The Doctor's Dating Bargain

by Teresa Southwick

  It was time for her to move on, just as she’d planned. She’d earned a promotion.

  “Camille?” Her father looked puzzled.

  “Hmm?”

  “Are you all right?”

  Define all right, she wanted to say. Professionally all was good. Personally? Not so much.

  “Yes, I’m fine,” she lied.

  Dean leaned forward, forearms on knees, blue eyes intent on her. “Then why don’t you look happier about this news?”

  That was a very good question, because this certainly wasn’t the way she’d expected to feel if this moment ever arrived, and she’d had her doubts in the beginning. When she’d talked her way into getting a chance, and that chance meant exile in Blackwater Lake, Montana, she hadn’t expected to fall in love. Or get pregnant.

  “I’m just really surprised by this,” she finally said.

  “You shouldn’t be. Hard work should be rewarded. And at Halliday we do that.”

  “I never wanted any special treatment.”

  “And you didn’t get any.”

  So spoke her boss. “Good, then.”

  Her father watched her for several moments, then frowned. “What is the nature of your relationship with Dr. McKnight?”

  There was a loaded question if she’d ever heard one. She and Ben didn’t have a relationship. All they had was a deal. Then they had sex. Now she was pregnant. All of the above would be tricky to explain in a way he would understand.

  Finally she said, “Why do you ask?”

  “Because I’m your father.”

  “Since when?”

  Cam wasn’t sure why she’d said that or why she wasn’t horrified that she had. Maybe the baby made her do it. Whatever the reason she’d surprised her father. The expression on his face was one she’d never seen before, which meant Dean Halliday Senior wasn’t accustomed to being caught off guard.

  “What does that mean?” he asked.

  “Tonight Ben stood up for me.” And she loved him for that. There, she’d actually formed her feelings into that thought. She loved Ben. “He protected and defended me.”

  “From what?”

  “You,” she went on quickly, before rational thought stepped in to make her stop. “The press being here wasn’t my fault any more than it was when they stalked me as a teenager. That was all about being the daughter of Dean Halliday, being from a wealthy hotel family.” He opened his mouth and she raised her hand to let him know she wasn’t finished. “I take responsibility for my bad choices in friends and the things I did. But I’d just lost my brother—”

  Sadness and a grief that would never go away darkened his eyes. “I lost my only son.”

  She refused to back down. “When he died not only did I lose my protector, the guy who ran interference for me, I lost my father, too. You went from parent to boss, training me to be a stand-in for Dean Junior. My only qualification was being the oldest surviving Halliday heir.”

  “Camille, you don’t know—”

  “I’m not blaming you, just explaining things from my perspective. I have no idea what it feels like to lose a child.” God willing she never would. “It’s got to be the worst thing that can happen and I understand that you went through an awful time. But I did, too. I was sinking fast and no one noticed, no one reached out a hand.” Not until she got to Blackwater Lake and met Ben. “It’s okay, Dad. I finally grew up. And it just has to be said. I’ll never be as good as Dean Junior would have been, but I promise to do my best not to let you down ever again.”

  His head was bowed, elbows resting on his knees with fingers linked between the wide V of his legs, as if he was praying. “I appreciate that.”

  “Good.”

  He sighed and stood up. “So, you’ll think about where you’d like to be transferred?”

  “Yes.” Then she remembered. “And wherever that is, I’m taking Amanda with me. I made her a deal.”

  He nodded. “A Halliday’s word is more than a promise.”

  “All right. When do you need my decision?”

  “As soon as possible.” He suddenly looked tired, and a little older than when he’d walked in. “We need time to reassign personnel.”

  “Okay.” They stared at each other for several moments without speaking, because apparently there was nothing more to say if it wasn’t about business. “Will I see you and Mother in the morning to say goodbye?”

  “An early breakfast?”

  “Just let me know what time. I’ll be there.”

  “Very well. Good night, Camille.”

  “’Night, Dad.”

  Without another word he left. Cam wasn’t sure whether or not she felt better because of unburdening herself. She was only sad that she and her father could never have had this conversation when she needed it most. He would have told her that Hallidays don’t make excuses, because they don’t make mistakes.

  Eventually she would have to confess to them that she’d messed up again and was pregnant. But first she had to break the news to Ben.

  Chapter Fourteen

  The next evening Cam called Los Angeles to make sure her parents had made it home safely. Her father informed her that the executive manager of the Halliday Hospitality Inn, Scottsdale, Arizona, was retiring and she could have the job if she wanted it. She agreed to think things over and let him know in twenty-four hours. He’d given no hint that there were any hard feelings about what she’d said to him regarding her childhood. Then again, her father was like Teflon. Things were thrown at him, but nothing stuck. Just as well.

  But before she could give him an answer about the new job and relocation, she had to tell Ben about the baby. Staring at the single wall that separated their suites, she decided that putting it off any longer was just cowardly. Hallidays weren’t gutless.

  She was casually dressed in jeans, a T-shirt with the Blackwater Lake Lodge logo on it and sneakers. Briefly she considered putting on a power outfit, then decided against it. She was in this predicament because she’d taken her clothes off and no ensemble would make a difference when telling a man who’d successfully avoided commitment that he was going to be a father.

