The Doctor's Dating Bargain

“From your mouth to God’s ear,” the man said fervently.

Ben knew Cabot had been married and his wife took off right after the baby’s birth. Apparently, in addition to a husband and newborn son, small-town life wasn’t her thing. And speaking of that…In his peripheral vision he noticed a flash of red. Camille Halliday was a few feet away from the refreshment table, by herself and holding a cup of coffee. She stood out like a fly in milk.

The people in this room were dressed in denim and flannel. Mayor Goodson had on a navy blue blazer with her jeans to negotiate the line between casual and professional. There was an occasional pair of khakis, and Ben was in scrubs, but that was as formal as anyone got.

Cam was wearing a stylishly short, snug skirt and fitted red jacket with a ruffle at the waist. Her four-inch red come-and-get-me heels made her legs look longer than he thought they were and shapely enough to make his fingers tingle to know for sure.

Jill must have noticed where he was looking. “Camille Halliday is prettier in person that she is in photographs.”

“I’ll have to take your word.” Ben forced himself to look away. He took a chocolate chip cookie from his plate and bit into it. After chewing and swallowing he said, “I’ve never seen pictures of her.”

“Really?” The redhead looked surprised. “She’s been all over magazines and tabloid news.”

“I’ve been busy.” He shrugged. “Barely put it together when I met her at the lodge. I’m staying there until I build my house.”

“I’d steer clear of her.” Cabot’s eyes were dark with suspicion.

“Have you met her?”

“No. And that’s fine with me.”

“I can’t help wondering what she’s doing in Blackwater Lake.” Jill sipped her coffee. “It’s painfully obvious that she doesn’t fit in here.”

Ben noticed that people were looking curiously at her, but no one ventured over. She looked a little lost and the stubborn lift of her chin said she was trying not to be.

“I’m going to talk to her,” he said.

“Bad idea.” Cabot shook his head in warning.

“Why?”

“She’s way out of your league.”

“That would be a problem if I were looking for something serious.” He already knew that was a waste of time, because the lady had her sights set on bigger and more high-profile than here. “But there’s no harm in being friendly.”

“Yes, there is.” His friend looked like he’d rather take a sharp stick in the eye.

“I’d go with you and introduce myself,” Jill said, “but I have to get home. Although I’m sure Adam has everything under control.”

“And I have to pick up Ty and get him home. It’s a school night. And I’m your ride,” Cabot reminded her.

“That, too.”

“Okay, then. I’ll see you guys later.”

Cabot’s expression was filled with fraternal sympathy. “You’re a braver man than I am.”

Ben laughed and said his goodbyes, then picked up his coffee and dropped his empty dessert plate in the trash before heading in Cam’s direction.

There was relief in her eyes when he stopped in front of her. “Hi, Ben.”

“Cam.” He sipped cold coffee. “How are you?”

“Fine.”

He hadn’t seen her since yesterday morning when she’d broken up the housekeeping hostilities. “Is there a ceasefire at the lodge?”

“For Crystal and Patty there is.” That implied not so much with the rest of the staff. “I paired them with other people. They weren’t happy, but I pulled rank.”

“I think it was General Colin Powell who said that to be an effective leader, sometimes you have to tick people off.”

“I’d just settle for a little respect,” she said ruefully.

Ben wondered at the twinge of protectiveness he felt. This big-city girl was more than capable of looking after herself. Rich, beautiful and experienced, according to the press. But there was a look in her eyes, an expression that said she was a little out of her depth.

“So, what are you doing here?” he asked.

“I already told you—making the lodge profitable.”

“No, I meant why did you come to the Chamber of Commerce meeting?”

“Oh.” She shrugged and what that small movement did to her breasts in that tight-fitting jacket should be illegal. “I thought it couldn’t hurt to be here to see other business owners in action. Maybe it would spark marketing ideas in the mountain milieu. Promotion strategies for increasing spring and summer bookings. And get a jump on fall and holiday reservations.”

“Throw everything at the wall and see what sticks,” he agreed.

“Pretty much.” She tossed her half-empty cup in the trash beside the table. “I like Mayor Goodson. She’s smart to open up some of the town’s property for sale and development.”

