Winning the Doctor

by Harmony Evans

  “Yes, I designed those in order to encourage more small groups, rather than the large crowds one would see in a typical school yard.”

  Liza’s heart raced, and even though she knew it would be tough to rein in her growing excitement, she realized she had to remain calm.

  “I could see a courtyard area working well for your clinic.”

  He nodded. “Perhaps as an extension of the waiting room. It would be more peaceful, during what is obviously a very stressful time.”

  “We could create a separate, private courtyard, specifically for your high-profile clientele.”

  He braced his palms against the table as he bent to take a closer look at the renderings, and she had the sudden urge to rest her hand against the curve of his back.

  “I like that idea, Liza.”

  She hitched in a quiet breath at the sound of her name on his tongue.

  “This design was actually for a client in South Carolina,” she continued, as if her world hadn’t just stopped. After all, when she got the gig, she’d hear him say her name all the time. Might as well practice subduing her reaction to it, she thought. “They loved it and the climate was obviously perfect for it, but they decided to go for something a little more traditional.”

  Dr. Marbet looked back and shot her a quirky smile. “You mean boring, right?”

  She smiled back, pleased again at his response. It was a good sign. It meant that he was a risk taker, and that, if hired, she would be able to take some artistic chances.

  “People pay good money for architects to stretch the boundaries of their own creativity. It’s truly a shame when they revert back to traditional design ideas out of fear.”

  He straightened, and his expression turned serious, turning her momentary joy into concern.

  “Aesthetics aside, the surgical units and patient rooms are also extremely important. I plan on having the latest technology, equipment and treatments available at my clinic. The design must be able to support a state-of-the-art facility. Will it?”

  “Not to worry, I’m well aware of and have experience in the complexities of health-care facilities planning,” Liza assured him, with a wave of her hand. “The innovative care and the excellent patient experience will be the focus of the design, not the other way around.”

  Dr. Marbet’s brown eyes met hers. “We’ll need to work together to ensure that the dimensions of each room and unit are appropriate to the equipment it will contain.”

  There was a sudden, invisible spark between them. Working closely on a regular basis with Dr. Marbet would present its own challenges, namely to her heart. With his good looks, he probably had a lot of women throwing themselves at his feet, and she resolved that she would never be one of them.

  She squeezed her thumb and index finger together. “I’m available almost 24/7.”

  He let out a mock groan. “Aw. No three a.m. blueprint reviews? I’m not on my own yet. You do realize that I still sometimes work odd hours?”

  Liza laughed. “If that’s what it takes to get the project done, I’ll brew a thermos of coffee and adjust my schedule.

  “I know we’re probably running out of time, so let me show you a few more.” She pointed to the second design. “This one was for a technology start-up in Austin. They loved it, but sadly they lost all their funding the day before we were going to sign the contract.”

  Dr. Marbet shook his head and whistled through his teeth. “Better before you put pen to paper than if you’d already started.”

  “Tell me about it. We were very wary of working with start-ups after that fiasco.”

  He folded his arms. “Don’t worry. Money won’t be an issue with this project. This is a private clinic, funded by myself and a few key and very wealthy investors.” He gestured toward the table. “Tell me about this one.”

  Liza felt a burst of pride. “This is one of my favorites. The design was for a high-concept restaurant by a famous farm-to-table chef.”

  He leaned one hip against the table. “What happened to this project?”

  “Food poisoning in the chef’s other restaurant. A lot of people got very ill, and one almost died. My former firm actually pulled out of that deal first.”

  Liza shook her head, remembering the stern warnings from their corporate counsel. “We didn’t want to be associated with the bad publicity.”

  Dr. Marbet made a face. “Smart move. I don’t blame them.”

  “Yes, and that experience was so awful that it cemented my dream to break away from corporate and start my own business.”

  His grin was slow, easy and smoldered all the way to her heart.

  Dr. Marbet turned back to the table and examined each rendering again. When he was finished, he turned around. Moments passed. Though his expression didn’t reveal anything, she remained inwardly confident.

  And this is the part where you tell me I’ve got the project.

  He crossed his arms, his tough-guy stance reappearing, and her confidence began to waver.

  “Ms. Sinclair. Although these designs are very good and I appreciate you showing them to me, since none of them have actually been built, it appears that you have no real track record in commercial design.”

  Though his tone wasn’t harsh, Liza felt the snap of his words in her heart. But she wouldn’t take things personally—this was too important. She calmly took a big breath, thankful that she’d already prepared for this moment, the not-so-subtle accusation.

  “Since I started my own firm a few years ago, my focus has been on residential design. As you’ve seen in the renderings today, when I worked at Begley, Stuart and Harris in Denver, I assisted on many commercial projects. But as time went on, I quickly realized that both my residential and commercial designs were, and still are, for clients who are more open-minded to an aesthetic that is typically unconventional.”

  He stared at her, and she felt as though he was testing her in some way.

  “It sounds like you and I may have a similar vision,” he began, sounding strangely hesitant. “However, you should know, I still have a few more architectural firms who will also be pitching this project over the next several weeks.”

