Prince Charming, M.D.

by Susan Mallery

  A car full of teenagers pulled up next to him. A couple of boys looked at Dana and yelled encouragement.

  “I’m not going to race them,” she muttered.

  But Trevor saw the speedometer inch up. Then she shook her head and they slowed down. The teenagers roared past them.

  “They weren’t just interested in the car,” he said.

  “What on earth do you mean?”

  “You’re a beautiful woman. The car only highlights the fact.”

  She glanced at him. “Oh, please, Trevor. Don’t use your good material on me. It’s wasted.”

  “Hey, this isn’t material. I mean it.”

  She shook her head as if she didn’t believe him. He refused to let that fact spoil his good mood. They would be at the seminar for a week. He planned to use the opportunity to get to know Dana again. Although they’d spent some time together, it had been disjointed at best. He knew the rumors circulating around the hospital kept her at a distance. But if they could spend several days together, away from ail the talk, she might start to see him for the man he was. He wanted that more than he should.

  She changed lanes to go around a slow-moving vehicle. “You always had the coolest car/’ she said. “I remember the Mustang you had in high school. It was perfect”

  “I didn’t think you noticed.”

  She shrugged. “I noticed everything about you, Trevor. Everyone did. You were the most popular boy in the school. Or don’t those past conquests matter anymore?”

  “There weren’t as many conquests as you think, and yes, some of them matter very much.” You matter, but he didn’t say that. She wouldn’t believe him. Not yet, anyway. But soon. Maybe.

  “High school was a long time ago,” she said. “We’ve all changed.”

  “How are you different?” he asked.

  “I’ve grown up.” She brushed her hair off her face, then laughed when it blew back. “I suppose the biggest difference is not being poor anymore.”

  He remembered her small apartment and her mother’s run-down car. He’d always thought Dana dressed really well, but he’d heard the other girls talking about her clothes and the fact that many of them had been hand-me-downs from friends or purchased at a thrift store.

  “You worked hard,” he said. “You’ve accomplished a lot.”

  She nodded. “My mom used to tell me not to bother. That the best way out was to wait for a man to rescue me. She waited for that for years after my dad walked out on her.”

  “Where is she now?”

  “In Florida. She finally got her rescue. But even back in high school I knew I wanted something different. I wanted to be responsible for my own future. That’s why I went to college and then on to nursing school.”

  “My dad told me you had a scholarship for college, then a grant for nursing school.”

  She gave him a quick look before turning her attention back to the road. “You were talking about me?”

  “Yes.”

  “Oh.”

  He could feel her questions. She wanted to know why he was interested in her and what other things his father had volunteered. But she didn’t ask any more questions and he didn’t offer the information. Better for her to wonder.

  “Is your life what you thought it would be?” he asked.

  “Sometimes. Right now I don’t have a lot of balance, which can be a problem. For the past couple of years all I’ve thought about is work. Therefore my social life is pretty sad. Now that I have the job I want, though, I suppose I can think about making some changes.”

  “Marriage and a family?” he asked.

  “Something like that.”

  He wondered if she had anyone special in mind.

  “What about you?” she asked. “Are you where you wanted to be?”

  “Career-wise, yes. I always dreamed of being a surgeon. But personally—” He shrugged. “Obviously I’d hoped for better.”

  “Do you have any contact with your ex-wife?”

  “No. I prefer it that way. There’s nothing left to say. Vanessa wasn’t interested in a career or even finishing college. She wanted to play. I was a little too sincere and hardworking for her. Last I heard she had married the eldest son of a wealthy plastic surgeon. She should be happy with him.”

  “If nothing else, she’ll get to look young for a really long time.”

  “There’s nothing wrong with a few wrinkles,” Trevor said. “I think living life makes women beautiful.”

  Dana opened her mouth, then closed it. “Wow. You sound like you mean that.”

  “I do.”

  “Such deep thoughts for a man who drives a convertible. You’re right. You’re a lot more than a pretty face.”

  Her teasing made him laugh. Dana was easy to be with. That had always been the way with them and he was pleased it hadn’t changed.

  “I have an assortment of personal questions,” she said. “Don’t feel you have to answer any of them.”

  “Fire away.”

  “Do you miss Vanessa?”

  “No.” He probed his heart. “I don’t feel anything for her, either. It’s been over for a while.”

  “Did you lose the baby early in Vanessa’s pregnancy?”

  He frowned. “We never had a child together.”

  “But I thought...” Her voice trailed off.

  Trevor’s confusion faded and he had to hold down a flare of anger. “Amazingly enough, I thought I was in love with her, Dana. I proposed to Vanessa because I planned to spend the rest of my life with her, not because I thought she was pregnant.”

  Dana’s mouth twisted. “Really?”

  “Don’t sound so skeptical.”

  “I’m not And you sound angry.”

  “It’s a hell of an assumption. That the only reason I would marry a woman is that I got her pregnant? Do you really think that about me?” He took a deep breath, his good mood suddenly lost. “Never mind. I don’t want to know your answer to that”

  They didn’t talk for a few minutes. He tried to concentrate on the road, but he wasn’t driving, so the light traffic didn’t keep his interest Why did he even bother? She wasn’t going to change her mind about him.