“Maybe. It’s going to be a juggling act, though. Growing, but not so fast that we lose the qualities that make life here special.”

“Bigger means more people can enjoy special.”

“Not always,” he disagreed.

“For the sake of argument…Didn’t the mayor say that as far as health care escalation goes, right now a grant for the money to add on to Mercy Medical Clinic is the best she can do? An actual hospital needs enough of a population to support it. Bigger would be better for everyone.”

“That’s true. As much as I’d like to see it built, going too big too fast makes for a weak foundation that won’t support the existing residents. Everything collapses.”

She opened her mouth to say something, but before any words came out the lights went off and on. He looked around and noticed there were only a few people left in the room.

“I think they’re throwing us out,” he said.

“Looks that way.” She took a cell phone from the small purse hanging by a handle from her wrist. “I need to call a cab.”

“You don’t have a car?”

“Not one with four working tires. I had a flat. The good news is I noticed before leaving the lodge parking lot.”

That meant she took a cab here. “I’m surprised you went to the trouble of showing up.”

“I didn’t want to miss the meeting.”

Anything and everything possible to get the job done and move on, he thought. He’d moved on, made his mark, and when he did it felt as if something was missing. They said you could find anything in Las Vegas, but that wasn’t true for him. Contentment couldn’t be bought at a highend store on the Strip. But clearly Cam had things to do, places to go. Except right now she didn’t have the wheels to get there.

She started to press numbers on her phone. To call a cab.

“I’ll drive you back to the lodge,” he said.

“I can’t ask you to do that.”

“There was no asking involved. I offered. Seems silly to pay for a ride when we’re both going to the same place.”

She smiled for the first time and it was like sunshine. “I’d appreciate that very much. Thanks.”

“Okay.” He pointed to the rear exit. “I’m in the back lot.”

They walked side by side through the room and outside. His Mercedes SUV was one of the last cars there. He pressed the button on his keys to unlock the doors and the lights flashed.

“Nice car,” she said.

“Thanks. I like it.” He opened the passenger door for her.

She hesitated, obviously wondering how to get in without flashing the goods. He was going to hell but couldn’t stop the anticipation coiling inside while he waited for her to maneuver up and in with that short skirt.

“Thank goodness for running boards,” she said.

Lifting one foot, she stepped on it and took the hand hold just inside, then settled her butt on the seat. She swung her legs in and reached for the seat belt.

Ben hadn’t seen much more than everyone at the Chamber of Commerce meeting. Maybe a couple extra inches of bare thigh, but that was it. Disappointment snaked through him along with a growing desire to see what she looked like out of that chic suit clinging to every curve. That wasn’t likely and it was the kind of regret a guy would carry for a long time.

“Nicely done, Miss Halliday.”

“Thank you, Dr. McKnight.”

He shut the door and walked around to the driver’s side, then got in and started the car. A few minutes later he parked at the lodge and they walked into the lobby with its big stone fireplace, cushy leather couch and chairs and the reception desk off to one side. When he started for the elevator, he assumed she’d be coming, too. Their rooms were side by side.

“This is where I say good-night.”

“You’re not going up?” he asked.

“Later. Work to do.”

When she shrugged, he felt a stab of desire shoot straight through him. “It’s late.”

“I know.” She smiled and it was a little tattered around the edges. “But thanks to you, I’m back earlier than expected. I appreciate the lift. Good night, Ben.”

“Sweet dreams.” He watched the unconsciously sensuous sway of her hips and heard the click of her heels as she walked away and knew his dreams would be anything but sweet. Then he thought of something. “Cam?”

She turned. “Yes?”

“My father owns an automotive repair shop in town and my sister works there. I’ll have her check out your tire.”

“That would be great. My Mercedes is in the employee lot, and probably the only car there with a flat tire. Just have her let me know the cost.”

“Will do. Don’t work too late,” he cautioned.

“Okay.” She walked into her office behind the registration desk and shut the door.

The two of them couldn’t be more different, but that didn’t stop Ben from wanting her. It seemed to get more intense every time he saw her and she worked where he lived. She’d spend the night right next door. It was just a damn shame that she wouldn’t be in his bed.

