by Timms, Lexy
Elijah straightened, his doctor face covering the apprehension of the moment before. “Sorry about that.”
“Are you okay?”
He looked behind her. “I could use a drink.” He headed toward the bar.
She followed close behind.
“Whiskey. Neat… Please.” It was gone a moment after the bartender set it down.
Charity settled beside him, her elbows resting on the edge of the bar’s wooden counter. She watched Elijah from the mirror behind the bar. He appeared completely composed, but she knew something had happened. The way he carried himself, it reminded her a bit of her father.
His eyes met hers in the mirror’s reflection. He sighed and dropped his gaze to his empty glass. “That was my mother.” He played with the empty glass. “My father suffered a massive heart attack.”
“Oh no!” Charity’s hand shot to cover her mouth. “Is he alright?”
Elijah signalled the bartender for another drink. “He passed away.”
His body’s detachment to the words as he spoke them confused Charity. She didn’t know if she should touch him, hug him, or what to do. “How’s your mom?”
He snorted. “My mother? She’s her usual woe-is-me and how’s-the-country-club-going-to-fit-everyone self.” He glanced at her out of the corner of his eye. “She’s fine. No need for concern there.” The bartender handed him a double shot. Elijah took a sip of the whiskey in the glass this time.
“We should go. Come on. I’ll drive you back. You need to book a flight to—”
“No. I need to stay here and get very drunk. Then you can drive me home and take advantage of me as I pass out. I can wake up in the morning, confused about where I am, but at least I’ll find a gorgeous, hot chick in my bed. Then I’ll fly back to New York for the surgery I have scheduled for tomorrow afternoon.”
Charity blinked in surprise. She tried to think of how to respond and reminded herself not to get angry with him. He wasn’t lashing out on her. His frustration just needed some direction, and she was the girl in the red dress: the perfect target.
“It’s my bed,” she murmured.
“Pardon?”
“You said you could wake up and find some chick in your bed. It’s my bed. I’ll have the hot doc in my bed.”
He started to laugh. “You’ll have a hot dog in your bed? That’s disgusting.”
“No.” She liked how his shoulders dropped and his body relaxed. “I said hot doc. A hot doctor.”
“Oh!” He chuckled again. “Still funny.”
“That’s me. Break the ice and smooth it over.” She pretended to run her hand over imaginary thin-air ice.
He squeezed her hand. “Sorry about what I said. I didn’t mean…”
“It’s fine. I get—”
Someone called her name from the microphone on stage. “Miss Thompson, Charity Thompson. Where are you hiding?”
A spotlight whipped around the room and settled on Elijah and her. He quickly dropped her hand and moved to the shadow just outside the spotlight.
“Charity!” It was Malcolm speaking on the stage. “Folks, this is the gal who created this fantastic event! Charity, can you please come up here and say a few things?”
Charity felt her eyes grow wide. Her mind whirred with thoughts. What should she say? Where was Elijah? She couldn’t decline speaking tonight; there were media personnel here so it would be great for the hospital. Confusion set in. Her brain seemed stuck momentarily in a fog. She smiled and waved to Malcolm, who was standing on the stage across the room. Move! She mentally commanded her legs to get going. Thankfully, they listened. She walked forward and glanced back to see where Elijah had disappeared to. She didn’t see him among the faces behind her. Focus, Charity, focus. One thing at a time.
She made it to the stage in one piece, composed herself along the way, and had a friendly smile on her face when she calmly crossed the stage to Malcolm. The people on the floor clapped and she gave Malcolm a hug. “Shucks, you know how to make a girl feel special,” she said into the mike. “However, please don’t clap for me. You should acknowledge yourselves. You made this event a gigantic success. The donations, the kids today, the silent auctions… which I’m sure the papers can’t wait to announce the total of tomorrow! It’s been a great night full of surprises. This town loves Forever Hope Hospital and I’m glad.”
Malcolm leaned into the mike. “As am I – I get to keep my job.”
