The Family Doctor

by Bobby Hutchinson

  Kate noticed there wasn’t any anger in his voice. He just sounded resigned.

  “Does she see McKensy often?”

  Tony shook his head. “If she’s in town, she’ll call and take McKensy out. The last time was four months ago. Jessica’s totally wrapped up in her career.”

  “That must be hard on McKensy.” Words were coming out her mouth without any planning at all.

  “It was at first. McKensy was still so little and we both thought Jessica meant it when she said she’d be back. Now McKensy doesn’t expect much anymore. She loves her mom, but she accepts that singing comes first with her.”

  Kate thought of Eliza, who knew she was first in Kate’s heart.

  She’d asked so many questions, she might as well ask one more—the million dollar one. “Think you’ll ever get married again?”

  He took a long time to answer. “My daughter wants that more than anything. She asked for a stepmom for Christmas last year, believe it or not, but it’s not exactly something you can order from a catalog, is it?” His grin was wry, his eyes guarded. “The truth is, I don’t know, Kate. As you’ve seen, my family seems to thrive on turmoil. Mom isn’t easy to get along with. She hated Jessica, and if I’d allowed it, she would have caused trouble between us.”

  “Every family has its problems.” She thought of herself and Scott and Eliza. They weren’t even a family anymore, but they certainly had their share of upsets.

  His nod was noncommittal. “I’m going for more hash browns. You want anything?”

  “No, thank you.” She watched him walk over to the buffet. She had a feeling there was more to his reluctance about marriage than just his family. Maybe he still had strong feelings for Jessica that he was being careful to hide. Or maybe he’d been hurt so badly he wouldn’t try again.

  The sweetness of the maple syrup turned a little sour.

  When he came back, they finished their food and then made plans to meet for dinner, since each of them had a seminar to attend that afternoon.

  They rode upstairs in the elevator and walked side by side down the corridor, but he didn’t take her hand. He didn’t touch her at all.

  When they reached their rooms, Kate said in a cheery voice, “See you at six,” and closed her door firmly behind her.

  Darn. No matter how pretty the room was, it was awfully empty with only her in it.

  TONY KNOCKED ON KATE’S DOOR at five minutes before six, and her dimples showed when he whistled in appreciation.

  She was wearing high heels—very high—with something short and black that clung to her body suggestively. Her lovely, silky legs went on and on. Her coppery hair was swept up in a loose knot at the crown of her head, and little tendrils floated around her ears and the nape of her neck. The hotel room smelled female, of flowery dusting powder and soft silky fabrics and perfume. The whole effect made Tony dizzy.

  “I’m trying to figure out which earrings to wear with this dress.” She turned her back and rummaged through a satin jewelry case while he devoured the delightful view with every one of his senses.

  “You look—” He searched for a word, but none seemed extreme enough. “I’m trying to find a word that goes beyond ravishing, Kate,” he finally managed to say.

  She was hooking a silver hoop into her ear, head tilted to one side, and she turned toward him with a foxy smile.

  “Ravishing will do fine. And thank you. You look pretty hot yourself. That’s some fancy suit.”

  He’d packed it especially to impress her, and he was pleased that she liked it. He didn’t dare glance at the queen-size bed, but it was like a magnet for his imagination. He tried to keep his mind firmly in the moment as she finished with the earrings and grabbed a soft black wrap from the back of an armchair.

  “Ready. Finally.”

  He held the door and she wafted past him in an intoxicating cloud of something sultry and dangerous. With heels on she came to his shoulder, and he took her hand as they stepped on the empty elevator.

  “Handsome couple,” he murmured, nodding at the mirrored wall.

  “Wonder where they’re going?” she whispered back.

  “Out on the town. Look at how they’re dressed.”

  “Think her skirt’s too short?” Kate smoothed the dress over her hips.

  “With legs like that, a skirt could never be too short,” he declared, restraining her hand as she tugged at her hem. “She’s incredibly beautiful, he’s going to be the envy of every guy in the place. Probably have to fight dozens of men off before the night’s over,” he added in a gruff tone.

