The Doctor's Bargain

by Samanthya Wyatt

  She clicked on the TV and flipped through the channels. Old movie, The Rifleman, talk show, another talk show, sales network stuff. She found Grey’s Anatomy reruns and left it there. She might learn something about doctors.

  After hours of waiting, she’d just about given up when she heard a car pull in her driveway. She glanced at the clock. Six. Really?

  At least he came.

  Realizing the sun was setting, she turned on a lamp before running to the door. She saw a car she didn’t recognize and a man walking up the sidewalk. Him, she did recognize.

  Nathan. What’s he doing here?

  ~ ~ ~

  He was in a tunnel. A thread of light led him over the dirt packed ground. He hit his head on a hanging pot. No. Not a pot. A bees’ nest. He smacked at the bees, but the buzzing kept ringing in his ears. He ran. The buzzing continued.

  Doug jerked awake. His chest heaved and his breathing raced. And that damn buzzing sound—

  Shit.

  He sat up blinking away the haze and grabbed his cell.

  “Hey, I didn’t wake you, did I?” Sheldon’s voice came over the phone.

  Doug flicked on the lamp and glanced to the window. It was getting dark.

  Shit. He’d fallen asleep.

  “Thought you’d be with Sandi.”

  He scrubbed a hand down his face and over his short-cropped beard. “I haven’t been sleeping the last few nights, you know that. I took a shower and passed out.”

  “Just wanted to let you know I got the results back on that last test for Mrs. Anderson. I know you were anxious to hear. Thought you might want the good news.”

  “Benign?”

  “Yep.”

  Thank God. The Andersons had been worried. Now he could notify them they had nothing to worry about.

  “Thanks, man. The Andersons are a sweet couple. You’ve been a well of information today.”

  “You think about what I said?”

  “Couldn’t stop thinking about it. Came to an eye-opening conclusion.”

  Sheldon laughed. He knew exactly what Doug meant. “Wondered when it would hit. Like a streak of lightning, right?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Same thing happened to me with Regina. Once you admit you’re hooked, things get a lot easier. Take it from me.”

  Doug had no problem admitting it now. He was hooked.

  “Regina is holding dinner. Remember, day off tomorrow.”

  If things went the way he planned, he had no intention of going to work in the morning. He’d be spending the day in bed with Sandi. He checked his watch and cringed at the time. Damn. He’d been asleep for hours.

  At least Sandi had no idea that he was coming to see her. For all she knew, he’d just finished up at the office.

  He pushed off the bed, jerked his clothes on, and headed out.

  Cars lined the street in front of Sandi’s house. Doug had to park around the corner. Maybe he should have bought her flowers. A nice floral arrangement might help him with his groveling. He locked his car, the beep blasting in the dark while he hurried around the corner.

  Her house was dark, but her car sat in the driveway. He rang the doorbell. After a few seconds, he knocked on her door. Nothing moved, no sound came from inside. She had to be home.

  “Sandi! I know you’re in there! Open up!”

  Was she hiding from him?

  “Please! I know I’ve been a jerk. Let me in. I need to talk to you!” He felt like an idiot standing on her doorstep. He hoped her neighbors didn’t call the cops.

  He waited another fifteen minutes before he accepted that Sandi might not be home. Where the hell was she?

  Chapter 23

  When Nathan suggested dinner, Sandi had declined. Then he smoothly convinced her to get out of the house, if for no other reason than a change of scenery would do her some good. The host of the restaurant balanced two menus and escorted them through a maze of chairs then seated them at a table.

  “There now. Don’t you feel better? Cooped up in that house with only your thoughts is not healthy.”

  “I told you, I’m not hungry.” She’d been too upset to eat at home. Doug never showed. If she ate anything, it would probably come back up.

  “Get something light. Perhaps an appetizer.”

  When the waiter came, Nathan ordered an assortment of appetizers and wine.

  “Cheer up! Doug will come around.”

  She didn’t want to talk about Doug. She picked up her glass and tipped it back. The bitter taste touched her tongue, and she swallowed.

  “Allegheny General is a very prestigious hospital,” Nathan said, holding a glass of Pinot Noir. “A lot of money flows into that place.”

  “I was surprised to see so many doctors from there show up for our charity event.”

  “Doug had a lot to do with that. Wealthy constituents from Pittsburg and New York were there. Like I said, Allegheny General is well known. If you want the finest . . .” He let the sentence hang.

  “The finest, huh?”

  “Allegheny General has an impeccable reputation. The doctors and staff are what make it extraordinary. I suppose I should include myself when mentioning there were a lot of egotistical bas—uh, forgive me, doctors.” He gave her a wink.

  “With that much testosterone in one place, egos are usually involved.”

  “In my own defense, I was not self-absorbed. I considered the well-being of others, my patients.” He swayed his goblet under his nose inhaling the strong fruity aroma. Then took a sip. After swallowing, he continued, “I prided myself in helping people. My vanity was in thinking I was the best.”

  Nathan spoke in a laidback, easy manner. Well versed, knowledgeable, confident. The pleasing tone of his deep voice alleviated some of her stress.

