Private Partners

by Gina Wilkins

  “I’ve been told we’ll remember more than we anticipate,” Connor commented. “I hope that’s true.”

  “I just hope I can remember it all until the test Friday,” Haley muttered.

  “Then maybe we should get started,” Ron said, opening a book with a thump.

  Ron didn’t seem to be in the best of moods that evening, Anne mused. His usual grin and bad jokes were notably absent, leaving him uncharacteristically grumpy. She supposed the pressure was even getting to him. Maybe he hadn’t done as well on the last test as he’d hoped. Maybe he was worried about Step 1. Or maybe he had personal issues he hadn’t shared with them. Whatever his problem, she figured that the best remedy was to dive into their notes and make sure they all did well on Friday.

  “Question for James,” she said, opening her binder. “What are the differences between granulomatous colitis, Crohn enteritis and Crohn enterocolitis?”

  Anne stumbled into the apartment Friday afternoon so drained and exhausted after her test that Liam sent her straight to bed for a nap. He didn’t have to twist her arm. She fell facedown on top of the bedspread and was sound asleep when he looked in less than ten minutes later.

  He shook his head in disapproval. She’d had less than four hours sleep the night before. He’d talked her into going to bed at around eleven, telling her that she would do better on the test if she rested before taking it, but when he’d awakened at two, he found her side of the bed empty. She’d admitted that she’d woken up and hadn’t been able to go back to sleep without studying for another hour or so.

  She looked somewhat better when she walked into the office three hours later. Her hair was brushed and her face gleamed rosily as if she’d washed it to help her wake up. She’d changed her top, from the gray medical school sweatshirt she’d worn for the test to a more form-flattering dark red sweater. His heart gave a funny little kick at the sight of her, as it always did. Damn, but she was pretty.

  “Are you working?” she asked.

  He turned away from the computer. “Just answering some e-mail.” He changed the subject before she could offer her assistance again. “Did you have a good nap?”

  “I slept like a log,” she admitted with a self-conscious smile. “I guess I was more tired than I even realized.”

  “No wonder. You haven’t gotten nearly enough sleep this week. How did the test go?”

  “Pretty well, I think. There were a couple of questions I wasn’t sure about, but I think I knew enough about the rest to at least make an educated guess at the answers.”

  “You must be glad it’s behind you.”

  “I am. Of course, two weeks from today we’ll have another test. We’ll be studying the genitourinary system next. I’ll start reading the material this weekend.”

  “Fun.”

  She wrinkled her nose. “Oh, yeah.”

  “No study group tonight?”

  “No, we’re taking the weekend off. We’ll all study through the weekend, but on our own.”

  “Okay, then. Since you finished your last unit and made it through the test, what do you say we celebrate tonight?”

  “Celebrate?” She looked intrigued. “How do you mean?”

  “Why don’t we go out? Have dinner, see a movie, maybe have drinks afterward. No one’s going to recognize me,” he assured her, anticipating her reservations. “I’ll make sure of that.”

  She looked tempted. When was the last time she’d been out for an evening of fun?

  “Come on, Annie. It’ll be great,” he urged.

  “Okay,” she said in a rush. “Why not? As long as we’re careful.”

  Delighted by her acceptance, he grinned. “Are you kidding? Careful is my middle name.”

  For some reason, she didn’t look overly reassured by that quip.

  She should have had more faith in Liam, Anne thought several hours later. As he had promised, he hadn’t been recognized once during their evening out. They’d dined at a busy, somewhat dimly lighted restaurant, where their harried server didn’t have time to study either of their faces. The food was good and they were seated at a comfortably private booth, where they were able to talk easily enough over the noisy background. Liam paid in cash rather than with a credit card imprinted with his name.

