His Perfect Woman (Harlequin Superromance) (7 page)

“Deal. I apolo—”

“We're not talking about it, remember?”

His warm chuckle filled her ear. “Understood. Now that the unmentionable has been taken care of, I'll be there in twenty minutes to pick you up.”

“Pick me up?” She sat up in the bed. “For what?”

“Not what, whom. We've got a baby to see. I thought we could go together.”

Together? She'd tossed and turned all night, dozing fitfully only to wake up with a jerk when their kiss played out in her head again and again. She'd fantasized about Bryan taking it further. In her dreams she hadn't had cancer, was the way she ought to be, a woman Bryan could be attracted to, until the dreams had changed to nightmares. In those, her breasts were gone, Bryan had been joined by Nathan, and both men had said they didn't want to be with her, couldn't be with her. They'd laughed at her attempts to kiss them, to attract them, disgust on their faces, contempt in their voices, because her body repulsed them.

“Hello…Melissa, are you there?”

She dropped back to her pillow and rolled to her side, rubbing her sleep-deprived eyes. “I'm here, but— Bryan, look, I'm sure you understand why I feel the need to reestablish employer-employee distance? Let's just forget the k—
yesterday
ever happened, and I'll see you tomorrow morning.”

“Today. We need to move beyond what happened and we can't do it with the phones ringing and patients watching. And it's a perfect day for a drive. Forty-five minutes to the hospital, forty-five minutes back, a half-hour stay at most so we don't tire the new mother and lunch. How's that sound?”

Melissa pressed the heel of her hand to her forehead. It sounded like a date. She pulled the sheet up to her chin, undecided, her instincts screaming. He'd agreed the kiss was a mistake, but if she spent the afternoon with Bryan, how could she
not
think of the kiss? Not remember her dreams? Her imagination had been quite detailed, painfully so.

To even consider Bryan a possibility as a companion to her loneliness was a joke…on her.

“Come on, it's a gorgeous beginning to September and the last of the really pretty weather. I'll put the top down so we can enjoy the day. How about it? I'd hoped to discuss the fund-raiser since we didn't get a chance yesterday. Maybe toss around a few ideas and get things rolling? Layer on the sunscreen and let's go.”

Melissa reminded herself that Bryan—men—viewed things differently than women. A date to her was a business lunch to him. Go figure. Then again, if Bryan's reputation was anything to go by, the last thing his dates entailed was a drive to visit a friend in the hospital. It was something he'd do with…a sister. Or a friend. She did need to see the baby, make sure Ashley knew she'd simply been a little overwhelmed and that she didn't resent her or Joe's happiness.

“Do you have other plans?”

“No, but—”

“Great. So how long do you need?”

“Need?”

“To get ready. Longer than a half hour?” He chuckled softly, the sound friendly. “Are you sure you're awake?”

The teasing in Bryan's voice made her smile, as well, before she squelched it and shook off her hesitation. Bryan might be a player when it came to women, but he was also her boss. One who'd readily agreed to her demand of not repeating the same mistake because he'd regretted it himself. Instantly.

She
was the only one making a big deal out of things. What happened in Bryan's office was nothing to someone like him, a man who dated multiple women. No, he'd gotten caught up in the moment, forgotten her history and—

It wouldn't happen again
. “Thirty minutes.”

“I'll see you then. Don't forget the sunscreen.”

 

B
RYAN HELD
Ashley and Joe's daughter in his arms, amazed how something so tiny could hold everyone around her so enthralled. The infant scrunched up her face, yawned, then blinked her eyes open to stare at him, and he knew in an instant the girl would grow up and break some hearts. “Beautiful. It's a good thing she takes after her mother, though,” he murmured, never taking his eyes off her little face.

Wilson Woodrow, the man who'd unofficially adopted Ashley when she'd bought his large Victorian home to open a bed and breakfast, laughed gruffly. “Wouldn't Joe's ugly mug have been a sight?”

Joe took the ribbing in stride. “Hush up, old man, or you'll be getting diaper duty.”