  After a while, she reached out and placed her hand on his forearm. “I’m sorry,” she said. “That was a terrible thing to assume. I don’t blame you for being angry with me. Can we please start over?”

  “Sure. Whatever.”

  “Trevor, I mean it. I am really sorry.”

  “I know. It’s okay. I’m used to it”

  “To people assuming the worst about you?”

  “Yeah. It happens all the time.” He thought about the rumors currently circulating through the hospital. He hadn’t heard all the details, but from what he’d put together, he was supposedly dating at least two nurses regularly, maybe three. And having casual sex with God knows how many others.

  “How do you handle it?” she asked.

  “I ignore it and hope it will go away. I’ve given up trying to explain. It doesn’t help.”

  “So you’re saying I shouldn’t believe the stories?”

  “Not if you want the truth. Yes, there are women interested in me, but it’s a whole lot more about my reputation than who I am. I’m selective about who I get involved with and I date much less than the grapevine would have you believe.”

  She glanced at him, then focused on driving once more. “Why are you telling me this?”

  “Why do you think?”

  Her mouth opened, then closed. “Oh.” She was silent for a minute, then repeated, “Oh.”

  Trevor smiled. At last he was making progress.

  *

  They arrived at the resort in the late afternoon. Dana stared at the imposing glass-and-wood structure and was grateful she hadn’t come alone. Nothing like a five-star rating to make her remember her humble roots.

  Trevor handed his car keys to the valet and gave the young man both their names. Yes, they were attending the management seminar; yes, they were
there for the week. He waited until she’d climbed out of the sports car, then placed a hand on the small of her back and led her inside.

  The ceiling soared three stories. Plants gave the lobby an outdoor feeling inside, while the furniture groups created an air of intimacy. The floors were marble, the walls and columns wood, the trim brass. It was the kind of place that prided itself on attention to detail. Instinctively, Dana took a step closer to Trevor. She knew he wouldn’t let her put a foot wrong.

  He pointed to a small sign near the registration desk. It told seminar attendees to go to the main ballroom. She swallowed hard. Had Walter made a mistake sending her here? Maybe she should have refused or thought up an excuse to put the experience off.

  They walked into the ballroom. Huge crystal chandeliers hung from the ceiling. About sixty people were milling around. Dana resisted the urge to run back to the car. She knew that everyone could tell she was out of her element.

  Trevor leaned close. “I hate stuff like this,” he whispered. “It makes me uncomfortable.”

  “Really?”

  He nodded.

  His confession made her feel better. “Me, too,” she admitted.

  “So promise you’ll tell me if I get spinach in my teeth, and I’ll do the same.”

  She chuckled. Something leaped between them. It wasn’t exactly an electric current, but it was close. She thought about all they’d discussed in the car. His irritation when she’d assumed he’d gotten married because Vanessa was pregnant, and his assurance that the rumors about his dating habits were just stories and not the truth at all. Mostly she thought about his hint that he was interested in her. She clutched the information to her chest and prayed that it was true.

  A petite and very pregnant Asian woman walked to the podium set up at the front of the room. “Good afternoon,” she said, distracting Dana from her thoughts and the feel of Trevor’s hand at the base of her spine. “Welcome to our week-long seminar.”

  “She’s going to pop any second,” Trevor said, eyeing her stomach. “My back hurts just looking at her.”

  “Imagine how hers feels.”

  “I don’t want to.”

  “My name is Shelly Jones and I’ll be leading the seminar this week.” She touched her stomach and smiled. “Don’t be fooled. I know I look huge, but I have at least three weeks to go.”

  “Is that all?” Dana murmured, wondering if the woman had a family history of early delivery.

  Shelly’s dark hair hung past her shoulders. She wore a navy dress and low heels. “We have an eclectic group with us this time. Everyone from middle managers at a large telecommunications firm to a surgeon.”

  Dana nudged him. “That would be you.”

  “Gee, thanks.”

  He whispered the words close to her ear and his warm breath fanned her face. She felt a flicker of response deep in her belly.

  “We have many goals for the seminar,” Shelly continued. “Lots of different exercises. We hope you enjoy your time with us. First, we're going to start with an ice-breaker exercise. Several staff members are going to walk around with baskets. Inside are pieces of paper. Take one and read it, but don’t let anyone else see what’s written.”

  A young man in a hotel uniform passed by them. Dana and Trevor each took a slip of paper. Dana opened hers and read “Somewhere Over the Rainbow.” She frowned. What did it mean?

  “The first order of business is to get to know one another.” Shelly smiled. “In case you haven’t guessed, these are song titles. I want you to start humming your song, then walk around humming until you meet up with others who have your song. We should end up with five groups of twelve. Ready?”

  There was a moment of stunned silence in the room. Shelly laughed. “This is just the beginning. By the end of the week, this will seem tame. I promise.”

  “Like that’s good news,” Trevor muttered. “I can’t sing and I don’t hum much better.”

  Dana didn’t know whether to grin or run screaming for the car. She decided to play along. She began humming her song. Trevor looked at her.