  After dinner, they’d seen a movie they’d both enjoyed. It had been fun to snuggle in the dark theater, holding hands and laughing like an ordinary couple out on the town with nothing on their minds but each other. Now they sat in a cozy little bar in the popular River Market District, drinks in front of them as they watched the flow of people on the sidewalk outside the window beside their table. The glass wall could be pushed back in the summer, giving the illusion of an outside patio, but it was too cold for that on this winter evening. As much as she enjoyed the view, Anne appreciated being inside in the warmth.

  A lot of young people seemed to be out on this chilly Friday evening, she mused. The bar was bustling, as were the other establishments down the street. Rock music played loudly from unseen speakers, combining with the noise of conversation and laughter to make a festive background as she and Liam sipped their drinks in companionable silence. They were both content for the moment to people watch and relax. Anne couldn’t remember having this nice of an evening in quite a long while.

  “I’m glad we did this,” she said, setting her drink on the table and leaning forward so Liam could hear her over the din. “I’ve had fun.”

  He covered her hand with his and lifted it to his mouth, brushing his lips across her knuckles. “So have I.”

  “I’m surprised not one person has recognized you tonight,” she admitted.

  He chuckled wryly. “I suppose my ego should be bruised—but I can live with it as long as it allows me to spend an evening like this with you.”

  A couple of people had looked at him with slight frowns, as if trying to place him, but had shaken their heads and turned away rather quickly, apparently convincing themselves they were mistaken. Much to Anne’s relief. “It’s the glasses. And the hair. No one would have expected you to cut off all those curls. Have your agent and your producers seen you like this yet?”

  “No. I had it cut only a couple hours before I caught the plane to Little Rock.”

  “Will they be upset with you? After all, your hair was so recognizable. So much a part of your image.”

  Frowning a little now, he shrugged. “I’d like to think what success I’ve enjoyed has been due to my work rather than my hair.”

  “I wasn’t implying differently,” she assured him quickly, her fingers tightening around his. “Like I said, it was just an image thing. Long, curly hair wouldn’t have gotten you this far. Your talent and your personality have made you such a hit with your viewers.”

  Though his striking looks certainly hadn’t hurt, she added silently.

  Somewhat appeased, he murmured, “Thanks. The hair will grow back quickly enough, if I decide to let it. I haven’t made up my mind yet.”

  “I like it either way,” she assured him. “You’d look good to me if you were bald.”

  He grinned sheepishly. “I don’t think I’ll take a razor to it anytime soon. I have to admit, I whimpered like a little girl when the stylist made the first cut with her scissors. I’m getting used to it, but it still feels strange.”

  She laughed, delighted by his admission of vanity. She’d never made the mistake of thinking Liam was perfect, but the occasional reminder made her feel a little less daunted by the larger-than-life “image” she’d mentioned.

  A commotion at a nearby table distracted them from their conversation. Turning her head to look, Anne saw a thirty-something man frantically motioning toward his companion, a young woman sitting at a table with both hands at her throat, her eyes wide and her expression alarmed.

  “She’s choking!” the man said, looking around the room for help. “She’s choking on a pretzel.”

  Anne started to rise. She sank back into her chair in relief when the woman grabbed a n
apkin, coughed into it and then coughed again, color returning to her face in a wave of embarrassed crimson. “I’m okay,” she said, waving a shaky hand toward everyone who gaped at her. “I’m fine.”

  Her companion hovered over her, patting her shoulder and still looking a little frazzled, and a solicitous server approached them to offer assistance. The other patrons turned their attention back to their own business and the earlier lighthearted noise resumed.

  Anne glanced at Liam. Rather than watching the other couple, he was studying her, a faint smile on his face. “You were ready to run to the rescue, weren’t you?”

  She made a face. “Knee-jerk reaction, I guess. I haven’t learned much about treating actual patients so far in medical school, but I’ve known the Heimlich maneuver for years. You don’t have to be a licensed physician to stop someone from choking.”

  “You’ll be a good doctor, Anne.”

  She smiled at him. “Thank you.”

  “Anne?”

