Winning The Doctor

Liza’s heart sank, and she felt her willpower start to lag.

Competition. Something she loathed and welcomed at the same time. Although she was dying to know the names of the other firms he was considering, she wouldn’t dare ask.

“I understand. Thank you for your time,” she uttered.

Her voice felt muffled to her ears, as if her throat were lined with cotton. Rejection always hurt, whether personally or professionally, and she didn’t think she would ever get used to it.

Liza turned her back on him, put her renderings in her portfolio case and zipped it up. When she turned around, his eyes were curious, leaving her to wonder what he truly thought about her.

Dr. Marbet walked her to the door but stopped short of opening it.

“You know you can try to hide it, but I can tell you’re disappointed.”

She parted her lips in shock at his words, and at his gentle tone, but he was completely right. There was no use in denying it: she’d wanted to walk out of his office with the project, not empty-handed.

“You can?” she asked, raising a brow. “How can you tell?”

Dr. Marbet chuckled. “I’m not a mind reader, but I can read faces pretty well. When you’re disappointed, your lips turn down at the corners just slightly.”

She felt her face get hot with embarrassment, and she covered her mouth with her hands. “They do not.”

He chuckled a little. “Defend your lips all you want, but I know you thought you’d be the only one I’m considering for this project.”

Though his words hit hard, his voice was light and teasing, causing her to wonder if he was playing with her feelings.

Liza smiled and shrugged, trying to appear nonchalant. “That’s because I know I’m the best. I’d like to prove it to you. One can always hope, right?”

“Don’t worry.” He smiled, opening the door. “I’ll be in touch. You’re not out of the running yet.”

Yet.

That lovely three-letter word left her future hanging by a string, but instead of making her quake with fear, this time she felt empowered because it meant she still had a chance to succeed.

She started to walk out, and then turned around to catch him watching her again.

“I probably shouldn’t be asking this, but what made you change your mind about interviewing me in the first place?”

“Let’s just say it was a promise I made to an old friend.”

Chapter 2

The waves of the Pacific Ocean tumbled onto the sand as Anthony jogged along the Bay Point shoreline just after sunrise. He’d pulled a double shift at the hospital and had been on his feet over twenty-four hours. His muscular thighs screamed for relief through the first mile, easing up only slightly during the second.

The beach was one of his favorite places to run, and lately, to escape.

He took in deep gulps of air as his feet kicked up wefts of sand. Running, no matter what the surface, usually cleared his mind and relieved the constant stress that went with the job of being a physician. His demanding schedule at the hospital meant he didn’t have a lot of bandwidth for himself, so he treasured his time alone.

But today he wasn’t alone. She was in his thoughts.

Liza Sinclair. The attractive architect had impressed him with her confidence, her design portfolio and her never-ending curves. And if he’d had the opportunity to sleep in the hours since he’d met her, he figured she would have invaded his dreams, too.

There wasn’t a picture of her on her website, which he thought was a bit odd, and he hadn’t been sure what to expect when she arrived for her appointment. So when he opened his office door and saw how beautiful she was, he instinctively knew he was in trouble.

Liza’s clear, mocha-hued skin looked fresh and appealing. To his discerning eye, she was a natural beauty. The kind of looks his patients paid thousands of dollars to achieve with expensive fillers and invasive surgery.

He remembered staring into her eyes. The flash of longing there had struck him by surprise. Liza was the kind of woman who could steal his time...and his heart. It was as though his whole life had changed in an instant. He didn’t know what the future held other than the fact that he wanted Liza in it.

At least, at that moment.

Deep down, he knew he couldn’t afford any distractions. With a twinge of guilt, he recalled his on-the-spot decision to cancel the interview.

Her beautiful face had remained composed, almost serene. Yet the light of excitement had dimmed in her eyes, and he sensed her disappointment.

Even worse, he’d lied to her, telling her he’d decided to work with a professional firm, instead of a private architect, which wasn’t true at all.

He stopped running and grasped his knees, gulping in the salty air. He was in great shape and had several marathons under his belt, but for some reason, this morning he felt like he had never run a day in his life.

