The Surgeon's Cinderella

by Susan Carlisle

Maybe they could be friends.

  Warmth entered Tanner’s voice when he said, “I don’t know if I said it but thanks for coming with me this weekend.”

  “I didn’t know that I had a choice.”

  He held the door as they stepped inside. “I’m afraid you’re right about that. But I do hope it isn’t too awful for you.”

  * * *

  Tanner was pleased with Whitney’s reception by his colleagues. They had seemed to like her and she’d handled herself well, even with Charlotte. She had easily read the tension between Charlotte and him and had managed to make a joke out of it. That was a talent he admired. At his guffaw of laughter everyone had looked. To them they must have appeared as two lovers enjoying themselves.

  In the house again they passed Kevin going to the front door and he told them what room they were in. Tanner led Whitney up the stairs, to the right and down the hallway to a door at the end. He opened it wide in order to allow her to enter first. When she hesitated he looked back to find her staring at the opening.

  “I’m not so sure about this,” she said, shaking her head slightly.

  “The weekend, the room or staying with me?”

  “How about all of it?”

  Tanner glanced down the hall. Thank goodness no one was around. “At least come in to talk about it.”

  He reached for her but she stepped away. His hand fell to his side. After a moment she entered. He joined her and closed the door. Unsure what to do to make her feel more comfortable, he simply waited near the door.

  Whitney’s attention appeared fixated on the queen-size four-poster bed against the far wall. Thankfully there was a small sofa under one of the windows. That would be his sleeping spot for the next three nights. Not that he was looking forward to it.

  “Why don’t we have a seat?” He pointed toward the sofa.

  She moved as if her shoes were weights. There she sat on the edge of the cushion, looking as if she would run at any moment. Finally she said, “I’m not particularly comfortable with lying to all these people.”

  A little charm and persuasion was needed here. “Have we lied? I introduced you as a girlfriend. I don’t think that’s such a stretch.”

  “We’re really more like colleagues, though.”

  Whitney wouldn’t be an easy sale. “Okay, colleagues. Still we can be friends.”

  “Those usually know more about each other than we do. I know little about you and you know nothing about me.”

  “Sure I do. You’re a businesswoman with the ability to read people. You understand what helps people relax. You know how to put them at ease. And you like nice cars. You did great back there, by the way.” Why was she all of a sudden so antsy? She’d seemed confident at the pool. Was she afraid to be alone with him? Did she sense his physical reaction to her?

  When he’d initially placed his hand on her waist it had been for show, but as they’d made their way around the pool, and especially in front of Charlotte, it had become a protective action. Whitney pulled at something in him that he had no intention of examining or exploring.

  She scooted back on the sofa, resting more easily in the cushions. “If you don’t mind, I would rather not go to the pool. I’ll just stay here and unpack.”

  He wouldn’t push her. For now he’d just let her get used to the idea of being here with him. “That’s fine. I’ll see what Marie has planned for this evening and come back to get you.”

  “Okay.”

  “Is there anything special you would like to do while we’re in Napa? We don’t have to be underfoot here all the time.” Maybe if they did something she enjoyed she would settle down some. He certainly didn’t need her panicking and heading back to San Francisco.

  “I don’t know.” She pursed her lips. “Maybe a tour of the winery?”

  “Sounds good to me. If one isn’t planned then we’ll take one ourselves.”

  She smiled but it didn’t reach her eyes.

  “I’ll leave you to unpack.” He headed for the door. “I’ll see you in a little while.”

  Tanner returned an hour later to find Whitney asleep in the middle of the bed. It was early for a nap. Had she been up the night before, worrying about coming with him this weekend? Through their meetings she’d proved herself intelligent and a woman who took little guff from people, or at least him. So why wouldn’t she take the weekend at face value? Was she that distrustful of men or just him? She didn’t strike him as insecure.

  Why did he care? He had no intention of becoming emotionally involved with Whitney. The more he knew about her the more invested he would be in her life. He didn’t want or need that. In fact, that implied caring and he wasn’t going to take that step. Caring equated to hurt. He’d seen that clearly with his parents.

  They’d get through this weekend and go back to being matchmaker and client.

  Whitney looked so peaceful that he hated to wake her but Marie had made plans for everyone that afternoon. He placed a hand on Whitney’s shoulder and gave her a gentle shake. She blinked then her eyes popped wide open. They were pretty eyes, almost as nice as her smile. The kind that saw into a person.

  “Hey, the women are going into town for lunch and some shopping while the men go to the club to play golf.”

  “Is it necessary for me to go?” she asked after a yawn.

  “If you don’t mind, I wish you would. I wouldn’t want to hurt Marie’s feelings.” Tanner wouldn’t make it a demand. He’d made enough of those.

  “Oh, of course.” Sitting up and trying to unrumple her clothing, she said in a convincingly sincere tone, “I don’t want to do that either.”

  If anything, Whitney had a kind heart. Maybe that was why her business as a matchmaker was so successful.

  “I’ll tell you what—” he reached for his wallet in his back pocket “—why don’t you buy something nice for yourself? It’s the least I can do for you helping me out this weekend.”

