A red light flickered on the office phone, notifying her of an incoming call. The office closed at six. No way was she going to answer it. If one of the agents needed something, they would leave a message or call her cell. So, she ignored it and logged onto her computer, transferring information from the rental agreement lying on her desk.
Real Estate III took in enough money on rental property to keep the office running for an entire year. She might work long hours, but Gary was generous with her paycheck. Not to mention a bonus on occasion.
Her stomach growled, letting her know she’d forgotten lunch. The tug of war with the clients had been responsible for that. She dug into her tote for the snack she’d prepared. Sticking to healthy foods, she rarely ate sweets. Her mouth watered for the brownies she’d brought. If the guys knew she’d hidden brownies in her bag, they would have eaten every one.
She took a bite, letting the chocolate flavor roll over her tongue. God, they were good. Regina baked some mean brownies. Still, Sandi had to leave room for a tasty dinner tonight.
Sixty minutes later, she glanced at the clock on her computer and silently cursed. Time to get a move on. She closed the office, rushed to her car, and took off to Regina’s house. Doug was meeting her there.
For now, she lived a lie. Neither of her friends knew the truth. Doug had been firm about not telling Sheldon. Regina had been her friend forever. After seeing Sandi and Doug at each other’s throats, Regina had questioned why Sandi had suddenly changed her mind, just like she’d expected. Tonight she would have to keep up the charade.
A bottle of wine in one hand and her scarf in the other, Sandi pushed the doorbell. A cold breeze whipped her hair, so she pressed her scarf to her face to keep her nose warm. The door opened and her jaw dropped. She silently thanked God for the scarf covering her mouth. Her heart pitter-pattered upon seeing Doug standing there, looking good enough to eat wearing a sweater with the sleeves pushed up to his elbows and a pair of washed-out jeans. She licked her lips and tasted cloth.
“You going to stand there all night?”
If he let her feast her eyes, she just might.
“Is that you, Sandi?” Regina’s voice came from another room.
She shoved the wine bottle forward, hitting Doug’s brick chest with it, and brushed by him. “Yes, it’s me. Gosh, that smells good. Lasagna?”
Regina stepped from the kitchen, wiping her hands on a towel. “Oh, good. I’m glad you’re finally here.” Her face scrunched up. “You forgot the wine.”
“No, I didn’t. Doug has it.” She sensed him behind her. When she glanced back, he held up the bottle of Merlot.
“I’ll get the corkscrew.” He disappeared into the kitchen.
“Can I help?”
“No, everything is ready. Why didn’t you two come together?”
Already with the questions. Was Regina suspicious, or was this just normal curiosity?
“I had to work late.”
“Gary takes up too much of your time.”
Doug strode into the dining area. “Who’s Gary?”
“He owns—”
“My boss—” She and Regina had both answered. Doug’s distrustful expression clearly stated he didn’t believe her. The evening was off to a great start.
Thirty minutes later, Sandi paced the bathroom, wondering what she should do. Doug had her mind so jumbled, she’d never figure him out.
He’d been sickly sweet and considerate—rather convincingly. He played his part to perfection in front of Regina and Sheldon, which riddled her with guilt. Throughout the meal he’d smiled, showed her attention, even drew her into the conversation. Anyone watching their performance would think they were in a relationship.
Her temples pounded. How could she deceive her friend this way? Regina kept shooting Sandi I-told-you-so looks. When this was all over, there would be a lot of explaining to do.
A light rap sounded on the bathroom door, startling her. She checked her appearance in the mirror before opening the door.
“Next,” she said brightly, and froze.
Her stomach lurched to her throat. This was getting to be a habit. Doug leaned against the doorjamb. She couldn’t help but rake her gaze down over his tight jeans and back up to the leer planted firmly on his face. Heat flushed her cheeks, then her entire body. The man was lethal. But his smirk had the hackles rising on the back of her neck.
She took a deep breath to calm her nerves, and his eyes fastened on her rising chest. Desire filled her belly. On instinct, she bit her lip and his gaze fastened there.
Oh God. He wanted to kiss her. She wanted to let him. She could feel herself leaning forward, her hand lifting. Her fingers itched to stroke his beard.
“You’ve got me tied up in knots,” Doug suddenly growled. “Sheldon thinks it’s sexual. He has no idea what’s really going on.”
What’s really going on.
A bargain.
The desire that had been about to consume her quickly changed to scorn.
“What makes you think this is any easier for me?” she snapped.
“We have absolutely nothing in common.”
“Are you saying you want to end our bargain?”
His eyes widened, and he caught his breath. “Not yet.”
Unable to stand his scrutiny another moment longer, she swiveled around him and stormed out.
