Hardball

by V.K. Sykes

  * * *

  Holly enjoyed late afternoon rounds with her residents and interns. Teaching was never a chore for her, but today she couldn’t wait to finish up. She blamed it on Carter, and damn him for breaking her usual relentless focus. The man had definitely thrown her off her game. Still, it was flattering that he had asked her out, even if it wasn’t an official date. And having the opportunity to meet Dr. Fredericks would more than compensate for the confusing situation with Nate.

  Once her rounds were completed, she rushed home to change for her girl’s night out with her friend Rebecca, who had bought tickets for a dinner event and fundraiser hosted by the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Twenty minutes later, Holly was in her car and driving back to center city in rush hour traffic. Fortunately, she caught some green lights and pulled into the museum parking lot with a couple of minutes to spare. Rebecca met her by the front entrance, looking sleek in a black sheath that hugged her trim figure.

  Her friend gave her a quick hug. “Right on time, Dr. Bell. You always did hate being late.”

  “And you’re always late, so color me gob-smacked that you’re actually here on time,” Holly teased.

  They hurried inside, found their seats, and spent the next hour catching up and chatting with the other museum patrons at their table. Once the dinner was over, the guests were free to wander around the museum. More by chance than anything else, Holly and Rebecca ended up in the costume gallery, staring at wedding gowns from various periods of American history. They both fell silent as they stared at the beautiful, pearl-encrusted gown worn by Grace Kelly when she married her prince.

  “Wouldn’t it be incredible to have a wedding like that?” Rebecca said wistfully. “I know it’s old-fashioned to dream of a fairy-tale wedding, but I have to confess that I always have. Too bad it didn’t work out that way.”

  “I thought your wedding was pretty great,” Holly said. “We had a hell of a good time, as I recall. I especially enjoyed seeing your brother get so drunk at the reception that he fell into the punch fountain. Too bad they didn’t get that on your wedding video.”

  Rebecca wrinkled her nose. “Thanks a bunch for reminding me of that highlight. But hey, when you get married, you can hire a designer to make you a gown that looks just like that.”

  Shaking her head, Holly moved away from the display case. “You might be waiting a long time for any wedding of mine.” She had never had any fantasies about a fairy-tale wedding. Or any wedding, for that matter. She’d always hoped for a steady, committed relationship with a man. Probably a workaholic professional—most likely another medical specialist—who would understand how committed she was to her work. But the classic two kids, big house in a high-tone suburb, his and hers SUV’s and endless soccer practices had never been part of her plan.

  “Oh, stop it,” Rebecca retorted, catching up with her. “You’re beautiful, brilliant, and a wildly successful professional. Plus, you’re so darn nice. What more could a guy want? Trust me. Your prince will come along in good time.”

  “I’m not looking for a prince, Rebecca,” Holly said quietly. “And I’m not looking for a magic kingdom. I think my father was a prince, yet he and my mother made each other completely miserable for decades. It derailed my mother’s career, remember? Sometimes I think it’s a miracle she ever recovered.”

  Rebecca sighed. “True enough. And I guess I’m not exactly the poster girl for happily ever after, am I?”

  Holly winced as guilt shafted through her. Why did discussions of love and marriage almost always turn into such downers?

  “Walker was an idiot to leave you,” she said, wrapping a comforting arm around her friend’s shoulders.

  Rebecca gave a little snort. “He was. But now I wish he’d done it four years earlier.”

  Holly gave her a little squeeze before letting go. Rebecca had been so devastated by her divorce that she had quit her job. But now she finally seemed to be getting back on track, with a new executive position at a growing high-tech company. Holly was thrilled for her, but she couldn’t imagine any situation—or man—worth blowing up her career for. The very thought of it made her feel almost queasy. After living through the meltdown of her parents’ marriage, surely no one could blame her.

  “Enough about my sordid past,” Rebecca said in a cheery voice. “What about you? Have you met any interesting guys since you moved up here?”

  Holly had been expecting the question, and still wasn’t sure how to answer. Oddly, she felt reluctant to tell Rebecca about Nate Carter. She didn’t think it had anything to do with his being a professional athlete—surely she wasn’t that much of a snob—but she couldn’t quite put her finger on it.

  Oh, what the hell. “Actually, I did meet an interesting guy,” she said cautiously.

  Rebecca arched her perfect brows. “Well, don’t keep me in suspense. Let’s have it.”

  “He’s just a guy I ran into at the hospital.” Holly tried to sound off-handed. “A baseball player, actually. He visits kids there when he has time off.”

  “Wow, I like him already. One of the Patriots?”

  Holly nodded. “Yes.”

  Rebecca looked exasperated. “Do I have to pry his name out of you?”

  “No, no. It’s Nate Carter. I gather he’s kind of a big deal here in Philly.”

  Her friend stopped in her tracks. “Oh my God, Holly, are you freaking kidding me?” she shrieked. “Nate Carter’s a superstar. Like, mega-big. And he’s just about the hottest guy in the whole city, too.” She gave a tiny hop, like a little girl. “I can’t believe this. Nate Carter. God, he’s so totally gorgeous.”

