Redeeming The Rebel Doc

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At least now he didn’t care what he wore as long as it was comfortable. He’d spent half his life going in one direction and the other half hell-bent on another. No way was he returning to the old lifestyle his parents had pretended they could afford. He had no reason to prove himself to anyone through his appearance, zero interest in outside trappings. He knew with bone-deep certainty who he was and for the rest of his life there would be no more pretentious facades.

Still, damn it, he had agreed to help with Tiffani’s PR nonsense. His plans for his future actually rested on it to a certain degree. If a few wardrobe changes and a haircut could gain him what he wanted, then was it such a big deal?

Yes! It was a very big deal. He had set his boundaries all those years ago for very real, vital reasons and had successfully, happily lived by them ever since. He had no intention of ignoring them now. Not for Tiffani. Not for anyone. Nor for any reason, regardless of its appeal.

But walking down the street on a sunny day with a pretty woman beside him somehow made all the ridiculousness of this makeover less disturbing to his peace of mind. He glanced at Tiffani. She still wore her hair up but not quite as tightly as before. Her attire was more casual as well. A simple purple knit shirt, black pants and flat shoes unleashed her subtle sex appeal, which floated around her like honeyed perfume.

He didn’t care for her high-handed ways and wasn’t even sure he liked her, but it was a nice change to argue with someone who gave as good as she got. Few people in his life dared to talk back to him. He’d found his disagreements with Tiffani invigorating, something he’d experienced rarely with a woman. The women he tended to date were only interested in a good time or were in awe of what he did for a living. There was no challenge. Tiffani was definitely that. She wasn’t impressed by his looks and certainly not by his position.

They stopped in front of a store with flowers painted on the windows and a sign above the door that read Cute Cuts. He felt his eyes involuntarily roll in disbelief. Maybe he should have ridden his bike and parked it out front. Letting out a low groan, he informed her, “I’m going to have to give up my man card if I go in here.”

“It won’t be all that bad. I promise.” A bell tinkled as she pushed the door open. “Come on in, be brave.”

Rex didn’t miss the humor in her voice. “It’s not courage I lack but desire.”

A woman with short, spiked green hair tipped in red looked away from the client she was working on and said to Tiffani, “Hey, girl, I’m almost done here. I’ll be right with you.”

Rex gave Tiffani a speculative look. She shrugged in response. What had he gotten himself into? This place looked nothing like his barbershop. Instead of a group of balding men sitting in the back, talking and playing checkers, there was a rock station blaring on the sound system and an over-the-head hair dryer going.

The only place to sit in the tiny place was a wicker settee with floral printed cushions.

Tiffani settled on it. Unsure if the wicker was strong enough to hold them both or if he wanted to sit so close to her, he chose to stand.

“She’ll be done in a sec, I’m sure,” Tiffani offered. “Estell’s the best in town.”

Rex nodded, but really didn’t care. He just hoped one of his male colleagues didn’t see him leave the place. The jokes would never end. Had Tiffani been polite enough to ask, he’d have preferred to have gone to his regular guy. Rex’s urge to leave grew. Too much of his day off had already been wasted.

Soon the customer was gushing over her new look and leaving.

“I’m ready,” Estell called.

He approached her with a tentative smile.

“Well, hello, handsome. What can I do for you today?” Estell purred, low and throaty.

Rex chuckled, liking the “out there” woman. It surprised him that Tiffani used her as her hairdresser. Estell seemed too eccentric to appeal. Tiffani acted so closed off and all business. Was there another side of her he’d not seen?

While he pondered her, Tiffani said, “Estell, I was thinking cut it above the ears. A little longer on the top—”

“I can handle this,” Rex stated in his “surgeon-in-OR” voice that tolerated no argument. “Why don’t you go get us some drinks? We’re good, aren’t we, Estell?”

Grinning, she nodded. “Yeah, Tiffani, we’re good.”

“I need him to look professional, clean cut.” Tiffani looked concerned, almost as if she was unsure they could be trusted to be left alone.

“Will do,” Estell said, and returned to her cutting chair.

Rex pulled from his pocket a few bills and handed them to Tiffani. “I’d like a soda. Get yourself one too. How about you, Estell?”

She grinned. “Sure.”

