Книга - The Doctor’s Dating Bargain

The Doctor's Dating Bargain
Teresa Southwick


Camille Halliday is having trouble winning over the mutinous staff at the local hotel. So when gorgeous Dr Ben McKnight proposes that Camille pretend to be his girlfriend in exchange for his help – she jumps at the offer. It’s the answer to all her problems…Until the fake hand-holding and kissing turns into so much more!










“You look beautiful.” And that was an understatement. She took his breath away. The more he’d thought about it in the past twenty-four hours, the more he really wanted her to say yes to his idea.

Ben backed the SUV out of the space and headed for the exit that would take them to downtown Blackwater Lake.

“Is there a reason we’re not going to Fireside here at the lodge?” she asked.

He glanced over at her and smiled at her expression. “Yes. My criteria for tonight is a locals favorite because it’s always busy.”

“I haven’t agreed to this insane charade yet.”

“I’m aware of that. But I think I can win you over.”

“Pretty confident, aren’t you?”

“Power of positive thinking.” He grinned at her. “Plus whatever your decision, being seen together will keep everyone off balance and that can’t hurt.”

“By ‘everyone’ you mean women.”

“Men talk, too.” He parked and shut off the ignition, then got out and walked around to open the passenger door.




About the Author


TERESA SOUTHWICK lives with her husband in Las Vegas, the city that reinvents itself every day. An avid fan of romance novels, she is delighted to be living out her dream of writing for Mills & Boon.


The Doctor’s Dating Bargain



Teresa Southwick




www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)


To Maureen Child, Kate Carlisle, Christine Rimmer

and Susan Mallery, the best plot group ever!

Thanks for the friendship. And the fun. (Wine, too.)




Chapter One


“I’m in so much trouble.”

Ben McKnight sat in the twilight shadows on the rear second-story deck of Blackwater Lake Lodge. The angry blonde who’d just stomped up the wooden stairs from the lush grounds below obviously was too caught up in her snit to notice him. She continued to mumble to herself as she paced back and forth in front of the redwood railing.

“Is it me?” she grumbled. “Do I attract trouble like black pants pick up pet hair? Or lint? Or fuzzballs? What is my problem?”

Then she lashed out with her foot and connected with one of the sturdy, upright posts anchoring the railing. It was a solid kick and after a few seconds the message traveled to her brain. When it got there, she blurted out, “Damn it! Now my foot’s broken.”

Beautiful, angry women who talked to themselves were not in Ben’s wheelhouse, but broken bones he knew something about. He stood and walked out of the shadows into the circle of light cast by the property’s perimeter lights.

“Maybe I can help.”

She turned and gasped. “Good Lord, you startled me. Where the heck did you come from? I didn’t know anyone was here.”

“I figured that. The talking to yourself sort of gave it away.”

“That happens when you don’t want to talk to anyone else.” She limped closer. “Who are you?”

“Ben McKnight. Doctor McKnight. I’m an orthopedic specialist at Mercy Medical Clinic.”

“Call me crazy, but I didn’t think it was in a doctor’s job description to scare a person to death.”

“True. Do no harm is the cornerstone of the Hippocratic Oath.”

She pressed a hand to her chest and took a deep breath. “Then your bedside manner could use a little work, Doctor.”

“Sorry.” He watched her put weight on the foot and wince. “For the record, I don’t recommend kicking things as a communication technique. Especially when you’re wearing four-inch heels. Next time I’d use my words if I were you.”

“What am I? Five?” The tone was full of irritation that seemed completely self-directed. “Okay. That was childish.”

“Would you like me to take a look at the foot?”

“No. I’m fine. Completely over it. I’m calm and tranquil.”

“I could tell,” he said dryly. “All the pacing, stomping and trash talk were a clear indication that you’re totally in your Zen place.”

“I didn’t mean for anyone to see that. It’s been a bad day and when that happens, I come up here to decompress. Pretty much every night. My serenity spot isn’t normally occupied.”

“Since I’m trespassing, the least I can do is listen.” It would give him a chance to look at her mouth.

“Thanks, but I really have nothing to say.”

“All evidence to the contrary. Look, whether or not you feel like talking, you should probably sit for a few minutes and elevate the foot. There could be swelling.”

“Did you learn that in medical school?” She limped toward the two chairs nestled in the shadow of the lodge.

Ben put his hand under her elbow, mostly to help take some of her weight, but partly to touch her. “Actually, that’s basic first aid. Every coach of every team I’ve been on since I was five has preached ice and heat for an injury.”

“How many teams have you been on?”

She lowered herself into the Adirondack chair and leaned back with a sigh. There was a matching naturalwood ottoman and he cupped her ankle in his hand, then lifted it, resting it on the flat surface before slipping off her high-heeled shoe.

“A lot.” Ben sat on the ottoman beside hers.

“What sports did you play?”

“Soccer. Basketball. Football. My senior year I was on the Blackwater Lake High School team that won state about fifteen years ago.”

“So you’re a local boy?”

“Yes.”

“How come I haven’t seen you around?” she asked.

“I just got back.”

“Do you have family in Blackwater Lake?”

“Father. Older brother, younger sister.”

“That qualifies.” She thought for a moment. “So, I can’t help being curious. You have family close by, which makes me wonder why you’re sitting in the shadows on the deck all by yourself. Did you have a dinner date here at the lodge and she left in a huff? Are you a guest here at the hotel? Or just stalking someone who is a guest?”

He laughed. “I’m a guest. Staying here while I’m having a house built.”

“Too old to live at home?”

“Something like that,” he said.