  Her attention drawn again, she looked around in response to her name. “Oh. Nick. Hi.”

  Nick Paulsen was another member of her class. He and another man she didn’t recognize had paused on their way to the exit when Nick recognized her.

  Nick jerked his chin toward the couple that had caused the excitement. “Were you getting ready to run to the rescue?”

  She laughed sheepishly. “Yes, I was. You?”

  Nick’s friend chuckled. “He was on his way. This guy can’t wait to be a hero doctor.”

  “Stuff it, Grant. How’d you do on the test, Anne?”

  She shrugged. “Won’t know until we get the grades, of course, but I think I did okay. You?”

  “Same here. Tough one, wasn’t it?”

  “Very.”

  “Okay, well, I’ll see you in class Monday.” He looked curiously at Liam, but Anne didn’t bother with introductions.

  “See you Monday, Nick. Enjoy your weekend.”

  “Yeah. You, too.”

  Anne looked at Liam again when the two men had moved on. “What?”

  “He’s got a thing for you.”

  She shook her head. “We’re just friends. He asked me out last year, but I turned him down and we’ve moved on. He didn’t hold a grudge—or a torch.”

  “You’re wrong there. He’s still interested. I know the signs.”

  Flustered, she picked up her drink again. “I think you’re mistaken.”

  Though Liam was smiling faintly, his eyes were somber. “I just wish I could make it clear to him, and everyone else, that you’re off the market.”

  It wasn’t like him to sound so territorial. She wasn’t sure how she felt about his tone. “I can handle that myself,” she said lightly. “Let’s talk about the movie. What did you think of the actor who played the big baddie?”

  Liam hesitated only a moment before following her conversational lead. Perhaps he’d realized that this was neither the right time nor place to discuss their relationship.

  As for herself, she planned to put off that conversation for as long as she could. Mostly because she had no idea what she would say if he ever asked her to choose between him and the vow of secrecy that she’d cravenly hidden behind for the past year and a half.

  Chapter Six

  In keeping with their agreement that Anne would continue with her schedule as if nothing had changed, she left Liam in the apartment the next morning while she joined Haley for the shopping excursion they had planned the week before. He assured her that he would utilize the time alone to work on his revisions and urged her to take as long as she wanted with her friend. She needed the girls’ day out, he said.

  Anne might have enjoyed the shopping outing a bit more if Haley hadn’t had such a hard time finding anything that pleased her.

  “What’s the problem with this top?” Anne asked in bewilderment, motioning toward the very cute wrap-style blouse Haley was trying on. “It looks great on you. The color is very flattering.”

  Haley twisted in front of the mirror with a look of dissatisfaction on her face. “I don’t know. It’s pretty low-cut.”

  “No, it’s fine. It’s not too revealing, it’s just flirty enough. You’ve got a great figure. What’s wrong with showing it off a little?”

  “I don’t know…”

  “Haley, this is the tenth top you’ve tried on, and you haven’t been satisfied with any of them. That isn’t like you. What’s wrong?”

  Haley sighed and shrugged. “I guess I’m having second thoughts about this date tonight. Maybe I should cancel.”

  “Why? I thought you said the guy’s really nice.”

  “He is. I just don’t really have time to deal with dating someone new right now. You know how it is.”

  “I know you need a night out to have fun.” Anne thought of her own lovely time with Liam last night. “Trust me, you’ll feel so much better after spending an evening away from the books.”

  “Oh, I know. It’s just…well, first dates are so awkward and weird. I just don’t know if I’ve got the energy for that now.”

  Which wasn’t something Anne had had to worry about with Liam. After knowing each other so long, they were comfortable with each other. Most of the time, she mentally amended, thinking of the occasional awkward moment when they both tried to avoid talking about their future. Or her family. Or their unconventional marital arrangement.

  Okay, maybe she did understand why Haley was hesitant to get involved with anyone now. Still, she didn’t think one date would necessarily lead to the kind of complications she and Liam had gotten themselves into.

