A blast of cold, fresh air swirled through the waiting room as Ambrose Wheatley hobbled inside.
“Good morning, ladies,” he greeted for the second time that day. He’d left before the clinic opened to run an errand. Amy suspected he’d treated himself to a sweet roll and coffee at the café.
“Hi, Daddy,” Amy said, trying to make her voice and expression cheerful.
“What’s wrong, Amy girl? Not an emergency?”
“No, just one Mrs. Gresham who thinks I’m too young and unattached to treat her husband.”
Her dad shook his head. “She’ll come around. Some of these people just need a little time.”
Time. Well, now that she was back in town to stay, Amy suspected she’d have plenty of that commodity. Especially since she wouldn’t be going out on any more dates with Grayson Phillips.
AMY HAD DECIDED TO take Wednesday afternoons off so she had some free time during the week to conduct personal business or just spend some time away from the clinic. She hadn’t had much time to start any hobbies in Forth Worth. Maybe now that she’d settled down, she could pursue some of her other interests. She’d love to look up some of her old friends, although she knew many of them had married and moved away. Looking up friends hardly qualified as a hobby.
First, she needed to find something interesting besides medicine. Immediately, Gray’s image popped into her head. Now there was a man who could become a full-time hobby.
She shook off the unproductive thoughts as she pushed open the door of the Four Square Café. She had a craving for one of their turkey club sandwiches and French fries. Thelma and Joyce were just getting up from their usual chairs when Amy walked past to take a seat.
“Good afternoon, ladies.”
“Amy! How nice to see you,” Thelma greeted. The newspaper owner and editor had been nice enough to run an article on Amy’s return to town and work at the clinic.
Joyce reached out and fluffed her hair. “How’s that new cut coming?”
“Fine. I’ve gotten used to the layering around my face and I really like it.”
“Good. It makes you look a little older. More sophisticated,” Joyce added.
“I wish you’d convince some of my patients that I’m plenty old to practice medicine.”
“Oh, they’ll come around.”
“That’s what my father says, but I’m worried. I’ve had two women this week who hinted they didn’t want their husbands treated by a young, single doctor.”
“Old habits, my dear,” Thelma answered. “Some of these people are very entrenched in their thinking.”
“I’m just concerned. I’m sure things will work out.”
“Of course they will,” Joyce advised.
“Have you heard from our Mr. Phillips?” Thelma asked.
“No, I haven’t.” And she hadn’t expected to, either. Not that she hadn’t remembered him every night as she’d slipped between the cool sheets of her lonely bed.
“I thought perhaps he might have asked you out again.”
“No. Why did you think so?”
“Because we mentioned a certain other young lady who needed a date for a wonderful arts event in San Marcus, and he claimed he was unavailable. For Saturday night! Can’t imagine why unless he had a previous engagement,” the editor said, her expression questioning.
Amy shrugged. “Not with me.” But perhaps she knew why. Perhaps Gray had gotten tired of the constant demand for blind dates. Maybe after talking it though on their date, he’d decided to take a stand against the two matchmakers.
“We’ll have to check back with him.”
“Maybe he just doesn’t want to date,” Amy suggested.
“Nonsense.”
“What if he isn’t looking? Maybe he’s happy being single.” The idea of Gray with another woman caused a different type of pain near her heart. She wouldn’t call it jealousy, because she had no claim upon his time or affections. But she did recognize the potential for problems. She absolutely couldn’t start thinking about “what ifs” where Gray was concerned.
“Nonsense,” Joyce said. “Men just think they’re happy single. It’s up to women to convince them otherwise.”
Amy smiled and shook her head at their obvious rigid thinking on the subject of single men. “Well, good luck, ladies. I’ve had my one date with Grayson Phillips.”
The two older ladies jerked to attention. “One date? What do you mean by that?” Thelma asked.
Oops. Amy knew she’d slipped up. She was certain Gray didn’t want anyone else to know his unwritten rule of dating. She wasn’t about to give away his secrets. “I meant that I don’t think he’ll ask me out again. We had a good time, but I don’t have any more events to attend in the near future. And surely he’s a very busy man.”
Thelma narrowed her eyes in thought, and Joyce appeared to be scheming. Before they could come up with more questions, Amy hurried to an empty table.
ON FRIDAY AFTERNOON, two men showed up without an appointment. One worked at Grayson Industries; the other was the boss.
Amy had to take a few seconds to school her features and lower her pulse before she approached them. She hadn’t seen Gray since she’d bolted from his car early Saturday morning. She’d even tried telling herself, in the dark hours of the night, that he wasn’t as appealing as she’d remembered. She’d been wrong. His black knit shirt defined his impressive chest and accented his flat stomach and lean hips. A leather aviator-style jacket was thrown casually across one of the reception area chairs.
“Gray?” Amy asked as she walked past the half-walled reception area. “What are you doing here? Are you ill?” He certainly didn’t appear to be ailing. He looked…wonderful.
“No,” he said, his gaze taking in every detail from her newly trimmed hair to her slightly rumpled lab coat. “I brought one of my employees, Steve Curtis. He slipped while lifting a box and hurt his back.”