The clouds drifted away from the moon and the deck was bathed in silver light, giving Ben a better view of the blonde. She was prettier than he’d thought, with a small face and deep dimples. Her eyes looked blue, although he couldn’t tell the shade, and tilted up slightly at the corners. Her hair was straight, and cut in layers that framed her face and fell past her shoulders. Her arm through the light sweater she wore had felt delicate and small-boned. Although the heels gave the impression of height, she barely came up to his shoulder, which made her not so tall.

Suddenly he wondered who he was talking to. He didn’t even know her name. On top of that, she was the one asking all the questions. “Are you sure you don’t want to tell me why you’re so ticked off?”

“There’s nothing to say.”

“For starters you could define the mess you’re in.”

“I was hoping you didn’t hear that,” she said.

“Nope. Sorry. Every word. And let me quote here, ‘I’m in so much trouble.’ Should I be afraid to get too close? Are you at the top of an assassination list? On the run from law enforcement? A CIA spy doing covert surveillance?”

“Right, because so much happens in Blackwater Lake that the government needs to surveil.” There was a suggestion of sarcasm and the barest hint of mockery in her tone.

“You don’t like it here?”

She met his gaze. “Let’s just say it’s not New York or L.A.”

“So define trouble. You could be pregnant,” he pointed out.

“You have quite the imagination.” Her lips turned up at the corners in a brief show of amusement. She had an awfully spectacular mouth when it wasn’t all pinched and tight. “And that would be a miracle since I haven’t had sex in—”

“Yes?” He looked at her and waited.

“That’s really none of your business.”

“Maybe not, but now I’m awfully curious.”

“Be that as it may,” she said, “you’re a stranger and I’m not in the habit of sharing personal information with someone I’ve barely met, Dr. McKnight.”

“At least you know my name. That’s more than I can say about you.”

“Camille Halliday.” She looked at him expectantly, as if waiting for recognition. Actually more like bracing for it, as if the information would be unpleasant.

The name did sound familiar, but he couldn’t place it. “It’s nice to meet you, Miss Halliday.”

“Likewise, Dr. McKnight. Now, I really should be going.” She slid the punting foot off the ottoman and gingerly tested it on the deck.

“How does it feel?”

“Several of my toes hurt,” she admitted.

“Can you walk on it?”

“I have to. Work to do.”

“At the hotel?”

“Yes.”

“In what capacity?” he wanted to know.

“I run the place.” That’s when her last name clicked. Her family had made a fortune in the hotel and hospitality industry. “You’re one of the Halliday hotel chain family.”

“Among other things,” she said a little mysteriously. After sliding her other leg off the ottoman, she moved forward in the chair and tested more weight on the foot. Drawing in a breath she said, “That smarts a little.”

Ben realized he didn’t want her to leave yet. “I’d be happy to look at it for you. Sometimes taping a couple toes together helps.”

“Thanks for the tip. Taping a toe I can handle.” Her words implied there was a whole lot more she couldn’t handle.

“Okay. But if you don’t want me to examine it, at least sit for a few more minutes and take the pressure off.”

She sighed, then nodded. “I can sit, but that won’t relieve any pressure.”

“You’re not talking about the foot now, are you?”

“No.” She caught the corner of her bottom lip between her top teeth as she stared out over the back grass and the thick evergreen trees beyond.

“What’s wrong? Might help to get it off your chest.”

“It might, but I can’t. One of the first things I learned getting a master’s degree in hotel management was never unburden yourself to a guest.”

“I’m not really a guest,” he said. “It’s more like a lease until my house is ready.”

“Why didn’t you do that?” she asked. “Rent a place, I mean?”

“Oh, so you get to ask questions but I don’t? How about a quid pro quo?” He met her gaze. “You tell me about your trouble and I’ll spill about my living arrangements. What can it hurt?”

She stared at him for several moments, then nodded. “It’s pretty common knowledge that this property in the hotel chain isn’t doing well financially. My father gave me six months to stop Blackwater Lake Lodge from hemorrhaging money or he’ll close it down.”

“I see. So you have half a year.”

“Not anymore.” She blew out a breath. “I’ve been here two and a half months. The employees are intractable and do their own thing. Personnel turnover is too high and we bleed money in training until a new hire is competent enough to pull their own weight. I think someone is skimming money from the books, but I’m so busy putting out fires that I can’t get to the bottom of it. And I’m running out of time.”

“Do you have a personal attachment to this property?”

“I’d never seen it until January.” She sighed. “But my father is testing me. If I can pull this off, I’ll get a choice assignment somewhere that’s not in the wilderness of Montana.”

“Ah.” Making the lodge successful was her ticket out of here.

Ben could understand. Once upon a time he couldn’t wait to shake the dirt, mud and mountain air off, but he didn’t feel that way now.

“So, why are you back here?” she asked.

“To build a house and put down roots. Blackwater Lake is a great place to live.” When she stood, he did, too. “Can’t see renting something, settling in, then moving again. I’m focused on expanding Mercy Medical Clinic and providing quality health care for the town and the tourists who come here to visit.”

“It’s a really noble goal.” She touched his arm to steady herself while slipping her shoe back on, then limped toward the stairs. At the top she turned and said, “Good luck with that, Doctor. Now I really have to say good-night.”

After she disappeared from sight, he heard her uneven step as she walked down the stairs.

Ben found her intriguing and was sorry she’d had to leave. Still, the quid pro quo had put everything in perspective. He was staying and her objective was to get out of town as fast as possible.

That was too bad.

Until last night Camille hadn’t known Ben McKnight existed and now she wondered how he could have been staying in her hotel without her being aware. He was tall, funny and as good-looking as any man she’d met in L.A. or New York, and she’d met a lot of men, according to every rag sheet tabloid paper on the planet.