The audience laughed as he played the joker. Charity took the mike off the stand and confidently walked around the stage to catch the audience’s attention. “Speaking of Dr. Parker,” she said and glanced back at him, winking exaggeratedly. “Valentine’s is the next big thing after the Christmas holidays. Forever Hope is going to be hosting another sort of auction the last week of January. A number of our handsome, single male doctors and staff have signed on to be part of a Valentine’s Hope Dinner. So all you single ladies be sure and grab a handout as you leave with details. There is no need to eat alone when these lovely gentlemen are willing to wine and dine you.” She glanced at Malcolm clapping his hands and pointed to one of the doctors near the stage. “That includes you too, Dr. Parker.”
Malcolm stopped clapping and his jaw dropped. The crowd burst into laughter.
Charity kept the mike close by so he couldn’t take it off her. He calmly, but with quick feet, walked after her. He caught her by the Christmas tree and wrestled the mike away. As he jogged out of reach he said, “Our gorgeous female staff is also taking part and since Charity Thompson is single, I believe she will be participating as well.” He gave her a smug look.
His comment on being single reminded Charity she had come with someone this evening. Someone who needed a friend more than anything. Elijah had no one here in town and here she was playing cat and mouse on the stage. She held a hand up in defeat and leaned into the microphone. “I concede. I’ll be part of it as well. Check out the website to see photos of your possible dates. It’s online with new faces being added. Join the mailing list so we can tell you when you can purchase a raffle ticket for a surprise date or pick your doctor. It’ll be a great evening, for a wonderful cause. Now please everyone go back to enjoying your evening. There is another,” she checked her watch, “fifty minutes left on the silent auctions. The computers will automatically lock bids out when the time is up. Thanks again for making the evening a grand success. Merry Christmas everyone.” She slipped off the other end of the stage before Malcolm could stop her. She tried to find Elijah through the large crowd but he was nowhere to be seen. She moved throughout the room, frustration boiling inside each time someone tapped her arm to chat. Normally she never minded the chitchat, but her focus now centered on Elijah and making sure he was alright.
When the silent auction computers began locking bids, people throughout the room turned to focus on the large screen near the stage that flashed the item with the winning price and bidder number. No names would be declared unless winners had signed a form that allowed the release to the press. Charity slipped out of the room and headed to check if Elijah might be in the bathroom.
She knocked several times on the men’s door before blowing her bangs away from her face and walking in. She called out his name but it only echoed against the walls of the empty room.
She tried the coat room next and handed the coat check attendant her stubs. “By chance did a good-looking guy with an accent come by and grab his jacket?”
The young girl stared blankly at her. She shrugged. “I don’t know. No one’s collected their stuff in the past half hour if that helps.” She disappeared into the back and came out a moment later with both Charity and Elijah’s jackets.
“Thanks.” Charity took them and dropped some bills into the tip jar. She slipped her coat on and decided to check if Elijah might be waiting by where she had parked the car.
“Are you leaving?” Malcolm’s voice had her pausing mid-step.
“I’m not sure actually.” She tucked Elijah’s jacket
over her arm.
“I didn’t upset you onstage, did I? I didn’t mean to force you into participating. I just got a little caught up in the teasing and the crowd enjoying it.”
Charity smiled. “It’s fine. I did it to you, so it’s only fair you got me back. I don’t mind.”
“Good. I was afraid for a moment that I’d upset you.”
She shook her head. “Not at all. I’m just looking for my friend.”
“Dr. Bennet?”
Charity nodded.
“I saw him leave the room while we were on stage.”
Before or after she’d said she was single and agreed on the date night for Valentine’s Day? “His father passed away today. His family’s in New Zealand and he received a phone call just before I went up on stage.” Idiot! Why in the world did she think she had the right to share Elijah’s personal information with Malcolm? How utterly unprofessional. Now wonder Elijah took off.
Malcolm looked sympathetic. “Go find him. I’ll cover the rest of the evening. I doubt I’ll even be needed.”