Anthony yawned as he took his shirt off and slung it over his shoulders. He was due back at the hospital in less than eight hours. It was time to head to his condominium in town for some much-needed sleep—that is, if he could get Liza off his mind.

As he turned on his heel, his phone vibrated against his bicep. Reaching up, he removed it from his armband and slid his thumb across the screen.

“Hello, stranger,” he said, good-naturedly.

“What did you think of her?” Doc Z barked. “When I didn’t hear from you right away, I got worried.”

Dr. Ivan Zander, or Doc Z as he was commonly known, was one of his favorite professors in medical school. After graduation, the two men had stayed in touch throughout Anthony’s residency in plastic and reconstructive surgery. Doc Z had even recommended him for a prestigious fellowship at UCLA Medical Center. Over the years, Doc Z had not only become a mentor but also a good friend, and most recently, an investor in his clinic.

Anthony chuckled as he started the long trek back home. “Come on, Doc. You don’t fool me. The funny bone doesn’t exist, neither does your penchant for worrying.”

“That’s because everything always goes my way,” Doc Z said.

The tone in his voice sounded haughty, but Anthony knew different. Doc had worked hard his entire life but at a mighty price. He was sixty-eight years old, never married, no children. Nothing to keep him warm at night except the soft glow of his computer screen. Instead of investing in relationships, Doc Z invested in stocks, bonds and upstart businesses like Anthony’s.

“Stop stalling, okay?” Doc Z continued. “What did you think about Liza?”

“She’s perfect.” In more ways than one.

Like an itch on his back that he couldn’t scratch, it made Anthony a little uncomfortable realizing how easily those two words had rolled out of his mouth. He blamed it on lack of sleep and lack of intimacy. Besides, no one was perfect, least of all him.

“Aha! I told you you’d like her,” Doc exclaimed triumphantly, interrupting his thoughts.

“Don’t gloat, Doc. It’s so unlike you,” Anthony replied, meaning the exact opposite.

“Why shouldn’t I?” Doc Z fired back. “She’s talented. Smart. And I handed her to you on a silver platter. What more could you want?”

Anthony sidestepped the waves rolling onto the shore. “A little more time to process what this all means would be helpful.”

“You think too much. I’ve done all the work. Now, all you have to do is hire her.”

Anthony stopped in his tracks, not caring if his shoes got wet. “Who said anything about hiring, Doc? When you called me a few weeks ago and told me about Liza, I only agreed to interview her as a favor to you. Plus, per your request, I didn’t mention that you were the one who had recommended her.”

“Which I appreciate, so what’s the problem?” Doc interjected.

Anthony huffed out a breath. Liza was the first woman, in a long time, who amounted to more than a ten-second blip on his brain, something that was none of Doc’s business.

He started walking again. His sneakers were now wet, and he couldn’t wait to get home and out of them.

“For starters, I still don’t understand why you asked me. If you want me to hire her so badly, I think I have a right to know.”

“I’ve known Liza’s family for years, since she was a little girl. I made her father a promise that I’d always watch out for her. He passed away about a year ago.”

“And her mother?”

Doc sighed heavily. “Gone too. Died a year before her husband as a result of complications from botched cosmetic surgery she had done in Costa Rica.”

Anthony’s heart squeezed in his chest. He couldn’t imagine the grief Liza had felt losing her mother and father in such a short time period. Both of his parents were still alive, thankfully, and though they lived thousands of miles away in South Carolina, he was still very close to them.

“That’s terrible. I know it’s a growing trend to go overseas for all types of surgical procedures. Though the costs can be significantly less than the United States, there are definite risks that many patients don’t know about or even consider.”

“It’s a problem, for sure,” Doc replied. “But right now, all I care about is convincing you that hiring Liza would be a very good thing.”

Anthony shook his head. “Now that I know a little bit about her family background, I’m even more uncomfortable with this plan. Is Liza okay? She seemed to be, but I don’t know. I need the architect to be on point and fully engaged with this project.”

“She’s a very strong person,” Doc replied without hesitation. “But she needs something different. That’s why she moved from Denver to Bay Point. She was successful there but a bit unfocused.”