“Hello?”

Cam looked up from the spreadsheet on her computer monitor when the voice from the registration desk outside the office door drifted to her. In a perfect world there would be a front-desk clerk on duty, but her world wasn’t perfect. She was getting used to that particular customer tone, a combination of surprise and annoyance that they’d been waiting longer than necessary for someone to check them into the hotel.

“Damn it, Mary Jane—” Cam had been through this too many times not to know the woman had abandoned her post yet again.

She hurried out and plastered a big friendly smile on her face. A man was standing there and did a slight double take.

“Hi, there,” she said. “I hope you haven’t been waiting too long.”

“A few minutes.” He was alone, in his early forties, balding and twenty pounds overweight. He didn’t look irritated, which was a good thing.

Cam’s motto was never give the customer a reason not to come back. “How can I help you?”

“I’d like to check in.”

“Of course. What’s the name?”

“Stan Overton.”

She pulled up the reservations screen on the computer. “Here you are. Three nights?”

“That’s right.” He wasn’t much taller than she. “Would there be a problem extending my stay?”

If only, she thought. “Not at all. We’d be happy to take care of that for you.”

“Great.” He glanced around the lobby. “I’ve never been to Montana before and I might want to hang around longer.”

“I’m sure you’re going to love it here.” She pressed some keys and pulled up his information. “What brings you to Blackwater Lake?”

“A combination of business and pleasure,” he said vaguely.

“Did you want to use the same credit card?”

“Yes.” He pulled out his wallet and handed it over. “Have you been in town long?”

It felt like forever. But she wondered why he would ask. Was “greenhorn” tattooed on her forehead? “Long enough to appreciate how special it is.”

“What’s your favorite restaurant?”

“I could be prejudiced, but the best place in town is the five-star restaurant right here at the lodge. The chef is from New York.”

The man leaned an elbow on the high desk that separated them. “What do you like to do here? On your day off, I mean?”

“What’s a day off?” She hoped he would take the remark in a teasing way, but it wasn’t a joke.

“I know what you mean.” He laughed. “But what I’m asking is if you only had a short amount of time here, what would you see?”

“The lake is beautiful. I’m told the fishing is good.” She printed out a summary of the hotel’s daily room rate and policies. “I’ll need your signature and if you could initial the places I indicated…”

“Sure thing.” He scrawled an indecipherable name. “I did some research on the Net and what I found said there are hiking trails and places to camp. Is there any place you would go? Somewhere not to be missed?”

Now she was starting to get irritated. Was he just friendly or hitting on her? That was just…Ew. Or maybe he didn’t get out much. The worst thing anyone in hospitality could do was to show impatience.

“To be honest, I can’t recommend any outdoor activities from personal experience. But we have a variety of brochures and the concierge desk is right across the lobby. Dustin would be happy to help you. One key or two?”

“One.”

She put it in a folder and handed over the packet and receipt. “Third floor. The elevators are right around the corner.” Forcing a charm into her smile that she didn’t feel, she said, “If there’s anything the staff can do to make your stay more pleasant, don’t hesitate to ask.”

“Thanks. It’s starting out great.” He nodded and walked away.

Cam let out a breath and saw Mary Jane Baxter rush around the corner. She stopped short for a second, then just looked guilty.

“I just left for a minute, Miss Halliday. I didn’t think I’d be missed.”

“You never do.”

“I’m sorry.”

That statement should have been followed by something along the lines of it would never happen again. Cam was just about to the point of making sure it didn’t. “Mr. Overton just checked in. Would you please finish up the paperwork?”

“Of course.”

The woman handled people and paperwork flawlessly—when she was there. The disappearing without a word was a chronic problem and needed to be managed, but not when Cam was this angry.

“Are you going to be here for a while?”

“I—” She nodded.

“Good. I’m going to take a fifteen-minute break.”

Cam turned on her heel and headed for the exit and the rear of the property. Breathing deeply of the clean, fresh air, she climbed the wooden stairs up to the second-floor deck. Her serenity spot. She looked down at the green grass and beautiful flowering plants in the fast-growing shadows. It was six o’clock and the sun had disappeared behind the mountains, taking the warmth with it, and that was just as well. She needed to cool off.

