in fact.

  Hailey leapt to her feet. "Am I ever ready to get outta here! I hate doctors, hospitals, needles. Besides, I'm starving. How about some dinner?"

  He held the door for her, watching her as she brushed past him. She had the most expressive face, so full of vitality, so full of life. And her walk. She practically bounced down the hallway, her stride having a dancelike quality. Not slow and demure like her sister's, but strong, graceful and lively. He smiled, and she caught him when she spun on her heels to look back.

  Her brows knitted together as she regarded him playfully. "What's the deal? Is something wrong? You look..." She bit her lip, a smile tugging at one side. "It's weird, isn't it?"

  "What's weird?" he asked, caught off guard and completely bewildered by her question. He walked forward, catching up with her in three long strides.

  "How two people who are genetically identical can be so different." She leaned closer, until he could smell her cologne, spicy, citrusy. Very sexy. Definitely Hailey.

  The hairs on the back of his neck prickled. He passed under an air conditioning vent and a shot of cool air landed there.

  "It is strange," he admitted. "I've heard identical twins can be different, but never knew how different. You and Heidi are like night and day."

  "You can thank our parents for that." She walked stride for stride beside him. "They never dressed us alike. Always said they wanted us to be individuals, unique and special. I'm grateful. I think it shows how wise they were." She stopped walking when they reached the end of the corridor, and after punching the down button on the elevator, she added, "No matter how much I love my sister--and I do love her--I wouldn't want to be like her."

  "I never doubted you love your sister," he said, looking down into cool green eyes, framed by the darkest lashes he'd ever seen. His gaze dropped to her nose, straight and upturned just enough to add some spunk to her face, and then down to a set of full lips that quivered a tiny bit.

  "I hate doctor's offices," she repeated again, turning from him and stepping closer to the elevator door. The bell rang, and she plunged through the crowd and wedged herself between a candystriper pushing a woman in a wheelchair and an elderly man supporting himself with a bent wooden cane. She smiled. "This car seems to be full. I suppose you'll have to catch the next one."

  He laughed and watched her face until the silver doors hid it from his view. Then he walked to the stairwell around the corner. Taking the stairs would be good for him anyway. He needed the exercise.

  When he reached the lobby, he found Hailey casually leaning against a marble pillar, staring out the glass front doors. He stepped up to her, quietly, not wanting to disturb her thoughts. As he moved closer, he watched her expression change from wistful to sorrowful. She blinked several times, and then glanced his way.

  "Now, what would you like to eat?" he asked, ignoring the tears in her eyes. He didn't want to get too close to this woman. His loyalty was to Heidi. Especially now, with the question of her feelings still echoing in his head.

  "How about Thai?"

  He cringed. Not his favorite food. "Sure, I know the perfect little spot. It's not far from here." Then he smiled. Thai food was an odd combination, so like Hailey. Sweet and spicy at the same time. And hot enough to make your eyes water.

  Shaking his head, he forced his thoughts back Heidi, to safer territory. Worrying for a close friend was easy to do. Trying to decipher a mystery like Hailey wasn't only frustrating, it was terrifying.

  His thoughts still on Heidi's treatment, and how she would need his support when she started the toxic chemo, he drove Hailey to the restaurant and picked at his food. He watched her eat, thinking of their mother and wondering if she'd be at Heidi's side throughout the week. With this next course being so powerful, the side effects might easily overwhelm Margaret. His heart went out to her. She looked so weary already.

  And if she wasn't able to handle it and stick by Heidi's side, how would Heidi face it alone?

  "You okay?" Hailey asked, after they'd finished eating and he'd paid the check. She took one last swig of her diet soda and set the glass on the table, then waited patiently for his answer.

  "I'm fine. I have a lot to think about. Work, your sister's treatment, your family."

  "Why do you care so much?" She leaned forward, her gaze traveling slowly over his face until he felt
it heat from the intensity.

  "Heidi is a friend."

  "A friend, my ass." She smiled, her expression belying the challenge in her words.

  He stood, not in the mood to explain his relationship with Heidi at the moment. "Shall we? I'd like to find you a hotel room, but if we wait too long, we'll run into the same problem we faced yesterday."

  He glanced down at his watch. Seven o'clock, already? Where had the day gone? It would take at least an hour to drive back to the airport, which would put them in the vicinity at about eight. He shook his head. They'd never find a hotel at that hour with the convention in town. Hailey had been right about one thing; he hadn't planned this well.

  After they stepped outside, Hailey eyed the sky. "It's getting dark. Should we bother? I mean--" she stopped, her face reddening. Then she turned from him and walked quietly to his car. She sat. "I left my things at your place. We'll have to stop there first."

  His heart sunk. For some reason he had the feeling once they reached his condo, they wouldn't leave again. Lifting his cell phone from its cradle mounted to the dashboard, he punched the numbers for his answering service and waited, prepared for more bad news. To his surprise, he had no messages, and an ounce of discomfort lifted.

  "Would you rather stay at the condo tonight?" he offered, peering toward her and wondering why the sparkle he'd seen earlier was gone. Her shoulders sagged as though the weight of the world sat upon them.

  She stared out the window, but he guessed her eyes were sorrow filled. "No, that's okay. I'd like some quiet tonight. Could we find a hotel close to the airport, so I won't have to drive across town in a taxi?"

  "There's no guarantee Heidi's going to make it," he said, hoping he was reading Hailey's mood right. "But she has the best team of doctors in the state. You can trust them."