“Serve him right. He never does his share of the dishes,” Joe's father added. Ted Brody shook a finger at Wilson, but the grin on his face belied his gruff tone. “Always out playing bingo with those widows from Baxter. I told him if he ain't careful, one of these days he's going to find himself in front of a preacher again.”

Wilson looked so horrified at the thought they all laughed. Bryan continued to chuckle, noting belatedly that the group had quieted down and was now focused on something behind him. He turned. Melissa stood outside the door holding a bouquet of flowers that shook slightly. “There you are. I wondered where you'd disappeared to.”

Her face flushed. “Sorry. I ran into someone and then…I didn't want to visit empty-handed.”

“Oh, Melissa, you didn't have to buy flowers! Come in,” Ashley greeted warmly. “I'm so glad you're here!”

Melissa stepped forward, her eyes down, her cheeks bright pink, which caused the sprinkling of freckles across her nose to stand out against her pale skin. “How are you feeling?”

“Actually much better this time than after Max was born.”

“That's wonderful.”

Ashley waved Melissa deeper into the room, looking nothing like a woman who'd just given birth hours before. “Come on, don't be shy. Isabella and I need another female in here to help even up the numbers,” she said with grin. “And I want to thank you for helping us yesterday.”

Melissa handed Ashley the bouquet, giving her a hug and murmuring something Bryan couldn't hear. Ashley's face softened and she shared a look with her husband before discreetly shooing Joe away. Joe placed his hand on Melissa's shoulder and squeezed gently before leaving the bed and moving to Bryan's side.

“Quit staring.”

“Shut up,” Bryan muttered, unable to take his eyes off Melissa's heart-shaped rear when she bent over the side of the bed rail to hug Ashley again. Dressed in snug jeans and a loose, button-down shirt, Melissa looked great. Healthy. But he'd noticed the exhaustion around her eyes when he'd picked her up this morning, and knew without a doubt she hadn't slept, either. But why? The baby's birth? The kiss? She'd suggested never speaking of it again. Because it hadn't mattered to her? Didn't affect her the way it had him?

He heard Melissa softly say Joe's name and jealousy made itself known. How healthy was it that Melissa was friends with her ex-lover's wife? Was it a way to be close to Joe?

The two women stopped whispering, and Ashley smiled as she patted Melissa's hand. “The flowers are beautiful,” she said, her tone a little louder and now including the rest of them in the room, “and they smell wonderful. Thank you again, Melissa. For everything.”

“Mommy, Mommy!”

Before Melissa could respond, Ashley's son barreled into the room pulling a young hospital volunteer behind him. He let go of the girl's hand once he spotted Bryan.

“Unc' B.!” Max torpedoed himself against Bryan's legs and wrapped his arms tight, grinning. “Me, me! Up!”

Bryan chuckled at Max's antics and saw Melissa watching them, a smile on her face. The first true smile he'd seen all day.

“Would you like a turn?” Carefully, keeping his movements steady and sure, given the munchkin pulling on his legs, Bryan shifted the baby in his arms while Melissa eagerly stepped close. During the transfer to Melissa, a minuscule hand escaped the hospital blanket.

Melissa's laughter filled the air, her face instantly softening with love. “Well, hello to you, too. Oh, Ashley, she's
beautiful
.”

“See? Everybody knows who's got the looks in the family,” Wilson teased from the corner of the room.

Bryan picked up Max, distracted by the expression on Melissa's face. She stared at the baby, transfixed, her lips curled up at the corners, her eyes sparkling.

Beautiful was right.

Everyone went back to chatting, but Bryan couldn't take his eyes off Melissa even though he knew he'd get some ribbing later from Joe.

Wilson made a joke, and they all laughed. But still he watched her. That's why he saw the instant she started and stiffened like she'd been stabbed. The color left her cheeks and then returned in a blazing rush. A split second later, his heart slammed into his chest when a tear trickled down her cheek and Melissa hurried to wipe it away. “Melissa?”

At the sound of Bryan's voice, Ashley turned her head and gasped. “Melissa, what's wrong? Why are you upset?”