  “Just go on the date,” she urged, pushing her own quandaries aside to concentrate on her friend. “Have a great time. If you don’t want to see him again after tonight, don’t.”

  Haley smiled self-consciously. “You’re right. I’m making a mountain out of a teacup, aren’t I?”

  “Confusing mixed metaphors notwithstanding—yes, you are.”

  It pleased her when Haley laughed before turning back to the mirror. “So, you really think this top looks good?”

  “I really do. I’d tell you if I thought otherwise. Didn’t I gag when you put on that pukey green one?”

  “Yes, you did. I can always count on you to be honest with me, Anne.”

  Anne winced, but fortunately Haley didn’t seem to notice.

  Haley laughed and tossed the “pukey green” top over the door. “Hang that up for me, will you? I’m just going to try on this one last dress and then call it a day.”

  Anne had just hung the top on the rack provided for dressing room discards when the door opened again. She tilted her head with interest when Haley stepped out in a deep coral dress with a plunging scooped neckline and three-quarter-length sleeves. A soft, full skirt swirled beneath the belted waist, making the dress look very feminine, somewhat retro and quite figure flattering. “Oh, I like that.”

  “Do you?” Haley plucked at the stretched bodice. “I think it’s a little too snug for me across the bust.”

  “Maybe a little. Do you want me to bring you the next size up?”

  “No, that would be too big in the shoulders. It is a pretty dress, though. Why don’t you try it on? Your boobs aren’t as big as mine.”

  “Oh, gee, thanks.”

  Haley laughed. “Seriously, try it on. The color would be gorgeous on you.”

  Anne hesitated, then nodded. “Okay, sure. Not that I have anywhere to wear it, but it wouldn’t hurt to try it on.”

  A few minutes later, Anne opened the dressing room door to model the dress for Haley. “It seems to fit pretty well.”

  “Are you kidding? It’s perfect! See for yourself.” Haley motioned toward the three-way mirror at the end of the short, dressing room hallway.

  Anne eyed herself in the mirror. The dress did look nice. The cut emphasized her small waist, yet made the most of what few curves she had. The neckline was just low enough to hint at cleavage—not that she had any to show if it had been lower, she thou
ght in self-deprecating humor. And the length of the sleeves made the garment pretty much a year-round style, very practical for someone living on a budget, as she was.

  She thought Liam would like it. And that was all the impetus she needed to say impulsively, “I think I’ll buy it. After all, it is marked down thirty percent.”

  “Always frugal,” Haley teased. “You should definitely buy it. It has your name written all over it.”

  “I wouldn’t go that far, but I do like it.”

  She stepped back into the cubicle to change into the clothes she’d worn shopping.

  Haley spoke through the door. “You never said what you did last night. Did you crash at home, too, or did you do something interesting?”

  Anne froze with one hand on the zipper of her jeans. “Uh—just a sec.”

  She finished dressing, ran a hand through her hair and picked up her purse and the coral dress before opening the door. “I went out for a little while with a friend last night,” she said casually. “We saw that new action film that opened last week. The plot was kind of weak, but it was fun, anyway.”

  “Oh, yeah, I’ve heard it’s pretty good. Who’d you say you went with?”

  Haley’s expression resembled that of a dog who’d picked up an interesting scent, Anne thought nervously. Maybe she hadn’t sounded quite as nonchalant as she’d hoped when she’d mentioned her “friend.”

  “An old friend from college,” she said, assuring herself it wasn’t exactly a lie. “No big deal.”

  She must have done a better job of masking her emotions that time. When she immediately changed the subject to their class reading for Monday, Haley went along without further questions.

  Driving the short distance home not long afterward, Anne entertained herself by making plans for letting Liam see her in her new dress. The next day was Valentine’s Day. Most of the medical students had expressed pleasure that the informal holiday fell on a Sunday this year, rather than in the middle of the week when it would be harder for them to take time off from studying.