by Amy Ruttan
“Me too,” he said quietly and then he set down his champagne flute and pulled out a box. “This is for you.”
Lana took the box from him. “What is it?”
“Your engagement ring,” he said matter-of-factly.
Lana almost dropped it. She set down her champagne flute and stared at that black velvet box. Something that was just fake was becoming too real right now.
As if sensing that she was nervous, Andrew took the box out of her hand, opened it and pulled out a beautiful square-cut diamond. He slipped it on her left hand. His hands were so strong and steady, while hers trembled.
“You’re shaking,” he whispered. He ran his thumb in a circle over her knuckles.
“I wasn’t expecting this.” She wasn’t expecting the rush of feeling tied to a piece of jewelry in a fake moment.
“Expecting what?” he asked gently, still holding her hand.
“The ring, of course.”
“Well, we are engaged. And you demanded one, if I remember rightly.”
“I suppose.” She glanced up at him and looked into his eyes. Those blue eyes that seemed to melt right into her very soul. His touch was nice. Just the simple touch made her feel alive.
“It’s a beautiful ring,” she whispered.
Andrew leaned over and whispered in her ear, “Not as beautiful as the owner of the hand it graces.”
She didn’t know what to say to that. No one had ever paid a compliment to her like that before. It caught her off guard and she felt as if she was frozen to the spot. She was still in the moment, her pulse racing, trembling and yearning for his touch.
Lana realized she was holding her breath, waiting for a kiss, but it never came because the limo came to a stop in front of the resort where the gala was being held.
“I guess we’re here,” Andrew said, breaking their connection and letting go of her hand. “You ready for this?”
No.
“Yes. I think so.”
The chauffeur opened the door and Andrew slid out. The chauffeur helped her get out of the limo and when she was standing next to Andrew he took her hand, which was heavy with a diamond on it.
It was all fake.
Not the ring, but the promise that it spoke to the rest of the world.
There was nothing sincere about this and it made her stomach twist with guilt. She didn’t want to go inside and pretend, but she’d made a promise to Jack and Andrew. This was for the good of the hospital, for her younger brother.
It would make Jack happy.
It made her father happy.
It made everyone but her happy. Which was usual. So why was this so hard for her? What made it so different from anything else she did to appease her brother and father?
Lana didn’t know. All she needed to remember tonight was to keep her wits about her so she didn’t do something foolish which would ruin everything because, like it or not, tomorrow she was getting married.
For better or for worse.
CHAPTER SIX
ANDREW COULDN’T STOP watching Lana all night. She was so graceful and poised, it made him proud in a weird way, because really she wasn’t anything to him. Perhaps a friend, but that was all.
Liar.
There was more—he wanted her. He wanted her like he hadn’t wanted a woman in a long time. He’d always been attracted to her, but she’d never, ever showed interest in him. Then they’d had a moment in the limo when she’d trembled under his touch.
It sent a rush of heat through him.
Fired his blood.
Just watching her move through the different circles of people made him want her all the more.
I don’t deserve her. Yet she would be his, under false pretenses.
Andrew took a sip of wine, his gaze focused on her as he watched her from the edge of the room. When Lana had opened the door and he’d seen her in that dress, it made the bikini look like a drab piece of cloth. There was more fabric to her dress, but it aroused him more than a two-piece bikini, because this dress accentuated all the right spots.
All of her curves. The color suited her. It brought out the richness in her dark eyes, but it was drab in comparison to her. Dr. Iolana Haole was the most gorgeous creature he’d ever laid eyes on and tomorrow she’d be his.
She’s not yours. This marriage is fake, remember? And you don’t deserve her.
Andrew shook that thought away, because it angered him.
“That is a beautiful ring you bought my daughter,” Dr. Keaka Haole said as he came up beside him.
“Thank you, sir.” Andrew turned to face the man he admired more than his own father. “Your daughter deserves the very best.” And that wasn’t a lie.
“I agree,” Keaka said, grinning. “You’ll make a fine husband and hopefully father one day.”
Andrew choked on the wine he was taking a drink from, while Keaka chuckled softly.
“I’m sorry I caught you by surprise, Andrew, but I do hope to see grandchildren one day. To see my legacy continue.”
“I can tell you, sir, that there is no plan in the immediate future for children.” Andrew never wanted to be a father. That was not on his radar and never would be. His father was a terrible man and Andrew was never, ever going to bring a child into the world when he didn’t know what a good father should be.
He wasn’t going to screw up his kids’ life the way his father had messed up his and his sister’s life.
Didn’t you screw up your sister’s life?
“There may be no plan,” Keaka said, interrupting his thoughts. “But surprises do happen. I didn’t plan on either Iolana or Keaka Jr., but life has a way of throwing curveballs if you’re not paying attention.”
“So true.” At least Andrew knew that the decision to have kids was something he could control. Even though he desperately wanted to take Lana into his bed, he wasn’t going to, so that solved the kid issue. At least from his end.