  “That doesn’t sound like ’Getting to Know You.’”

  She shook her head.

  “See you around, then,” he said, and turned away.

  He cleared his throat several times, then emitted a sound that wasn’t anything like music. Dana started to laugh.

  Three hours later she was still laughing. The exercise had been great fun and she’d made friends with several people. Following the session, they’d been fed dinner and assigned rooms.

  Trevor took her key and held it up next to his. “Rooms 306 and 308. Looks like they’re adjoining.” He winked.

  “I’m hoping to catch up on my sleep, so try not to keep me up too late with your wild parties.”

  “I don’t have wild parties,” she insisted. “You’re the one with the reputation.”

  ‘“Still waters run deep.’”

  “I’m—” She paused, not willing to say she wasn’t deep. “I promise not to party.”

  “I don’t mind, as long as you invite me.”

  They halted in front of her door. He handed her the key, then leaned against the door frame. “Did you enjoy tonight?”

  She nodded. “It was great. I think I’m going to learn a lot.”

  “Me, too.”

  He was staring at her. Dana told herself it didn’t mean anything, but her suddenly pounding heart didn’t believe her. Had it gotten really hot all of a sudden? And what had happened to her ability to breathe? Her chest was tight and her lungs ached. Maybe it was...

  She knew exactly what it was. What it always was. Trevor.

  She stared back at him, willing him to move closer, to kiss her. That’s what she wanted. His mouth on hers, his arms around her. Only then would the aching inside go away.

  She leaned toward him. He touched her cheek. “’Night,” he said, and walked to his door.

  Dana stared after him, confused and obviously ready for more than Trevor was willing to offer.

  Chapter Seven

  Despite the threat of rain later in the week, the next morning dawned clear and warm. Trevor stared out at the manicured gardens of the hotel and told himself he had no one but himself to blame for his lack of sleep. He’d known better than to start thinking about Dana as he’d gone to bed. He should have read one of the many medical journals he’d brought with him. The information would have provided a distraction, and occasionally the articles were dry enough to use as a sleep aid.

  Instead, he’d stretched out in the dark and thought about their drive together, about all she’d talked about and how she’d looked behind the wheel of his car. He’d pictured her soft hair blowing in the wind and the way her mouth had turned up when she’d smiled. He’d recalled their conversation, how she’d talked about keeping her grades up in college so she wouldn’t lose her scholarship. She’d worked hard to achieve all that she had and he admired that He admired her.

  But he wasn’t sure what else he felt where she was concerned. He respected her and her abilities. He knew he liked her. He thought she was bright and funny. Obviously he wanted her. A few minutes in her presence provided physical proof of that fact. So many times he’d wanted to kiss her. Not just yesterday, but other times. Last night had been the worst, though. Watching her at the opening session, hearing snippets of her conversation with the other participants and her laughter. He’d felt drawn to her. And like that foolish moth, he was at risk of getting fried.

  A tap at his door distracted him. He crossed the carpeted floor and unfastened the lock. Dana smiled up at him from the hallway.

  “I wasn’t sure if you’d already left for breakfast, so I thought I’d check. Would you like to go down together?”

  The seminar brochure had stressed the need for casual clothing so everyone could be relaxed during the exercises. Dana wore black jeans and a red sweater. Gold hoops dangled from her ears. He could smell the scent of soap and shampoo; she rarely wore perfume.

&nb
sp; The wanting came hard and fast. He tried to convince himself some of it was about not having been with a woman in so long, but he knew it was specifically about Dana.

  “Breakfast sounds great,” he said, and picked up his room key. “How’d you sleep?”

  “Fine. It’s quiet out here.”

  “I noticed,” he said, remembering the stillness as he’d lain awake in the king-sized bed. He’d imagined he could hear her stirring on the other side of the wall.

  “I went through the materials they gave us last night,” she said as they waited for the elevator. “There wasn’t much on the program.”

  “I saw that, too. I don’t think they want us to have time to prepare.”

  She looked at him and wrinkled her nose. “I keep telling myself this is for my own good. Walter wouldn’t have sent me unless he thought I could handle it.”

  “You’ll be fine,” Trevor told her, placing his hand on the small of her back and motioning for her to precede him into the elevator.

  “Easy for you to say. You’re the one with the natural charm.”

  “As opposed to unnatural charm?”

  She chuckled. “As opposed to those of us who muddle our way through social situations.”

  Her confession of feeling inadequate surprised him. He’d always viewed Dana as completely together. “You don’t muddle—you do great Everyone admires you.”

  He’d kept his hand on her back because it was a socially acceptable way to touch her. She hardly needed his assistance or guidance. It was a ploy to stay close to her, touching her, absorbing her warmth and the pleasure her presence brought him. So he felt her start of surprise at his compliment.

  “Trevor,” she began, as if going to ask him to explain himself. Then the doors opened and they joined the other seminar participants walking toward the large ballroom at the end of the hallway. There wasn’t another chance for private conversation.

  The ballroom had been divided into several smaller rooms; the largest was being used for breakfast, with eight round tables set for eight.