Prince Charming, M.D.

by Susan Mallery

  “Never. She’s my whole life. But we’re not going to spend tonight talking about me. Happiness is a thrill for those living it, but it makes boring dinner conversation. Plan to be the entertainment, kid. See you at seven-thirty.”

  “Bye.”

  Dana hung up. This was exactly what she needed. A distraction from Trevor and the chance to get some good advice. She glanced at the clock and figured she could still catch him at his office.

  After dialing the number, she waited for the receptionist to answer. She gave her name, then prepared herself to explain that this was a personal call. Sometimes getting through to doctors was not simple. But to her surprise, the receptionist immediately asked her to hold on. Less than a minute later, Trevor was on the phone.

  “You read my mind,” he said. “I was just thinking about you.”

  A quiver shot through her stomach. The man sure had a way about him. He could disarm her with a phrase.

  “What were you thinking?” she asked, her voice low and sultry. “About what we were doing last night?”

  “Urn, that, too. But don’t get me started. I still have a couple of patients to see and I don’t think they’d appreciate obvious proof that I’d just talked to a very sexy lady.”

  “It wouldn’t look good, would it?”

  “You don’t think it looks good?” He sounded hurt.

  She laughed. “You know that’s not what I meant. It’s lovely. More than lovely. It’s incredible and perfect and I can’t wait until the next time I see it. Better?”

  “Definitely better.”

  “Okay. I always have to watch what I say around you.”

  “I believe in keeping you on your toes. Otherwise, you intelligent types think you can walk all over a guy.”

  If only that were true, she thought. Unfortunately for her, in this relationship Trevor had all the power. Still, there was something about him. She sighed. “Yeah, yeah. You’re so horribly abused,” she teased. “How do you stand it?”

  “I figure I’m building character. You don’t usually call me at the office. What’s up?”

  “Nothing important. A friend from college is in town for the night We’re going out for dinner.” She paused, not sure what else to say. They had been spending the last few nights together, but she didn’t know if she was supposed to check in with him about this kind of stuff. “I, um, thought you might want to know.” She tensed, wondering if he was going to laugh at her or tell her it didn’t matter.

  “Oh.”

  Dana straightened. He sounded disappointed. “Is that okay?”

  “Sure. It’s just that my dad called. He and my mom invited us to join them for dinner tonight. They’re going to their favorite restaurant on the west side and they thought it would be fun for us to tag along. No problem, though. I’ll phone them and explain.’’

  “I’m sorry, Trevor. I’d change my dinner, but we only have tonight. You should go with your folks anyway. You’ll have fun.”

  “I will. Otherwise, I’ll just stay home waiting for you. Will you be out late?”

  “Not at all.” When he traveled, Roger always hurried back to his hotel room so he could have a long chat with Marcie.

  “Good. Because I’d still like to see you tonight.”

  She thought about seeing him. Not just the lovemaking, but being with him, talking and laughing. “I’d like that, too.”

  “So whoever gets home first will put on something sexy and be waiting for the other.”

  She laughed. “Now I am going to try to get home after you. I want to see you in something sexy.”

  “I might just surprise you.”

  She thought about Angie and Sally and the fact that he probably hadn’t been dating them at all. “You already do,” she told him. “In the most pleasant way possible. See you tonight”

  *

  “So Emma looked up at me, smiled and said, ‘The water’s blue now, Daddy. Just like when Momma cleans.’” Roger shook his head. “I kept telling myself the bright-blue poster paint she’d just poured down the toilet was water soluble, but I still checked with a plumber. That little girl is a constant challenge.”

  Dana heard the love in his voice and smiled. “You wouldn’t have it any other way.”

  “You’re right.” Roger finished his beer and set the glass on the table.

  They’d been at the restaurant nearly an hour and had yet to order dinner. There was too much to catch up on.

