"After we talked about this idea briefly in the meeting the other day, I decided to make some calls to see if I could line up some celebrity bachelors who would be willing to go out on a date with a total stranger. They were eager to help the hospital, and before I knew it I had lined up a star-studded cast that I couldn't turn away. We have running back Louis Stapleman from the Dallas Cowboys, Gus Franchowski from the Stars, and even a TV reporter from KXAS-TV who’s willing to help us out. I also managed to get Justin Sommers from the daytime drama Desire."
"You've been working very hard, Dr. Moulton," she acknowledged, her voice a sweet purr, her heart near bursting.
The big jerk. Last night he'd been whispering words of seduction to her over the phone all the while knowing that this morning he would be making her look like a fool in front of the chairman.
Not to mention she’d gone to his house naked!
She pasted a fake smile on her face, determined to see this meeting through without giving him the pleasure of humiliating her.
He glanced at her, and she gave him her “just wait until this is over,” smile and watched him visibly recoil. She'd use all the southern charm her mother had instilled in her, but once they were out of the chairman’s sight, she’d be fighting like an alley cat.
"Plus, I've signed up ten available nurses and doctors to participate. At this moment, I have fifteen bachelors, some of whom I expect to bring in sums of thousands of dollars or more. And our celebrities have agreed to match whatever amount they go for."
"Wow, maybe you've chosen the wrong profession." A small amount of sarcasm crept into her voice.
He didn't respond, but merely sat there taking the direct hit.
She turned to Chairman Weaver, “And the hospital board would approve of such an auction? I feared such an event could damage the hospital’s image, but if Dr. Moulton has such a star-studded cast, then the attention alone from his celebrities could earn us more money than we'd planned."
Chairman Weaver leaned forward in his chair and placed his hands on his desk. "Normally, I would say that this is not the right place for such an event, but since it's being held to build the new children's wing, and Dr. Moulton has obtained such well-known names, then I think you're right. We'd be foolish not to take advantage of the publicity. I'm going to give it my blessing with the caveat that it must be done in the best-possible taste. And I'm going to depend upon you and Dr. Moulton to make sure that it’s handled respectfully for all the parties involved."
"I'm certain that Miss Riley can handle the details much better than I," Brent said, trying to pass off the responsibility of this ridiculous event to her.
Jennifer smiled and shook her head. "Oh no, Dr. Moulton, you've done a fine job so far by contacting the celebrities and should continue with the coordination of this event."
Brent frowned and glanced at the chairman. "Right now is just not a good time. I have new residents coming in—” "
"You've already started working out the details with the celebrities. I think you should continue," Jennifer advised.
"Brent, I know this is your busiest time of year, but I have to agree with Miss Riley. Though I do think Miss Riley can help you work out some of the details. The two of you working together will make this a success."
Jennifer recoiled inside, all her anger chilling to a near-zero temperature at the thought of the two of them working on Brent’s bachelor auction together.
"Anything else, Dr. Moulton?" she asked. "I need other fund-raising projects, is there something else you'd like to take on? After all, our goal is to raise money for our new children’s wing. Your department."
He shook his head, his eyes almost pleading. "No, thanks, Miss Riley. I didn't intend to get involved with this one. It just happened."
Chairman Weaver frowned at the two of them. "Are you both okay with this?"
"Just peachy," Jennifer said turning on the fake charm she'd never had any intention of ever using, but suddenly thanking her mother for insisting she study the good ole southern girl’s primer.
Brent cleared his throat. "We'll get it done."
The chairman smiled. "Good work, you two. I know you’ll both do an excellent job for this hospital."
They stood and walked to the door, Brent following close behind her.
Once they were in the hall, Jennifer turned sharply and walked in the direction of her office as fast as her heels would carry her.
"Wait up, Jennifer," Brent called.
She kept walking, refusing to slow down for the scheming doctor she'd almost slept with. His footsteps echoed on the tile floor as he hurried to catch up.
"I know this looks bad, but I didn't do it to hurt you," he pleaded, reaching her side.
“As development director of this hospital, you knew my opinion regarding a bachelor auction.”
Jennifer continued walking, refusing to even acknowledge him. Her eyes remained focused on reaching her goal: the sanctity of her office.
"Even I'm surprised at the popularity of this idea. It just seemed to take off and grow," he said. "I knew you'd be upset just like you are now."
She rounded a corner and almost bumped into another woman. "Excuse me."
Brent had to move to avoid the cleaning people filling the hallway. The pager overhead called his name, and out of the corner of her eye, she saw him grimace.
"I didn't do this to intentionally hurt you. In fact, I wanted you to get the credit, not me. That's why I tried to back out of this, which you could have helped me do.”
She glanced at him, her gaze cutting sideways at him to let him know just how much that argument was not going to help his position.
"Jennifer, I know you're angry, but I only did this to help raise money for the new wing. As many patients as we see, we desperately need this wing."
She felt a small crevice open in the suit of her anger, but she wasn't ready to give in to that tiny chasm.
Her office door faced her at the end of the hall. Brent still walked at her side. His beeper went off and he glanced hurriedly at the number. "Look, I have to go, but we're not through talking this out. Do you understand me?"
