by Molly Evans
She sighed and tried to let go of some of the stiffness that had invaded her limbs. “You’re right.” Tonight she was going to relax, enjoy herself, have a glass of wine and dance herself silly. “I’ll try my best.”
“That’s all I want.”
Gina looked up at the gloriously illuminated historic inn with its forbidding reflection on the lake. From the early days of being just an inn, it had been restored by the university and turned into a world-class resort, complete with conference center and golf course. It wasn’t somewhere she’d ever thought she’d enter again after being away for so many years. Not after the scene of her ultimate humiliation.
“This place haunts you, doesn’t it?” Thomas asked, and kissed her knuckles as they approached the door.
“It does. I’m afraid I’m going to turn back into who I was when I worked here, and I don’t want that to happen.” She took a deep breath and put on a smile. “This is where that guy I was telling you about dumped me.”
“I’m sorry you have bad memories of this place. Maybe we can make a few new ones for you.”
“I’d like that.”
Once inside Gina looked around, wide-eyed. So many changes had taken place since she’d worked here. Hopefully the staff had changed too and no one would recognize her. Spending tonight in anonymity would be a huge relief. She didn’t want her dampened mood to affect anyone else’s evening.
“OK so far?” Thomas asked.
“Yep.” She tried to hang on to that sentiment as tightly as she was hanging on to Thomas’s hand.
“What kind of wine would you like? Or would you like something else?”
“Just a Zinfandel, I think. They used to have a lovely Beringer.”
“Sounds great.” Thomas led them to the bar and paid for their drinks. He handed her one and clinked the rim of his against it. “Here’s to a nice evening.”
“Agreed,” she said, and sipped from her glass. “This place isn’t going to get the better of me.”
“Good girl,” he said. With her hand once again in his, he led the way across the room, and Gina had never felt more proud to be on the arm of any man as she was tonight.
After finding seats with the Joneses and several of the staff, they chatted and sampled food from the buffet. Although Thomas didn’t engage in much of the animated conversation around him, he observed and laughed more than she’d seen him do at work. This was a good evening for him, too, and Gina wanted to do nothing that would interfere with that.
The chat naturally turned to work and stories were told and retold of cases that had come through the ER. As Gina watched the interaction between these coworkers, who were more like friends and family, she realized she’d been missing this in her life. All her friends on assignments were temporary, lasting only as long as the assignment lasted. These people sitting in front of her, surrounding her with their joy, their camaraderie, their spirit, made her want to hang on to a piece of it for herself. They worked together, but they supported each other through the good and the bad times. Thomas had alluded to that, but she hadn’t seen it for herself until now.
“Hey, Gina,” Robby, one of the other nurses, said. “Got a dance for me tonight?”
“You got it. I’m not sure if you can keep up with me, though,” she said with a grin, and felt herself responding to the atmosphere. God, she’d needed this more than she knew.
“You’re on,” he said, and gave her a thumbs-up sign.
After the main meal and speeches were over, the music began.
Harold, sitting beside her, gave a long sigh. He clasped hands with his wife who looked into his eyes with absolute adoration. “This is what we’ve been waiting on all day,” he said. “The food was good, as always, but the music is what I want, even if I can’t dance tonight.”
“I’m glad that you felt well enough to come, Mr Jones,” Thomas said.
“Nothing is going to hold me back.” He leaned over and kissed his wife’s cheek.
Robby approached Gina. “I believe this dance is mine.” He looked at Thomas. “If you don’t mind.”
“No problem,” he said.
Gina danced a few numbers with Robby and they returned to the table. She collapsed into her chair and fanned herself with her napkin. “That was fun,” she said, and caught her breath. “I’m so out of shape.”
The changing music caught Gina’s attention, and she sat straight up. “Oh, that’s Strauss, isn’t it?” she asked.
Harold listened for a moment. “Yes. ‘The Blue Danube.’ You’re right,” Harold replied, and seemed to lose himself in the music.
Gina stood and held out her hand to Thomas. “Come on, Doc. How’s your waltz?” After the exhilarating fast dancing of earlier, she needed to slow down.
“Rusty, but I’ll take the chance if you will.” Thomas let her pull him to his feet.
Leading the way back to the dance floor, Gina tried not to feel anything. Tried not to want this any more than she’d wanted anything else in her life. She was having a wonderful time, much better than she’d thought possible.
Thomas followed Gina, admiring the curves of her hips and the way the black dress clung to them. He was definitely going to have to see about getting her to extend her contract. The hospital needed a nurse, she needed to be closer to her mother, and he…wanted her here.
In seconds she was in his arms. He stepped into the dance. Despite never having danced together, it was the smoothest waltz he’d ever danced. Gina fit against him perfectly, allowing her body to be moved by him, adjusting to the slightest change in direction. Thomas sighed and relaxed into the music, wishing this waltz would last a few hours. What a dream. No woman had ever intrigued him as much as Gina did. She claimed to be the hired help, but she danced like she was born to it. She’d left her hair in a tangled riot down her back tonight, the lights picking up golden shimmers when she moved. With his hand on her waist, the tips of her hair just brushed his hand. Leaning in, he pressed his cheek to hers, closed his eyes, and let the music take him away.