“Yes, her residential work is fantastic, but her commercial work is lacking.”

“Minor detail,” Doc gruffed.

“Minor detail?” Anthony exclaimed, sloshing through the sand. “This clinic has to be designed right. Why didn’t you tell me?”

“I wanted you to meet her and judge her on her own merits. You saw her portfolio. She’s great at what she does.”

“True. Her commercial renderings were amazing, but none of them has ever been built.”

“So? What’s the problem?” Doc said. “That wasn’t her fault. She told you that, didn’t she?”

Anthony nodded. “Yes, but it’s still a huge problem for me, and as one of the main investors in this project, I’m surprised you don’t feel the same.”

“I don’t feel the same because I know Liza personally. Trust me, Anthony. She’ll do great work.”

“If you feel so strongly that she is the right person for the role, why couldn’t I tell her that you’d recommended her? You’ve put me in a really awkward position.”

Doc was silent for moment. “Liza is a very independent woman. If she knew I was trying to help her, she wouldn’t be pleased. She can never know that I’m the one who brought her to you.”

“Just in case you didn’t hear me earlier, I interviewed Liza as a favor, Z,” Anthony emphasized again. “I didn’t promise that I would hire her.”

“You’d be doing me an even greater favor by changing your mind.”

Anthony was very curious about Liza. How she would use her creativity, not to mention how she would feel in his arms. However, the situation was making him a little uneasy.

“Let me put it to you this way,” Doc continued. “Even though I do have a ton of money invested, ultimately it’s your gig and your decision. But I honestly believe that having Liza design the clinic is in your best interest...and mine.”

“Because you always get your way, right, Doc?” Anthony said with a smirk.

Doc laughed. “Yeah. Besides, everyone needs a little help, a first chance, a shot at doing something they’ve never done before. You did, remember?”

Anthony opened his mouth to protest, but no words came out.

Doc was right. When Anthony was in medical school, Doc had promised him that if he worked hard, he would help him succeed. True to his word, Doc had mentored him and opened doors to people and opportunities that Anthony would have never had access to by himself.

He stared out across the open waters. “Going with an independent architect as opposed to a small or even midsized firm is risky. Liza is going to have fewer resources, and since she recently moved to the area, I’m sure she won’t have the construction contacts that a full-services firm would.”

“She’s a smart woman who will navigate her way quickly. She designed my home. You can trust her.”

“I don’t know, Doc.” Anthony shrugged, lifting a fistful of sand and watching the granules slip through to the ground below.

“Tell you what. If you hire her, I’ll pay her fee. The entire thing.”

Anthony sucked in a breath and whistled “That’s very generous of you, Doc, and possibly, very stupid.”

“Not at all. I believe in you. I believe in her. Someday, so will you.”

“I’ll think about it.”

“Think quickly.”

“So what’s on your plate for the rest of the day? Besides making me feel guilty.”

Doc chuckled. “No patients today. Just me, a good book and a glass of chardonnay under the umbrella by my beautiful, sparkling pool. And you?”

“Sleeping, and then back to the hospital later this afternoon. I’m thinking about taking a drive out to the construction site tomorrow morning.”

“Oh? Take Liza. You won’t regret it.”

“I’m not so sure about that,” Anthony replied, rubbing his temple.

Doc laughed. “Have I ever steered you wrong?”

Anthony ended the call and grimaced, suddenly remembering the sweet, caring tone of Liza’s voice when she’d asked him if he was happy.

The question had come out of the blue, and he had to admit, he’d been pondering it ever since.

Happy?

For the most part he was. He had plenty of money, a great career and a small group of close friends. Plus, he was about to embark on a brand-new adventure, building and owning his own business, something he’d dreamed about for years.

He slipped his phone into his pocket and inhaled the salty air into his lungs. The beach was empty at this hour except for seagulls dive-bombing the ocean for their breakfast, and Anthony couldn’t have been happier at the lack of human beings in close proximity.

Bay Point was a small town, and everyone seemed to either know him personally or know about him. While it was great for attracting new patients, it was terrible for maintaining privacy.

Not that he’d had much of a personal life lately.