  She giggled. “I hardly think so.”

  But he was conscious of the covert male glances she attracted as the maitre d’ led them to the table Tony had reserved in the dining room.

  The meal was probably delicious, the wine superb, but Tony didn’t remember eating. He was concentrating too hard on the lovely woman across from him.

  Kate wanted to discuss the lecture she’d attended, called To Err Is Human. “I couldn’t help but think about what happened to you, Tony, when you hurt your ankle. The speaker emphasized that the media focuses on medical error and blame. I remember your mom and brother threatening to call the newspapers when you were in ICU. It would have really harmed St. Joe’s image if they’d done that.”

  Distracted from admiring the sparkle in her green eyes and the intriguing curve of her lips, Tony clicked his tongue in disgust. “I didn’t know they’d even thought about doing that. Damn, Mom and Wilson can make a tremor into a full-scale earthquake.”

  “Everybody reacts strongly when they feel there’s been a mistake. Leslie feels that way about her mother’s death.” Her face somber, Kate outlined what had happened, how Nathanial Hersh had sent Leslie’s mother home instead of admitting her for further tests. “Leslie won’t meet with Dr. Hersh to discuss it. She’s really angry.”

  “I helped hire Hersh. He graduated top of his class, he’s an excellent physician.” Tony couldn’t help feeling defensive. He knew Nathanial and respected the younger man’s ability. Admittedly, he was a little rough around the edges, but experience would smooth him. “Maybe Leslie just needs some time.”

  Kate nodded, but he could see she wasn’t convinced.

  “Let’s not spend the evening discussing work,” he pleaded. “Let’s talk about really important things, like what you like to read, what music you enjoy, what you want for dessert.” He signaled the waiter and the elaborate dessert tray was wheeled up.

  After much deliberation, Kate couldn’t choose between petits fours and hazelnut cheesecake. Tony ordered both.

  Coffee was served, and a glance at his watch showed that it was still early. He’d given the evening a lot of thought while he was dressing.

  “I checked the local papers to see what was on. There’s a good jazz group playing not far from here. Would you like to go?”

  Her green eyes widened. “I’ve never heard live jazz.”

  “Then it’s absolutely time you did.”

  THE CLUB WAS SMALL, noisy, and smoky in spite of the No Smoking sign over the bar. Kate held tight to Tony’s hand, feeling excited and a little shy.

  The band was taking a break when they arrived. Tony found a table at the back of the room, and since there was no waiter, he went off to the bar to get the glass of white wine she’d asked for. Kate watched as a dark-haired woman materialized beside him, putting a familiar hand on his arm and smiling up into his face.

  A stab of pure jealousy shot through her as Tony bent his head and kissed the woman on the cheek. He listened to what she said, then threw back his head and laughed.

  So he happened to know someone here, Kate chided herself. Why should that bring on such a strong reaction in her? Because she’d assumed they’d be alone and anonymous. Because she didn’t want to share him. Because the lousy woman was pretty, and the way she leaned into Tony and put her hand on his chest hinted at intimacy instead of casual friendship.

  Kate did a down-and-dirty survey
. The woman wore an ankle-length red dress, bias cut, that fitted close around a tiny waist, emphasized generous breasts and narrow hips and then flared out provocatively at the hem. Over it was a tiny cropped purple silk jacket. The dramatic colors suited her mass of coal-black curls and perfect heart-shaped face.

  Damn it all to hell, she was more than pretty. She was beautiful.

  And now she was swaying across the room on her stiletto heels, her hand on Tony’s arm, making straight toward the table where Kate waited, lips forced into a wide, welcoming smile. What had ever made her think listening to jazz was a good idea?

  “Kate Lewis,” Tony was saying. “This is Sandy Solem, an old friend. She used to sing at the jazz club in Vancouver when I was sitting in with the band.”