Now Dr. Ben McKnight was having dinner in the Blackwater Lake Lodge restaurant where she was filling in as hostess. The last one had quit and it was hard to run a five-star establishment without a greeter and seater. Hopefully the interviews she had tomorrow would be productive. Fortunately it was Sunday and not busy. At least it hadn’t been until Doctor Do-Good had arrived and asked for a table by himself.

Since then at least four women, two from the lodge staff and two civilians, had come in, sat with him, written something down on a small piece of paper, then handed it to him. Since they were small scraps of paper, she was pretty sure the information wasn’t their medical history.

At the moment he was sitting by himself and the place was practically empty except for a couple lingering over coffee and dessert at their table near the stone fireplace.

Cam just couldn’t stop herself. She strolled over to where she’d seated him a little while ago and smiled. “Did you enjoy your dinner, Doctor?”

Ben nodded. “I did. The food here is excellent.”

“Amanda will appreciate hearing that. She’s the chef.” And someone Cam had coaxed here from New York. The plan was to prove herself in six months and the two of them would get their pick of prime assignments in one of the Halliday Hospitality Corporation’s other properties. “Can I get you something from the bar?”

“No, thanks. I’m on call for the clinic.”

“Are you expecting broken bones tonight?”

“Mercy Medical Clinic docs rotate the responsibility of being available to triage emergency calls.”

“Excuse me?”

“We take information and decide if the patient on the phone needs to see a doctor and which one could best take care of them. If it’s an orthopedic problem, I’m their guy. Otherwise Adam Stone, the family practice specialist, is up.”

Cam was “up” all day and night here at the lodge. It wasn’t the same as life and death, but she had to be available to deal with any crisis situation. Her performance was being evaluated, and Dean Halliday, her father and president of Halliday Hospitality, didn’t grade on a curve.

“Maybe dessert and coffee?” she suggested. “I happen to know the chef makes the best seven-layer chocolate cake in Montana.”

“Is that a fact?” Dark brown eyes teased and taunted.

“Slight exaggeration. But if it’s not the best you’ve tasted in Blackwater Lake, this meal is on the house.”

“Can you afford to take the chance, what with losing money and all? Or,” he added, “I could lie just to get the meal comped.”

“You could.”

It wouldn’t be the first time a man had lied and taken advantage of her, but she’d been younger then. Naive. Vulnerable. All of that was a pretty way of saying she’d been stupid and her judgment about men sucked. But she was going to prove herself here in this little backwater town or die trying.

She gave him her best smile, the one that showed off her dimples. “But if you don’t tell the truth, we’ll both know.”

“You’re on.” He laughed and showed off his own considerable charms.

His teeth were very white and practically perfect. The pretty people she’d once counted as her closest friends all had cosmetic work to make their smiles perfect, but Ben’s looked like nothing more than good genes. There were streaks in his brown hair that came from the sun and not a bottle at the salon and the bump in his nose kept him from being too pretty. He had a natural ruggedness about him that had nothing to do with acting technique and everything to do with being a manly man. Again with the good genes.

Cam had promised herself after a teenage run-in with police that she’d never again do anything she’d regret. Last night she broke that pledge. She regretted not letting Dr. Ben McKnight examine her foot. Not because she needed anything more medical than an aspirin and a bag of frozen peas for swelling, but simply to feel his big, competent hands on her leg.

Focus, she told herself. Glancing around, she saw Jenny, the lone waitress tonight, and signaled her over. The server shot her a dirty look, then moved to the table and smiled warmly at the doctor.

“What can I get you, Dr. McKnight?”

“Miss Halliday has talked me into a cup of coffee and a piece of Montana’s best chocolate cake.”

“Excellent choice,” Jen said. “I’ll bring it right out.”

“I should walk back and get it myself,” he said. “It’s going to add an extra mile to my run in the morning.”

“You look fine to me.” Jenny smiled and there was definite flirtatious eyelash-batting going on.

Cam held in a sigh and made a mental note to add an item to the staff meeting agenda. Friendly, but not too friendly. It was a fine line.

She looked down at the customer and gave him her professional, but not too friendly smile. “You may have to run an extra mile, but I promise the cake will be worth it.” Then she turned away.

“You’re leaving?”

“I have work to do.”

“Is the place that busy? Can you keep me company?”

“From what I saw you had plenty of company during dinner, Doctor.”

He shrugged. “People in Blackwater Lake are friendly.”

“Is it just me or merely a coincidence that all those friendly Blackwater Lake people were of the female persuasion?”

“Are you jealous, Miss Halliday?”

“What if I were, Dr. McKnight?”

“I’d be flattered,” he said.

“And I’d have a target on my back. Enjoy your dessert,” she said, turning away.

“Whoa, not so fast, Cam. Do you mind if I call you that?” Without waiting for an answer he pointed to the chair at a right angle to his. “It’s just plain mean to make a cryptic remark like that, then walk away.”

“I have no reason to stay.”

“Aren’t you supposed to be friendly to your guests?” he asked.

“The first rule of hospitality,” she confirmed. “And I have been. But there’s a line that shouldn’t be crossed.”

“Isn’t the customer always right?”

“Yes, but—”

“So, sit. Take a load off that foot.” He looked down at her legs in four-inch heels. “Nice shoes. How is the foot, by the way?”

“Fine.” She didn’t take him up on the offer to sit because that wasn’t professional. But she didn’t leave, either.

“Tell me about the target on your back.”

“Obviously you were smart enough to pass medical school. Do you really not get it?” That was tough to believe. A man as good-looking as he had to have had opportunities. He’d probably left this small town for college a naive guy of eighteen, but surely he’d been around the block a time or two since then. “You’re quite a catch.”