Jennifer unlocked her office door and went in. When he made to follow, she shut the door in his face and then leaned against it. She could hear his voice through the door.
"I didn't know that this idea would even work. It just sort of came together, and I began to realize we were going to make a lot of money for the new wing. We can help so many children," he pleaded, his voice trailing off through the door.
She couldn't help but laugh, knowing he must look like a fool, standing in the hall, beseeching a closed door. So why was she so upset? They both wanted the same thing: for the children of Tyler to receive good medical care.
Sure, he could have come to her, but would she have been willing to listen to him? Probably not. Though she was still angry with him, he had some valid points. She just wasn't ready to accept them.
It hurt that he’d gone over her head to accomplish what he wanted. Her job was on the line, and his actions stung her pride. But more than anything, he’d been recruiting bachelors while trying to sleep with her. That stung.
"Okay, we'll talk later," she heard him say through the closed door. "When we're both a little calmer."
Later did not necessarily have to be today or even right away, she thought. Obviously he felt guilty, and she wasn't in a forgiving mood at this moment. Yet how many men would go to this much trouble to help children? And how could she remain angry with him when his heart was in the right place?
#
"Hey Jennifer, you never told me what happened last night. Did you and our star quarterback finally make a touchdown?"
Jennifer glanced with annoyance at her sister. "He got sacked in the end zone for touchback, illegal interference and an extra player on the field."
"An extra player on the field?"
"Yes. His sister stopped by to visit and stepped into the room just about the time I dropped
the raincoat."
Julia started giggling. "Gives flashing a whole new meaning."
Jennifer shook her head at her sister's playful antics. She was in no mood to be harassed about her disastrous attraction to the only man she'd ever cared about. With a sigh she turned away from her sister and back to the salad she was preparing.
"So I gather things didn't go so well last night?"
"Last week, last night, and especially today. This affair doesn't have a chance, and I'm giving up on him."
"Whoa, this sounds pretty serious. What happened to just one night to wipe him out of your mind forever?"
"Let's just say that after today he's pretty much history. I don't need to have sex with him again to get him out of my thoughts."
"Are you certain you don’t care for Brent Moulton more than you’re letting on?"
“Please, why do you always play this psychobabble game with me? I don’t love Brent Moulton!” Jennifer banged the knife down on the wooden chopping board. "Your life has always been so easy. From the time we were in high school, through college, even now. Everything pretty much goes your way. You've never had to struggle to get what you want, while I've had to wrestle and scrape every step of the way. When am I ever going to be free of your shadow?"
Julia stood in stunned disbelief, staring at Jennifer. "I'm…sorry. I didn't know you felt that way. I don't understand why you feel you've had it so rough."
Jennifer hung her head, feeling ashamed. "I'm sorry. I've had a really bad day and I guess I just sort of let things slip out that I didn't mean."
"I think you did mean them. I think they've been buried there for a long time. So why do you think I've had it so easy?"
Jennifer bit down on her bottom lip to keep from crying. She faced her sister. Maybe she should tell her the truth. "You've always been seen as the fun, flirtatious twin, while I was always the more somber, responsible twin. I get tired of being the sensible one. Sometimes I just want to be carefree and have fun like you."
Julia nodded her head. "Sometimes I wish people would take me seriously instead of looking at me like I'm just the dumb blonde who dresses like a clown to make a living. No one comes to me for advice. They come to you. Sometimes I wish I'd never been born with a beautiful, intelligent twin sister."
Uncontrollable tears slid down Jennifer’s cheek. “I’m sorry, Julia. I guess I never thought of what being my sister must be like from your perspective."
Julia walked to her sister's side and hugged her. "It's okay. We all have those days when we want to crawl back in bed and not have to face the dragons."
"No, I'm taking all my frustration from today out on you, and that's not fair."
"What happened?"
"After almost sleeping with him, Brent bypassed me and went to the chairman about the bachelor auction. We're now having a bachelor auction to raise funds for the hospital."
"Oh dear."
"Yes. You see, your not-so-smart sister trusted the doctor to keep his word, and he out-and-out lied to me about this stupid auction. I went to his house naked last night. I intended to have sex with him, not knowing that he had signed up employees of the hospital and celebrities to participate in his bachelor auction. So now I have to work with him to put on his bachelor auction."
"Oh dear."
“And I can’t say anything, because it makes me look like the evil director who doesn’t want to help sick children get the medical attention they deserve.” Jennifer pulled a paper towel from the roll and blew her nose loudly into the rough paper. She dabbed at her eyes. "Don't ever believe I'm terribly smart, Julia, because I've lied to myself all these years, thinking that Brent wanted me that night when it was you he really wanted."
"Oh, no," Julia quickly said. "He never wanted me. He wanted you that night so long ago. He just thought he was with me. Now he's too blind to see what's in front of him." She sighed. "Quit crying over him, and let's figure out a way to work this bachelor auction to your advantage. Somehow there's got to be a way to turn the tables on our hustling quarterback."
"But how?" Jennifer said with a sniff.
"Well, first off you have to bid on him at the auction and win. Then from there, our doctor needs a big dose of his own medicine."