  Roger leaned forward and raised his eyebrows. They were auburn, just a few shades darker than his curly red hair. “All right. You’ve listened to me tell you about the trials and joys of living with three kids under the age of five. I’m sure my tales of diaper rash and blocked toilets will be the subject of your dinner conversation for the next couple of weeks, but it’s time to move on. What’s new with Dana Rowan?”

  “I already told you about my promotion, right?”

  “Yes, and congratulations. You’re doing very well.”

  “Thanks.”

  Work was the easy part. It was her personal life that was giving her trouble.

  “Dana, I recognize that look. Something is bothering you. Tell Uncle Roger. You’ll feel better, I promise. If nothing else, I can give you a guy’s perspective on the situation.”

  She looked at his kind face. While he had pleasant features, he wasn’t even close to Trevor’s incredible physical perfection. In some ways, Dana wouldn’t mind if Trevor were a little less handsome. At least then she wouldn’t feel as if she had to be in competition all the time.

  “I’m seeing this guy,” she began, not sure what to tell Roger.

  “I figured as much. You pretty much have the rest of your life in order. So is he a good guy or a bad guy?”

  “Interesting question.” She sipped her wine and thought. “He’s good, most of the time.”

  “And when he isn’t?”

  “No, it’s not that. He’s...” How did she explain the phenomenon that was Trevor MacAllister? “He’s one of those people who always win. He’s good-looking, successful, smart, funny.”

  “Married?”

  “Roger!”

  Her friend grinned. “Hey, I know he’s not perfect. I was just searching for a flaw.”

  “He has flaws, just not very many. The problem isn’t as much him as everyone else, and maybe me.”

  “You’ll have to explain that one to me.”

  Before she could, the waiter came over to their table. They ordered. When they were alone, Dana continued. “I knew him back when we were in high school. He was the most popular boy and all the girls wanted to go out with him.” She recapped her relationship with Trevor, then and now. She explained about the nurses who claimed to be dating him and her recent realization that they were lying about some or maybe all of the time they’d spent with him.

  “I just don’t understand,” she said. “Exaggerating is one thing, but flat-out lying? It doesn’t make sense. Why bother? Didn’t they know they would get caught?”

  “Maybe they have their own reputation to think about,” Roger said. He shrugged out of his sport coat and hung it over the back of the chair. “These are young, attractive women. He’s a successful, single doctor. I would guess they’re interested, not only in him, but also in being perceived as desirable. If the hottest thing to hit town in twenty years is taking them out, or so everyone thinks, then they can ride his coattails. Women are just as concerned about status and perceptions as men.”

  “Agreed.” What he said made sense...sort of. “I’m starting to get the impression this has happened to Trevor all his life. Everywhere he goes people—women, really—assume the worst about him.”

  “Based on how you described the guy, I should hate him without even meeting him,” Roger said. “But if this is the price he pays for being so high up on the food chain, count me out. It’s not worth it.” He shrugged. “Of course, no one is offering me his position, and no one is going to let him walk away from his.”

  “You me
an he’s trapped?”

  “Sure.” Roger leaned toward her. “Let me fill you in on a little secret about men. There’s a lot of talk that guys aren’t interested in love and commitment. That we all want to score with a different woman every night That’s just not true. Sure, at times every man looks at an attractive woman and thinks, ‘Yeah, I’d like to bag her.’ But it’s just a passing thought. Cheap talk and wayward hormones. Nothing else. The truth is, we want to be married. We like knowing that someone in the world loves us and cares about us. Someone who will be there when we get home. We like the familiarity, the routine. We really love our wives and our families.”

  “I know you’re like that,” she said. “I’ve seen those qualities in other men, too. But Trevor—”

  “Sounds to me like Trevor hasn’t had a chance to experience that yet. Has anyone bothered to look past the reputation to the man underneath?”

  “He was married before.”

  “Obviously it didn’t work out, and I’m willing to bet he wasn’t the reason.”

  She remembered what Trevor had said about Vanessa’s cheating on him. “No, his wife was the problem.”