She buttoned up the last button on her coat. “Thanks. I really appreciate it. I’m going to have a look outside. He has the keys to my car so if the car is gone… he’s gone.”
Malcolm gave her shoulder a squeeze. “If your car’s gone, let me know and I’ll give you a lift to your place. He may just need a moment.”
“Thanks.” She smiled and headed outside. There were valet attendants hired to drive people to their cars in golf carts. She bypassed them and decided to walk to where Elijah had parked the car earlier. She headed down the row and saw several empty parking spaces. A different car stood parked in their original parking spot. He had probably left as Malcolm had said. Did he plan on coming back to pick her up? She wasn’t worried about herself; the concern lied with where Elijah had gone. She checked her phone to see if he had sent a message. Nothing. She sent him a text: Where are you?
She turned to go back inside and spotted her car in the next row over. She’d come down the wrong row. She walked over when she spotted Elijah sitting in the passenger seat, his head leaning against the window. She went around to the driver’s side and lightly tapped on the window before opening the door. “Hey,” she said quietly. “I’ve been looking for you.” She settled in behind the wheel.
“Found me.” He held up a three-quarter-empty bottle of rye. “Wanthome?”
“I’m good thanks.” Poor guy. “How about I drive us back to my place?”
He dug the keys out of his tuxedo jacket and handed them to her. After, he took a long swig from the bottle and put the cap back on, then tossed it on the back seat. “Let’s go.” He tried to click his seatbelt in and ended up needing Charity’s help.
She started the car and backed out of their parking spot. Elijah leaned his head back against the car seat and closed his eyes. They drove in silence the first few miles. Charity wanted to say something but had no clue what to say. Elijah groaned and rubbed his forehead. “Sorry to put such a damper on the evening. Was it a success?”
“Don’t apologize, silly. You have nothing to be sorry about.” She rested her hand on his knee, enjoying the slight thrill which ran up her arm. Focus. She put her hand back on the wheel. “The whole fundraising thing today probably made more than double I was hoping for.”
“That’s great.” He smiled but his eyes stayed tightly shut.
She chewed on her lip and tried to think of the right way to approach his father’s passing. “When are you flying out?”
“Tomorrow around noon.” He checked his watch, opening only one eye before closing it and dropping his head back against the seat again.
“I meant to home. To New Zealand.”
He scowled and shook his head. “I don’t think I’ll make it back.”
What? “When’s the funeral?”
“Next week sometime. My mother’s going to let me know.”
“Do you have any brothers or sisters?”
“Nope. Just me.”
“You have to go back then.”
“My mother’ll be fine.” He tried to wave his hand but it flopped awkwardly instead. “She’z a do it yerself kinda gal.”
He made no sense. Either it was the drink or he only knew how to speak in subliminal messages. “She’s going to need you.”
“You don’t know my mother. She’ll have everything organized and I’ll just get in the way.”
Suck it up, dude. “This really is none of my business but speaking from a person who’s lost a parent, you need to go. You need to say goodbye to your father.” She turned into her driveway and put the car in park.
With glazed eyes, Elijah peered through the front window of the car. “This isn’t my place.”
Oh boy. Not a good sign. “It’s mine. Let me help you.” She jumped out of the car and ran around it to open his door.
He slowly stumbled his way out of his seat. As he stood, he stroked her gently on the cheek. “You’re such a sweetie.” They walked together toward her door. He stopped suddenly halfway there. “Come wifme.”
“Pardon?”
His licked his lips and swallowed. “Come with me to New Zealand.”
Chapter 7
“Come with me,” Elijah repeated, swaying slightly. “I’ll go back if you go.”
She wanted to. In her head she knew it was ridiculous. This was the drunk-Elijah-who-just-lost-his-dad speaking. In the morning he would regret asking, if he even remembered. “Let’s get inside. I’m freezing.” She rubbed her arms and felt her lower lip start to shiver.
Elijah set his feet shoulder width apart. “I’m not going anywhere until you answer the question.”