~ ~ ~
The next day, Sandi broke a date, saying she had to work. According to Regina, Sandi’s boss kept her busy by putting in a lot of late hours. Doug wondered if she used her work as an excuse not to see him, or if something was brewing at the office. Sandi was a beautiful woman. Any man would want her. Maybe he should check out this boss of hers.
Shit.
The wave that hit struck too close to jealousy, an emotion unknown to him. Perhaps once, he might have considered a relationship with Sandi, before he found out she wanted to land a doctor with money. Why couldn’t a woman be happy with a man who loved her, who wanted to be with her and enjoy doing things together? Like Sheldon and Regina. Those two belonged together. Would he ever find a woman who would look at him the way Regina looked at Sheldon?
Get your shit together, man. You’re getting maudlin.
Since he had to wait on a prescription, he slowly strode down the aspirin isle, looking at nothing in particular. He’d offered to pick up a prescription for Norma Anderson, as he wanted to check on her since her husband was worried. Now he wished he had given the flowers to the elderly woman. On his date with Sandi he’d had to come up with a good lie fast, and the only person he could think about giving flowers to was Mrs. Anderson. The elderly couple clearly loved each other, if being together for fifty years meant anything. He couldn’t very well tell Sandi that he’d given them to the girls in the office. They would bust him. Sheldon would find out. Regina would find out.
He hated lying and did not like people who did.
So why the hell had he created this charade with Sandi? And he couldn’t bring himself to tell her he’d thrown away the flowers. He’d panicked. He was not a man to panic.
“Well hello there, Dr. Baker.”
Christ.
Where had she come from?
“Fancy meeting you here,” she drawled in her sing-song voice.
“Mrs. Talbert.”
“Now, Douglas. You know my name is Shar-ron,” she said drawing out her name while she danced her red talons up the front of his jacket.
He stepped back to get away from her and bumped into the shelves. She laughed, a shrill sound that had his ears ringing.
“I need to pick up a prescription.”
“Oh no. Is my little doctor sick?” She placed her cold hand on his forehead, and he wanted to smack it away. Her chest came way too close, invading his pe
rsonal space. His only option was to shove the cougar away.
He grasped the hand that was now threading through his hair. “Mrs. Talbert”—he turned, leading her forward and at the same time, giving him some breathing room—“I am quite fine. I’m picking up a prescription for one of my patients who is homebound.”
“Oooo.” she tried wiggling closer. “I didn’t know you made house calls.”
“I do not. After I get the medicine, my nurse will deliver it. I have a date, and I don’t want to keep my girl waiting.”
Lying was getting to be a damn habit. He never had this problem in Pittsburg.
But that’s the life you wanted to leave behind. No more nights of sex without meaning.
“Yes, I heard you took Sandi Jones to dinner.” The woman backed off some, but not much. If her bottom lip rolled out any farther, she’d step on it.
“Sandi and I have gone out several times. We spend every evening together.” You’d think mentioning a girlfriend would discourage the woman’s advances. But she stopped in the middle of the isle and placed her hands on him, again.
“I didn’t know it was that serious.”
No amount of explaining or excuses would make this problem go away. Thank God he’d made the bargain with Sandi.
“It’s quite serious, I assure you.” He took hold of her wrists and lowered her arms. Being a doctor, he had to live in this town and his character needed to be above reproach for his patients. Otherwise, he’d knock this barracuda on her ass. Using an expression that had cowered many men on the hospital board, he spoke in such a way that she could not misinterpret his words. It was time she got the picture.
“Understand this, Mrs. Talbert. I am not a man to mess around. I believe in being faithful to the woman I’m dating. There is no room in my life for another.”
“Well, uh . . . you don’t have to go all savage. It was just a little harmless flirting.” The woman’s hands shook, maybe he’d been more vehement than he’d realized.
“Have a good evening, Mrs. Talbert.”
If the prescription was not ready, he’d yank someone’s ass across that counter.
~ ~ ~
The stack of contracts had dwindled somewhat. Sandi should not have told Gary she’d finish these up tonight. There was no reason for her to be here when she could just as easily do them tomorrow.
Her cell rang, startling her.
“Hello.”
“Are you busy?”
“Doug? What time is it?”
“Eight.”
“Oh.” Why was he calling? He seemed to be okay with her breaking their date. Well, why wouldn’t he be?
“You sound tired.”
“I am. Working on contracts.”
“So, you’re still at the office?”
“Yeah.” For the life of her she couldn’t figure out why he called. She was only his pretend girlfriend. “What’s up?”
“I just ran into Mrs. Talbert.”
“And you managed to get away?”
“Barely.” He sounded glum.
“Where did she corner you?”
“At the drug store. I was picking up a prescription.”
He had her full attention. “Are you sick?”
“Do you care?” Why should she expect anything other than mockery in his tone?
“I’m your girlfriend. I’m supposed to ask.” There. That should take the wind out of his sails.
“Right. I just dropped off meds for a patient. An elderly couple.”