“I’m looking forward to having you join our family, Andrew.” Then Keaka looked uncomfortable. “I believe that you do care for her deeply. Unlike what happened a few years ago with David.”
“Right,” Andrew said, feeling awkward. He knew about Dr. David Preston and what had happened. He knew that Lana was painted as the pitiful creature and David a bit of a hero. David had used Lana as a way to further his career and wounded her pride—and broken her heart?
Aren’t you doing the same?
The thought made guilt gnaw at him. Lana had believed that David loved her. There was no pretense of love between her and him, but still it wasn’t real either.
“Thank you, sir.” Andrew hoped Lana’s father didn’t notice the awkward tension.
“You can call me Keaka.” Keaka grinned and took a drink from his wine glass. “You’re an asset to the hospital, Andrew. I do wish you’d reconsider your surgical position. I know you performed surgery in Canada.”
“Dr. Haole, you’ve seen my file; my shoulder was damaged and I had a botched surgery. There is no way I can competently hold a scalpel again.”
Keaka narrowed his eyes, but the smile never left his lips. “You know who could fix that botched shoulder?”
“You. I know. You’re the best,” Andrew said.
“I am good, but Lana could fix it. It’s too bad you two fell in love and are getting married so now she’ll never be able to operate on you.”
“Yes, that’s a shame.” He was lying through his teeth, but it was a good excuse to get people to back off about his shoulder and his surgical privileges. He was a good physician. He didn’t need operating room privileges.
Yes, you do. You miss it.
“Well, I would like you to teach our residents the famous Tremblay flap procedure. At least in the simulation lab,” Keaka said.
Keaka grinned and held up his wine glass as Andrew made his way through the crowd. He was glad to put some distance between him and his boss. Or rather his future father-in-law. Who was asking way too many questions he was not comfortable with.
It was bad enough Keaka Sr. knew about his shoulder. At least no one beyond human resources and Keaka Sr. knew. Patient confidentiality was a blessing. He didn’t want Lana to pity him the way he pitied himself.
Lana turned the moment he came up to the group.
Her dark eyes twinkling, she was still smiling. “Andrew?”
“Would you care to dance?” He held out his hand, his pulse thundering in his ears. He wanted to kiss her and he didn’t know why that compulsion came over him.
“I don’t dance,” she said quickly.
“Tonight you do.” And, without taking no for an answer, he took her hand and pulled her out onto the dance floor, spinning her around and then pulling her close as they danced together. “Whoa, I didn’t realize how tall you are in those heels.”
“Well, I think we’re the same height, so yes, the heels do give me a bit of an advantage. I usually wear flats.”
“We’re not the same height, or else you’d be really towering over me.”
“Would it make you feel better if I took my shoes off?” she teased.
“Perhaps, but I don’t think that’s proper decorum.”
She cocked a finely arched brow. “Oh? And what’s proper decorum, plastic milk crate man?”
Andrew laughed at her dig. “I’m totally bringing those to your house. Correction, our house.”
“You are not!” Then she laughed. “I’m totally wigging out about tomorrow.”
“It’ll be fine.” He ran his hand over her bare back, revelling in the silky-soft feel of her skin. Goose pimples rose under his light touch.
Where else would he bring out this reaction in her?
He was glad he was having such an effect on her.
“Don’t,” she whispered, her voice hitching slightly.
“Why?” He stopped anyways, though he didn’t want to.
“Because...just...”
“I’m sorry, I can’t help it. You’re a beautiful woman.” He wanted to lean in and kiss her, but he was holding back. This wasn’t real. He couldn’t have her. He had to respect the boundaries.
“Excuse me, Dr. Haole?”
Andrew inwardly thanked the hotel event captain for interrupting this moment. Andrew let go of Lana.
“Yes?” she asked.
“There’s a phone call for you from the hospital. They said it was urgent.”
“Okay.”
“I’ll wait right here,” Andrew said.
She nodded, but wouldn’t look him in the eye. He hoped he hadn’t made her angry. He hoped that she wouldn’t change her mind about helping him. He hoped that he hadn’t ruined it all.
* * *
“This is Dr. Haole speaking.” Lana tried to focus on the call that was coming through and tried to ignore the sensation that still was burned into her skin from Andrew’s light touch. It had felt good. She wanted more. She wanted him to kiss her. Her heart was still racing and she had to get control of herself or she might do something impulsive.
She listened to the resident explain that the patient’s collarbone was badly fractured, and the broken bone had punctured a lung. The lung was repaired, but the collarbone needed to be addressed. The collarbone would have to be repaired with screws and plates, because the fracture was so bad.
“Tell Dr. Young I’ll be right there to fix the collarbone.”
“The other lung is damaged and we may have to cut the other side of the clavicle to remove a sharp object embedded into the patient’s shoulder.”
Lana growled into the receiver, “You do not cut that man’s clavicle without me there. Do you understand, Doctor? Cutting the clavicle is not the answer.”