  She did, however, check her hair and put on fresh lipstick. In this situation, a girl needed all the confidence she could get. With head held high and shoulders back she left her room and turned right, then knocked on his door.

  A few moments later Ben opened it, saw who was there, and a slow grin turned up the corners of his mouth. The warmth moved to his eyes and for just a second there was a flicker of what looked a lot like lust.

  He leaned one broad shoulder against the doorjamb in just about the sexiest pose ever. “Hi.”

  “Hi.”

  Cam’s heart hammered in her chest, partly because of what she had to say, but mostly it was simply her uncontrollable reaction to this man. She lifted her hand in a small wave, then stuck her fingers in her jeans pockets. Apparently her tongue was stuck, too, because she couldn’t think what to say next.

  “I’m glad you finally came over.”

  “Oh?” She’d been tempted many times and wondered if the word finally meant he had been, too. But his glad reaction wouldn’t last very long when she told him. “Why are you glad?”

  “Word around the lodge is that your parents are gone and I was wondering how everything is.” The pose got even sexier when he folded his arms over his chest. “I was going to call if you hadn’t stopped by.”

  That was something positive, wasn’t it? At least he was thinking about her. And he’d stood up to her father last night. No one had ever done that for her, not even the older brother she’d idolized. In spite of her effort to suppress it, she knew hope was hovering.

  “Can I come in?” Just about twenty-four hours ago her father had asked her the same thing and she’d wanted to say no. If Ben felt that way...

  “Of course.” He straightened out of the lazy pose and stepped back from the door to open it wider. “Do you want a beer or glass of wine?”

  H
er stomach dropped. Last night, out on the deck, he’d commented on the fact that she hadn’t had any of her wine at dinner. Now she was here to tell him the real reason. She toyed with the idea of mentioning that he might want a drink before hearing the news, but decided not to. Looking on the bright side, it was possible the information that he was going to be a father might not produce a response that required alcohol.

  “No, thanks,” she said.

  He closed the door and walked over to her. She was standing by the back of the love seat. His suite was a duplicate of hers, the mirror image. As he looked down, Ben curled his fingers into his palms, as if he was fighting the urge to touch her, pull her into his arms. At least she hoped... There was that word again.

  The expression in his eyes grew more intense as he stared at her. “Sit. Stay awhile.”

  “Maybe I will.” She’d really like to if this conversation went well.

  “Did your folks give you a hard time about last night?” He seemed genuinely concerned. “I didn’t mean to cause trouble. But none of what happened was your fault.”

  “I know. Dad didn’t mention it again.”

  “Good.” There was a question in his eyes. “So. I’m curious. To what do I owe the honor of a visit from senior management here at Blackwater Lake Lodge?”

  “Well.” She blew out a breath. “I have news. And some other news.”

  “Okay.” He settled his hands on lean hips. “Why don’t you start with the news first.”

  “My father is extremely pleased with my work here at the lodge.”

  “That’s good.” But the easygoing manner disappeared. “Right?”

  She nodded. “He’s offered me the top management position at Halliday Hospitality Inn, Scottsdale, Arizona.”

  “Congratulations.” His voice was oddly flat. “Desert. That’s different.”

  And he seemed indifferent to the information that she would be leaving Montana. Cam waited for more, a reaction indicating he cared even a little. It didn’t happen. She supposed him asking her not to go had been a stupid fantasy, but it had been there in spite of her warning to herself.

  Even so, she had no right to be disappointed. He was sticking to the letter of the agreement. He’d helped her get what she wanted and it wasn’t his fault she wanted him now.

  “What’s the other news?” he finally asked.

  It was best to say straight out what she had to say. There were no words that could possibly soften the blow. “I’m pregnant.”

  He looked at her for several moments, then actually laughed. This wasn’t anywhere near the expected response. “You’re kidding, right? It was a test. To make sure I was listening?”

  She blinked back tears and double-damned the out-of-control hormones that were making her react in this hyperemotional way. When she could speak without a sob sneaking out, she answered.

  “No, it’s not a joke. I’m going to have a baby. Your baby.” Her chin inched up slightly.

  He stared at her as if waiting for her to say “gotcha.” “I don’t understand. How could this have happened?”

  “Maybe it’s time for a refresher physiology course, one that highlights bodily functions, Doctor. It’s called—”

  “I know what happened. I was there. We used protection.”

  “Yes, we did.”

  She remembered being really grateful that he’d had some, for all the good it had done. She’d known the risk and in the heat of wanting him so badly, she’d been willing to take that chance. She was also a victim of that natural human malady known as the it-won’t-happen-to-me syndrome. Now she was just a terrible warning.

  “If you recall—” She put as much primness as possible into her voice. “It was very—athletic—when we, you know—”

  “Slept together,” he finished.

  “Yes.” Although if they’d actually slept, they wouldn’t be in this mess. She wanted to look anywhere except at the grim expression on his face but wouldn’t let her gaze wander. “I’m told that under those circumstances condoms can be ineffective.”