He was sexy even when drunk. The whole vulnerable thing looked good on him. Charity closed her eyes and inhaled slowly. She imagined going with him and trying to explain who she was and why she’d come along. They barely knew each other. She opened her eyes and put her hands on his shoulders. “This is your family, Elijah. I don’t think they would appreciate a stranger stepping in at this time.”
He shrugged and looked her straight in the eye – too straight for someone who had drunk three quarters of a bottle of whiskey. “I don’t give a fuck wha’ my family thinks! They don’t understand who I am or why I left.” He sighed. “I’m asking you to come for me, not them.”
Apparently he had the same family issues she did. He lifted his finger and touched her trembling lip. It was her undoing. She fought back the tears that threatened to fill her eyes. She was going to fall for him no matter what she did. “H-How long?”
His lips replaced where his finger had been. He smiled and hugged her. “Five days. Seven days tops including travel time.” He laced his fingers with hers. “Let’s go inside, you’re freezing!”
She rolled her eyes when he turned and headed for the door, pulling her along. What was she getting herself into? She unlocked the door and they stepped inside. Flipping the lights on in the living room as she headed to the kitchen, she said, “I’ll make us some coffee.”
Elijah undid his tuxedo jacket and took it off. He tried to hang it up on the wall unit but it slipped and fell to the ground without him noticing. “How do you turn your stereo on? I can’t figure out which remote goes with what.”
She laughed and strolled over beside him. “You save lives and can’t find the power button?”
He leaned and nearly slipped. “Whoops!” He raised his hands innocently. “I’d like to try pushing a few of your buttons. Or you can push mine. Wasn’t I promised some kind of lap dance a couple of weeks ago?”
“I don’t think so! That was Simon lamely trying to get me to teach Julie. I don’t do stripper. Ever.”
He pretended to pout. “Not even for me?”
The sexy lips weren’t going to help him. “Not even you.”
“I’ve had one hell of an evening.”
She shook a finger at him. He was seriously trying to play that card. She tried not to smile. “No sympathy dances either.”
&n
bsp; “Maybe one day then?”
“If you stick around long enough.” The words were out of her mouth before her brain could process them and keep them inside.
Elijah crossed his arms over his chest and raised one eyebrow. “That’s bribery. Shame on you.”
Thank goodness he took it as a joke. She shot back, “And you tried to use your dad as a wild card! Shame on you!”
He tried to look guilty, but the corners of his mouth kept turning up. Distracted, he pointed to the far wall. “Is that some kind of antique psychiatrist couch?” He walked to it and lied down on it, tucking his hands behind his head. He closed his eyes and yawned. “Comfy.”
Charity went to the kitchen to pour some coffee. “It is actually. I did a stint with an old, old hospital in Maine,” she chatted as she got the cream and sugar out. “And the wing they wanted to rebuild had been a psych ward. That couch was in one of the offices. I took it and had it reupholstered. It’s actually a kinda cool story, like a psycho-thriller.” She carried the steaming mugs into the living room and stopped. Elijah’s mouth hung slightly open and he was snoring. “I guess I’ll have to tell it to you another time.”
She headed into her room and grabbed the top blanket off her bed. It was a quilt her mother had bought her back in university. She carefully laid it on Elijah, who didn’t even move or break his breathing pattern. Charity watched him sleeping. He’d flown down here to surprise her. That was pretty big. A guy had to be pretty into you to do that – or pretty desperate to get laid. Elijah Bennet did not have an ounce of desperation inside of him. She didn’t know him that well but that was obvious.
He wanted her to go with him to New Zealand. She took a sip of her coffee. Initially she wanted to go but now having a chance to process the idea, she wasn’t so sure. They were physically attracted to each other, but a long flight with no escape and then five days in a country where she didn’t know anybody, to go to a funeral of a man she’d never met, it just seemed crazy. Her father would have a coronary if he found out. He’d be furious with her and accuse her of trying to take his precious Dr. Bennet away. Shoot, he’d probably blame her for Elijah’s dad’s passing.