“What am I? A fish?” The twinkle in his eyes said he knew where this was going and wasn’t the least offended.

That was fortunate because in the hospitality game one always aimed to please. “You’re a doctor and not hard on the eyes—”

“Did you just say I’m cute?”

“I said the women in this tiny little town might perceive you that way and you probably make a decent living as a doctor.”

“Are you asking?” He rested his forearms on the white-cloth-covered table.

“I’m not interested. But clearly a number of women are. A single guy—” She stopped as a thought struck her. “You aren’t married, are you?”

“Nope.”

“Divorced?”

“One would have to have been married for that to be the case.”

“So you’ve never been married.”

Before Camille could continue the line of questioning, Jenny brought over his cake and the assistant waiter delivered a saucer and cup, then filled it with coffee.

“Anything else I can do for you?” Jenny asked.

“No. But thanks.” Ben gave her a smile.

The waitress returned it and moved behind him where she leveled Cam with a look that if it could kill would render her a rust-colored stain on the floor.

Ben forked off a piece of cake then put it in his mouth, his eyes never leaving hers. After chewing and swallowing, the sound of pleasure he made was almost sexual. Since her January arrival in this state that was so close to Canada, she’d never once been too warm. Not until now. And she very much wanted to fan herself.

Steady, girl. What were they talking about? Oh, right. He’d never been married.

“What’s wrong with you?” she asked.

“Excuse me? I believe I just proved your point about this being the best cake in Montana.”

“I’m not talking cake.” She folded her arms over her chest. “You’re handsome, smart, a doctor who returned to his hometown to practice medicine. Approximately thirty-five—”

“Close,” he confirmed. “Thirty-four.”

“Apparently I’m out of practice. And don’t interrupt me. I’m on a roll. You’re thirty-four, not married and never been married. What’s wrong with you?”

“Am I gay, you mean?”

“That’s not what I asked, but—”

“No. I’m not.”

“That’s a relief.” She realized that thought hadn’t stayed in her head and added, “I mean, for the single women in Blackwater Lake who went to all the trouble of giving you their phone numbers.”

“How do you know that?”

“I’ve been watching them hand you slips of paper too small to be a résumé or autobiographical novel. And I did catch a glimpse of numbers.”

“You’re very observant.”

“Attention to detail is the hallmark of the hospitality business,” she said, irritated at how much she sounded like her father. “So, how does someone who looks so good on paper escape personal entanglements unscathed?”

The twinkle in his eyes vanished and the warm cocoa color turned almost black. “Who says I did?”

“So you have a story.” It wasn’t a question.

“Doesn’t everyone? You go first.”

“Nice try.” She shook her head.

If he was curious he could just Google her. There was plenty documented on the internet that she’d never live down no matter how hard she tried. Or he could ask the hotel staff. They’d be happy to share.

And judge. The employees had made up their minds about her based on tabloid stories and entertainment gossip. They’d decided she was too shallow, too spoiled, too short and too blonde to be taken seriously.

Why should Ben McKnight be any different?




Chapter Two


“I don’t think it’s broken, but I’ll know for sure after I look at the X-ray.”

“The garage is really busy right now so I’m holding you to that not-broken thing.”

Ben hadn’t expected to start the week treating anyone in his family, but he had been wrong. Sydney McKnight sat on the paper-covered exam table cradling her right hand. His little sister was a pretty, brown-eyed brunette who loved fixing cars as much as he liked fixing people. As a little girl she’d followed their father around McKnight’s Automotive and learned from the best mechanic in Montana.

“You know,” he said, “if you wanted some big brother time, we could have done lunch. It would have been a lot less painful for you.”

“Not if you made me buy.” She winced as he probed the swelling. “In my opinion, what this clinic really needs is a neurologist. You need to have your head examined, find out why it’s so big.”

“Seriously, Syd. This is nasty. What happened?”

“An accident at the garage.” She shrugged. “There was a wrench involved. My hand slipped. Occupational hazard.”

“And aren’t you lucky big brother the doctor is back to take care of you?”

“We’ve done all right.”

Without you, he thought. Ben knew she hadn’t meant to make him feel guilty for leaving, but he did anyway. His father had encouraged him to do what was necessary for his future the same way he’d nurtured Sydney’s love affair with cars. Eventually Ben had gone, but now he was back. Where he wanted to be.

The exam room door opened and nurse Ginny Irwin walked in. She was in her late fifties and had blue eyes that missed nothing. Her silver hair was cut in a short, nofuss style. It suited her no-nonsense attitude.

“Hey, Syd,” she said.

“Hi, Ginny.” His sister started to lift her hand in greeting, then winced and lowered it.

“I’ve emailed the X-rays to the radiologist at the hospital and it will be a while before we get the report. But here are the films, Ben.” Ginny had known him since he was a kid and didn’t feel the need to address him as Doctor.

He liked that. Adding Doctor to his name didn’t make him a better medical practitioner. No polite protocols or assembly-line medicine, just solid personal care to, sometimes literally, get people back on their feet.

“Let’s take a look.” He put the films on the lighted view box. He wasn’t a radiologist, but in his expert opinion there was no break, although he took his time studying all the small bones, just to be sure.

“Don’t keep me in suspense,” Syd said.

“I have to look at the full range of densities. It can go from white to black and I need to evaluate the contrast ratio for a diagnosis.”

“Please don’t go all medical techno-speak on me,” Sydney begged.

“It’s not broken.”

“Good.” Ginny almost smiled, then looked sternly at the patient. “I don’t want to see you back in here, Sydney Marie.”

“Yes, ma’am. I’d salute, but this Pillsbury Doughboy hand would just punish me.”

