From Doctor...to Daddy

by Karen Rose Smith

  His door was open but she rapped anyway.

  When he looked up, he saw her, but his expression was unreadable as he said, “Come in.” She realized he’d had a busy morning. Two guests had gone hiking and had fallen; another guest had expressed a problem with dizziness. Later, an older gentleman had rushed in with a nosebleed that wouldn’t quit. Erika had already learned Dillon didn’t let his chart work back up, and he e-mailed duplicate copies of the guests’ infirmary visits to their family physicians. So he had a lot of info to enter.

  “Did you have lunch?” she asked as an opener, not knowing where else to begin.

  “Not yet. Ruthann just arrived. I’ll take a break in a little while.”

  “I can pick you up something at the deli and bring it in.”

  “I told you before, Erika, that’s not your job. You’re not here to wait on me.”

  No, she wasn’t. She was going to make a place for herself on this management team and become an asset to Thunder Canyon Resort.

  “I was just in the lobby and Jeff Lindstrom asked to talk to me,” she began, trying to keep her heart from tripping too fast.

  “How is he?” Dillon’s voice was full of obvious concern for the boy.

  “He’s fine. But feeling guilty.”

  “About?” Dillon stood and came around the desk to where she was standing.

  “Employees getting fired because of him. He told me he’d made a friend. This friend had given him half a chocolate bar and assured him there weren’t any nuts in it.”

  It was obvious Dillon was surprised. “He actually told you that?”

  “Is it so difficult to believe an eight-year-old has a conscience and would confide in me?” she asked a bit defensively.

  “No, of course not. I didn’t mean it that way. Did he tell his father?”

  She shook her head. “Mr. Lindstrom was in the lobby, too, and Jeff didn’t seem ready. But he knows he has to now that he confided in me.”

  Dillon took another step closer to her. “Jeff coming to you was important. This cuts off the lawsuit at its knees…unless the boy denies the whole thing again.”

  “I don’t think he will.”

  Dillon’s golden-brown gaze was powerful as he suggested, “Denial is a great defense mechanism. We think it keeps us safe, but it really doesn’t. The truth isn’t far underneath.”

  She was intuitive enough to know Dillon wasn’t talking about Jeff now. “Sometimes the truth can hurt, or put one in a dangerous situation.”

  “Dangerous? In some ways.” He paused to study her. “I’m still thinking about that kiss. Are you?”

  “Yes,” she admitted on a sigh. Something about Dillon Traub demanded honesty.

  “Do you feel if you became involved with me, you’d be putting your job in jeopardy?”

  “I’ve thought about that…and other things.”

  “What other things?”

  “I’ve been the butt of gossip before. I don’t want to be again.”

  “That’s one thing. What’s another?”

  “Emilia. Even if I were willing to take a risk for myself, I can’t take risks with her.”

  “But there’s still more, isn’t there?”

  “I don’t have time to spare…not with Emilia and work and—”

  “Okay, I get the idea. But I don’t think I’m wrong about the attraction between us, am I?”

  If she answered, she’d be putting too much power in his hands. She lowered her gaze, choosing not to let him see what was going on inside of her.

  He lifted her chin with his thumb. “Erika?”

  If she stood here much longer, she might end up in his arms! There was a magnetic pull toward him that could sweep her off her feet if she let it. But she had to keep both feet planted firmly on the ground. The touch of his finger on her skin, however, gave her thoughts wings. She couldn’t seem to capture even one of them at the moment.

  She had her purse slung over her shoulder and now her cell phone rang from inside of it. Saved by “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star”—Emilia loved to hear the song play on her phone—Erika dug in her purse. “I’d better get this.” Opening the phone, she saw the caller ID and froze. It was Zane Gunther’s manager! She couldn’t believe it.

  “Mr. Nolan! Hello. It’s so good to hear from you.” Even if it was bad news, at least she’d gotten this far.

  “Miss Rodriguez?”