“I'm fine.
Really
.” She sniffled and released a strained laugh, but no more tears escaped. “I think I'm having sympathy mood swings for you,” she joked huskily, trying to add a smile and failing miserably. “She's beautiful, Ashley. Just so…so
perfect
. I'd forgotten how—I'd forgotten. That's all.”

Unable to go on, Melissa carried the baby the three steps it took to pass her to her mother and then fled the room with a hastily murmured goodbye. Bryan turned and found Joe waiting for his stepson, arms outstretched. Two seconds later Bryan rushed into the hall, barely catching sight of Melissa's blue blouse as she went around the corner. He jogged after her and followed her into an otherwise empty elevator. “Melissa—”

“Don't.” She wouldn't look at him. “I'm fine. I feel like a fool, but I'm fine. Go back to them.”

“Not a chance.” The elevator doors closed and, assured of their privacy, Bryan stepped forward to take her into his arms.

T
HE MOMENT
Melissa noticed his approach, she stalked to the opposite side of the elevator. Bryan fought his frustration and settled his butt against the metal bar, arms over his chest. “What happened?”

Using both trembling hands, she wiped her face and rolled her eyes. “What an idiot. I feel like an absolute
idiot!
” She slumped against the elevator wall, her face pale. “This was such a mistake. I shouldn't have come. Why did you have to insist I come with you?”

He stepped forward, but she distanced herself again, sliding along the wall to the back of the elevator.
“Melissa.”

“Leave it alone, Bryan. Leave
me
alone or I'll quit before I ever start work tomorrow morning. I mean it.”

“Why can't I hold you? As a
friend?
”

“Because I'm fine!”

“Lie to yourself if you can, but don't lie to me.”

It dawned on her they weren't moving, and Melissa slammed her hand against the elevator button. A second later they began the descent to the lobby. “I can't believe it. What must they
think?
”

“I'd say they think you're upset over holding a baby girl not much smaller than the one you lost. Melissa, they understand that you're happy for them and yet sad for yourself.”
His gaze narrowed when he felt a surprising stab of jealousy once again. “Unless there's more? Does this have something to do with Joe?”

Her eyes widened. “What? No!” She shook her head firmly.
“No,”
she repeated, a glare and her tone lending truth to her words. She groaned again, palms pressed to her forehead. “Joe and I were never really more than friends. We were just too young to realize it at the time.”

Relief flooded through him. He had no business feeling relief or jealousy or any other emotion where Melissa was concerned, and yet he did. But only because he didn't want Joe and Ashley's marriage to be endangered.

The elevator chimed and the doors began to slide open. Bryan watched Melissa raise her chin and square her shoulders, the tears gone or at least under control. He supposed that's how she'd managed to survive the cancer, by standing her ground, pride intact, head high and fighting. But in that instant he wanted to fight for her. With her. But how could he do that when, having moved back to town and discovering she battled cancer, he'd neglected to visit her? He'd told himself he was too busy taking over his grandfather's practice, convinced himself that there had been too many years between visits to still be friends, but he knew none of those were the truth.

Shaking his head at his own actions, Bryan smothered a groan and followed her out into the lobby. Melissa hadn't even worked her first official day and already he was in over his head. He could already hear Joe laughing at his dilemma. And threatening to kill him if he stepped out of bounds and hurt Melissa in any way.

Minutes later Bryan unlocked his car with a bleep of the key-ring control, and they climbed inside. Neither of them
spoke until halfway between Taylorsville and Baxter when he turned onto a narrow driveway and slowed the powerful sports car. Trees lined the road and created a sun-dappled haven of cooler air. With the wind no longer a factor, he decided to appease his curious mind even though he told himself to leave well enough alone.

“Enough already. Melissa, what happened back there? The truth this time, please.”

She tensed, glaring at him briefly before averting her head once more. “I don't know what you mean.”

A grim smile lifted one side of his mouth. “You'd rather I guessed? Let's see…you came in with flowers, hugged Ashley and were fine. You smiled. Chatted. Smiled some more.”

“Bryan—”

“Then you took the baby and wound up white as a sheet. Muscle spasm? No, I don't think so. Maybe a—”

“Bryan.”