  Kate put out her hand and Sandy took it. Her palm was warm, and she squeezed Kate’s hand in a friendly gesture. “Happy to meet you, Kate.” Her voice was low and throaty. “Antony tells me you work at St. Joe’s. What do you do?”

  Antony? Kate explained her job briefly.

  The other woman listened, then said with a warm smile, “So you keep peace between all the warring factions, have I got that right?”

  “That’s the idea,” Kate said, feeling more comfortable. Sandy was obviously making an effort. “I don’t always manage it, but I try.”

  “There’s times the band could use your services,” Sandy said, wrinkling her nose. “As we speak there’s a bloody feud going on between the drummer and the new guy on the horn. And speaking of the band, looks like I’d better get back.”

  The musicians were lifting their instruments.

  Sandy leaned over, and Kate heard her say close to Tony’s ear, “If you’re still around when the next set’s done, I’d love to have a drink with you.”

  She was gone before Tony could answer. He reached across and took Kate’s hand, linking his fingers with hers and giving a reassuring squeeze.

  “I had no idea Sandy was touring with these guys.”

  The music began, and when Sandy began to sing, Kate was mesmerized in spite of herself. The woman’s voice was a riveting combination of little-girl innocence and womanly seduction, a teasing and insinuating lilt that brought an involuntary smile to the faces of her listeners. She had range and power, and she commanded attention, even in this noisy atmosphere.

  Kate glanced at Tony, thinking that he and every other man in the room must be captivated by the tiny bombshell with the huge voice. But Tony wasn’t looking at Sandy. He was looking at her.

  “Dance?” He got to his feet at her nod and guided her to the small, crowded dance floor. As she moved with him to the music, at first tentatively and then with growing confidence and pleasure, Kate wondered for a moment if there was something incestuous in dancing with him to a torchy song sung by a woman she strongly suspected had been his lover at some point.

  But soon the pleasure of being in his arms blotted out any concerns. Their bodies were in perfect synch, and together they floated from one rhythm straight into the next. By the time the band took their next break, Kate was totally relaxed, and when Sandy came over and sat down, Kate told her how much she’d enjoyed her singing.

  “Thank you.” There was something both humble and shy in the acknowledgement. “It’s what I was born to do, I guess.”

  “Do you want a drink, Sandy?” Tony asked.

  “Soda water, please.”

  Leaving the two women alone, Tony made his way to the bar.

  Sandy lit a cigarette. Her lovely face was thoughtful as she tapped ash into a napkin with perfectly manicured fingers. “You’ve got good taste. So is it serious between you two?”

  Kate felt her face grow hot. Sandy was nothing if not direct, but she had no right to ask such a personal question. Kate opened her mouth to say that she and Tony were just friends, but instead heard herself confess, “I don’t know. Too soon to tell.”

  “Antony’s a great guy, but I guess you’ve figured that out.” Sandy drew on her cigarette and blew the smoke out slowly. “We went out a couple times, but then he met Jessica.” She laughed. “She snatched him out of my clutches.”

  “You know her?” Kate felt her earlier curiosity about Tony’s ex resurface.

  “Sure, we’re friends. Jazz is a small world, everybody knows everybody. I was at their wedding. They were hot together, those two. But it couldn’t last, they were going in different directions. He was way too settled for her—their kid was really all they had in common. I saw McKensy once when she was staying with Jessica. She’s a crackerjack, isn’t she?” There was something brittle in Sandy’s voice.

  “She really is.” Kate wondered where this was going.

  “You got kids, Kate?”

  “A stepdaughter, same age as McKensy. What about you, Sandy?”

  “Nope.” The other woman shook her head and changed the subject. “From what I hear, Antony and Jessica stayed friends after they split. I wish I could say that about even one of my exes.” Sandy grinned. “How about you, Kate? You got any you stayed buddies with?”

  “Not really.” She certainly didn’t consider Scott a buddy. What was taking Tony so long? What would this woman say next?

  When it came, it touched Kate’s heart.