“In so many ways. Take care,” Ginny said, just before slipping out the door.

“She scares me,” his sister said. “So I’ll ask you. Can I go back to work?”

“Really?” He folded his arms over his chest. “I’m the weak link? Do we need to get Ginny back in here to keep you in line, Sydney Marie?”

“I’m happy to stay in line if you’ll just tell me what I have to do so I can get back to work.”

“Take the rest of the day off. Use ice and over-the-counter pain meds. When the swelling goes down you can work.”

“That’s it? You’re not going to do anything? No quick fix? What kind of doctor are you?”

“The kind who replaces hips and fixes broken bones, sometimes with surgery. I have a piece of paper that says it’s okay for me to do that.”

“Just asking. I guess you’ll come in handy for water-and snow-skiing seasons.” She settled her injured hand on her thigh. “Speaking of that…how do you like living at Blackwater Lake Lodge?”

The mention of his living arrangement turned his thoughts to the lady who was in charge of the place where he lived. This wasn’t the first time she’d crossed his mind and every time it happened, the thought was followed by a vague regret that she wouldn’t be around very long.

“Did I say something wrong?” Syd’s eyes narrowed.

“What? No. Why?”

“You look funny.”

“Define funny,” he said.

“I don’t know. Sort of goofy. Sappy. Like you walked down the hall at Blackwater Lake High and saw the girl you had a crush on.”

“Interesting diagnosis, Doctor.”

“Am I right about a woman being involved?” she persisted.

“Yes.”

“I’d clap my hands in excitement, but…” She looked ruefully at the puffy extremity. “Who is she? Anyone I know?”

“Do you know Camille Halliday?”

“Everyone knows her.” Syd’s expression said it wasn’t in a good way. “She’s the hotel heiress.”

“I know. Met her Saturday.” And he’d seen her again at dinner last night. He wondered if she was having another bad day.

“Are you aware that she has a certain reputation?”

“What kind of rep?”

“Partying. Hanging with a wild crowd. Name always in the paper and not for sending mosquito nets to Africa to wipe out malaria. She even went to jail. Although they let her out early.”

“Good behavior?”

“Overcrowding,” Syd answered. “You didn’t know about this stuff?”

“No.”

“Have you been living under a rock?”

Sort of. “Las Vegas is surrounded by rocky mountains and rocks are frequently used for landscaping, what with water being scarce in the desert. But none of that qualifies as living under one.”

Unless you counted working too hard to think about anything else. Now he had time to wonder about Camille Halliday. What his sister just said didn’t fit the ambitious, hardworking woman he’d met. “Was this jail thing recent?”

“No. She was in her teens.”

Ah. “And where did you get all this unimpeachable information?”

“The tabloids.” Syd grinned shamelessly. “I love to read them. A guilty pleasure.”

“Then here’s a headline for you. Don’t believe everything you read.” He slid his fingers into the pockets of his white lab coat. “I found Cam to be bright, funny, focused and a serious businesswoman. Sexy, too.”

His sister’s eyes narrowed. “Do you have the hots for her?”

No. Maybe. Irrelevant. “She’s got her sights set on bigger and better things. Blackwater Lake Lodge is where she’s proving herself. She can’t wait to move up the career ladder, preferably to a city with a more impressive population.”

Syd’s dark eyes gleamed with plans he knew he wouldn’t like. “That’s a relief.”

“Why?”

“Here’s the thing. You’re not getting any younger, Ben.”

“Yeah. I think they taught us that in med school,” he said dryly.

“No. Seriously. You should think about settling down.”

“I’m building a house. Doesn’t that count?”

“Good start.” She shifted her tush on the table and the disposable paper rustled. “You should think about a woman to go along with it. And I just happen to have some suggestions.”

His sister and every other female in this town had ideas. There’d been matchmaking vibes since he’d touched down. Even Cam had noticed women giving him their phone numbers. “Why am I not surprised?”

Syd ignored his sarcasm. “Annie Higgins is pretty and fun.”

“Isn’t she divorced with three kids?”

“So?” His sister obviously saw the negative in his expression because she moved on. “Okay. Darlene Litsey has never been married. She has a great personality.”

“Personality? Isn’t that code for a deal-breaking flaw?”

“Maybe she’s a little controlling,” Syd admitted. “Okay. I’ve got the perfect woman for you.”

A vision of Cam Halliday flashed into his mind. Specifically her expression when he’d eaten the sinfully good cake. He’d have sworn it was a look of pure lust, but that could just be wishful thinking.

“Are you paying attention?” Syd demanded.

“I’m all ears.”

She eyed him critically. “They are a little big. I wasn’t going to say anything…but you’re a doctor. Surely there’s something you can do to fix them.”

“Very funny. Now that I think about it, what woman would want to go out with Dumbo?”

“Don’t sell yourself short. You’ve got a lot to offer.” She did that critical appraisal thing again. “Handsome, in spite of the ears. Funny, except to me. And you’re a doctor.”

Cam had said almost the same thing last night. “So?”

“A woman wants to be taken care of. Goes back to caveman days. Picking the biggest, strongest Neanderthal/ Cro-Magnon who can hunt, gather and beat the crap out of anyone who tries to take what’s his.”

“None of that pertains to me,” he protested.

“Sure it does. Modern man just pays people to do all of the above and you can pay better than most. I happen to know you got a couple of bucks when you sold your practice in Las Vegas.”

“You could say that.”

When he finished medical training, Ben had researched areas of the country for a place to practice medicine. Las Vegas was booming and there was a scarcity of doctors in his field. He set up an office, built a solid reputation all over the valley, hired more doctors to make the business end of it more lucrative, then sold it to the partners. The deal made him a millionaire and wise investments had more than doubled his net worth. He never had to work again if he didn’t want to.