“Make that three,” he added.

Tiffani stood immobile, looking rather bewildered.

He winked. “Take your time. Estell and I might be busy a while.”

Estell snickered. Tiffani’s eyes narrowed. She muttered as she left, “I don’t know about this.”

Estell had just finished with his hair when Tiffani returned. With the turn of the chair he faced her as she crossed the threshold. She stopped short, gaping. Heat simmered through Rex. He knew well the pleasure of a woman’s admiration, but he’d never experienced one devouring him with her eyes. He shifted uncomfortably as hot blood-hardened parts made themselves known.

“So, what do you think?” Estell asked from behind him.

Tiffani blinked, appearing to struggle back to the here and now. “Uh, I wanted it...much shorter.”

“I didn’t,” Rex announced, his gaze still locked with hers as he slipped out of the chair.

A long second later she fluttered her eyelids. “Okay.”

He took the plastic bag she held. Checking its contents, he pulled out a soda and tossed it to Estell, who caught it neatly. He handed Tiffani one before withdrawing and opening his.

As if coming out of a daze, Tiffani straightened her back and glared at him. “You had me go buy these to get rid of me.”

Shrugging his shoulders Rex set his drink down and pulled his wallet out. He paid Estell, giving her a generous tip along with a kiss on her cheek. With a wink, he said in a confidential tone Tiffani could hear, “You know what’s said at the beauty parlor stays at the beauty parlor.”

Tiffani snorted behind him.

Estell giggled and replied, grinning, “I had fun too. Nice to meet you, Rex.”

“I’ll wait for you outside,” he told Tiffani as he stepped around her.

* * *

Tiffani wasn’t sure what had just happened. She rarely ogled men, especially not one who was her client. Or one she considered egotistically self-absorbed, not to mention argumentative. Yet she’d been literally unable to take her eyes off Rex when she’d reentered the beauty shop. He was gorgeous. All virile male at ease in a den of feminine décor. Confidence oozed from him. To make matters worse, like an idiot she hadn’t been able to put two words together.

Estell had taken a few inches off his hair and tamed it around his face so that it complemented his rugged features. It looked healthy and free, just like he was. Tiffani had never been a big fan of men with long hair, but Rex was a definite exception. Her first instinct had been to touch it, to caress his scalp and let the strands flow through her fingers. A totally inappropriate impulse for a professional such as herself.

The worst thing about those first agonizing moments had been his obvious relish of the effect he was having on her. Enjoying it. She mustn’t allow that to happen again. She had to remain in control of the situation, and herself, at all times around him. That was the plan.

“Honey.” Estell shook her head as if thinking, Yum, yum, yum. “You’ve got a real man on your hands. I hope you can handle him.”

“He’s not my man. We’re business associates.” Tiffani almost snapped, wincing at the edge of defiance she heard in her voice. She wasn’t interested in a relationship. And certainly not with someone like Rex Maxwell. Her breakup with Lou had guaranteed she’d think long and hard about allowing herself to become intimately involved with another man. Besides which she didn’t need one. Heartache was all the opposite sex offered.

“Well, if it was me, I’d sure figure out a way to make him mine,” Estell said as she opened her drink.

Rex was standing by a light pole when Tiffani joined him outside. Virtually every female walking by gave him a second look. Obviously, Tiffani’s reaction to the new Rex wasn’t unique. His image on the billboards would certainly captivate most women. An ambassador who was a handsome surgeon with sex appeal practically assured a positive rise in the hospital’s reputation. She was tickled. The campaign was fast becoming far more effective than she’d first hoped. The only thing that might ruin it was Rex inexplicably fighting her every step of the way.

He shifted impatiently from one foot to another. “Is there a café or something around here?”

“Yes, there’s one just around the corner.” She pointed up the sidewalk.

“Would you like to join me?” Rex asked.

“I guess so.” Tiffani didn’t make a habit of socializing with clients but she couldn’t think of a good excuse not to. She was hungry and had time for a quick meal before she had to leave to see her father. Plus, she had one more thing she needed to discuss with Rex. He’d be more receptive to it if he heard her proposal with a full stomach.

He fell into step beside her. “The women I dine with usually sound more eager to share my company.”