  “Yes, it’s me. I’m sorry. I was just so excited to receive your call.”

  The man had amusement in his voice when he asked, “So you think this is going to be good news?”

  “I can hope, can’t I?”

  “Well, you must have been doing a lot of hoping since you first called me. I won’t keep you in suspense any longer. Mr. Gunther has accepted your offer to appear at Frontier Days for the fee Mr. Clifton has offered to pay. He has one request, though.”

  She felt like jumping up and down for joy, spinning in a circle, grinning from now until next year. “Anything!”

  “He would like a secluded place to stay before he performs.”

  She’d discussed this possibility, too, with Grant and had a couple of options. “We’d be pleased to give Mr. Gunther one of the penthouse suites, though that would be in the main lodge. A second choice would be for him to stay in one of the vacant condos. They’re down the mountain a ways. A third option would be the most secluded. We have a few isolated cabins kept for dignitaries. They’re off the beaten path and no one has to know he’s there.”

  “That sounds perfect. Except…is the cabin large enough for anyone besides Zane?”

  “The cabins are really more like small villas. Each has two bedrooms and a full kitchen as well as a dining and sitting area.”

  “I know Zane will want the cabin and I’ll probably stay there with him. How about one of those vacant condos for the band?”

  “Whatever you’d like, Mr. Nolan. I just can’t believe you said yes.”

  He laughed, and said he’d be in touch again to finalize details. Then he ended the call.

  After Erika hung up, she was beside herself with excitement. Zane Gunther. He was the biggest of all the stars she had tried to contact.

  Dillon rose from his desk, his gaze questioning.

  She couldn’t keep her enthusiasm from what had just happened tied up inside her. “Guess who’s coming to Thunder Canyon?”

  Dillon’s mouth tilted up in a smile. “The governor of Montana?”

  “Even better. Zane Gunther’s coming. Can you imagine? Think about the crowd he’ll bring in! Just think about his music. And I get to sit in the front row.”

  “I’m glad you’re happy about it. Convincing him to come could make Frontier Days an even bigger success.”

  “Aren’t you excited? Don’t you just love his music? Don’t you wish you could shake his hand and—”

  Something about Dillon’s stillness alerted her that he already knew about this. She remembered telling him how frustrating it was not having anyone call her back…how much she needed a well-known country singer to perform…and he’d said he might be able to help.

  Why would Zane Gunther come to Thunder Canyon? It wasn’t a large venue like he was used to. Suddenly Erika knew this gig didn’t happen by sheer luck. It didn’t happen because she’d made a call.

  “Did you know about this? Did you have something to do with getting him to accept my invitation?”

  Dillon said simply, “Zane and I go way back. We went to school together.”

  “Oh, Dillon. Thank you.” Before she thought about it once, let alone twice, she threw her arms around him and gave him a huge hug.

  In response, Dillon’s arms went around her.

  Their enthusiastic embrace turned into something else when she raised her gaze to his. She could feel his muscles go taut under his suit coat. More than that, she felt his body heat, smelled his aftershave and fell into those golden-brown eyes. Whenever she was within touching distance of Dillon, her whole world changed. It bec
ame brighter, clearer, more adventurous. It was a no-holds-barred feeling that she could do anything, or be anything. It was so crazy, yet—

  “Do you want another kiss as much as I do?” he asked, his voice husky.

  “Yes,” she breathed, waiting, anticipating, knowing she shouldn’t be doing this but unable to help herself because it felt so right.

  Dillon’s mouth came down on hers quickly, possessively, passionately. His tongue breeched her lips, searched for a response which she willingly gave as he pressed her more tightly against him. As she laced her hands in his hair, the world around them fell away.

  Eventually Dillon’s hold lessened, his kiss slowed, his tongue stopped exploring and she was aware of all the changes. Yes, they both wanted this moment—but where did he think it was going to go? Where did she?

  She dropped her hands from around his neck and backed away.