He slid her a glance. “Something happened, Melissa, and since I
do
care what happens to my employees—my
friends
— I'd like you to feel you could talk to me. Surely whatever it is, it isn't so bad that you can't tell me?”

She stared out at the slowly passing scenery, her profile revealing her turbulent thoughts. “It just felt…strange. Holding her, like you said.”

Uh-huh. That might be part of it, but it wasn't all. He wished he'd kept his mouth shut and not given her a ready excuse. “It's been—” he quickly tabulated “—nearly twelve years since Josie's death? Surely you've held babies since then?” Thinking fast, he latched on to a memory. “Yeah, I know you have. I've seen you with Max several times, and little Katie Morgan.”

“Drop it. Please,” she begged huskily. “You have no right to ask these questions.”

“I do when Ashley and her family are my patients. Are you going to disappear or get upset every time they come in for a visit?”

Her head whipped toward him. “Of course not!”

“Then tell me what happened today instead of giving me lame excuses. Let me be the friend you say you want,” he challenged. “Come on, Melissa. A long time ago you told me everything. Now it's truth time again—
what happened?
”

Bryan split his attention between the road and Melissa. She appeared to be trying to look through him instead of at him. Slowing even more, the car crawled along at a snail's pace.

“I suppose if I don't tell you we'll go five miles an hour until we get there?”

“If that's what it takes.”

“I guess it's no big deal. Everybody knows, anyway.” She sent him a dubious glance. “As a doctor, you must know what's involved with the type of cancer I had, right?”

“Breast cancer can be treated numerous ways.” What did her cancer have to do with the baby? “A lumpectomy or mastectomy, radiation and chemo are standard.”

“Yeah.” She inhaled and blew the breath out quickly, her cheeks turning pink. “Okay, well…I had a double mastectomy.”

His grip tightened on the wheel. “Why a double?” he asked hoarsely, knowing he had to give her some kind of level, doctorish response. Curiosity, medical expertise, something other than the bone-crushing fear tumbling through him. She'd lost
both
breasts?

“I carry the breast-cancer gene and they thought it would be best with my family history.”

Her words brought another face to mind. Rachel's image had blurred over the years since med school, but he still remembered her smile, her laughter. The way she'd maintained her sense of humor despite the trauma her body had endured.

“I never thought I'd see you speechless.”

Bryan glanced over to where Melissa sat and caught himself before he murmured the thoughtless
I'm sorry
. He'd learned working in the cancer unit that a lot of families didn't want to hear placating words because they didn't fix the problem—and they wouldn't fix Melissa. The last thing she needed or wanted was his pity. “What did the baby do?”

“The baby…” She laughed softly. “Let's just say she did what all newborn babies do.”

Given the poor condition his brain was in, it took him a second or two to catch on. “You mean she…
rooted
you?”

Melissa nodded, but avoided his gaze. “And even though I have held babies since Josie, that hasn't happened. Let's just say it brought home a whole lot of truths in the space of a second, and even though I was already aware of them, I—I guess I hadn't completely, I don't know, accepted them.”

“I understand.” And he did. Looking at her one would never have known what she'd suffered, but Melissa was very aware of her body's altered state and changes since the surgery. “And I appreciate your telling me.”

“I know it's silly. I mean, it's been nearly two years since I was diagnosed and the surgery was immediately after that. I should be used to it.”

“It's not silly at all, Melissa. Your reaction was perfectly understandable. You're certainly not the only woman who would've reacted that way.”

“Maybe.” She looked out at the goldenrod they passed, a
twist to her pink lips. “But now I'll have to call Ashley and apologize for running out like that. She'll be— Bryan, where
are
we?”

Thankful for the change in mood, he grinned at her awe-struck expression. “My granddad's,” he said, trying to see the large house through her eyes. “I hope you don't mind, but I thought we'd have lunch here and spend a little time with him?”

Melissa shook her head quickly, her expression softening to one of concern. “Here I've been going on and on, and I never once asked. How's he doing? I heard about the stroke. You found him?”