Kneeling down, he scooped up a handful of sand, brought it in for closer inspection. The color was unusual: pale beige flecked with bits of white, green and black. He couldn’t have counted the number of grains even if he’d had the desire or the time. But he could count the number of times he’d walked along this beach with a woman.

“Zero,” he muttered to himself, as he stood up and angrily pitched the sand back into the Pacific.

Yet, he’d chosen to spend his nights alone.

His demanding schedule had made it nearly impossible to sustain a long-distance relationship with his former girlfriend in Miami, when he’d first moved to Bay Point six years ago. She’d complained that he was more devoted to his career than to her.

Yet even when the relationship was over, he had little interest in pursuing another one, despite the seductive looks he regularly received from local women. That was just asking for trouble in a town like Bay Point, which seemed to thrive on gossip, rumors and innuendos.

Anthony didn’t have time to fall in love—with any woman, let alone Liza Sinclair.

Lust, maybe. But love?

He brushed the sand from his shorts, dismissing the thought, and put his shirt back on.

Love was for men with nine-to-five careers, not for men like him. Building his clinic and serving his patients were all that mattered. Falling in love with Liza—or any woman for that matter—was not part of his plan.

Chapter 3

Liza eased her white pickup onto the gravel and braked in front of an abandoned motel. Judging by the broken windows, chipped plaster and the weed-choked parking lot, the Sunray Inn hadn’t had any travelers in years.

She pushed her sunglasses on top of her head and carefully rubbed her eyes, so as to not disturb her mascara.

“Too bad this place isn’t still open,” she muttered under her breath. “I could use a few more hours of sleep. These morning meetings are killing me.”

The doors were covered in signs with faded red lettering warning would-be criminals and the curious that the structure was condemned and that trespassing would be punishable by law. The largest sign of all declared that the place was SOLD. As tired as she was, just seeing that one word energized her at the prospect of seeing the new owner.

Dr. Marbet had occupied her thoughts for the past few days. Some positive, some negative and some deliciously naughty, and yet, all were colored by the cold, hard, truth.

The design project wasn’t hers.

Not yet.

Liza scowled and leaned her chin on the steering wheel. Her fingers grazed her scar, reminding her it was there, and that she wasn’t perfect.

As if she needed a reminder at all.

She blew out a breath. Competition be damned.

Over a sleepless night or two, she had come to the conclusion that she would refuse to dwell on the negative. On the what-ifs. And on the fact that Dr. Marbet was more than just a figment of some 2 a.m. fantasy: he was the key to fulfilling her dreams.

Liza popped in a breath mint to remove the scent of her early-morning coffee, opened the door and stepped out of her vehicle.

“Ow!”

She looked down and saw that the heel of her high wedge sandals had hit a medium-sized rock. Ignoring the urge to kick the blasted thing away, she leaned her hip against her truck and bent at the waist to massage her throbbing ankle.

Moments later, she heard the squashy crunch of tires on gravel fast approaching.

A truck pulled up next to her, swirling a cloud of dust into her face. It was the same model as hers, but it was black and in better condition.

Straightening, she braced her hip against her vehicle and started to cough.

Dr. Marbet hopped out and circled around his vehicle. “I’m sorry about driving in so fast. I saw you examining your foot, and it looked like you were in trouble.”

Her heart warmed at the concern etched on his face, but just as quickly, she realized that was his job. He was a doctor. He was supposed to care.

“No big deal, Dr. Marbet,” she choked out, struggling not to cough again. “I’m just going to die from gravel dust inhalation.”

“No you won’t. I’ll take care of you.”

His smile seemed genuine and his hand gently patted her on the back, amplifying the butterflies that had begun to swirl inside at his soft touch. It was gentle, yet deliberate, and she chalked that up to his bedside manner automatically kicking in.

As if responding to the perfect antidote, her urge to cough ceased almost immediately. The pleasurable sensations he invoked spread quickly throughout her body.

Moments later, he lifted his hand. “If we are going to be possibly working together, can we kill the formalities?”

She nodded. “I suppose I can manage that, Anthony.”