Just as the irritation started to dissolve, she heard the sound of footsteps, heavy ones. A man’s walk. There was someone behind her.

“You look ready for a knock-down, drag-out with that railing, but I don’t recommend it.”

Ben. the corners of her mouth turned up, which was a minor miracle. She turned. “And yet again you’re trespassing.”

“I saw you at the registration desk, but you were gone before I could flag you down.”

“So…Stalking?” She lifted one eyebrow.

“More of a house call. Someone to use your words with.”

“McKnight in shining armor strikes again.”

“You look like someone broke the heel off your favorite shoe. What’s up?”

“Same old thing. Personnel insubordination.” She leaned an elbow on the railing. “My clerk at the registration desk disappeared again.”

“Again?”

“I know employees are entitled to breaks. That’s not a problem; someone is assigned to cover the desk for a scheduled break. But with her it’s chronic, unscheduled disappearances. Every two hours she’s gone without a word. It’s flaky and irresponsible. And I might have to let her go.”

“That doesn’t sound like Mary Jane Baxter.”

“You know her?” She should stop being surprised by that.

“From high school. The blessing and curse of a small town.” He shrugged. “She was student body president. Smart, efficient. Every two hours?”

“Like clockwork,” she confirmed.

He looked thoughtful. “Now that you mention it, I recall that she’s hypoglycemic.”

“Can you dumb that down for those of us who didn’t go to med school?”

“Her blood sugar dips and she needs to eat regularly.”

“So it’s a recognized medical condition?”

“Yeah.”

“I’m not a monster who’d keep her chained to her post until she passes out. I can be fair, but only if I know what the problem is.” Cam threw up her hands in exasperation. “Why didn’t she say something?”

“Maybe it’s famous heiress intimidation syndrome. All the symptoms are there.”

“I’m a very nice person,” she defended.

“Then try talking to her like one.”

Cam thought about it and nodded. “Can’t hurt. Thanks for the suggestion.”

“You’re welcome.”

Now that she was calmer, she remembered that he’d planned to flag her down. “Was there something you wanted?”

“Yeah.” For just an instant intensity darkened his eyes and then disappeared. “My sister checked out your tires.”

“And?”

“They’re practically new and she couldn’t find any damage. No evidence of puncture, but the cap was missing. Syd’s guess is that someone deliberately let the air out.” He frowned. “Probably a prank.”

“Is it still considered a prank when a disgruntled employee does it?” Her sigh had an awful lot of defeat in it.

Obviously Ben noticed because he slung an arm across her shoulders. “They’ll come around. Give it time.”

She leaned into him for a moment, soaking up the comfort he offered. Again he made her feel safe, made her miss her big brother. He’d taken care of her in a way her father never had and she missed him every single day. But Ben wasn’t her brother and a hum of awareness vibrated through her that suddenly didn’t feel safe at all.

She pulled away from him. “It’s been almost three months and things here at the lodge are worse than ever. In my experience, people either don’t like me or they pretend to be my friend in order to get something from me.”

“Betrayal leaves a mark.”

She wasn’t going to confirm or deny. “What do I owe your sister?”

“Nothing. She took it to the shop and put air in the tire then brought it back.”

“A house call?”

He shrugged. “Call it public relations. If anyone here at the lodge needs a good mechanic, put in a good word.”

“Okay. Please give her my thanks and tell her that I appreciate what she did very much.” She started toward the stairs. “My break is over.”

She didn’t want it to be over because being with Ben felt like a sanctuary.

“I’ll see you around,” he said.

Not really a good idea. He was right about betrayal. The mark it left on her was about not being able to trust anyone. Ever. That wasn’t much of a problem here, since everyone fell in the hating her camp. So that made her wonder why the hometown hero was the only one in town being nice to her.

Chapter Four

“I put a patient in exam room one. And I use the term patient loosely, if you know what I mean.”

Ben looked at the disgusted expression on nurse Ginny’s face and was afraid he did know what she meant. It was another single woman faking a sprained ankle or wrist or something else as an excuse to put the moves on him.

