Judy Christenberry - The Doctor Delivers

“You’re right,” she said with a smile that didn’t hold a lot of warmth. Sitting up a little straighter in the bed, she said, “I’m sorry I’ve taken up so much of your time. I’ll call your office and leave an address to mail your bill.”

Feeling like the kitten he’d been cuddling had suddenly grown claws, he stared at her. “You want me to leave?”

“I can’t explain the situation to you, so I understand why you wouldn’t want to be involved.”

Frustrated, he stood, shoving his hands in his pockets. “Fine. I’m sure you— Damn it, Liza, what are you going to do? I can’t leave you here alone. What if that man comes back? Do you want me to call Detective Ramsey and have him assign a guard?”

“No! I’ll—I’ll manage on my own.”

“Sure! All ninety pounds of you,” he growled.

“I weigh more than that,” she objected.

“Are you going back to New York?”

Slowly she shook her head, as if making her decisions as they arose with no prior planning. “No, I don’t think so.”

He studied her, trying to think what to do. Slowly, he said, “I think you should disappear.”

“What?”

“If you had a place to go where no one would find you, except Emily, assuming Mrs. Tremble is Emily, that would be best, wouldn’t it? Just for a few days.”

“But I don’t know of anywhere,” she said, her voice almost a whisper again.

He sat back down on the edge of the bed. “But I do. Someplace where you’ll be safe and have someone to keep an eye on you until you feel better.”

“Where?” she asked, frowning.

“My house.”

Her green eyes huge, she pushed against the back of the bed, putting as much space between them as possible. “I won’t live with you. You’ve been kind, but I don’t— Sex isn’t part of the bargain, Dr. Hathaway.”

Liza stared at the handsome man sitting beside her, suddenly feeling much more vulnerable. She’d slid off her slacks for her nap. Now she wished she hadn’t done so.

His reaction to her words was interesting. Under a light tan, his cheeks were red.

“That’s not what I meant!” he assured her.

She lifted her chin and waited.

“I have a housekeeper, Mrs. Allen, and a large house that I’m redoing. There’s lots of room, and Bonnie— Mrs. Allen—is always complaining because I don’t entertain. You could move into the guest quarters, and she’d have someone to fuss over.”

“No, thank you.” She kept her response quiet, not wanting to even hint at the response her body was making. It had been a long time since she’d felt any interest in the opposite sex. She’d been engaged once, sure she’d found her true love.

Until her mother had bought him off.

Robert had decided a million dollars in his pocket now was much better than hoping to inherit from her parents one day.

And she’d decided true love was a lot of malarkey and wanted nothing to do with the men in the world. Until Dr. Nick Hathaway had come to her rescue. She wasn’t even sure how he’d become so important to her, but the fact that he interested her was warning enough.

“So you’re going to go to another hotel? If you’re half as well-known a singer as my nurse says you are, you’ll be recognized.”

“I’ll wear a disguise and go under a different name.”

“With credit cards that have your real name? How will you pay for anything?”

“I’ll get cash from an ATM,” she said, jutting her chin out and pressing her lips tightly together.

“That will work for a little while. Except if Mrs. Tremble is your cousin, she’ll be calling this afternoon. Where will you tell her you’ll be? You don’t have much time.”

“Stop it! You’re—you’re being difficult!” she exclaimed in frustration. She knew she was impulsive, not given to advance planning. Her mother ranted about how necessary she was to Liza’s career because Liza didn’t think ahead.

The problem was her career was more for her mother than her. Now, the kind doctor who had protected her had disappeared and someone who pushed her, just like her mother, had taken his place. He appeared stunned when she said so.

“I’m not— Well, maybe I am, but for your own good.”

“That’s what my mother says, too.” She glared at him.

As if memories of his conversation with her mother came back to him, he frowned, staring at her. Finally, he said, “I didn’t mean to upset you. Why don’t you get dressed and I’ll drive you to my house. Once you meet Mrs. Allen, you won’t have any doubts about my intentions.”

“I can’t leave in case Emily calls,” she returned. She really wasn’t trying to be obstinate, as her mother often assured her. But the call from Emily was too important.

She sighed with relief when he nodded, as if she’d made sense.

“Then I’ll call Bonnie and you can talk to her.” He reached for the phone.

“No! I don’t want you on the phone in case Emily calls.”

“I could go down to my car and get my cell phone, but it really isn’t necessary.” He dialed zero. “Operator, my friend, Ms. Colton, is expecting an important call. Can you break in if I’m making a local call?” He paused, then added, “Good, thank you.”

He hung up the phone and looked at her. “The operator promises she’ll interrupt if a phone call comes in for you. Is it all right if I call my housekeeper now?”

She nodded but couldn’t help asking, “What happens if there’s an emergency?”

He pulled back his jacket to show her the beeper on his belt. “They get my attention this way.”

She noticed that he waited for her approval before he picked up the phone again, leaving the choice up to her. Something her mother never did.

She nodded, not bothering to try to speak. All the talking was making her throat tight again. Besides, if she started talking, she might babble about her gratitude for his behavior. Normal behavior. It would tell him more than any words how difficult her relationship with her mother was.

When someone answered after he’d dialed the number, he greeted the person with warmth. Then he quickly explained that a friend was concerned about causing too much trouble by staying with him. He asked his housekeeper to assure his guest she wouldn’t mind. He handed the phone to Liza.

“Hello?” she said cautiously, her voice still husky.

“Hello, I’m Mrs. Allen, Nick’s housekeeper. I’ll be delighted to have a visitor. I never have enough to do.”

“But he says—”

“You’re a woman!” the lady exclaimed, interrupting her.

“Yes,” she said, waiting for the lady’s explanation.

“I’m sorry, but it’s been so— I mean, we’d love to have you stay with us.”

So the doctor had his own secrets? Somehow that made her feel better, though it should’ve worried her. “Mrs. Allen, I’m a patient of Dr. Hathaway’s, not really a friend. I hope that doesn’t bother you?”

“Not at all, dearie. It’s very quiet here. You’ll get a lot of rest. I hope he’s told you we’re redoing the house. But there’s a lull right now in workmen. The recent rains put them behind on their other job and they won’t be back for a week or two, so it will be quiet.”

“I see. Are you sure you don’t mind?”

“Not at all. Will you be— Uh, the guest quarters are quite private.”

Liza knew exactly what the woman wanted to know. And she wanted to make sure there were no misunderstandings. “The guest quarters sound perfect, thank you, Mrs. Allen.”

“Wonderful. What shall I fix for dinner? Is there anything you don’t eat?” The woman’s voice was filled with eager enthusiasm.

“Oh, I’m sorry, I have to stay here until after I receive a phone call, so you’d best not count on me for dinner. But I eat just about everything.”