  “I hope it works out for you two. Antony was there for me once when I needed him. I’d like to see him get lucky, and you look like the kind of steady lady that could manage that.”

  Tony was now heading back to the table with a tray of drinks. He handed Kate a fresh glass of wine and placed soda water in front of Sandy. She raised it in a toast. “Another day sober. One at a time seems to work.”

  The band assembled and Sandy joined them.

  When she began to sing again, Kate leaned over to Tony. “She had a drinking problem?”

  Tony nodded. “Major. She’s had a tough life. Her little boy, Zachary, died in a motel fire. After that she started drinking.”

  “That’s terrible.” Kate shuddered. “How old was he?”

  “Four. He’d be nine now.”

  McKensy’s age. Eliza’s age. Kate understood now why Sandy had sounded brittle. Sympathy welled up inside of her.

  They danced again, but he noticed when she yawned, once and then again. “Would you like to go, or just fall asleep here in my arms?”

  Oh, the temptation. “I guess we’d better go.”

  He called a cab, and with a wave to Sandy, they left.

  Tony was quiet in the cab, and then he said, “I’ve always been grateful to Sandy.”

  “Why’s that?”

  “It was because of what happened to Zachary that Jessica didn’t fight me for custody. Sandy had her son with her, traveling from one gig to the next. He was asleep, and she raced out for milk. The fire was an accident, but she blamed herself. She figured if she’d left him home with her family, the way her mother wanted, he wouldn’t have died. She made Jessica see that being on the road was no life for McKensy.”

  “It must be lonely for her.”

  “There’re a lot of ways to be lonely.”

  The matter-of-fact way he said it touched a chord deep inside her.

  “She said you were there for her when she needed you.”

  His shoulder moved under her head in a noncommittal shrug.

  “She called me once when she was low. I did what I could. What anybody would have done.”

  He didn’t say anything else, and Kate didn’t ask. He was a good, kind man, a fine father. And he needed a steady woman, Sandy had said. Someone like Kate—though steady was the exact opposite of the way her body was reacting to him right now.

  He sighed and looped his arm tighter around her shoulders, every so often giving her an affectionate squeeze. It felt companionable, but it also felt sexy. She rested her head back against his arm.

  At the hotel, Tony paid the cab and the doorman greeted them. As they rode up in the mirrored elevator, it felt to Kate as if days had passed since they’d last looked at themselves in this mirror, but she didn’t say
anything.

  They walked along the corridor in silence, her hand in his, her heart hammering with anticipation.

  At her door, Kate had to fumble in her bag for her access card. When she retrieved it, she turned to thank Tony for the evening, and found herself in his arms. She drew in a shaky breath and slid her hands around his back, aware of hard muscles under expensive tailoring, the intoxicating smell of clean man and lemony aftershave and heat and desire. She moved farther into his embrace and tilted her head up to make it easy for him.

  Man, was he adept at kissing. She kissed him back and couldn’t help wondering if he was just as good at the rest of it. Better, her brain suggested. More room for imagination. More space for invention.

  And as the kiss deepened and her heartbeat increased, she knew she had to make a decision. Should she ask him in? She’d fantasized for so long about making love with him, and now was her chance. But the fantasy had always been raunchy, sexy, fun—and devoid of tomorrows.

  Now that the opportunity was here, she found she wasn’t at all sure she could do it. He’d become so much more than a gorgeous, unattainable body. He was Tony, father, ex-husband, co-worker, friend to women in need. He was a man who intrigued her, made her laugh, touched her heart with his thoughtfulness. He was a guy she could fall in love with so easily, and he’d made it all too clear that he wasn’t looking for a life partner.

  Well, neither was she, another part of her brain argued. Why not take pleasure when it was offered?

  They were alone together in a hotel far away from Vancouver. They enjoyed each other’s company, they laughed at each other’s jokes, and if the looks he’d been giving her all evening meant anything at all, he found her appealing and sexy.

  What did she have to lose?