The ease with which Thomas guided her through the steps amazed Gina. The romance of the night, the music, the waltz all swirled through her brain and her heart cramped, wanting more than she could ever have with him. Tomorrow was back to reality, but for now she closed her eyes and let herself just be.
The music ended, but the orchestra slid right into another number, and without a word so did Thomas and Gina. After that dance they pulled apart. Gina took in a deep breath. “Doc, if that was rusty, I’ll eat my shoes.”
“You bring out the best part of me, Gina. I don’t know why, but you do.” He searched her eyes, looking deep inside her.
Surprised, she stared at him, unable to move. “Let’s dance again,” he said, and pulled her back into his arms. The music had slowed and they clung to each other, hardly moving on the floor. Thoughts and feelings flowed like a low current between them. Gina knew she was falling in love with him, right here, right now. She closed her eyes and tried not to think anymore. She just wanted to feel him against her, savor this moment when nothing and no one interfered in their lives.
They swayed in the middle of the floor as couples flowed around them. Thomas pressed his mouth against her ear. “Gina, being with you makes me feel things I shouldn’t.”
She could only nod. The words, the warmth of his voice in her ear chased shivers across her skin. And she knew she was falling hard for this man. Someday she would pay, but tonight she wanted to dream.
“Do you want to get out of here?” he asked.
Unable to speak, she nodded.
As they parted and left the dance floor someone called to Thomas.
“Dr Ferguson!” a man called, and made his way through the crowd on a direct path to Thomas.
He sighed, knowing there was no way around this conversation he was about to have. “Damn.” He didn’t want this right now. Didn’t want to take his attention away from Gina, but there was no way out of it.
“What’s wron
g?” she asked, her eyes filled with luminous desire and sudden anxiety.
“I’m sorry, but I’ve got to talk to this man. Will you wait at the table for me? And then we’ll go.”
“Yes.” She glanced at the man bearing down on them and made her way back to the table. Gina drank down the rest of her water. Needing to cool herself off in more than one way, she reached for the water pitcher, but it was empty.
“You two dance like Elizabeth and I used to before I got sick. Like you were made to be together,” Harold said.
“Believe it or not, we’ve never danced together before.” Gina still couldn’t believe how easy it had been. So easy it frightened her. His cologne still clung to her and with each breath she seemed to breathe him into herself. Facing Harold, she tried to focus on something else. “Do you want to dance with me?” she asked.
“Oh, not with this walker,” he said, and patted her hand. “But thank you just the same. I’m content just watching you young people with my wife beside me.”
Gina leaned forward and smiled into Harold’s eyes. “Do you trust me, Harold?”
“Yes, of course. But…” Confused surprise covered his face.
“Then let’s go,” she said.
“Well, if you say so.” He glanced at Elizabeth, then stood and followed Gina with his walker to the dance floor.
“Put your right hand on my left shoulder and hold on to the walker with your left. I’ll help move the walker with my left hand, and we are going to dance.”
For a few seconds it was awkward, but once they moved in mirror fashion, they danced with the walker supporting Harold.
“Oh, I just can’t believe this,” he cried, and clutched her with his right hand. “I’m dancing again. Even now, I’m dancing.”
Satisfaction with a job well done filled her, and she gave him her biggest smile. This night was as much for him as anyone else who would benefit from the fund-raising. He deserved his last dance.
When the music ended Harold hugged Gina close for a second and then kissed her cheek. “Thank you, Gina. Thank you. I will never forget this.”
“You’re welcome, Harold. It was my pleasure.”
They returned to the table and Harold hugged his wife.
“We’re out of water,” Gina said, as she looked at the empty pitcher.
“I was going to get a refill, but I couldn’t find a server,” Rhonda said.
“I know where to get it.” She picked up the water pitcher and walked to the bar. Thankfully, none of the staff recognized her. But as she returned to the table, her past caught up with her.
CHAPTER SEVEN
“WAITRESS?” a woman’s voice called to her as she passed a table full of expensively dressed couples. “I need another drink.”
Gina’s heart hammered in her throat. She unfortunately knew that voice. That voice had contributed to her ultimate humiliation. Her heart thudding, unable to stop herself from looking, she turned. There was something about a riveting moment in time that one couldn’t look away from. It was like watching a horrific car accident, except you were watching your own accident.
“I’m sorry, but I don’t work here,” she said, and turned away.
The woman leaned forward, dark, dark eyes that Gina had never forgotten raking her from head to toe, open disdain on her face. “Don’t play coy, Gina. You’re waiting on someone, just like always.” Dierdre Montgomery, prom queen, thief of boyfriends and humilator of Gina Riddles jiggled the ice cubes in her glass. “Time you waited on me again.”
Beside Dierdre, Brad Montgomery turned. He had had his back to Gina, and when he faced her, shock momentarily distorted his face. “My, my, my, this is a surprise. Why, if it isn’t Gina Riddles back to her old job again. Waiting tables like she did all those years ago.” He slid his arm around his wife’s shoulders. “Did you flunk out of nursing school or something?”