“This isn’t a date,” Tiffani retorted, a little more stiffly than intended. “And I only have time for something quick.” She felt his dark eyes on her.

“You have a problem with dating?”

“No,” she said slowly. “And you are my client.”

He stopped. She did too and looked back at him. People walked around them. He said, as if choosing his words carefully, “And if I wasn’t your client? How would you feel?”

“I don’t do business and pleasure in the same place.” She’d more than learned her lesson there.

“That was a loaded statement. Care to elaborate?”

“I do not. It’s too long and too ugly a story.” And too humiliating to repeat. Especially to a man who probably never had a female turn him down. “And it has nothing to do with us. The PR campaign, I mean.”

“They say talking it out with someone makes it better.” He continued along the sidewalk.

She couldn’t believe his arrogance. Did he really think confiding in him was going to make anything better? He was a doctor. One she didn’t trust. And definitely not a confidant she’d trust her embarrassment to.

“I know you’re very sure of your bedside manner but do you really believe I’d spill my life story to you?”

“Not really. But it sounds like it might be interesting.”

She looked at her reflection in the glass front of the restaurant. “You should save your charm for the TV interviews.”

“Now you’re trying to ruin my meal.” He opened the door to the small sixties retro café.

They were shown to a table for two in the middle of the dining room and handed menus. After studying the menu, Rex asked, “Anything you can recommend?”

“I’ve only been here a couple of times. The pork chop and potatoes or the spaghetti is good.”

He nodded sagely. The waitress took their drink orders on her way to another table. After a moment he questioned, “Have you decided?”

In principle, sharing social time with a client wasn’t a good idea, but the raw truth was that being seen with a good-looking man gave a much-needed boost to Tiffani’s damaged ego. Being told you’re not wanted by someone she’d thought had loved her had been devastating. After that catastrophe, having any male attention was like a much-needed salve.

Against her better judgment, her mind started to chew over her past love life. Learning Lou didn’t return her love had nearly destroyed her. To make matters worse, he’d made a show of announcing to their coworkers that he wanted nothing more to do with her. Had arrogantly declared he was now available during an office meeting. Tiffani had wanted to melt under the table. She’d never been more mortified. In her despair, she’d vowed never again to share herself completely with a man. All the males in her life had always wanted more from her than they had ever been willing to give in return.

The waitress returned with their drinks and took their orders. Tiffani settled on a salad and Rex asked for a pasta dish. With that done, Tiffani said, “I wanted to let you know that I have a photographer coming tomorrow to take pictures of you.”

“I have surgeries planned.”

“I know. I got your schedule from Dr. Nelson. We’ll work around it. The photographer will be at the hospital to take pictures so he can shoot you between your cases.”

Rex thumped his fork on the table. “You have to be kidding.”

The noise accompanying his disbelieving tone startled her. If she showed weakness now, she feared all would be lost. “Dr. Nelson said we could use a conference room to take formal portrait shots of you.”

“You’ve got it all worked out, haven’t you?”

She could tell by the way he clenched his jaw that he was holding back what he would like to say. “It’s my job.”

“I don’t think much of it.” His words were heavy with contempt.

She looked him straight in the eyes. “The feeling is mutual.”

“How’s that?” He looked confused.

“It doesn’t matter. We don’t have to like each other, or each other’s professions. We just have to work together long enough to repair the hospital’s public reputation.”

Crossing his arms on the table, Rex leaned toward her. “You expect me to accept that cryptic explanation?”

“You don’t get a choice.” She took a swallow of her drink and let the ensuing silence between them speak for itself. Thankfully the waitress brought their food in short order. They said little as they ate.

“Someone, help!” cried a woman on the other side of the room. “She’s choking.”

Tiffani’s eyes jerked in the direction of the desperate plea. Even as she did so, Rex shoved his chair back and hurried to the distressed woman, who was beating a child’s back, dodging tables as he went. Tiffani followed.

“I’m a doctor. Let me have her,” Rex commanded with unquestionable authority.

The woman stopped her movement in midair and handed the gasping child to him.

Rex took the girl’s arm and turned her round, pressing her back against his chest. He wrapped his arms around her, clasping his fists together and positioning them under her ribs before giving her a tight squeeze.

Nothing happened. The girl’s lips were turning bluer.