Amy Ruttan - Convenient Marriage, Surprise Twins

Iolana cocked an eyebrow. “I believe there is.”

“It’s not the same, which is why he came here and became a legend.” Jack ran his hand through his hair. “Lana, athletes come from all over North America to train with Dr. Andrew Tremblay, which is why Dad let him have hospital privileges here.”

“Don’t remind me,” Iolana griped.

She was all too aware that Dr. Andrew Tremblay was given privileges at her hospital, in her department, no less. The way he strutted around the halls, when he was actually here, drove her bonkers.

So smug. So sure of himself.

She’d always thought Canadians were supposed to be nice.

Jack was right. Andrew brought in a lot of money to their hospital and it would make a significant dent in their hospital profits if he left. And Jack might lose his chance at becoming a champion surfer.

Her dreams had been crushed to keep the peace; she couldn’t let that happen to Jack.

“I think this is fraud,” she said. “I don’t relish jail time.”

“You’ve known Andrew for some time. I think we can pull it off. Besides, isn’t Dad always on your case about settling down?”

Iolana frowned. She hated it when her brother was right and their father had been on at her lately about settling down. And her father respected Andrew and knew what he brought into their hospital.

Her father would approve of her choice.

Would he?

Her father had approved of David and look how that turned out. She’d become the laughingstock of the hospital, falling for a womanizer like David.

Her father had been disappointed instead of consoling when it had ended.

People pitied her.

Poor Dr. Lana Haole.

She hated the pity. Hated that her reputation had been destroyed.

It would just be for a year or two. It wouldn’t be all that horrible to marry him for convenience sake.

Jack was grinning at her, probably because he knew that he was wearing her down and she was going to say yes.

“He has to ask me,” Iolana said. “That’s my condition. If he wants the world to believe that we’re an item and that this marriage is legitimate to protect his keister, he’s going to have to get on one knee with a ring and ask me.”

Jack winced. “A ring?”

“A ring.” Iolana got up and walked to the door of her office, giving her little brother a subtle hint that she wanted him to leave. “And a nice, big, expensive...”

The words died in her throat when she saw that Andrew was on the other side of the door, a hand raised as if he was about to knock. He grinned in that boyish way that simultaneously made her melt and grated on her nerves. How many times had they butted heads on the ER floor? And he always ended arguments with that smile which infuriated her.

“I see Jack’s spoken to you.”

Iolana crossed her arms and glared at him. All he did was grin. “Dr. Tremblay,” she acknowledged.

He slipped his hands into the pockets of his white lab coat and grinned, leaning forward. “You know, if you glare at me like that no one is going to believe that we’re supposed to be getting married.”

Iolana growled as he moved past her and into her office. She shut the door and stood in front of it, glaring both at her brother and Andrew.

Andrew cocked his eyebrow. “You don’t look too happy about this arrangement.”

“And what about this arrangement should I be happy about?” she demanded.

“I get to stay here and work. I get to continue on your brother’s training.”

“And why should that make me happy?” she asked.

“Oh, come now, Dr. Haole. You treasure me and my experience.”

“Well, I’ll leave you two to figure out the details of this arrangement,” Jack said nervously as he walked toward the door. Iolana fixed him with an icy glare as he moved past her and slipped out into the hallway.

“Hey, Keaka, not a word to Dad!” she called out after her brother, before slamming the door again and facing her intended.

“Keaka, eh? You must be ticked off at him.” Andrew didn’t look at her. Instead he wandered around, looking at everything but avoiding eye contact with her. Which was safer for him because she was sure her look would grill him on the spot.

“I’m not happy about this, Dr. Tremblay.” She marched to her desk and took a seat in her chair. She wanted to put something solid between the two of them. She folded her hands on her desk. “There are stipulations to this arrangement.”

He cocked one of those blond eyebrows of his and adjusted his glasses. “Stipulations?”

“You want this to be believable, don’t you? I mean, if Immigration were to find out, our careers and the reputation of this hospital would be at stake. Jail time as well. Besides, I’m not irresponsible. I would’ve dealt with this long ago, so as not to resort to this.”

He nodded, but she could tell by the way his lips were firmly pressed together he didn’t enjoy her lecture. He just tolerated it. “Fair enough. What did you have in mind, Dr. Haole?”

“I want a public proposal,” she said. “And I want a ring.”

“You want a ring?” he asked in disbelief that wiped the haughtiness off his face.

“We have to make this as real as possible.” Iolana couldn’t help but grin. “I’m risking a lot.”

“Is that so?” He leaned over her desk, those blue eyes of his boring into her. “Any particular cut?”

She held out her hand, wiggling her fingers in front of him and grinning, knowing that she was bugging him immensely. “I’m partial to an emerald cut, but I’ll leave that up to you. There has to be some romance in this arrangement.”

Andrew made a face. “Is there anything else?”

“Well, we’re going to have to suss out living arrangements, I suppose. I guess it would make the most sense if you move in with me, and we’ll have to sign a prenuptial agreement.”

“It’s not a real marriage,” he said and then looked highly insulted. “What’s wrong with my place?”

“Don’t you live in an apartment? I have a house. And it is a real marriage—we’re really getting married. It’s not a make-believe marriage. I have to protect my assets.”

“Fine.” He straightened and crossed his arms. “So when am I supposed to make this public announcement of our engagement?”

“I’m not sure. Perhaps at the fund-raiser at the end of the week? That would be a good place for you to get down on one knee and give me a ring.”

“You have this all figured out, and so fast.” Andrew grinned then. “You’re secretly pleased by this, aren’t you? I think there’s more to you than meets the eye.”

Heat bloomed in her cheeks. “I think fast on my feet. That’s all.”

“No, I think you secretly want this. You want me.”

She was seeing red. “I could turn you in.”

“You won’t, though.”

“Won’t I?”

“No, because you’re attracted to me. You just don’t want to admit it.”

She glared at him. “Now I remember why I didn’t want to do this. You’re an arrogant jerk.”

“So why are you doing this if you detest me so?”

“Business. You bring revenue into this hospital.”

“That I can’t deny.” He grinned. “Is that all?”

No.

He was her ticket to have people stop pitying her. Including David.

“I love my brother and he thinks you’ll bring him to the surfing championships.”

Andrew nodded. “Jack is talented and he will get to the finals. He will be a champion.”

Iolana smiled then. “That’s why I’m doing it. Nothing more.”

“It is a lot for you to take on. You must love your brother.”

“I do.”

“Well, I appreciate it.” And she knew that he meant it; just the change in his attitude made her think that he was sincere.