He gave her a nod. “Or fiancée. Maybe that would be easier to spin, actually.”
He was not joking. Those sky-blue eyes of his didn’t have an ounce of laughter in them. “I’m not following this,” she whispered. “You need a secretary, slash, wife, slash, fiancée?”
He nodded again. “Right. It’s fake. Just for a month. All I need you to do is attend a few social events with me. But the receptionist job is yours to keep. I’m only here for a month, and the doctor who normally runs this clinic will need a secretary.”
“Are you sure you can’t find someone else willing to attend a few social functions with you?”
“I need someone that no one in my usual circles knows.”
“What kind of a job would make you have to fake a wife?”
His jaw clenched, and a shadow passed over his eyes. “It’s a position to head up a new set of medical clinics that are owned by a company with strong family values. No one said that I have to have a wife. But a good friend of mine on the inside told me that the frontrunners for this position were all married with children—and that was intentional on the part of the people doing the hiring. I’m not willing to lose this opportunity because I don’t have a wife.”
It all sounded surreal and like a lot of trouble to go through just for a job. She didn’t need someone else’s problems in her life. She had more than enough on her plate. “This sounds deceitful—”
“Grace,” he whispered in a voice that was deep and filled with an honesty that contradicted the lie he was pushing. “I was a surgeon. I was at the top of my game. Fast-tracking it to become chief of surgery. After the accident, I lost it all. I have a faint tremor in my hand that will not ever heal and be steady enough for me to perform surgery. So this…career change would give me a chance to reclaim some of what I’ve lost.”
“I’m sorry,” she whispered, feeling the sting of tears. She blinked rapidly, trying to rein in the emotion that was making it hard for her to breathe. She had cost this man his career? There wasn’t a day that went by that she didn’t remember that accident. The burning smell of exhaust and oil still haunted her dreams at night, and the sound of that man’s cry mingled with her son’s still had the power to stop her heart. Sometimes she relived that day as a reminder of all the things she had to be grateful for. And sometimes she relived that day as a reminder of what she’d come so close to losing.
Maybe this could be her way of repaying him, if only a little. She was indebted to him. How could she say no to the man who had saved the most precious person in the world to her? Guilt swam through her, threatening to drown her. But she couldn’t afford to sink. She needed to be strong. If she knew exactly what he needed of her, then she could make a To-Do list and everything would be okay…
She drew a shaky breath. “Exactly what do you need me to do again?”
He broke out into a smile that had the same effect as clouds parting on an overcast day to let the most glorious light in. Evan Manning was gorgeous. “You can start work on Monday. I’ll just go over your résumé, make a few calls for references, and we’ll be good to go.”
She nodded. She owed him. She would do this for him. “I’ve worked in doctor’s offices since high school, and always in the city. This could be a nice change.”
He nodded. “Good, good.”
There was just one thing she needed a little more clarification on. She leaned forward. “Can you give me a few more details about the fiancée thing?”
“Right. Just a few events. I’ll be having a meeting here with the director, and he said he wants to meet my family—which would be you. Oh, and I guess you could attend this crazy person’s wedding I have to go to. That way my family will meet you, and that’ll get them off our backs. Then there’s a huge hospital gala in Toronto,” he said walking back to his desk.
Grace stood in the middle of the room, feeling as though she were on some alien vessel ready to fly off to Planet Crazy. Galas and weddings? The last event she went to was the kindergarten spring concert. And even there she’d felt out of place. She would disappoint him. She didn’t move in his circles. She was wearing a freaking Spider-Man shoelace in her hair.
“Dr. Manning, I don’t know I could pull that off.”
He walked back over to her, standing close, and she tilted her head back slightly to meet his blue eyes. She didn’t know if she was comforted by the knowledge or not, but his expression wasn’t laced with even a hint of insanity or doubt. “You can. I’ll take the lead. Just follow along and pretend we’re in love.”
His deep voice was filled with confidence, his gaze unwavering. She crossed her arms and ignored the flush that was making its way up her neck at the mention of them being in love. “I’m not a great liar—”
“This isn’t a lie that will hurt anyone. Most likely no one at the gala will even speak to you. And you don’t have to lie to my family.”
She frowned, thinking. She would be helping out the man who had saved their lives; she would get a steady job. After the accident, she’d had to quit full-time work because Christopher had needed so much care. He’d been in the hospital for a month. Financially, she’d barely been holding on before, and after, she’d resorted to cutting so many corners, it had felt like they’d previously been living in luxury. She’d never forget the night Chris was discharged from the hospital, and instead of taking him home to his own bed, they had been greeted by a lock on their front door. She’d been a few weeks behind on rent and the landlord had locked them out. The next morning she’d begged him and they’d regained access by Grace withdrawing money from her credit cards to pay rent. The rest of the year all she’d been able to manage was part-time work, but then they’d let her go last week. She couldn’t keep living so close to the edge. Not with Christopher. Today’s job interview in Toronto was for a full-time position. But what Evan was offering…
“It’s one month. Then I’ll be back in Toronto, and Dr. Chalmers will be here. He’s great to work for. And there’s an impressive benefits package. I also know a nice house I can get for you and your son for a few months. It’s on the river. It’s been newly renovated and restored. It’s even fully furnished, because the house is staged for sale.”