Except he loved what he did. Long hours and hard work had earned him the freedom to use his knowledge to help people without having to practice cookie-cutter medicine. He could take his time and give patients the personal attention he wanted to.

“Ben, Emily Decatur is really nice.”

“I remember her from high school. She works at the Lodge.”

“Right. And you live there. It’s a sign. It’s convenient.”

Cam Halliday worked where he lived, too, and somehow that seemed more convenient to him. “I’m sure Emily is great, but there’s no spark.”

“Three strikes and you’re out. I just provided you with a list of perfectly lovely women and you found something wrong with every one.” Syd’s frustration was showing. “If you don’t want a woman, why did you come home?”

“I’m not sure those two statements actually go together.”

“They do in my mind. Las Vegas has a bigger dating pool than Blackwater Lake, so why are you here?”

“Believe it or not, dating isn’t my reason for coming back.”

“I get it.” She was angry and frustrated in equal parts. “You’re not looking at all. This is about Judy Coulter, isn’t it?”

“My main squeeze in high school and college.” After that not so much.

“Yeah. The same one who strung you along for years then married some ski bum she’d only known a month. And moved back East with.”

All of that was true and it hurt at the time. But he’d gotten over her a long time ago. “She did me a favor, Syd.”

“She broke your heart. How is that a good thing?”

“She didn’t break my heart. When I started med school there were no distractions. I put all my energy into school and becoming the best doctor possible.”

“You are pretty good,” she grudgingly admitted.

“I thank Judy for that.”

His sister frowned. “If you were really the best, you’d make my hand better right now.”

“Only time can do that,” he said gently.

“Speaking of time and healing, I just thought of someone else for the dating list—”

“Stop. I’ve barely unpacked.”

“Oh, pooh,” she scoffed. “It’s been a couple weeks. You have a duty to date someone.”

Now he was getting frustrated. “Right back at you, sis. Who are you going out with? Do I know the guy?”

“I’m taking a break from men.”

“Why?”

“I don’t want to talk about it.”

There was a story. Ben saw it in her eyes, but wouldn’t push. If he set a good example, maybe she’d back off, too. “Okay. So you understand where I’m coming from.”

“Not really. You’ve had a very long break,” she started.

He barely held back a groan. She was like a bulldog with a favorite bone. How long would it take before she decided to let this go? He wasn’t opposed to dating, just wanted to do it in his own time, his own way.

He would go out when he met someone who intrigued him as much as Camille Halliday.

With a four-inch heel in each hand, Cam walked out of the bedroom into her suite’s sitting area. All the bigger, more expensive lodge rooms were on the top floor and she liked living here a lot. It was big, a convenient distance to work and the mattress was soft and comfy. Love seats covered in earth-tone stripes faced each other in front of the fireplace. There was a small kitchen and a cherrywood table in the dining area.

She stopped in front of the mirror over a small table in the entryway for a last check on her appearance before starting the day.

“Hair?” She nodded with satisfaction. “Check.”

Something about the water here in Montana brought out the best in her shoulder-length layered style.

“Makeup? Check.” It was flawless. She had the money to buy good skin care products and cosmetics and had paid big bucks for a professional makeup artist to teach her the techniques for perfect application.

“Clothes? Dressed for success.” She loved this lavender suit with the pencil skirt and fitted matching jacket. The heels matched perfectly.

“It’s Tuesday,” she reminded herself. “Maybe today I’ll get staff cooperation. And maybe I’ll flap my arms and fly to the moon.”

All those power of positive thinking seminars had been a waste of time for this exile in Blackwater Lake. So far the information and methods hadn’t achieved any measurable real-life results.

She was about to slip her heels on when shouting in the hallway shattered the silence in her room. “It’s too early for this,” she groaned. “Rocky and Apollo Creed couldn’t make it just one day without going a couple of rounds?”

Cam opened her door and hurried into the carpeted hall barefoot. Patty Evans and Crystal Ames, a housekeeping team on the staff, stood two inches apart, shouting into each other’s faces. They were in their early thirties and about the same height, which made them quite a bit taller than Cam, but she couldn’t spare the time for her shoes.

She tried to get between them, but they pretty much ignored her. “Ladies, this is unprofessional.”

“Stop flirting with him.” Patty’s hair curved under in a brown bob. She wore the black pants and gray, fitted smock shirt that was the department uniform.

A honey blonde, Crystal had her hair held back with a big clip. “I wasn’t flirting. Just being friendly. You’re paranoid.” She waved her index finger in the other woman’s direction. “And you need your head examined.”

“There’s nothing wrong with my head,” Patty retorted. “I know what I saw. You always want what’s mine.”

“You’re imagining things.” Crystal moved even closer.

Patty lifted her chin defensively. “Stay away from Scooter.”

Someone named Scooter was worth coming to blows? Cam had to break this up. The most expensive lodge rooms were nearby. Unprofessional behavior like this was inappropriate anywhere, but especially here. Social media being what it was, negative information could go viral on the internet and she had enough problems without that.

“Ladies—” She put a hand on each of their shoulders and used gentle pressure to move them back an inch or two. “That will be enough.”

Patty’s blue eyes blazed. “It’s not nearly enough. Not until she backs off my boyfriend.”

“How many times do I have to say this? I’m not coming on to him.” Crystal jammed her hands on her hips. “You’ve got quite an imagination. Get over it.”

“Stop it.” Cam raised her voice which she hated to do, but a sharp slap to snap them out of it wasn’t an option. “This is unacceptable—”

A door opened behind them. “Hi.”