“Does she have a casserole?”

Ginny grinned, a sign she was enjoying this way too much. “Yes.”

“Okay. Is there a chart?”

“Uh-huh.” She handed it over. “The home phone number is highlighted and underlined and asterisked.”

He looked at the paperwork inside the manila folder. Cherri Lyn Hoffman. Twenty-five. Worked in accounting at the Blackwater Lake power company. Single. Discomfort in right ankle. “Well, I guess we should see what’s wrong with her.”

“Or not.” Ginny headed down the hall to the break room.

“Aren’t you coming with me?”

“You’re a big boy. I think you can handle this.” She kept walking, then turned into the last room and disappeared.

Ben sighed as he knocked once on the exam room door. “Miss Hoffman?”

“Come in.”

He did. In this Victorian house donated to the town and turned into a clinic, the rooms were bigger. There was a sink in the corner and walls filled with charts and posters. One for nutrition, with portions of fruit and vegetables dominating. Another was a skeleton with bones labeled.

The patient was sitting on the paper-covered exam table with her legs dangling. Brown hair fell to her shoulders and teased the tight white T-shirt. Some shiny stuff sparkled on the front of it. A denim skirt the size of a postage stamp hit her just below the curve of her thigh and barely covered her…assets.

He left the door open, then went to the sink to wash his hands. “Hi, Miss Hoffman. I’m Dr. McKnight.”

“Please, call me Cherri.”

And you can call me Dr. McKnight, he thought, but couldn’t say it. “What seems to be the problem?”

“I think I twisted my ankle.”

“Let me take a look.” He sat on the rolling stool and moved toward her, and the very high heels she was wearing. That was the first clue she was faking. He looked at both legs. “Which one hurts?”

“The left.”

He looked in the chart where Ginny had noted that, per the patient, the injury was to the right ankle. “I don’t see any swelling or trauma.”

Cherri stuck her leg out. “Maybe you can feel something.”

He could feel it was a sham without touching her or looking at an X-ray. “Why don’t you walk across the room for me?”

“All right.”

She slid to the step at the end of the table, then stepped to the floor with an exaggerated wince as her right leg took her weight. Turning toward the doorway, she limped on the right leg. After a pivot she came back and favored the opposite side before stopping at the exam table next to him.

She blinked her big blue eyes. “What do you think, Doctor?”

God, he hated this. Several times a week this happened. He wanted to tell her not to waste his time. This wasn’t a game and he wouldn’t order needless diagnostic tests or prescribe medication for a nonexistent condition. But he was a professional and couldn’t say any of that.

“I don’t think it’s serious.” He kept his tone neutral with an effort. “When it bothers you, take over-the-counter medication for pain. Elevate it and alternate cold and heat.”

“Thank you. I’m so relieved it’s nothing serious.”

It was serious, but not in a way she would understand. He stood and headed for the door. “All right, then. Have a good day.”

“Wait.” She moved quickly to stop him. “Don’t I need to see you again? Another appointment? Or something?”

“No. I’m sure you’ll be fine.”

She lifted a covered casserole dish from the chair next to the door beside her purse. “This is for you. I thought you being a bachelor and a busy doctor that you might like something home-cooked.”

“Thank you.” He took it but couldn’t manage a smile. “Goodbye.”

“Are you going to call me? To see how I’m doing?”

“I’m sure you’re fine.”

Before she could stop him again, he walked out, down the hall to the break room. Once safely inside, he shut the door. There was a refrigerator on the wall beside it and he opened the freezer, then shoved the food in with the five or six others there. The fridge was running out of room.

Ginny was sitting at the oak table having a cup of coffee. “We usually leave that door open.”

“I know.” If only it had a lock.

“Are you hiding?”

“Damn straight,” he said.

“How’d it go with Cherri Lyn?”

“Same as always. Couldn’t keep the limp consistent.” He leaned back against the counter. “That’s actually a good thing, because otherwise it would have been tempting to order unnecessary X-rays just to be sure.”

Ginny’s blue eyes sparked with mischief. “So, are you going to call her?”

“Of course not. What she did is inherently dishonest. You can never trust someone like that.”