  His voice seemed quite steady and he looked much less affected by the kiss than she was. “I shouldn’t have done that here. Are you okay?”

  His office was private. The scenery outside the long windows gave the illusion of being someplace other than in a lodge. But they were in the infirmary suite and could be interrupted at any time.

  Erika’s thoughts wafted through her mind. She was trembling so badly, she felt as if she wanted to fall to the floor in a puddle. But she couldn’t let Dillon see how much he tilted her world.

  After clearing her throat, she straightened her shoulders and met his gaze. “I’m fine.”

  The simmering heat in his eyes shook her all over again. He ran his hand through his hair and went to his desk, using it as a barrier between them. “You have an outside appointment this afternoon, don’t you?”

  With effort, she pulled herself together and replied, “With Mayor Brookhurst. I’ll be leaving in a few minutes. I have to sort through my notes first.”

  With an obvious effort to move the conversation away from the two of them, he remarked, “I suppose he’ll be Master of Ceremonies for Frontier Days?”

  “Yes. I want to go over his schedule. Bo Clifton and Arthur Swinton will be giving campaign speeches on Saturday afternoon of that weekend and probably glad-handing everyone they can. I’m hoping Mayor Brookhurst will look on the whole thing as one big retirement party.”

  Although they were discussing Frontier Days, Dillon was still standing there watching her. “What?” she asked.

  “You’re really beautiful when you let your guard down.”

  She wasn’t sure what to say to that until Dillon went on. “You’re beautiful all the time. But when you’re enthusiastic, your eyes light up, and your smile is something to see. I’m glad Zane’s concert will make you so happy.”

  She wanted to find out more about how this had all come about and exactly why he had asked his friend for this favor. “Did you have to twist his arm?”

  “No,” Dillon answered with a reminiscent smile. “I asked if he was free. He checked his schedule. I told him I’d be here this month and suggested we’d have time to reconnect. He seemed to like that idea.”

  “I’m hoping he’ll enjoy himself here.”

  “This will be good for you in other ways, too. The prestige of having him and his band staying here could bring in even more guests. Grant will be thrilled. I guess your biggest job now will be to publicize it as quickly as possible.”

  If she kept looking at Dillon, kept thinking about his lips on hers, she’d end up in his arms again. So she concentrated on details. “There are so many things to think about—writing press releases, putting info on the resort Web site, taking out more ads across the area. I also need to know what Zane might need to be comfortable here. What does he like? What should I put in his room? Where can I get all of his CDs so we have enough to sell?”

  “His manager won’t mind you asking him those questions. He’s a good guy.”

  “But you probably know his likes and dislikes, favorite candy bars. Unless he’s into healthy snacks. If so, I need to know that,” she said, still in awe that the country singer was actually going to perform in Thunder Canyon.

  Dillon shrugged. “He’s just a man, Erika, like any other. But if you need specifics, he likes corn chips and the hottest salsa you can find.”

  “Still—this is so big for Thunder Canyon.”

  “I’m getting a good idea of how big it is for you.”

  “Will you introduce us?” she asked impulsively.

  “Sure. If I’m around when Zane comes in, I’ll do that for you. You’ll like him, Erika. He really is a regular guy.”

  “And you’re a terrific…friend for doing this.”

  “I didn’t do it just for you. Thunder Canyon can use a real economic pump. Maybe if other country stars see that Zane performed here, they’ll follow.”

  “Thank you for any part you played in convincing Zane to come here. I promise, his experience is going to be a spectacular one. I’ll make sure everything is exactly the way he wants it. We’ll treat him as the celebrity he is.”

  “I think Zane will just want to have a beer and a rack of ribs from D.J.’s and act like a normal person. But that won’t be possible if we get crowds. You’ll have a chance to meet him outside the hoopla, then you can cross off one of your dreams come true.”

  One of her dreams come true. Did the other have to do with Dillon? She was so tempted by the idea. But she knew dreams faded away like smoke at the tip of a candle. She had to keep Emilia and her job first and foremost in her mind.