Cam held in a groan. It was only one word, but she knew that deep voice. Before she could turn and respond, the two housekeepers relaxed their combative body language.

“Hey, Ben.” Patty smiled. “I heard you were back in town and staying here.”

“It’s been a while.” Ben was wearing surgical scrub pants with a long-sleeved white shirt beneath the matching shapeless blue top. “How are you, Patty? Crystal?”

The blonde flashed him a flirty smile. “Fine. How’ve you been?”

“Good. It’s great to be back.”

“We should get together for a drink and catch up.”

He nodded. “After work some time.”

“Sounds good.” Patty looked at her partner. “Speaking of that, we’ve got to get busy.”

“Right. Catch you later, Ben.”

“Have a good one.” He returned their wave before the two women moved down the hall to where the housekeeping cart was pushed against the wall.

“I’m sorry you had to see that,” Cam said.

“I actually didn’t see anything. Hearing is a different story.” He leaned a shoulder against the doorjamb that was right next to hers. “Are you still in trouble?”

“Tip of the iceberg. Those two are on a very long list of employees who do their own thing.”

“So, that’s a yes to trouble?” His dark eyes sparkled with humor, no doubt the memory of the other night on the deck.

“It is,” she admitted.

“Are you going to kick something?” When he looked down at her bare feet, his gaze turned decidedly, intensely sexy and suggestive.

“No. It was a lesson. I’ll use my words. Right after I get my shoes.” Every time she saw him it felt like a power struggle and she didn’t like feeling at a disadvantage. She also didn’t like the little shimmy in her heart when his eyes went all hot and smoldery. That couldn’t be good. “I have to get to work.”

“Don’t let me keep you.”

She nodded, then looked up. “And Ben?”

“Hm?”

“I’d consider it a personal favor if you forgot about the little disagreement. I really am sorry you had to see that and I intend to talk to them.” For the umpteenth time. If only she could promise him it wouldn’t happen again.

Ben glanced down the empty hall where the two women had been. “I take it Patty and Crystal don’t get along?”

There was no point in denying what he’d just witnessed for himself. “I referee practically on a daily basis.” Then his words sank in. “You know their names.”

“We went to high school together.”

“I see.” Small-town life, she reminded herself. “They’re good at their jobs. When not arguing.”

“Those two haven’t gotten along since Crystal stole Patty’s boyfriend before prom and she missed the highlight of high school.”

Cam wouldn’t know. Her teen years had been erratic and traditional school wasn’t in her frame of reference. “That’s good information.”

“I’ve noticed that housekeepers here at the lodge work in teams.”

“It’s efficient.”

He nodded. “I know what you said about personnel turnover and the cost of training. Obviously you feel it’s important to retain those two. So it might be a good idea to split them up.”

“It crossed my mind, but I’ve been working in—what did you call it? Triage? Dealing with the most important things first. Operating in crisis mode.”

The longer Cam stood looking up at him, the more she noticed how handsome he was. How easy he was to talk to. How good he smelled. How safe he made her feel.

That was something she hadn’t felt since losing her big brother when he was only nineteen. Since then men had come on to her, using her to get their name in the paper. Famous by association. But there was something trustworthy about Ben.

He folded his arms over his chest. “You should be used to crisis mode.”

His voice was pleasant and teasing, but her stomach dropped at the words. It had been too much to hope for. “Why?”

“Your tabloid history is pretty colorful.”

“So you know about that.”

“I Googled you.”

“That’s a lot of information to wade through.” Disappointment sat like a stone in her gut.

“Not so much after you went to jail.”

It was hard, but she managed not to wince. She would never be able to erase her infamous past and the lies that were part of it. She knew the truth and could set the record straight, but she couldn’t make him believe it.

“Being in a cell, even segregated from the general population, was more scary than I can tell you. I was grateful for early release and determined not to go back. Ever. I returned to college.”

“Coincidentally, that was about the time all the stories dried up.”

“Photographers still stalked me, waiting for a screwup to document and sell papers. But I was more determined to get an education and have a career. Accomplish something. Do more than be famous for being famous.”

“Good for you.”

Right. The words sounded supportive, but she knew better. Everyone wanted something.

“I really have to get to work,” she said.

“Me, too.” He straightened and looked down at her. “I’d like to see you later.”

“That’s not a good idea.” the door to her suite was right next to his and she headed for it now. Over her shoulder she said, “Have a wonderful day.”

In her room she leaned against the closed door and dragged in air. Since college the nice guys had shunned her. Classes, studying and getting exemplary grades were all she had. The loneliness and isolation hurt deeply, but she’d learned valuable lessons. She needed a solid, successful career because that would be all she had, all she could count on.

It was time to focus on that career. Making Blackwater Lake Lodge into a lucrative property in the family hotel chain was her ticket out of this town. It would get her away from the handsome, sexy doctor who was nothing more than another nice guy who wouldn’t want to bring her home to meet his family.




Chapter Three


Ben McKnight had never pictured himself as a Chamber of Commerce sort of guy, but here he was at the monthly Blackwater Lake meeting. He’d been interested in hearing Mayor Loretta Goodson’s plans for growing the community, expanding Mercy Medical Clinic and eventually building a hospital here in town. Being in on that project from the beginning was one of the reasons he’d come back. Blending the best and newest medicine with a small-town, hands-on approach was exciting and rewarding.

Apparently he wasn’t the only one interested in longterm planning. It was a standing-room-only crowd in the council chamber here at City Hall.