  And that was when she realized her second fantasy of the evening had bitten the dust along with the one where he asked her not to leave. It had crossed her mind that there could be the cliché hug and twirl of happiness when he scooped her up in his arms because he was happy about becoming a father. But there wasn’t so much of that reaction, either. There wasn’t a speck of joy on his face, just dark looks and frowning.

  “Are you sure about this?” he asked.

  “I took a pregnancy test. Still have the stick if you want to see it.” She pointed at the wall separating their suites. “I can bring it over.”

  “Not necessary.”

  She knew he wanted to ask if the baby was his, but to his credit he held the words back. “Just so you know, I haven’t been with anyone else.”

  “It never crossed my mind.” Again to his credit, he sounded sincere.

  She nodded. “Thanks for that.”

  He dragged his fingers through his hair and seemed on the verge of saying something. Ask me to stay, she wanted to beg him.

  But that wasn’t what came out of his mouth. “This is a lot to process.”

  Oddly enough, those were the words that broke her heart. His voice wasn’t unkind and certainly what he said was true. But she’d wanted so much to hear something different.

  “I know what you mean. I’m still trying to—process. But we can work something out. Visitation,” she said lamely.

  “Yeah.” He dragged his fingers through his hair.

  They stared at each other for several moments, both in shock for different reasons. Finally she realized there was nothing left to say. “I need to go.”

  “Right. Okay.” He went to the door and opened it. “I’ll call you. We’ll talk.”

  She nodded, then walked out without another word. There was no way to speak without bursting into tears and she didn’t want pity.

  She wanted the fairy tale. She wanted him to love her.

  Moments later, when the tears started rolling down her cheeks, she was in her own suite where no one could see her break down. Up-and-coming hotel entrepreneur heiresses didn’t do this sort of thing in public. Ben hadn’t intentionally lied when he’d said the bargain would keep either of them from getting hurt, but that didn’t help when the pain overwhelmed her.

  In her rebellious stage people had always wanted something from her. She’d thought knowing up front what Ben wanted would insulate her from feeling used. It wasn’t fair, and certainly wasn’t what had happened, but that didn’t make losing the man she loved hurt any less.

  When she stopped crying, she’d call her father and tell him Scottsdale near Phoenix was where she wanted to go. She couldn’t think of a place that was more different from Blackwater Lake, and maybe a change of scenery would help her forget Ben McKnight.

  * * *

  “What’s the holdup with this house, Alex?” Ben stood in his newly wallboarded family room and glared at his brother while their father looked on. Cam had left without a goodbye two weeks ago and every day that went by without her in it shortened his temper. She was going to have a baby. His baby. The news had blown his mind.

  “There’s no delay,” Alex answered. “It’s all part of the building process.”

  “You could have built a whole block in the time you’ve spent on this thing.”

  Brown eyes a lot like his own stared back at him, but Alex’s were brimming with amusement. “Who are you and what have you done with my laid-back little brother? You remember him, right? Doctor. Easygoing. Great sense of humor. The guy who said, ‘Take your time. Get everything right.’”

  “Now I just want it done.”

  When Ben had brought Cam here the framing was complete but you could see into everything downstairs, including the garage. Now the wallboard was up, closing things off. Much like himself, he thought. And that made him angry.

  The last time he’d seen her standing in his hotel room doorway, lust had
hit him like a speeding train. He wanted her in his arms, in his bed, but there was more to it and he didn’t think about that. She’d dropped her bombshell, then kept to their bargain and left for a better job. Just as promised, she’d packed up and brushed the mud of Montana from her pumps. And she’d done it without saying goodbye.

  Ben dragged his fingers through his hair. “What’s the delay?”

  “There are building codes.” The exaggerated patience in his brother’s voice grated on already frayed nerves. “Inspectors need to examine everything to make sure it’s built to those codes. After the job is done on each phase, we can’t move on to the next until the city inspector signs off on the work. We have to wait.”

  “So can we buy this guy a drink or something and persuade him to make this place a priority?”

  “Are you talking bribe?” One of Alex’s dark eyebrows rose questioningly. “Because I’m pretty sure there are laws against that sort of thing.”

  “Might be worth breaking the law to move this project forward at maybe a pace just a tad faster than a snail’s.”

  Tom McKnight had simply been observing the back and forth between his sons. Until now. “What’s your hurry, Ben?”

  His hurry was that he wanted out of Blackwater Lake Lodge. He swore his room still held the scent of Cam’s skin, but that was impossible because she’d only ever been in it once. Every night of looking at the wall that had separated his room from hers made him sorry for all the missed opportunities. He regretted not going next door and kissing the living daylights out of her when he could have.

  The memories were driving him crazy.

  “This is about Alex dragging his feet,” he said.

  Tom shook his head. “Your brother is the best builder around. His reputation in California and Montana is above reproach.”

  “Thanks, Dad.” Alex gave him a “so there” look.

  The older man continued, “And you’re not acting like yourself, son.”

  “Who am I acting like?”

  “Me.” His father’s pale blue eyes filled with sadness. “After your mom died.”