  And if she and Dillon were drawn together again?

  Silence stretched between them and Dillon looked sober for a moment. “I want to say this again. I know I shouldn’t have kissed you here. I don’t want to embarrass you or compromise you. But something seems to happen when we get within ten feet of each other.”

  He seemed as surprised by that as she was. She could pull back, wrap herself up in her professionalism, lift her chin and walk out without another word. But where would that get her? Dillon had said Zane was a real guy. Dillon was a real guy. He said what he meant. He did what he said. She wanted to be real, too.

  “I learned in the past that an attraction can lead to pain I never want to experience again. Emilia deserves a family, not moments of happiness here and there. So I have to make a wise decision. Being attracted to you confuses me, I can’t deny it. But right now I don’t know what to do with it, either.”

  “So for now you want to pretend we’re boss and employee and nothing else is going on.”

  “Yes,” she admitted, relieved that he understood.

  After all, she was a representative of Thunder Canyon Resort. She could not let desire for Dillon fog her better judgment.

  And she couldn’t fall into a month-long affair that would surely leave her with a broken heart. She couldn’t.

  “I have to go,” she murmured as she broke eye contact and stepped toward the door.

  “Good luck with the mayor,” Dillon said, his voice wrapping around her as his arms had a few minutes before. She nodded and hurried out of his office, not knowing what to do about the tall, broad-shouldered Texan who had done her a huge favor.

  Erika was walking through the main lobby of the resort when Erin Castro called to her from the front desk. Erin was still a mystery to many people in Thunder Canyon. She’d moved to town in July and found a job waitressing at the Hitching Post. Her long blond hair and very blue eyes, along with a figure straight out of Victoria’s Secret, attracted men to her, especially when she’d been a waitress. But now she’d been hired at Thunder Canyon Resort on a temporary basis—to fill in where she was needed—and she wore more subdued makeup, often tying back her hair. Erika thought now Erin seemed to want to blend in with the crowd.

  But she was still too pretty to just blend in. When Erika stopped at the desk, Erin asked, “How would you like to have lunch next week? We could get away from here and go to the Tottering Teapot.”

  “That would be nice.” The bistro in town was a woman’s haven.<
br />
  Erika had made friends with Erin because she seemed so much less judgmental than other employees at the resort. Her other “lunch” friend, Holly Pritchett, was out of town for a few weeks. A relaxed lunch with Erin would help them to get to know each other better.

  “The buzz around here is that you’re doing a good job at putting together Frontier Days,” she commented as if she was happy for Erika.

  “Just wait until everyone knows,” Erika said with a mysterious smile.

  “Knows what? You act like you have a secret you can’t wait to spill.”

  “It won’t be a secret for long.” She crooked her finger at Erin and they leaned close to each other. “Zane Gunther’s going to be our entertainment.”

  Erin almost let out a whoop but stopped herself. “You’re not kidding, are you?”

  “Nope.”

  “I thought you looked excited about something. How long do I have to keep it to myself?”

  “I’ll be writing press releases tonight and sending them out to anyone I think can help publicize this. So by tomorrow evening, the news should be out.”

  “You look so happy I thought you’d have something good to tell me.”

  A guest, a woman who looked to be in her fifties, came in the front lobby door and wheeled her suitcase to the desk. Erin turned to her immediately.

  Erika said in a low voice, “Call me to set up a lunch date.”

  As Erika left the lodge and headed for the parking lot, she wondered if the news about Zane Gunther had put the smile on her face…or if it had actually been the result of her kiss with Dillon.

  The kiss with Dillon was winning—and that conclusion scared her.

  Chapter Five

  Later that afternoon, Erika returned to the infirmary as Dillon was seeing one of the guests to the door.

  “Just keep that ankle taped for two days, Mrs. Bixby,” he advised a gray-haired woman in her sixties. “Make another appointment to see me when you know your schedule. And use that cane.”