“I think we’ve thoroughly covered all the information about the architect hired to draw up the plans for the Mercy Medical Clinic expansion. The town council and I liked the work she showed us, but she also has the lowest fee. McKnight Construction will be doing the building. Is there any further business or questions?” The mayor, an attractive woman who looked thirty but was probably ten years older, glanced around the room. Her shoulder-length, layered brown hair caught the overhead light as she turned her head. She smiled, but it didn’t quite reach her gray eyes. “All right, seeing no raised hands, that concludes the meeting. There are refreshments in the back. Thank you for coming, everyone.”

Almost instantly chair legs scraped and talking commenced as people stood and filed out of the room or to the table filled with coffee and dessert.

Ben had been at the clinic late setting a patient’s broken arm and barely made it to the meeting. With no time to eat, he was starving. After grabbing a couple cookies and a brownie, he looked around. Against the wall he noticed Cabot Dixon, an old high school friend, talking to the pretty redhead who owned the marina store on the lake and was engaged to Adam Stone, the family-practice doctor at the clinic. He moved toward them and Cabot grinned.

“I heard you were back in town, Ben.”

“Good to see you, Cab.” He set his coffee on the seat of a chair and shook the other man’s hand.

“Do you know Jill Beck?”

“I do. How’s that little guy of yours?” Ben had met them at the clinic when they visited Adam at work.

“C.J. is great.” Her blue eyes glowed with pride and pleasure. “Adam is keeping an eye on him tonight. Tyler’s there, too.”

“How old is that boy of yours, Cab?”

“Seven. Can’t believe it. I remember when he was hardly bigger than my hand and I was trying to figure out which end to put the diaper on and which one to feed.”

“You’ve done a great job,” Jill said, “because he’s healthy and happy.”

“It was one day at a time, one crisis at a time.” He shook his head at the memories. “Seems like yesterday he was a toddler.”

“I look forward to seeing him. Preferably not at the clinic.”

“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.”

Talking about trust made him think of Cam, who clearly had issues with it. As far as he could tell her checkered past was isolated in her rebellious youth. Anyone should get a pass on that. Now she seemed straightforward and sincere. He couldn’t picture her faking a medical problem. In fact, he’d seen her do a number on her foot and refuse to let him look it over. He wouldn’t mind seeing her any time, for any reason. Or no reason.

He looked at Ginny. “I’m losing my patience.”

“From where I’m sitting, patients of the female persuasion are on the rise here at Mercy Medical Clinic.”

“You know what I mean.” He snapped out the words, then drew in a deep cleansing breath. “Sorry. But I’m really frustrated with this situation. This is a medical facility, not a speed-dating event. I have a professional reputation to maintain.”

“You’ve got a reputation, and being a doctor is only part of it. The other part is bachelor.”

“You’re enjoying this, aren’t you?”

“Yes.” She grinned.

“Well, that makes one of us. The thing is, it could be dangerous. What if I blow someone off who really has a medical issue because of all the women who are faking it?”

“They shouldn’t have to fake it if you’re doing it right.”

“Ginny—” he warned.

“All right.” She held up her hands in surrender. “This is the thing. It’s your own fault.”

“Mine?” That hit a nerve. “What did I do?”

“How can I put this delicately?” She thought for several moments. “Tough love time. And I do love you. A doctor who isn’t married and doesn’t have a girlfriend is fair game for every marriage-minded woman or matchmaking mother within a five-hundred-mile radius of Blackwater Lake.”

“God help me.” He shook his head. “And there’s no immunization?”

“Nope.”

“So, you’re saying I need a wife?”

“Or steady girlfriend.”

“That’s just wrong,” he said.

“Are you gay?”

“No.”

“Confirmed bachelor?” she persisted.

“Not exactly.”

“Then, what exactly are you?”

“Just a guy who wants this to stop.”

“Then you need to hook up with someone so the women will leave you alone.”

“I haven’t met anyone to go out with.” No one except Cam Halliday and she’d only be around another few months. She was leaving town.

And just like that he realized she would be perfect. It wouldn’t exactly be faking it, not if she knew exactly what was going on.

The best part was that no one would get hurt.

Try talking to her like a very nice person. Cam recalled Ben’s advice as she waited for the employee in question. When she heard the knock on her office door, she swiveled her chair away from the computer and called out, “Come in.”

She hoped Ben was right about this, because so far nothing had worked. Her role model had taught her the scare-the-crap-out-of-employees style of management. Her father had managed family the same way.

The door opened and Mary Jane Baxter took a hesitant step forward. She was a very attractive blonde in her early thirties, with blue eyes and square black glasses. “You wanted to see me, Ms. Halliday?”

“Yes. Thanks for coming, Mary Jane.” She folded her hands on her desk. “There’s something I’d like to talk to you about.”

“All right.”

“Please shut the door. And have a seat,” she added.

The woman’s expression said she was terrified, but she did as instructed and they faced each other across the desk. But Mary Jane’s leg was moving nervously and she looked everywhere but at Cam.

What would Ben do to put her at ease? Probably ask a personal question.

“How long have you worked here at Blackwater Lake Lodge?”

“Almost eight months.”

“Are you married?”

“Yes.”

“Children?”

“Yes.” Mary Jane almost smiled. “A girl and a boy.”

“That’s really nice. Are they in school?”

“When the youngest, my daughter, started first grade, I decided to go back to work.”

The woman still looked tense enough to snap in two. What else could she try? Mary Jane was already scared, so maybe it would be effective to do the exact opposite of her father. Take down the barriers.

Cam stood, rounded the desk and sat in the other chair beside her employee. And stop keeping her in suspense. “I might as well come to the point. We need to talk about your unscheduled breaks from the registration desk. Because that’s the first place our guests see, there really needs to be someone behind it at all times to greet and take care of the customer.”





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