She broke his stare and looked down at her shoes. She was torn between embarrassment and elation. A furnished house on the river? Full benefits? “That doesn’t really sound like something I could afford—”
“I know the owners. You tell me what you can pay, and I’ll see to the rest.”
Her heart pounded. This was too good to be true. “What about school for my son?”
“Great elementary school in town. My niece goes there. She’s about his age. I’m sure you can get him in there next week. People in Red River are really accommodating, friendly. If they can’t take him on Monday, you can bring him with you to work.”
This was absurd…and compelling. It would mean doing something impulsive. But it would also mean a steady income, a place to live, and a new start. After the year they’d had, maybe this was just what they needed. “Well, I need to see the school. I can’t just stick him in any old place. It’s not that he even liked his other school, really—”
“Go today. I’m sure they’ll give you a tour. Oh and uh,” he cleared his throat, his blue eyes doing a rapid perusal of her from head to toe, “you need to dress for the job.”
She glanced down at her clothes and tried not to look embarrassed. She hadn’t exactly dressed to impress. And it was pretty obvious she was so not the woman a man like Evan Manning would date, let alone be engaged to. “I used to wear scrubs at the other office.”
“Not here. Just business casual. Fridays are usually even more casual.”
Business casual. The closest she had to that was broke-mom casual, and that would not do. But she also didn’t have the spare cash lying around to invest in a new wardrobe.
“I also need you to dress for your job as my fiancée.”
Her mortification peaked to an all-time high, an
d she couldn’t help but pat her hair gently. Maybe at one time she’d have been insulted, but she knew she wasn’t the type of woman Dr. Manning would date, and there was no point in being egotistical about it. “How exactly would your fiancée dress?”
He gave her a dispassionate once-over, and she fought the urge to cross her arms defensively. Again, this didn’t matter. This was not a personal thing. Obviously the man could attract anyone he wanted, so it would be unbelievable for him to have a frumpy, ho-hum fiancée. “Feminine. Stylish. Sophisticated.”
Those were three adjectives that could in no way describe any of the clothes in her small closet at the moment. Really, what did she wear? When she had her medical-receptionist job, most of the girls wore scrubs, which had been great for her, because she could buy them super cheap. But what he was asking she did not have the budget for. Her cheeks warmed like her old toaster oven about to overheat. They were not in the same league at all.
“I’m not really sure I have the clothes—”
“Then we’ll go shopping.” He tilted his watch toward him. “How about tomorrow afternoon?”
She opened her mouth, but the words were stuck.
“I’ll pay of course.”
“This seems really sudden. I mean, I don’t even know you—”
“You don’t have to. We’re not going to be living together. This is just for appearances. One or two social events—in public—and the secretarial position. This should be easy and mutually beneficial. Don’t make this into a bigger deal—”
“Uh, it is a big deal. I’m going to uproot my life and my child’s life and pretend that I’m your wife. I don’t even know anything about you or your family—”
“No problem. You’ll meet them. They hover like harmless, overzealous vultures. And then a couple weeks from now we have to go to this crazy lady’s wedding. I think you’d really like my family. For some reason, they have tons of friends.”
She broke his intense blue stare and looked down at her feet. Sensible running shoes. Cheap running shoes. Not the shoes this man’s future wife would wear. Panic and adrenaline began pumping through her veins. This was nuts. But if she said no and walked out of here, what was she going back to Toronto for? No job, crappy apartment, no friends…but how would she pull off being his wife?
“Hey, Grace, it’s not like we’re actually going to have to get married at the end of this. We’re not hurting anyone.” He darted a glance at Chris. “This might be a really good opportunity for you to put away some extra money for your son. To get ahead. A little something for yourself, too.”
She sighed. It would mean free expenses for a month. And a salaried position again. “I pay rent in Toronto—”
“I’ll cover it. I’ll pay your last month’s rent and any fee for breaking your lease, and you can give your landlord notice. That will give you time to slowly get your things on the weekends. No rush or stress. Plus a whole new wardrobe. Expenses at the rental house will be covered as well for at least a few months. And this job has a great salary. Think of this as a new start. Plus you’ll be living in a town that’s great for raising a family.”
“I don’t do spontaneous things. I like lists and making plans weeks in advance. I just need some time—”
“I’m afraid that’s the only thing I can’t give you. The receptionist walked out of here today leaving me with no one. I’m here helping out an old friend, and I can’t tell him that after a week I’ve lost his secretary.”
And here was the saint side of him again—he had put his career on hold to fill in for a doctor? He had saved her and Chris from a burning car, and now he was offering her a deal she just couldn’t refuse. This one man, this virtual stranger was doing more for her than Christopher’s father ever had. She squeezed her eyes shut. She owed him.
“Just pack up the essentials. Whatever you need you can get next weekend. I’ll have your place ready for you tomorrow.” He pulled out a notepad and scribbled out an address and handed it to her. “Here. Go to this address tomorrow morning at nine. Then we can go shopping after. You can spend all day settling in on Sunday. And you’ll be all set for Monday.”