  An older woman dripping in diamonds glared at them, clearly annoyed by Rebecca’s outburst. Holly gave her an apologetic smile and dragged her friend around a corner.

  “Yes, I have to say I did notice that about him,” she responded dryly. “But let’s not get too excited.”

  Rebecca was unrepentant. “Oh, my God, Nate Carter! Nate Carter and Holly Bell!”

  Holly bit back a very unladylike curse. “Rebecca, we just met. There is no Nate Carter and Holly Bell.”

  Her friend grabbed her elbow. “How did you actually meet him? Details. I want the details.”

  Holly sighed, regretting she had ever opened her mouth. “I was with one of my patients when he popped into the room for a visit with her. Then he came back the next day, we chatted for a few minutes, and he asked to speak to me outside the room.”

  “And?” Rebecca’s tongue was practically hanging out.

  “And we went to the cafeteria for tea and coffee. He’s something of a charmer, for sure, but he sure doesn’t mince words.” She clamped her lips shut, realizing too late what she had just revealed.

  Rebecca pounced. “My God, you’re embarrassed! What did he say?”

  Holly was embarrassed. “He said straight out of the blue that I was the hottest doctor in the city,” she said. “Pretty crazy, huh?” Saying it out loud made her feel even sillier.

  Rebecca’s gaze softened. “Sweetie, you are hot, even though you’d bite your tongue off before ever admitting it.” She paused a few moments, as if she were debating what to say next. “But I’m not surprised he said that,” Rebecca finally said. “Because that sounds exactly like the Nate Carter I’ve heard so much about.”

  Oh, oh. “I don’t like the sound of that,” Holly said. “What do you mean?”

  “Let’s just say he’s got something of a reputation. I’m sure you understand why.”

  Holly waved an impatient hand. “Actually, I don’t. Are you saying he’s the hit and run type?”

  Rebecca hesitated again. “I don’t think so. I seem to remember he had a pretty serious relationship with a sportswriter a few years ago. But, still, I gather there’s a trail of broken hearts behind him that would span the Delaware River.”

  No surprise there, but that didn’t make it any easier to hear. Not that it should matter. After all, the chances of a serious relationship emerging between H
olly and Nate Carter had to be about zero.

  She gave what she hoped was a careless shrug. “He doesn’t seem to be the kind of guy who would bother with someone like me. Not when he has his pick of models or actresses. That’s who athletes usually hook up with, right?”

  Rebecca snorted. “Way to sell yourself short, girlfriend. Listen. You’re beautiful and smart and the nicest person I know. It doesn’t surprise me a bit that Carter would hit on you. Plus, he’d probably see it as a challenge to bed a brainy doctor.”

  Shocked, Holly flinched.

  Rebecca’s eyes widened. “Oops. Sorry, Holly. My bad. Look, I’m sure he’s genuinely attracted to you. He’d be nuts not to be.” She gave an encouraging smile.

  Holly stared at her friend, hating the sympathy she saw in her gaze. A challenge to bed a brainy doctor. Sadly, those words had the ring of truth.

  “It’s okay,” she finally said, “I’m glad you told me. You may be right about him.”

  Rebecca slipped her arm around Holly’s waist and began to guide her down the corridor. “Look at it this way. You could sure use some fun. So, why not go out with one of the hottest guys around? Just take it for what it is, and be careful not to let yourself get hurt.”

  Holly let her friend lead her into next gallery. As they strolled by cabinets filled with antique china, she tried to separate her anxieties from her desires, but ended up feeling more confused than ever. And annoyed. It wasn’t like her to be so indecisive. Maybe Rebecca was right. She shouldn’t try to analyze it. Instead, she should just take her encounters with Nate Carter at face value and see what happened at the golf dinner on Monday.

  “Actually, he already asked me out. Sort of,” Holly said as she peered at a delicate Ming bowl. She avoided looking at her friend.

  “Sort of?” Rebecca’s voice didn’t conceal her skepticism.

  “He invited me to be part of his table at the banquet of his golf tournament fundraiser. Since he’s going to pick me up, I guess it’s a date.”

  Rebecca chuckled. “Wow. I still can’t believe this. My pal Holly going out with Nate Carter. You can’t even imagine how much I’m looking forward to your post-date report. I want a call immediately after. Unless you’re too busy, of course,” she said with a wink.”

  Holly gave her friend a grateful smile, glad to be on lighter ground. “I can’t guarantee that. You know doctors. We’re all about the confidentiality thing.”

  They strolled down the corridor, Rebecca chattering happily about the upcoming date. She seemed more excited about it than Holly did, which was a bit disconcerting. Why wasn’t she happier to be going out with a hot celebrity athlete? After all, like Rebecca said, she was overdue for some fun, and no doubt Nate could give her as much as she could handle. But she had the feeling that he could also turn out to be more than she could handle, too.

  Time to strap on the emotional body armor. I’m going to be playing in the big leagues now.

  Chapter Eight