  Liza’s heart sank, and she felt her willpower start to lag.

  Competition. Something she loathed and welcomed at the same time. Although she was dying to know the names of the other firms he was considering, she wouldn’t dare ask.

  “I understand. Thank you for your time,” she uttered.

  Her voice felt muffled to her ears, as if her throat were lined with cotton. Rejection always hurt, whether personally or professionally, and she didn’t think she would ever get used to it.

  Liza turned her back on him, put her renderings in her portfolio case and zipped it up. When she turned around, his eyes were curious, leaving her to wonder what he truly thought about her.

  Dr. Marbet walked her to the door but stopped short of opening it.

  “You know you can try to hide it, but I can tell you’re disappointed.”

  She parted her lips in shock at his words, and at his gentle tone, but he was completely right. There was no use in denying it: she’d wanted to walk out of his office with the project, not empty-handed.

  “You can?” she asked, raising a brow. “How can you tell?”

  Dr. Marbet chuckled. “I’m not a mind reader, but I can read faces pretty well. When you’re disappointed, your lips turn down at the corners just slightly.”

  She felt her face get hot with embarrassment, and she covered her mouth with her hands. “They do not.”

  He chuckled a little. “Defend your lips all you want, but I know you thought you’d be the only one I’m considering for this project.”

  Though his words hit hard, his voice was light and teasing, causing her to wonder if he was playing with her feelin
gs.

  Liza smiled and shrugged, trying to appear nonchalant. “That’s because I know I’m the best. I’d like to prove it to you. One can always hope, right?”

  “Don’t worry.” He smiled, opening the door. “I’ll be in touch. You’re not out of the running yet.”

  Yet.

  That lovely three-letter word left her future hanging by a string, but instead of making her quake with fear, this time she felt empowered because it meant she still had a chance to succeed.

  She started to walk out, and then turned around to catch him watching her again.

  “I probably shouldn’t be asking this, but what made you change your mind about interviewing me in the first place?”

  “Let’s just say it was a promise I made to an old friend.”

  Chapter 2

  The waves of the Pacific Ocean tumbled onto the sand as Anthony jogged along the Bay Point shoreline just after sunrise. He’d pulled a double shift at the hospital and had been on his feet over twenty-four hours. His muscular thighs screamed for relief through the first mile, easing up only slightly during the second.

  The beach was one of his favorite places to run, and lately, to escape.

  He took in deep gulps of air as his feet kicked up wefts of sand. Running, no matter what the surface, usually cleared his mind and relieved the constant stress that went with the job of being a physician. His demanding schedule at the hospital meant he didn’t have a lot of bandwidth for himself, so he treasured his time alone.

  But today he wasn’t alone. She was in his thoughts.

  Liza Sinclair. The attractive architect had impressed him with her confidence, her design portfolio and her never-ending curves. And if he’d had the opportunity to sleep in the hours since he’d met her, he figured she would have invaded his dreams, too.

  There wasn’t a picture of her on her website, which he thought was a bit odd, and he hadn’t been sure what to expect when she arrived for her appointment. So when he opened his office door and saw how beautiful she was, he instinctively knew he was in trouble.

  Liza’s clear, mocha-hued skin looked fresh and appealing. To his discerning eye, she was a natural beauty. The kind of looks his patients paid thousands of dollars to achieve with expensive fillers and invasive surgery.

  He remembered staring into her eyes. The flash of longing there had struck him by surprise. Liza was the kind of woman who could steal his time...and his heart. It was as though his whole life had changed in an instant. He didn’t know what the future held other than the fact that he wanted Liza in it.

  At least, at that moment.

  Deep down, he knew he couldn’t afford any distractions. With a twinge of guilt, he recalled his on-the-spot decision to cancel the interview.

  Her beautiful face had remained composed, almost serene. Yet the light of excitement had dimmed in her eyes, and he sensed her disappointment.

  Even worse, he’d lied to her, telling her he’d decided to work with a professional firm, instead of a private architect, which wasn’t true at all.

  He stopped running and grasped his knees, gulping in the salty air. He was in great shape and had several marathons under his belt, but for some reason, this morning he felt like he had never run a day in his life.

  Anthony yawned as he took his shirt off and slung it over his shoulders. He was due back at the hospital in less than eight hours. It was time to head to his condominium in town for some much-needed sleep—that is, if he could get Liza off his mind.

  As he turned on his heel, his phone vibrated against his bicep. Reaching up, he removed it from his armband and slid his thumb across the screen.

  “Hello, stranger,” he said, good-naturedly.

  “What did you think of her?” Doc Z barked. “When I didn’t hear from you right away, I got worried.”

  Dr. Ivan Zander, or Doc Z as he was commonly known, was one of his favorite professors in medical school. After graduation, the two men had stayed in touch throughout Anthony’s residency in plastic and reconstructive surgery. Doc Z had even recommended him for a prestigious fellowship at UCLA Medical Center. Over the years, Doc Z had not only become a mentor but also a good friend, and most recently, an investor in his clinic.