“Th-this…” she indicated the pitcher as sweat poured down her back “…is for a gentleman at my table who is t-too frail to get his own,” Gina stammered, trying to explain, but her wits and her tongue failed her. The flush she hated flashed onto her face.
In seconds she was back to feeling like she had years ago, like someone’s hired servant and not worth a dime. Dammit. She’d worked so hard to leave this town and people like Brad behind. This wasn’t happening. She wasn’t standing here, being humiliated all over again by the man she had given her virginity to and who had then betrayed her. He’d said he’d loved her, wanted to be with her, but obviously she had been someone to pass the time with and sharpen his sexual skills on. She’d believed him. Every last word she’d believed.
And when he hadn’t called, hadn’t tried to see her, she’d known something was seriously wrong. Deluding herself with all sorts of lies, believing that something dreadful could have happened to him, she’d called his parents’ home in search of answers. A servant had informed her that Brad was at the Boar’s Head Inn. She’d driven there in a panic, not wanting to think of the consequences.
And had walked in on his engagement dinner.
The shock had been unlike anything she’d ever experienced. She’d stared at him from the door of the private room, standing beside a servant who had let her in. Watching the elaborate party, the kind she’d only seen on television, had been the end of her innocence.
As she thought back to that night, and to how far she’d come since then, a sense of peaceful calm overcame the raging emotions that had moments ago been making her relive the worst night of her life. “Actually, Brad, I’m a very successful nurse.”
“Really? A nurse. Congratulations,” he said, but the sarcasm almost dripped from every word leaving his mouth.
Disgusted with herself for engaging in any sort of conversation with him, she turned to leave. And came face to face with Thomas. Damn. She didn’t want him to see this. Being humiliated was bad enough, having him witness it was almost more than she could bear right now.
The dangerous look on his face made her stop. She’d never seen him this closed, this angry, this formidable. His icy gaze challenged Brad.
“Is there a problem here?” he asked. In plain view of everyone at the table, he slid his hand down Gina’s back and rested it on her waist. The movement claimed Gina as his and elevated her to a protected status. No one would dare question a Ferguson, especially one as powerful as Thomas. No one moved. No one blinked.
“No problem,” Brad said, and tugged on his tie. “Gina and I were just reminiscing about the old days, weren’t we, Gina? She was just telling me she’s a nurse.”
“The old days?” Dierdre asked, brows raised. “You and she had old days?” The woman tilted back her head and gave a very loud laugh. “I thought you said it was a fling, it was nothing.” The glitter in her eyes meant trouble for Brad.
“It was, darling, it was. Just a fling that was over long ago.” He took her hand in his.
“If that’s what you’ve told her all these years, I wouldn’t want to ruin your story, Brad.” Gina stayed remarkably calm, smiling to herself. Brad was the one who should have taken the brunt of her anger for all these years, not another woman that he had duped. Gina dragged in a ragged breath and let out every ounce of resentment she had ever wasted on this pathetic man. “You’re looking a little uncomfortable, Brad.”
“I am,” he growled through clenched teeth.
“Perhaps I can cool you off now.” Before she had time to think, Gina dumped the entire contents of the pitcher into Brad’s lap.
His tux dripping with frigid water, he leaped to his feet. The slippery tile was no place to be standing, and he crashed to the floor.
“I think I’m through here, Thomas,” Gina said, and led the way back to their table. She didn’t dare look at him. She could just imagine the stern disapproval he was going to lay on her. That wasn’t the proper way to behave. She’d known it, but she’d been too overcome to stop herself. Biting her lip, she turned to face him, an apology ready. “Thomas…”
W
hat she saw made her pause. Though still stern faced, glittering amusement clearly shone from his eyes.
Thomas led Gina to the table, removed the empty pitcher from her trembling hands and set it on the table.
“I thought you were getting water,” Rhonda said.
“I got sidetracked,” she said, trying to the contain the bubble of inappropriate laughter that threatened to leap out of her throat.
“Excuse us,” Thomas said, and claimed her hand. “There’s a dance with our names on it.” He led Gina to the dance floor, turned and spun her into his arms.
The quick movement surprised Gina, and she gasped as she collided with him, her entire front pressing against his. The power in him, the ease with which he controlled her movements and the mastery of his touch all conspired to rob her of any brain function. She was a mass of liquid hormones raging out of control. Right now she wished they were anywhere but in this very public place.
Sliding one hand up her back, Thomas tunneled his hand beneath her hair, his other hand pulling her hips closer. His arousal was blatant. “That was brilliant,” he whispered in her ear, the vibrations of his voice stirring the fine hairs. His was not the only arousal between them.
Gina relaxed against him, fitting her body against his, and tightened her arm around his shoulders. “I should have restrained myself.”
“He deserved every ice cube and more.”
Gina pulled back to look at him. “I thought you would have disapproved of my behavior.”
“Hardly. He and Dierdre deserve each other.”
“You know them?” Gina searched his eyes.
“My ex-wife was friends with them. God knows why, they have nothing in common except for spending money that doesn’t belong to them.”
Gina relaxed against him, contemplating her actions and his words. The bubble of laughter could no longer be contained, and she giggled.