  “That’s not necessary.”

  “Maybe not, but I’d like to. You could maybe get a new outfit.” He shrugged a shoulder. “Something more fitted.”

  Whitney raised a brow. “Thank you but I don’t need you to buy clothes for me.”

  “I just thought you might enjoy going more if you could buy something new.”

  She rolled off the bed and faced him. “I don’t need your money.”

  Tanner held up a hand. “Whoa, whoa. I didn’t intend to insult you. Whatever you wear is fine with me. I was just thinking you must be covering up some nice curves under those loose-fitting clothes.” He handed her a few bills. “Just take this. Get whatever you want. Or don’t. Marie said to meet in the lobby in half an hour. I’ll see you later.”

  He was out the door before she could argue more. Had he touched an exposed nerve?

  * * *

  Whitney stood in the lobby, waiting for the other women. She wasn’t looking forward to the foray into town, especially if Charlotte was going. Whitney had known more than her share of Charlotte’s type growing up but she refused to revert back to that timid, sensitive girl who had hidden behind her weight. She’d worked too hard to let the Charlottes of the world control her life anymore.

  She clutched her purse. The money Tanner had given her was inside. He’d paid enough attention to her that he’d noticed her clothes? Had wondered about her curves? Heat filled her at the idea. But he’d said he wanted her to have something that fit her better. She looked at herself in the large mirror in the grand hallway. Did she have the confidence to wear a tight dress? Have him see her in it? She’d spent so many years covering up, could she let go enough to do that?

  Soon she was in a limousine with Marie, Charlotte, Lucy, Ellen and Sue Ann, all of whom she had met at the pool. To Whitney’s great distress, Charlotte took a seat next to her.

  With
her nose pointed down, Charlotte said as if they were new best friends, “So what brought you and Tanner together? You don’t seem his type.”

  Marie came to her rescue. “How about a glass of champagne on our way to town?”

  Whitney didn’t normally drink much and certainly not in a limo. Still, she gratefully accepted Marie’s offered glass of the bubbly liquid.

  “So where did you meet Tanner?” Charlotte persisted.

  Her tone was far too condescending for Whitney. In the past women like Charlotte had made her life miserable. Now it was happening again. Why she’d ever agreed to this weekend Whitney didn’t know. It wouldn’t be over soon enough to suit her. She took a sip of champagne in the hope it would fortify her. “We met in college.”

  Charlotte gave her a sly smile, as if she had set her trap. “Really? I knew Tanner in college as well. I don’t remember you.”

  She wouldn’t. People like Charlotte didn’t notice people like her unless forced to.

  “I was there nonetheless. We had a couple of undergrad classes together.”

  Thankfully Marie gained everyone’s attention, wanting to know where they would like to shop. When Whitney voiced no opinion she said, “Whitney, is there someplace special you would like to go?”

  “I’ve never been to Napa so I really can’t say.”

  “Then is there something you’re interested in shopping for?” Marie asked.

  After her conversation with Tanner there was. “Yes, I need a new cocktail dress and I didn’t have time to get one before I left San Francisco. Do you know of a good place to buy one?”

  A large smile came to Marie’s lips. “I know just the boutique.” She picked up a phone attached to the side of the car and instructed the driver where to stop. “There’s plenty of other places nearby for the rest of us to enjoy while you’re getting your dress.”

  Minutes later they were stepping out of the car in front of a store with two windows on each side of a glass door. In one of the show spaces was a beautiful red dress. The bodice was seamed in panels so that it would fit tightly above the waist, while the skirt flared and flowed around the mannequin’s legs. It was so unlike anything Whitney owned yet for some reason she wanted to surprise, even shock, Tanner. What was happening to her? All her life she’d been in the background, had worked hard to stay there, and yet everything about the dress screamed, Notice me.

  “I can see the red dress has caught your attention. Let’s go in and you can try it on.” Marie all but pushed her into the store.

  The other ladies, including Charlotte, headed down the sidewalk with a wave of their hands. One said, “We’ll meet you in an hour at the café for tea.”

  A small bell tinkled as she and Marie entered the shop. A saleswoman greeted them. Marie wasted no time telling her that Whitney wanted to try on the dress in the window. Minutes later Whitney was standing in front of three mirrors, wondering who she was looking at.

  “It’s lovely on you.” Marie’s words were soft and reassuring.

  Whitney moved from side to side, watching the folds of the dress sway around her legs. “You don’t think it’s too much?”

  “No. Tanner won’t know what’s happened to him when he sees you.”

  Did she want that? They weren’t lovers. She was looking for a woman for him, not to be his woman.

  “Yes, and even better, it’ll get Charlotte’s goat.”

  Whitney gave Marie a sharp look. “Why?”

  “Because she seems to think she has some claim on him.”

  Watching Marie’s face closely, Whitney responded, “Tanner said she’s engaged.”

  Marie curled her lip in distaste. “She is, but that doesn’t seem to mean much to her. Max doesn’t spend enough time with her to keep her happy so she goes after other people’s husbands.”

  Had Charlotte gone after Malcolm?