  Anthony chuckled as he started the long trek back home. “Come on, Doc. You don’t fool me. The funny bone doesn’t exist, neither does your penchant for worrying.”

  “That’s because everything always goes my way,” Doc Z said.

  The tone in his voice sounded haughty, but Anthony knew different. Doc had worked hard his entire life but at a mighty price. He was sixty-eight years old, never married, no children. Nothing to keep him warm at night except the soft glow of his computer screen. Instead of investing in relationships, Doc Z invested in stocks, bonds and upstart businesses like Anthony’s.

  “Stop stalling, okay?” Doc Z continued. “What did you think about Liza?”

  “She’s perfect.” In more ways than one.

  Like an itch on his back that he couldn’t scratch, it made Anthony a little uncomfortable realizing how easily those two words had rolled out of his mouth. He blamed it on lack of sleep and lack of intimacy. Besides, no one was perfect, least of all him.

  “Aha! I told you you’d like her,” Doc exclaimed triumphantly, interrupting his thoughts.

  “Don’t gloat, Doc. It’s so unlike you,” Anthony replied, meaning the exact opposite.

  “Why shouldn’t I?” Doc Z fired back. “She’s talented. Smart. And I handed her to you on a silver platter. What more could you want?”

  Anthony sidestepped the waves rolling onto the shore. “A little more time to process what this all means would be helpful.”

  “You think too much. I’ve done all the work. Now, all you have to do is hire her.”

  Anthony stopped in his tracks, not caring if his shoes got wet. “Who said anything about hiring, Doc? When you called me a few weeks ago and told me about Liza, I only agreed to interview her as a favor to you. Plus, per your request, I didn’t mention that you were the one who had recommended her.”

  “Which I appreciate, so what’s the problem?” Doc interjected.

  Anthony huffed out a breath. Liza was the first woman, in a long time, who amounted to more than a ten-second blip on his brain, something that was none of Doc’s business.

  He started walking again. His sneakers were now wet, and he couldn’t wait to get home and out of them.

  “For starters, I still don’t understand why you asked me. If you want me to hire her so badly, I think I have a right to know.”

  “I’ve known Liza’s family for years, since she was a little girl. I made her father a promise that I’d always watch out for her. He passed away about a year ago.”

  “And her mother?”

  Doc sighed heavily. “Gone too. Died a year before her husband as a result of complications from botched cosmetic surgery she had done in Costa Rica.”

  Anthony’s heart squeezed in his chest. He couldn’t imagine the grief Liza had felt losing her mother and father in such a short time period. Both of his parents were still alive, thankfully, and though they lived thousands of miles away in South Carolina, he was still very close to them.

  “That’s terrible. I know it’s a growing trend to go overseas for all types of surgical procedures. Though the costs can be significantly less than the United States, there are definite risks that many patients don’t know about or even consider.”

  “It’s a problem, for sure,” Doc replied. “But right now, all I care about is convincing you that hiring Liza would be a very good thing.”

  Anthony shook his head. “Now that I know a little bit about her family background, I’m even more uncomfortable with this plan. Is Liza okay? She seemed to be, but I don’t know. I need the architect to be on point and fully engaged w
ith this project.”

  “She’s a very strong person,” Doc replied without hesitation. “But she needs something different. That’s why she moved from Denver to Bay Point. She was successful there but a bit unfocused.”

  “Yes, her residential work is fantastic, but her commercial work is lacking.”

  “Minor detail,” Doc gruffed.

  “Minor detail?” Anthony exclaimed, sloshing through the sand. “This clinic has to be designed right. Why didn’t you tell me?”

  “I wanted you to meet her and judge her on her own merits. You saw her portfolio. She’s great at what she does.”

  “True. Her commercial renderings were amazing, but none of them has ever been built.”

  “So? What’s the problem?” Doc said. “That wasn’t her fault. She told you that, didn’t she?”

  Anthony nodded. “Yes, but it’s still a huge problem for me, and as one of the main investors in this project, I’m surprised you don’t feel the same.”

  “I don’t feel the same because I know Liza personally. Trust me, Anthony. She’ll do great work.”

  “If you feel so strongly that she is the right person for the role, why couldn’t I tell her that you’d recommended her? You’ve put me in a really awkward position.”

  Doc was silent for moment. “Liza is a very independent woman. If she knew I was trying to help her, she wouldn’t be pleased. She can never know that I’m the one who brought her to you.”

  “Just in case you didn’t hear me earlier, I interviewed Liza as a favor, Z,” Anthony emphasized again. “I didn’t promise that I would hire her.”

  “You’d be doing me an even greater favor by changing your mind.”

  Anthony was very curious about Liza. How she would use her creativity, not to mention how she would feel in his arms. However, the situation was making him a little uneasy.

  “Let me put it to you this way,” Doc continued. “Even though I do have a ton of money invested, ultimately it’s your gig and your decision. But I honestly believe that having Liza design the clinic is in your best interest...and mine.”