“Yes, Dr. Haole.”
“I’ll be there in ten minutes. Keep him stable.” Lana ended the call.
“Is everything okay?” Andrew asked, coming up behind her.
“No,” she said. “I have to get back to the hospital or Dr. Young is going to break the other side of a patient’s clavicle because Dr. Young may be a fantastic general surgeon, but she’s not an orthopedic one.”
Andrew winced and then nodded. “Okay, let’s get you to the hospital. You tell your dad why we’re leaving and I’ll get us a ride there.”
“Sounds good.” Lana made her way through the crowd. Her father had had a few too many drinks with a few other orthopedic surgeons who were attending the gala; she was probably the only one, besides her resident, in the vicinity who’d had barely anything to drink. Even David, across the room, was teetering and his new conquest looked none too pleased. Although he wasn’t an orthopedic surgeon. He was a neurologist.
Good.
At least she was responsible.
As always.
The last thing she drank was that sip of champagne before Andrew had slipped this ring on her finger over three hours ago. A cup of coffee before she scrubbed in would chase away any remnants, but really there was nothing in her system. She was the only one who could do this surgery.
Her father wished her well and she was headed straight for the entrance they’d come in. Andrew was pacing by the door.
“A cab is waiting.”
“Good, let’s get out of here.”
Andrew helped her into the cab and gave instructions to the driver while Lana pulled off her expensive necklace and earrings and put them in her evening bag. In her bag she carried a hair elastic, so while the cab negotiated the streets from the resort to the hospital she quickly braided her hair and put it up. All she had to do now was slip out of her dress and shoes in her office, throw on some scrubs and scrub in.
Then she remembered the ring on her left hand, glinting in the street lamps that they raced past. She didn’t want to take it off and lose it.
“Pin it to your scrubs,” Andrew said.
“What?” she asked.
“I saw you staring at the ring. The way you were frowning at it, you seemed confused about what to do with it, like you forgot it was there when you took off your other jewelry.”
“I did forget,” she said sheepishly.
“It’s okay, Lana.” He nodded. “Pin it to your scrubs; that’s what I see the nurses do all the time. They pin it over their heart.”
She tried not to roll her eyes. “I’ll do just that.”
He grinned. “That’s my girl.”
“Don’t call me that!”
“Snookums?”
“Didn’t we already have this conversation, Tremblay?”
He chuckled. “I suppose we did.”
The cab pulled up in front of the hospital. Andrew took care of the fare while Lana got out and raced toward her office. Andrew ran after her. As she tried to undo her dress she realized she couldn’t reach the zipper but, before she could curse in annoyance, she felt Andrew’s hand on her back.
“Let me help,” he whispered.
Her body shivered in delight as he undid the hook that was just a bit above her waist and then pulled the zipper down. It was such an intimate thing to do and it heated her blood just with the thought of him touching her.
Of Andrew doing something so intimate. Something only a lover or husband might do.
Well, he’s almost your husband.
“Thank you,” she managed to squeak out.
“No problem.” He undid his bow tie, slipping it off, and
then took off his jacket. Her pulse began to race and a bunch of naughty thoughts crept across her mind.
It had been so long since she’d had any sort of physical contact with a man. She’d never really missed it before. Didn’t care for it much when she had been intimate with a man, but being close to Andrew, getting to know him and being so attracted to him was giving her pause.
Maybe it wouldn’t be so bad with him? Just once.
Don’t think like that. You can’t think like that. He’s off-limits.
She had been expecting him to leave, but he was still standing there. “Are you going to get into a set of scrubs too?”
“Yeah...I think I would like to watch, if you don’t mind, and not from the galley.” He was pale when he managed to get the words out. “Do you have an extra set of scrubs in here?”
“Only women’s, but I’m sure there’s some larger ones in the residents’ lounge.”
He nodded. “I’ll see you down on the OR floor.”
Once he left, Lana was able to take a deep breath and calm her erratic pulse. She had to get everything under control because she had to focus on the surgery at hand. A clavicle that was broken and protruding, lung damage and the other clavicle that might need to be broken surgically to remove something that was imbedded into the patient’s other shoulder? This was going to be a long, tricky surgery.
Lana hoped that the other side of the clavicle didn’t need to be broken. That the object could be removed and then she could just repair the side of the clavicle that was broken. Right now she had to get her game face on.
This was what she lived for.
This was what she’d dedicated her whole life to. It was her passion. But a hospital setting had never been her passion. Lana had wanted to travel the world, work in third world countries doing orthopedic repairs.
Actually, she’d wanted to live out of the back of a rucksack, much like Andrew had been doing. Only that wasn’t what her father had wanted for her. If he was going to spend money to send her to prestigious schools like Princeton, then she was going to become a world class surgeon. He was going to groom her to take over the hospital one day.
It just wasn’t what she wanted, but it was what she was fated for.