  “If a case had another doctor stumped, I believed I could fix the problem. Heal the patient. Find the cure for an incurable disease. I hate to tell you the despondency I faced when that didn’t happen.”

  A flicker of pain flashed in his eyes. She’d seen a moment of sadness, making her wonder if he’d lost a patient close to him, but he was quick to recover.

  “So, I understand what Doug is going through.”

  Doug?

  “We have the same drive. I’m not a hard guy to get to know.” He pierced her with his powerful stare. Neither uncomfortable nor flirtatious, but soothing.

  “Is that so?”

  “I know we’ve only just met, but I hope you’ll give me a chance, here.”

  Uh oh.

  “Nathan, I—”

  “Don’t misunderstand. I think you’re a beautiful, sexy woman. If Doug wasn’t in the picture, I’d gladly, and most persistently, pursue you myself.”

  Sandi laid down her fork. “I am totally confused.” Nathan gave her the sexy half-smile she’d come to recognize as a normal expression for him.

  “We are iron-willed creatures. Sometimes unyielding, sometimes immovable. Never compliant or submissive. But I believe in being flexible, unlike Doug. When he gets an idea in his head, a team of horses couldn’t pull it out. Of course, I like to know my facts before taking a stand.”

  “Am I supposed to know what you’re talking about?”

  “It’s a preliminary. The topic is Doug.”

  “If you want me to get my appetite back, you should pick another one.”

  A deep rumbling sound came from Nathan as his lips curved up in amusement. He picked up his wine glass and took another sip. “I like you.”

  “Thanks.”

  “You’re welcome.” He set his glass down and stared into her eyes. He reminded her of Doug, the way he looked at her sometimes. As if he was trying to see inside her soul.

  Uncomfortable, she picke
d up her own glass and glanced about the restaurant.

  “Do I make you nervous?”

  She faced him. “No.”

  “Good. I’d like you to be comfortable with me. Doug is my friend. We spent a lot of years covering each other’s back when it counted.”

  “Where did you two meet?”

  “In Pittsburg. We took residency together at Allegheny General. We both specialized in trauma. Him head injuries, me internal medicine. We shared an apartment for three years before our egos took over our common sense.”

  “Interesting, you include yourself in that category. And Doug?”

  “We were exceptional, and we knew it. Doug and I thought we could fix anything they threw at us. If a certain situation presented a roadblock, we found a way around it. We studied, researched and became the best in our fields. Many patients, as well as professional businessmen and directors of other hospitals, sought us out for our expertise. We both liked it at Allegheny, so if someone needed our services, patients would come there.”

  “Is that your ego talking?” Sandi said, sipping her wine.

  “That is a fact. But like I said, we knew our potential.”

  “Then why did Doug move to Monterey?”

  “That’s a story for him to tell you, not me.”

  “Then why did you bring me here?” Just then, the food arrived. After making sure everything was perfect, the waiter left.

  She didn’t remember ordering so much food. “Who’s going to eat all of this?”

  “It’s appetizers. Try everything. To answer your question, I brought you here to get you out of the house, and I enjoy having dinner with a beautiful woman.”

  “Hmph.”

  He paused in putting a potato skin on his plate. “Such an unladylike snort for a lovely lady. Which part did you take umbrage to? You are a beautiful woman. Striking, in fact.”

  “You can cut the flattery. I’m here with you.”

  “Fact. You’re beautiful. As for your being with me, I’m thrilled. It’s also very good for my ego. Now. Try some of these.” He scooped up a potato and dropped it onto her plate. “I don’t normally do that, but you need to eat, and I don’t want you to argue.” He scooped a few chips and dip onto his plate. “How about the artichoke? Umm, I love chimichangas.”

  Sandi gave a little laugh. Nathan dug into the food with enthusiasm and glee. She was glad she came with him. Nathan was making her feel so much better.

  “When was the last time you had food?” she asked, amused.

  “I can always eat. Don’t tell me you’re one of those flighty females who don’t want a man to see her eat. Or worse, one who doesn’t eat because she wants to look like a runway model. It’s disgusting, the way those women have their bones all poking out to get into a size zero dress.” He held a chip with spinach dip in his hand and leaned over the table as if he was going to whisper. “A zero. How can a dress exist at all if it’s a size zero?” Nathan sat back and popped the chip into his mouth. “Mmm. Wonderful.”

  The artichoke stuff looked interesting, and she wasn’t a picky eater, so she grabbed a chip and dipped. “How do you know so much about size zero?”

  “I’ve dated models. And those who behave like models.”

  Sandi chewed and swallowed. “Size zero?”

  “Yes. Size one I could see, but a zero? If a woman has any meat on her bones, wouldn’t the sizes need to increase in number? Screws with the mind.” He took a bite of his chimichanga.

  “So, you like the model type?”

  “God, no. I like a woman with at least a little meat on her bones. During my early years as a doctor, women flocked to me. A number of models were among them.”

  “Wow. Vain too, I see.”

  “Sorry. Another fact.”