“The ones you gave the flowers to?”
Hesitation. Silence. “Yeah. I better go. You need to go home.” He still hadn’t said why he called.
As if her body answered for her, she yawned. “Everyone else is gone.”
“Is that place lit up at night? What about the parking area?”
“Yeah. I park in the back. There’s a door the staff uses which leads to the back lot.”
“Well, okay. Drive carefully.”
Did he call to check up on her the way a boyfriend would? The thought stayed in her mind as she locked the door to the building. The brisk wind blew her scarf, so she tucked her head down to keep warm, while tossing one end over her shoulder.
As she scurried across the parking lot, a man stepped from a car parked beside hers, the streetlight behind him shadowing his face. Her steps faltered. Then she recognized Doug.
“Hi. What are you doing here?”
“I wanted to see for myself if this place is safe. Night comes earlier in the winter months. Black as pitch out here now. It’s not a good idea for you to work so late. And you should park under a light.”
“Anything else, Dad?”
He raked a hand through that gorgeous hair. “Just use some common sense.”
Did he just insult her? “You didn’t have to come by.”
“I’m your boyfriend.”
“Pretend boyfriend.”
“What if I wanted to?”
She could barely wrap her mind around that. Then she remembered Sharon Talbert at the drug store.
“Afraid the barracuda might getcha?” she teased.
He exaggerated a shiver.
She wanted to laugh.
“I’ll follow you home,” he said, taking her arm.
“I’ll be fine.”
“It’s what a boyfriend would do.”
“There’s no one watching.”
“How do you know?” he whispered.
Chapter 13
While Sandi had water up to her elbows, washing her delicate satins, the doorbell chimed.
Figures.
Before she could dry off, a knock rapped on the front door.
Give me time to get there.
She peaked through the side glass and saw Doug on her porch. Her pulse took off at a gallop. Standing in profile, he faced the driveway, giving her a moment to appreciate his physique. He looked delicious, with his wind-blown hair and sunglasses hiding his eyes. The lightweight shirt under his jacket showed off his impressive abs, flat stomach, and his jeans fit snug enough for her to moan silently.
She opened the door. With the sun behind him, he could have been a mirage. “I thought we were going to meet at the restaurant.” He turned and she got the full effect, which made her swallow.
“I wanted to speak with you privately.”
She didn’t trust herself. She crossed her arms over her chest and made him stay outside. “What do you want?” Even with the Ray-Bans hiding his eyes, she could feel his glare.
“That’s some welcome from my girlfriend.”
“Pretend girlfriend.”
“May I come in?”
She chewed her lip. Could she handle all that testosterone in her house? Alone? Just the two of them?
“Don’t you think it’s time we called a truce?”
Just like that, his voice melted her into a pool of goo. “Do you want one?”
“Here I am, attempting to be kind. I thought I’d pick you up and drive you to the restaurant.”
“That would be the normal thing for a boyfriend to do.” She opened the screen door and stepped back. “You’re early,” she said as she padded to the couch and tucked her bare feet under her. He pulled off his shades and took a space beside her.
“I wanted some time to talk.”
Sandi studied Doug’s hands as he toyed with the sunglasses. Big hands. Soft hands. Soft-looking, anyway.
“Since our friends are an item, we’ll be thrown into each other’s company from time to time.”
“Not to mention we’re supposed to be dating,” she added.
“Do you have a smart comeback for everything?” He tossed his shades onto the low table.
&nb
sp; “Is this your way of being kind?” She could swear he was counting to ten.
Whatever his feelings might be toward her, she suspected they hadn’t changed, even though he had played the part of doting boyfriend last night.
“Do I irritate you that much?” he asked.
“Since meeting you at the hospital, you’ve made your impression of me quite clear.” She didn’t like his arrogance. Even at his worst, her traitorous body desired him. He was gorgeous. His face, his body, he had it all. And his voice. How many women had he coerced to his bed with that voice?
Crazy fool.
“I want to apologize,” he said softly. “I know my manners have been absent of late where you are concerned.”
“You think?” It just flew out of her mouth. His jaw grew tight and she wanted to call the words back. He was trying. She could too. As long as she didn’t fall for the guy, only then would she be in danger of losing her heart
“We need to work out a few things.”
Is this another lecture like the rules?
“What things?”
“Stop snapping at each other, for one.”
She opened her mouth to speak, then bit her tongue. “I’m guilty. But a lot of the time I’m reacting to you.” She spoke in a soft, steady voice so as not to snap. He was right. They had done plenty of that.
He gave a brief nod. “I’m willing to try.”
Was he being nice simply because of Sheldon and Regina? Because of the bargain? God, she wished she knew.
“I wanted to talk with you about the hospital event.”
“Event?” If something happened at the hospital, Regina would have told her.
“The AMH charity gala is next Friday night.”
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