Thankfully, her father wasn’t here at the moment to see his daughter stumble through this seemingly innocent meeting. Amy motioned for Gladys to come over.
“Would you take our patient into Exam One and get him a gown?” With a startled look, Steve followed Gladys out of the waiting room.
Of course, Amy realized a moment later, she was now alone with Gray. Had that been her subconscious intention? She wanted to say no, but how could she when the attraction was as strong as ever?
“Well, I’d better take a look at him. Umm, as soon as he’s had a chance to get into the gown.” She paused, her eyes hungry from the sight of Gray. He was dressed in business casual, but he looked even better than he had in a tuxedo. “Will you stay?” she asked, her voice sounding breathless and not at all professional, “So I can give you an update on his condition?”
“I’ll be here.” His gaze told her he’d be waiting impatiently.
Her pulse started racing again and she felt her cheeks heat with a blush. She nodded in response, embarrassed by her reaction, unwilling to trust her voice. She should have been thinking of her patient, but all that she could remember for one moment was how Gray’s kiss had sent her running for safety.
Resisting the urge to run once again, she grasped her stethoscope and hurried to her patient. After a knock on the closed door, she took a calming breath and stepped inside.
The young man in her exam room had changed into a gown, and was sitting on the padded table. Amy went through a series of questions and had him carefully move so she could determine the extent of his injury. She soon realized Steve wasn’t in extreme pain, as she’d sometimes seen from lifting accidents. Oh, there was discomfort, but hardly an emergency situation requiring immediate care.
She also discovered he was a bit amazed that the boss had taken him to the doctor, instead of advising the young man to drive himself to the clinic after work.
Interesting.
Either Gray was the most considerate, concerned boss she’d ever encountered, or he had another reason for coming to the clinic. Like seeing her, pe
rhaps?
Interesting.
She wrote a prescription for painkillers, advised Steve not to drive while taking the medicine and told him to schedule a follow-up visit for next week.
Then she went back to the waiting room to find out why Gray had taken such a personal interest in his employee. Or if there might be another reason he was pacing the room instead of running his successful business.
Chapter Four
Gray shifted impatiently on the outdated chairs in the clinic’s waiting room. How long did it take to look at one slightly strained back? More importantly, how long would Amy be cloistered in the exam room with the young, muscular stock room employee?
Gray inwardly cursed himself for a fool. He hadn’t needed to bring Steve in for a checkup. Grayson Industries had plenty of supervisors and other employees who could have done the job. But as soon as he’d heard the thump of the fallen box, he’d interfered, thinking only of the excuse the injury would provide. An excuse to see Amy again.
She looked wonderful. Oh, not as polished and primped as she’d appeared on Friday night. Today she appeared more…wholesome. Very professional in her lab coat with her name embroidered above the name of the clinic. With her dark, glossy hair framing a face almost devoid of cosmetics.
Damn, but he still wanted her. He envied Steve who was “allowed” time with Amy. Who was allowed to removed his clothes for the doctor….
His slacks were too tight. The chair was too hard. Gray couldn’t get comfortable, and silently acknowledged that he might never be comfortable again. Not as long as Amy was so near, yet so out of reach.
He pushed out of the chair, needing to take some action while Steve—nearly naked with Amy just beyond that closed door—was examined. Pacing the room wasn’t as satisfying as bursting into the exam room and hauling Amy into his arms.
Before he’d made his second trip across the linoleum, Amy exited the exam room, a thoughtful expression on her face. Gray ignored the receptionist and intercepted the doctor. “Well?”
She met his gaze squarely, a slight question in her eyes. “He’ll be fine. I suggest light duty, such as no lifting over twenty pounds and no repetitive bending or stooping for another week.”
“I’ll tell his supervisor.”
“Ah, yes. He does have an immediate supervisor, doesn’t he?”
“Yes,” Gray answered, confused by her knowing tone. “Why do you ask?”
Instead of answering, she took his arm and led him into a corner office. A few empty boxes were stacked near the door, and her framed diplomas and licenses leaned against another wall.
After she closed the door, she said, “I was just wondering if you take such a personal interest in all your employees.”
“What do you mean?” He was having trouble keeping his mind on the conversation with her so close. Within touching distance. Within kissing range.
“Why did you bring Steve to the clinic, Gray?”
“Because he was injured.”
“Not very seriously. Tell me, do you always personally escort your employees to the clinic?”
“We don’t have that many injuries, but no, I don’t.”
Amy picked up a pencil holder, stared at the caduceus on the side, then placed it back on her desk. She looked up at him. “Did you want to see me, Gray?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
How could he respond to that direct question when he didn’t know the answer. “I don’t know, Amy.”
“Then why here? You could have called me. We could have met somewhere else.”
“You mean like your house…or mine?”
A slight blush stained her cheeks. “Or someplace else.”
“I told you I didn’t date anyone twice.”
“So you found an excuse to bring your employee to the clinic.”
“You make me sound devious.”
Amy sighed. “Not devious, but not exactly honest either. I don’t want to play games, Gray.”
“You think I do? Believe me, I’m not proud of myself for acting like a…” He couldn’t think of any word or phrase other than “love-struck fool” to describe what he was feeling.