"What are you talking about?" Jennifer asked.
"I'm talking about what every woman is born with and is very capable of doing. The art of the tease." She laughed. "By the time we get through with him, Brent Moulton is going to wish he'd never uttered the words bachelor auction."
Jennifer frowned. "How?"
"Sex appeal, teasing, and good old fashioned lust," Julia said, laughing. "This is going to be fun."
Jennifer suddenly had an uneasy feeling about what she was getting herself into. “I don’t know. I couldn’t even seduce him properly. What makes you think winning a date with him would be any better?”
Julia smiled.. “Leave the date to me. I’ll get you all fixed up.”
#
"Hey, Doctor Moulton, thanks for the flowers in the reception area. They're beautiful," the volunteer called.
Brent nodded. At almost two hundred dollars, the white roses looked spectacular in the umbrella stand. Only they had been sent as a peace offering to Jennifer, and she'd given them to the receptionist. So much for forgiveness.
He’d gone to her house twice, but she had either chosen not to answer her door or had not been home. He’d pounded on her door until he feared her neighbors would call the police.
Brent didn't know which was worse, his feelings of responsibility, which got in the way, or the guilt that ate at him all night as he lay awake worrying about Jennifer. He should have been honest with her right up front instead of waiting to lay it on her in Chairman Weaver's office.
The look on her face had ripped through his gut as he watched her react to his words. His hopes for the two of them had been dashed right there in the chairman's office. He stopped walking and stood in the hallway of the hospital, stunned at this sudden realization.
What kind of hopes could a man like him have about a woman other than wanting to get her in his bed?
He shook himself mentally and started walking to her office again. Yeah, he'd wanted Jennifer in his bed, but this seemed like more than just unfulfilled sexual fantasies. This seemed more like dashed dreams, and he didn't go the dream route.
Maybe it was just as well then that this fiasco had occurred, because he definitely didn't need to be involved emotionally with Jennifer or any other woman. Yet he still sensed a keen disappointment that hurt like hell.
He rounded the corner of the hall and suddenly stood before her office. He rapped on her door.
"Come in," she called.
He pushed open the door, and she glanced up at him, her blue eyes cool and assessing.
"Hi," he said. "Is now a good time to talk?"
"Of course," she replied. Her voice had a cool edge. She sat behind the desk wearing a white silk blouse that curved along her frame and buttoned up the front except for the top two buttons.
Brent walked in and shut the door behind him.
Her head was bent over some paperwork that she was writing notes on. "Take a seat and I'll be right with you."
He couldn't help but notice the way her blonde hair brushed the top of her shoulder as she leaned forward. His eyes traveled over her and halted at the sight of her blouse gapping just enough to let him see the lace on her bra. An electrical zing went through him, halting near his midsection.
It was just a visceral reaction, nothing more. His body's way of letting him know of the attraction he had for Jennifer. Nothing he couldn't handle.
She laid the pen down, stood, and walked to a bookshelf on a far wall in her office. With her back to him, she bent over to retrieve a book, giving him a glance of her long, sleek legs, her skirt rising to just below her panty line.
Geez, okay, now the visceral reactions were coming in faster than he'd anticipated, and he felt like he was on system overload. He was sitting here wa
iting to apologize when the caveman inside him wanted to throw her to the floor and press himself deep inside her.
He took a deep breath. He could control his body's reaction.
She pulled the book off the shelf and then returned to her desk. "Sorry to keep you waiting. I just needed to finish my train of thought before we got started."
"No problem," he said, his voice sounding tight and strained as he wondered if she had deliberately kept him waiting. "I just wanted to come by and apologize for yesterday. I should never have gone to Chairman Weaver but spoken with you directly. I was wrong."
She didn't say anything but merely looked at him with a blank expression on her face. God, she was not going to make this easy.
"I was shocked at how easy it was for me to get so many celebrities and staff signed up to participate. I had no idea it would work out so well, or I would have told you sooner."
"Well, it's a done deal, isn't it?" she said, her eyes not smiling or softening in the least. "So there's no point in me wasting my time being upset about it. We have a huge event happening in two weeks, and we need to get this bachelor auction included in the promotion."
"So you're not mad at me?" he questioned.
"Did I say I wasn't mad at you?" she asked.
"No."
"Let's just call a truce and do what's necessary," she responded.
"I had good intentions, Jennifer. Honest. I see too many sick children to let this hospital continue without a decent pediatrics department. I had to do something," he said, watching her blue eyes flicker with emotion.
"I agree completely. But you knew my feelings, and yet you didn't have the courage to come and speak to me directly. Did you think I was so cold that I wouldn't have found a way to make this happen to where we both got what we needed?" she asked. Her voice held a bitter edge to it.
He sighed. When he'd first started this process he'd been determined not to become involved with her, but now in the last few days he'd been tempted to throw away all his preset rules regarding women and pursue her with all his heart.
“You didn’t seem receptive to the idea.”
“My job is to protect the hospital’s image while raising money. This idea is risky. I’m a new employee. I could be fired if it doesn’t go well.”
My Sister's Boyfriend (The Trouble With Twins 1) Page 11