  Brown eyes softened with concern. “You’re going to have to think about this, Dana, because the man is important to you. I’ve known you a long time and I’ve watched you grow up. You’re a wonderful woman and you deserve an equally wonderful man in your life. Trevor sounds decent. You might have to give him a chance.”

  “I’m dating him.” Well, they were doing more than dating, but she wasn’t about to discuss that with Roger.

  “You’re going through the motions, but it seems to me that you’re holding something back. Be careful when you do that. If you don’t give it all, you’ll risk losing him. Don’t let it take losing him for you to figure out what you’ve got.”

  The waiter brought their salads. Dana waited until he was gone. “I’m not sure what I have.”

  “Does it matter? You’re already in love with him.”

  She’d speared a piece of lettuce and was in the process of bringing the fork to her mouth. She froze, then carefully lowered the utensil to the plate. She felt hot and cold at the same time. Love? Never! Their relationship was about having fun and friends having sex. Nothing more.

  “I am not in love with him.” The idea was insane. Love Trevor? She’d learned her lesson already. Besides, loving anyone would be too risky. She didn’t want to be that vulnerable ever.

  “He’s a doctor,” she continued. “I refuse to be involved with a doctor. I know what that’s like. They’re never around. They care about everyone but their family. It’s insane and impossible.”

  Roger chewed, then swallowed. “Maybe, but it’s also too late. Face it, Dana. You’re gone on the guy.”

  “No, I’m not. He would never be interested in someone like me. Not in the long term.”

  “Why?”

  “Because...“ Her mind went blank. “Well, just because. Besides, I’d be crazy to trust him.”

  “Seems to me you’d be crazy to let him go.”

  “Trevor wants someone glamorous.”

  Roger shook his head. “Trevor wants someone who will love him for himself. Take away the good looks and you’ll find a guy just like everyone else on the inside. He wants what we all want. Loving acceptance and a place to feel safe. You can do that, Dana. I suspect you already do. Why won’t you admit you’re crazy about him?”

  Because if he betrays me again, he’ll destroy me. But she didn’t say that aloud. Roger might guess the truth, but she refused to confirm it by broadcasting all her faults to the world.

  “It’s not that I don’t like him. It’s just—”

  The hairs on the back of her neck rose. Dana stiffened, then raised her gaze. Their table was in the back of the main dining room. Secluded, but with a clear view of the entrance. Standing by the front door were Maggie, Walter and a very angry Trevor. His gaze locked with hers. His expression was hard, his eyes dark with betrayal. Dana felt the blood drain from her face.

  “What’s wrong?” Roger asked. “You look as if—” He turned around and saw the trio by the door, then returned his attention to her. “Tell me you told him what you were doing tonight.”

  “I said I was having dinner with a friend.”

  He swore. “But you didn’t happen to mention that friend was male, right? Don’t answer that” He glanced at Trevor again.

  As Dana watched, the three of them spoke quietly to the hostess, then left the restaurant Dana realized she was shaking. She put down her fork and tried to draw in a steadying breath.

  “The good news is, the man has it bad for you. The bad news is, he thinks you just cheated on him. That isn’t why his first marriage broke up, is it?”

  Dana stared at him in horror, then nodded.

  “So this is a major button for him.”

  Her stomach knotted, but for once not from tension. What had she done? “I—I don’t know what to do.”

  Roger stood, walked around the table and pulled her to her feet. “You’re going to go to his place and wait for him. When he gets there, you’re going to tell him that it’s not what he thinks.” Roger pressed one of his business cards into her hand. “If he doesn’t believe you, he can call me. Hell, he can call my wife. Unlike some people, I was bright enough to tell her who I was having dinner with.”

  “I didn’t keep it a secret on purpose,” she protested. “I just didn’t think to tell him.”

  “If you want to keep him, you’re going to have to start thinking. Tell him the truth. Tell him that you’re scared, but you really care about him and you want another chance. Tell him this matters. He looked hurt, so expect him to lash out. But he obviously cares about you. That will help.”