“Gray—”
“I’m sorry, Amy. I’m not trying to play games. I just wanted to see you again.”
She slumped against the desk. “Oh, Gray, I wanted to see you, too. But you made yourself clear, so I didn’t call. I told everyone who asked that we probably wouldn’t be going out again. I did what was necessary to honor your request.”
He took a step closer and placed his hands lightly on her shoulders. “I appreciate that. What I said when we went out was the truth. Maybe this irrational urge I have to see you is all the more reason for staying away.”
She tilted her head. “What do you mean?”
“Obviously, the attraction we both feel is strong. Unless you’re willing to have a clandestine affair, I can’t see any future for us.”
“You really don’t want to know how things might develop between us?” she asked, her voice soft and searching.
“Of course I want to know. Dammit, I go to bed aching for you. Believe me, that’s not a normal situation for me. Not at this point in my life. But I was serious about my intentions—I don’t want a long-term relationship. My company is my life, at least for now.”
“So basically you’d like to have sex, but that’s all.”
Now he was the one blushing. Put that way, his words sounded crass, insensitive. The tension in her shoulders revealed her reaction to his admission. “I respect you too much to suggest we have a quick tumble on your couch, Amy. I’m just pointing out that people will be watching us. I would never do anything to jeopardize your standing in the community.”
“I appreciate that, Gray,” she said, her eyes focused somewhere around the baseboard. “But I’m just pointing out that you’re sending mixed messages. How am I supposed to respond when you make excuses to come to my clinic, but claim we have no future?”
“Maybe just one time, like this,” he said as he tipped her chin up and lowered his lips to hers.
AMY ALLOWED HERSELF A moment to respond. Or perhaps “allow” was too strong a word. How could she stop her breath from catching, her heart from racing, or her lips from melting into his? Just for a moment. He tasted of cinnamon and forbidden longings. He very nearly took away her will to resist, and all the good sense she’d been raised with. Amy might have lived in the “big city” for the past eleven years, but she wasn’t going to toss aside all her scruples for one or two nights of mind-blowing passion. Even for Grayson Phillips.
She pulled away, her mind spinning, her lips swollen. “You have to leave now.”
“I can’t leave now,” he said, resting his forehead against hers. “If I do, your nurse and my employee will know what we’ve doing in here.”
The bulge in his trousers pressed against her stomach. Oh, yes. She didn’t need a medical degree to know what that meant. “If you don’t leave, we might be doing more than kissing.”
Gray closed his eyes and groaned. “Don’t say things like that.”
Amy dug her nails out of his back and pulled her hands around to his chest. “Gray, this is crazy. To quote a cliché, ‘we can’t keep meeting like this.”’
“You’re right,” he said, smoothing a wispy strand of hair back from her cheek, “but I’m not one hundred percent sure I can stay away.”
“I can’t play this game.”
“It’s not a game.”
“It’s not real, either. What would you call it?”
He closed his eyes, took a deep breath and shook his head. When he looked at her again, his silvery eyes reflected her confusion. “I don’t know. Maybe we both met at a…vulnerable moment. You’d just moved back to your hometown, I’d been out of a relationship for a long time…”
“Sounds rational. Do you believe it?”
“I have to believe something sensible.”
“Then believe this—I won’t keep seeing y
ou in private and pretend there’s nothing between us. Either we date openly, get to know each other better or we stay away from temptation.”
“Is that your final answer?”
Despite the serious discussion, Amy had to smile. “Yes, it is.” She pushed away from him, fluffed her hair back into some semblance of normalcy, and straightened her lab coat. Thank goodness she didn’t wear lipstick during office hours; it would have been all over her face. “I’m going to check with Gladys on your employee’s follow-up appointment. You have about two minutes to appear in the waiting room.”
Gray nodded. “Thanks.”
She walked to the door, but paused before turning the knob. “Gray, I mean it. This attraction we have for each other…it’s a little overwhelming. I have a lot going on in my life at the moment. I’m not good at lying; I always got caught when I tried.”
“I understand. I don’t want to put you in a situation where you’d have to deny anything.”
She took one last look at his well-toned body, just-kissed lips and sex-starved eyes before slipping out the door. She’d said everything that needed to be said. Whatever decision Gray made about exploring a possible relationship—or not—she’d live with.
Or so she thought…until she nearly ran into her father, just outside her office door.
“Daddy! What are you doing here?”
“Last time I checked, I still worked here,” he said, a little chuckle in his voice. “You look flummoxed, Amy girl. What’s wrong?”
“Nothing, Daddy,” she said, pushing some irritating wisps of hair behind her ear. “I’m finishing up for the day. I just saw a back injury.” She looked over her father’s shoulder. “There he is now. I’d better go check on his follow-up appointment.”
She almost ran to Gladys’s desk, hoping her father would take the hint and go into his own office. Or even stop for the day. If he left there might not be a problem. She wouldn’t have to explain—”
“Gray!”
Oh, great. Amy turned around in time to see her father reach out to shake hands with the one man who didn’t need to be in the clinic.
The Best Blind Date in Texas Page 5