She drew a deep breath. This was the craziest thing she’d ever contemplated. But what did she have to lose? The apartment she struggled to pay rent for in Toronto wasn’t anything to feel proud about. She didn’t exactly live in the nicest area of the city, and she wasn’t pleased with Chris’s school. Her neighborhood was nothing like this charming little town. Maybe this was a chance for a new beginning. Something positive. “My only other question is about my son,” she said, lowering her voice. “I don’t want him thinking we are really going to get married. I don’t want him getting attached to you or thinking you’ll be his father.”
He didn’t say anything, so she pressed on. “Dr. Manning, I don’t want him getting his hopes up that he’ll have a father in his life.”
Something flickered in his expression, and his mouth softened. “Of course.” His deep voice held a note of compassion, and the man she had already thought handsome had now become the hero she’d imagined.
She forced a smile and extended her hand. “Okay, my only stipulation is that if I’m not happy with the school or the house, I can back out of this deal. Or if I feel this isn’t working out for Christopher, I can walk.”
“Deal. But somehow, I think this town is going to grow on you. And this will be the best gamble you’ve ever taken.” He smiled, and her stomach dropped and fluttered in a way that made her aware of Evan Manning in every possible way.
His large, warm hand enveloped hers, and she had the distinct impression that she was getting into far more than he’d stated.
Chapter Three
Evan stared in disgust as an enormous, oval-shaped platter of fried bacon, eggs, and home fries was placed in front of him. He looked up at his two brothers, who had already eagerly begun devouring the heart-attack-on-a-plate in front of them.
“Are you guys kidding me?” he asked, leaning forward as a piece of bacon virtually disappeared into Quinn’s mouth.
“What?” Jake asked before taking a gulp of coffee.
“How often do you two eat here?” He frowned, glancing at the toast. Maybe he could eat that. Then he looked at the amount of butter that was dripping down and thought twice. He reached for his coffee.
“Every Monday at six a.m. You know that—we’ve been trying to get you to join us for years,” his eldest brother, Quinn, answered, shoving some home fries down his throat.
“You’re lucky we made this exception for you and are meeting on a Friday,” Jake said, with a mouthful of bacon. Evan stared at the two of them. They were both in their thirties and in great shape. But if this was the way they ate…
“When was the last time you guys had your cholesterol checked? Physicals?”
Jake and Quinn exchanged a look. He knew that look all too well. No one was taking the kid brother seriously, regardless of the “Doctor” that preceded his name. There was nothing more humbling than hanging around his brothers. The only time they’d cut him any slack was after the accident. But he couldn’t handle their pitying looks, so had quickly made it clear that he didn’t accept their sympathy. It had been way too uncomfortable.
Jake leaned forward. “You’re not giving me a physical.”
Evan scowled at him. “I wasn’t offering. I was thinking of referring you to the vet.”
“There’s nothing wrong with either of us,” Quinn said.
“Yeah, we burn it all off. You should stop being such a tight-ass and loosen up,” Jake said.
“I’m not being a tight-ass. Do you have any idea how many heart attacks I’ve seen?”
Jake’s groan stopped him from continuing. “Lighten up, Ev. Seriously, this is why you don’t have a woman in your life. Do you order salad for dinner when you take a woman out? A woman doesn’t like a man who eats less than her.” His brother stabbed a forkful of egg in the air.
Evan resisted the urge to chuck his cof
fee onto Jake’s lap. He looked down at his plate and poked a piece of the egg. “I don’t eat salads for dinner, and I do have a woman in my life. Not that it’s any of your business.”
Quinn smiled. “Nice. Who? Natalia? Holly kept telling me she thought that Nat had a thing for you.”
Jake snorted. “Are you kidding? He can’t go out with a baker. He’ll be telling her not to use too much butter or sugar.”
“Not Nat.”
Quinn leaned forward. “Then who?”
Evan leaned back in the booth and stretched slowly, enjoying making his brothers wait.
“Spill it,” Jake growled.
“Her name is Grace.” He took a sip of coffee and checked his BlackBerry just to piss them off a little more.
Jake yanked his phone out of his hand. “And?”
“She’s the woman I need the coach house for.” That was about all he wanted to spill about Grace. Because, hell, Grace had taken him by surprise yesterday. Last night, instead of sleeping, he’d found himself thinking about her. And how she was going to be his pretend wife. And receptionist. And that she was the woman he’d pulled from the car. And her kid. He’d remember the feel of his arms around his neck for the rest of his life…long after this stint in Red River was over.
Quinn slid a keychain and keys across the table, and Evan slipped them in his pocket, grateful for the distraction. “Thanks, I appreciate you guys helping me out.”
Jake slowly placed his mug down on the table. “You’re using the vacant coach house, on the property we just restored and have up for sale, to shack up a woman?”
“Relax. It’s a business arrangement. And turns out she’s not some random woman.”
“Oh, good. I was just thinking that you were so desperate because you managed to lose Chalmers’s long-time receptionist after only a week and now had to resort to offering room and board for new employees.”
The Doctor's Fake Fiancee Page 3