  Dana nodded. Her eyes burned and she knew she was close to tears. “I’ll try,” she said.

  She knew Roger only wanted to make her feel better so she attempted a smile. She had a feeling it didn’t come out very happy. Her mouth felt numb, as did her body. She couldn’t stop shaking. She had the most horrible feeling she’d just destroyed something very wonderful, losing her chance before she’d even been sure she wanted one.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Trevor sat in his garage for a long time before turning off the convertible’s engine and climbing out of the car. Maybe coming home had been a mistake. Maybe he should have gone with his parents to another restaurant. Perhaps company would have distracted him from what he’d seen—Dana having dinner with another man. And not just dinner. He’d noticed her long before she’d glanced up and seen him watching. He’d observed the heads bent close together, the intensity that radiated from both people.

  The pain in his gut increased. He tried to erase the image, but it had burned itself into his brain. In some ways it was the horror of the past repeating itself. Once again he’d allowed himself to believe in a woman and she’d betrayed him.

  Trevor pulled open the door and stepped into the town house. It wasn’t that big a deal, he told himself. He and Dana weren’t married; they were dating. Did he have any right to complain?

  “Damn straight,” he growled, and made a fist. But before he could pound his hand into the wall, he reminded himself he had two surgeries scheduled for the next day. He couldn’t risk injuring himself for the sake of his pride.

  Without physical release, the anger and frustration bubbled inside him. He paced the length of the living room, turned and repeated the pattern.

  He cared about her. That’s what got to him, eating him from the inside out. He’d thought she was different. He’d thought she cared. In his heart he’d wanted their relationship to have meaning for her, too. He’d wanted her to see that he was all she needed in a man. He’d wanted...

  “All of it,” he muttered. “Marriage. Commitment. Family. Forever.”

  He’d been a fool. Dana was just like the rest of them. He’d made a mistake in thinking he could love her and have that love returned.

  He sank onto the sofa and concent
rated on ignoring the pain. This wasn’t as bad as finding Vanessa, he told himself. After all, she’d been his wife and her betrayal had been more—

  More what? Personal? Direct? More meaningful? Did a betrayal have meaning? He shook his head to try to clear it In the end, it didn’t matter a damn. He’d trusted Dana and she’d let him down. End of story.

  He rose to his feet. Maybe a drink would help him forget. He wouldn’t get drunk—he couldn’t work with a hangover, either, but maybe something to take the edge off. He didn’t dare go for a drive. Not until he was under control.

  He crossed to the wet bar. A soft knock on the door halted him in midstride.

  He knew. As surely as he believed the sun would rise in the morning, he knew who was out there on his porch. He told himself not to bother answering. She had nothing to say that he wanted to hear. Yet even as he repeated the instruction to pretend he wasn’t home, he moved toward the door and flung it open.

  She stood illuminated by porch light. Her eyes were wide, her face pale. Even her light makeup couldn’t hide the ashen undertones of her skin. Her mouth trembled and she twisted her purse strap in her hands.

  The obvious signs of nervousness should have made him feel better. But they were too little, too late. He stared at her, not inviting her in, not speaking. Just staring. Wondering what combination of facial features had first drawn him to her. What words had she uttered? How had she smiled to allow him to believe again, to hope that this time there was a chance?

  “I can explain,” she said, her gaze steady. “It’s not what you think.”

  He stepped back from the door, neither inviting her in nor telling her to leave. She entered on her own, then crossed the foyer and followed him into the living room.

  He chose not to sit down. Instead he leaned against the wet bar and glared at her. She continued to look back at him, her chin high as if with pride, but her faint trembling giving away her apprehension.

  “I told you I was having dinner with a friend from college,” she said. “That’s true. Roger and I knew each other back then.”

  “You conveniently left out the fact that you were having dinner with a man, and an ex-boyfriend.” He added the last, firing blindly, wondering if it was true. When she flinched and blushed, he knew it was. The pain in his gut intensified anew.