  Marie picked out a necklace with a small pearl on the end of a stand on the table near them. “Turn around,” she ordered then fastened it on Whitney’s neck. “I’d like to see her put in her place. You might just be the person to do that.” Marie patted her shoulder. “Perfect. He’ll never know what hit him.”

  Her? She’d never outshined someone like Charlotte. Cautiously Whitney asked, “If you don’t mind me being nosy, if you feel that way about her, why is she here?”

  “Because she’s Max’s latest young thing.” Marie didn’t sound at all pleased. “His wife, Margaret, was my best friend. She died of cancer a couple of years ago.”

  Whitney touched her arm. “I’m so sorry to hear that.”

  “Thank you. It was a dreadfully hard time on everyone. Enough of that. Let’s get this dress paid for and go have tea.” Marie started toward the desk.

  Did Whitney dare buy the dress? Tanner’s comment about her clothing compelled her to say yes, but she sure didn’t want Charlotte goading her into doing something to prove a point. But just this once it would be nice to indulge herself, wear something that made her feel confident, feminine.

  “Okay.”

  It wasn’t until she was taking the dress off and looked at the price tag that she almost fainted. It was half her house payment for a month. If she could just find the right woman for Tanner his fee would help her afford it. Even though she had his money in her purse, she wasn’t about to use it. Only because of the idea that wearing the dress would give her enough poise to pull off the rest of the weekend and deal with Charlotte’s barbs did Whitney have the courage to give the saleswoman her credit card.

  She and Marie stepped out into the sunshine again. They gave her dress to the driver, who was waiting nearby, and started down the street. The honk of a car drew their attention. It was Tanner. He pulled into the nearest parking place and got out.

  “What’re you doing here? I thought you were playing golf.” Whitney didn’t take the time to examine the little skip of her heart at seeing him.

  “Turns out I was odd man out and not needed for a foursome. I tried to catch you before you left but apparently you have your phone off, so I thought I’d drive in and find you. Maybe see if I could join you ladies for lunch.”

  “Sure. You’re welcome,” Marie said, then started down the street toward where the others sat on a patio of a café.

  Whitney whispered, “So why are you really here?”

  “I got to thinking it was unfair of me to throw you to the wolves by pressuring you into coming into town without me to run interference. So when I wasn’t needed for golf I came to save you.”

  “Just like a knight of old,” Whitney jested. In reality she found it rather sweet that he’d been anxious about her welfare. Or was he just afraid she might slip up and tell everyone she was his matchmaker? Despite his high-handed method of getting her to come with him, he seemed genuinely concerned for her. It made it hard not to like him.

  “Are you making fun of me?”

  “I would never do that,” Whitney said with pretend sincerity and then followed Marie.

  Tanner caught up with her. He took her hand and leaned in close. “We need to make this look good.”

  A tingle of pleasure rippled through her. Just having him near made her feel warmer than the day indicated. She had to get a handle on her reaction or she would soon be swooning over Tanner like she had in college. That was a stage in her life she wasn’t returning to.

  Minutes later they had taken a seat at the table on the patio with the other women.

  “I don’t know if I’ve ever had afternoon tea. I might do this again soon,” Tanner remarked as he picked up a sandwich that almost disappeared between his large fingers.

  “You don’t know what you’ve been missing,” Whitney said. “It’s one of the most relaxing things I do for myself.”

  “You’ve had afternoon tea before?” Tanner sounded surprised. Did he think
she wasn’t interested in anything that cultured?

  “Many times.”

  “I prefer other diversions,” Charlotte purred, giving Tanner a speculative look.

  He ignored Charlotte and said to Whitney, “I’m going to count on you taking me to your favorite place. My treat.”

  The look he gave her created a low glow in her. He was putting on a show for the women but she was still enjoying his attention, no matter what the reason.

  Tanner was a perfect charmer during lunch. He spread his attention around each of the women, including Charlotte, but he made it clear Whitney was special. Where some men would have felt out of place as the only male at the meal, Tanner seemed to be enjoying himself.

  When he wasn’t eating, his arm remained across the back of her chair. That element of his personality Whitney had seen when they’d been in college was now very evident during the meal. Occasionally his thumb would drop down and brush her shoulder.

  When she shuddered he leaned in too close and asked with his lips just touching her ear, “Are you cold?”

  He knew full well she wasn’t. If anything, she felt compelled to fan herself.

  Tanner entertained with stories of his exploits during med school and shared one very poignant one about a patient. Whitney envied his ability to fit in wherever he was. He even paid for everyone’s meal, stating, “That’s what a gentleman does.”

  “So, Marie, what do you have planned for us this evening?” he asked as they were leaving the café.

  “Tonight we’re having a wine-and-cheese tasting at the winery, then taking a tour and ending with dinner in the wine cellar.”

  They had arrived at the limousine and the women started taking their seats. When Whitney ducked her head to get in Tanner said, “Aren’t you going to ride back with me?”

  He almost sounded hurt. “Uh, sure.” Whitney joined him on the sidewalk again. They watched the limo move away from the curve.

  “Do you need to get anything else while we’re in town?” he asked.

  “No, I’m good.” She already had a stunning dress that Marie would take care of.