His name sounded so luscious as it tumbled out of her mouth that she momentarily forgot her injury.

“Ouch,” she exclaimed loudly as she took a step forward.

He knelt on one knee and visually inspected her ankle.

“What happened?”

She grimaced as embarrassment mingled with pleasure at the caring look in his warm, brown eyes.

“I think I might have twisted it getting out of the car.”

He balanced his elbow on one knee and kept his gaze on her.

“Clumsy much?” he asked, his tone playful.

“Lots much,” she admitted. “I guess I’m overdressed. I probably should have worn flats, but I assumed this location would be paved.”

“You look fine,” he said, casting his eyes up her body, clad in a soft floral-print dress that hit just above her knees.

Anthony kept his eyes on hers. “May I examine you?”

Despite having grown up in a family of physicians, she never liked going to one. However, she would make an exception for Anthony. This was a chance to be touched by one of the most gorgeous men she’d ever seen.

For medical purposes only, of course.

Her ankle didn’t even hurt that much anymore, but she decided to keep that little tidbit to herself.

She nodded her consent and held her breath.

“Tell me if any of this hurts,” he instructed, before looking down at her ankle.

Anthony began to palpate her flesh, and she bit her lip as her loins began to quiver with every gentle touch. She could feel the low heat emanating from his palms and wondered what he would do to treat her if she fainted right on the spot.

The pads of his thumbs pressed and circled over her skin, little ripples of wonder that journeyed up through her body. She knew she shouldn’t be feeling this way. The man was a physician, and he was only doing his job, but she couldn’t help it. His fingers were skilled and felt so good that she didn’t want him to stop.

Anthony tilted his head up. “Any pain?”

Liza shook her head. “I think you massaged it all out of me.”

He slowly removed his hands from her ankle.

“See if you can rotate it comfortably.”

She did as he asked, and though there was a tinge of pain, she’d survive.

“I’m okay now, thanks.”

He stood up and dusted a few pieces of gravel from his dark blue slacks. As he did, she watched his muscled arms flex under his light gray T-shirt.

“Great taste,” she said.

Anthony looked down at his pants. “What? You mean these?”

“No, not in clothes,” she said. “In cars. You have great taste in vehicles.”

Puzzlement crossed his face, and she half covered her mouth, realizing that she’d just insulted him.

“Not to say that you don’t have good taste in clothes, too,” she said, trying to recover. “It’s just weird to see you in normal clothes, and not just a lab coat.”

He crossed his arms in a way that made her heart skip a beat. His biceps nestled against his sides in that casually sexy way that only some men could achieve.

“What’s so strange about it? I’m a regular guy who wears regular clothes,” he said, sounding off-put.

“I’m sorry. My dad and uncle were physicians, and I saw them so much in their hospital scrubs that whenever they didn’t have that stuff on, it always surprised me.”

He grinned, lowering his voice. “I guess I’m not used to having someone notice.”

The man had to be joking, she thought. Who wouldn’t notice a body like his?

Their eyes met, and a sudden spark was there. It was indefinable, yet she could feel it and knew he was aware of it, too. She made a show of brushing her hands together as if she could simply rid herself of what she’d just experienced between them.

“There’s a first time for everything.”

He laughed. “No kidding. I wasn’t expecting you to drive a truck.”

She put one hand on her hip. Now, who was insulting whom?

“Women can’t drive trucks?”

“Hold on. I never said that. But you should be wearing jeans or maybe a cowboy hat. Not a sundress and heels.”

Liza stared at him, openmouthed. “I know I’m dressed a bit formally, but I’m here for a meeting, not a hoedown.”

He laughed again, and she couldn’t help but smile, feeling exasperated and pleased.

“Actually, when I drove up and saw your truck, my first thought was that someone was trying to break in.”

She took a quick glance behind her and shivered. “Into this old place? It looks like the Bates Motel. Besides, do I look like a burglar to you?”

Anthony leaned against his own vehicle, an easygoing quality in his stance.

“No. Not at all.” He grinned, regarding her. Not in an offensive way but rather curiously. More appreciative of...what? she wondered. Something. It was the unknown that made her blush.