  Sandi laughed, good-naturedly. Nathan was pleasant company who kept the conversation going, and before she knew it, she was stuffed. She leaned back in her chair and patted her tummy, a wine glass in her hand.

  “This is wonderful. And the wine is delicious.” She studied Nathan and decided he was really a nice guy. Not at all like she’d first imagined. “I know what you did.”

  “Really? What was that?”

  “You got my mind off Doug. I waited all afternoon for him to show.”

  “You didn’t actually talk to him though, did you? That’s the thing about women. They assume. Or their girlfriends give them ideas and we men get caught in the middle.”

  “Regina said Sheldon—uh,” she stopped, catching herself. “I shouldn’t rat on my friend.”

  Nathan’s gaze locked with hers and he spoke slowly. “But she did lead you to believe something, and Doug did not tell you directly. That’s what I’m talking about. Besides, it’s not like Doug to do that. If he says he is going to do something, he does it.”

  “I haven’t seen or heard from him since the night of the charity.”

  Nathan took a moment to reply. “I was quite impressed by the way you handled him. He’s not used to a woman talking to him like that.”

  “He was drunk.”

  “He might have been a bit tipsy, but he wasn’t drunk.”

  “Still, he had no right to give me orders.”

  Nathan’s lips curved in a sexy grin. “I believe you set him straight.”

  She smiled and twirled the liquid in her wineglass. “I did, didn’t I?” Then she took a sip.

  “He’s dealing with something he’s never had to deal with before.”

  “Oh, what’s that?”

  “His feelings for a woman.”

  “You expect me to believe he’s never had a relationship with a woman?”

  “I didn’t say that. He had a girlfriend, and I actually thought they would get married.”

  Sandi choked on her wine. She grabbed her napkin just as red liquid spewed from her mouth.

  “Are you all right?” Nathan looked ready to leap from his chair.

  “I’m fine,” she croaked.

  “I guess no one told you.”

  She sipped her water and swallowed, waiting to make sure she could speak. “Not a word.”

  “Again. Not my story to tell. But it was a mistake. They broke up. Doug hasn’t trusted a woman since. I believe that’s why he might be giving you a hard time.”

  “A hard time? He’s demanding, controlling, dictating . . .”

  “A negotiator?” he asked in that low soothing voice of his.

  Did Doug have any idea that his friend was here championing him? Nathan was so easy to talk to. Doug didn’t deserve such friends. “What did you say?”

  “I understand the two of you had a bargain.”

  Blood rushed to her face. “He told you about that?”

  Nathan gave a nod.

  “Then you know the whole thing was a farce. We were only pretending. When I agreed to his scheme, I must have been out of my mind. I told him it wouldn’t work. I let him talk me into it.” Nathan remained quiet, letting her talk. And think. “Things weren’t so bad for a while. Then . . .”

  “Then?”

  She met Nathan’s gaze. “Then it got complicated.”

  “I suspect at some point the playacting became real.”

  “You know”—Sandi placed her glass on the table—“when I first met you, I thought you were a blow-hard.” Nathan chuckled and shook his head. By his smile she decided he was amused and not insulted. “You were handsome—”

  “Thank you.”

  She went on as if he hadn’t spoken, “—chivalrous, you smelled good too. But as we danced, I saw another side of you.”

  “Oh?” he asked cocking his brow.

  “You’re a good man, Nathan. Maybe you have an ego, and you like to turn on the charm around women. But I haven’t seen
any sign that you’re arrogant or self-centered.”

  “I’m no saint.”

  “I don’t doubt it for a minute. However, you’re kind. You’ve been kind to me.”

  “I might have an ulterior motive.” His eyes twinkled.

  She’d been expecting the flirty devil would come out and play. “Do you?”

  “Not the one you might think.”

  “I’m not thinking anything. You haven’t put the moves on me. You—”

  “Moves?”

  “I’m sure you have plenty of moves. While we danced I thought I might like to see them. But you’re constantly bringing Doug into our conversation. So, am I wrong in assuming you’re not interested in me yourself.”

  “Believe me”—he straightened and tossed his napkin on his plate—“if I thought I had a chance, you would have already seen my moves.”

  “What’s holding you back?”

  “You know exactly what. Who.”

  “Doug doesn’t have any real feelings for me. Besides, what you said doesn’t make any sense. This can’t be the first time he’s had to deal with his emotions if he was about to marry a woman.”

  “Hmm. I think I’ll stop while I’m ahead.” He lifted his goblet and leaned back in his seat, initiating her to the edge of hers.

  “You’re not going to tell me? You’re the one who started this conversation.”

  “All right, I’ll say this. Don’t give up on Doug. I think he may return your feelings.”

  “Return?” At Nathan’s hiked brow and intense glare, she caved. “You’re right. I admit I do care for him. If Doug has any affection for me, he has a funny way of showing it.”

  “His actions at the dance should tell you something.”

  “Yeah. He’s a jackass.”

  Nathan busted out in a full laugh. “Doug would love hearing that.” Nathan sipped his wine, watching her over the rim. “I like you Sandi Jones. I think you’re just what Doctor Baker needs.”