“Not me. The housekeeper, Meg. She's also the cook and all-around wonder woman. She's worked for my granddad for years. A home-care nurse comes by every day, but Meg fills in the gaps.” Tearing his eyes away from hers wasn't easy. “The first hour after a stroke is critical because sometimes the damage can be reversed if care is given quickly enough, but Granddad had the stroke during the night and didn't get help until hours later.”

“The damage is permanent?”

Bryan nodded and stopped the car. No amount of money or ability could change his grandfather's health now, but he'd do his best to see to it his grandfather's sacrifices wouldn't go unacknowledged.

“He's the reason the clinic is so important to you.”

Leave it to Melissa to understand. “It might have started off as his dream, but it's become mine.”

Melissa flashed him an understanding smile. “Then we'll make sure it happens. Your grandfather was a wonderful doctor, well respected and loved.” Her expression turned thoughtful, speculative. “Maybe with his permission, we
could play up that angle? Use him to remind the people of Taylorsville what they lost or could lose in not having the clinic we all need?”

“I like the sound of that. It gives the clinic a more personal feel. I'm still considered the newcomer to town, but if Granddad shows his support—”

“We'll have the majority of the town,” she stated confidently. “He doctored so many people, their children.
Grandchildren
. Bryan, that's it! That's the key to making this fund-raiser a success.”

He stared at her, taking in her conquer-the-world expression and the smile that pulled her lips up at the corners. In a matter of moments Melissa had gone from being sad and teary eyed to determined to see the job done.

Yeah, he liked it. He liked it a lot.

 

I
NSIDE THE
six-thousand-square-foot house, Melissa looked around, unable to keep her mouth from hanging slightly agape while Bryan closed the massive double entry doors. The house was absolutely beautiful from the outside, but inside it was a designer's dream. A mixture of old and new, antiques and modern furnishings.

A complicated block pattern in what appeared to be cherry inlay dominated the floor. Darker stained wood encircled the entry, giving the floor the look of a cherry-bound wooden rug. Leaded-glass doors stood open off the elegant foyer, and a peek inside showed it to be a salon or parlor, the furnishings proudly holding time-worn knickknacks and antiques. “It's beautiful.”

“Like stepping back in time,” Bryan agreed. “I'll give you a tour before we leave.”

She followed him dazedly. Along the hall were black-and-
white photos of the original Dr. Booker, shiny silver tags with descriptions and dates at the bottom. One picture was of Dr. Booker standing outside his practice with an early-model Ford parked alongside a horse tied to a porch post, another of him and the first baby he'd delivered, another in a hospital surrounded by children. “Bryan, is that…?”

Bryan chuckled. “Yeah. Granddad was on vacation in Rome when he heard about some kids getting sick at a local orphanage. He went to see if he could help and had been there three days when he heard a commotion. A group of nuns came into the room with a man in long white robes. Granddad said he was so exhausted it took him a minute to realize who it was.” He smiled. “Come on, I'm hungry. Granddad is usually in the sunroom this time of day. You can ask him about the photos and hear the stories firsthand.”

Eager, she allowed Bryan to pull her deeper into the interior. What looked like Tiffany lamps lit the way and wind-up clocks were everywhere, some with pendulums swinging, some with suns and moons.

“When he moved back to this area and began practicing medicine, a lot of the people didn't have money to pay him, but they had their pride so they brought him other things. Family heirlooms, farm stock.” He lifted a hand. “Clocks and quilts. He refused the majority of it, but over the years he still managed to accumulate quite a collection.”

They turned a corner. Ahead of them, Melissa heard a woman's voice followed by a sharp, inhuman cry.

“That's Charlie. He's a cockatiel and one of Granddad's many payments.”

Bryan rounded another corner and hesitated, slipping his hand from her arm to the small of her back where it rested lightly. He appeared unaffected by the contact, but Melissa
felt a surge of warmth shoot through her when he guided her into the room, his chest brushing her shoulder.

“You two up for a visit?” Bryan called, smiling.

“Dr. Booker!” A smock-clad nurse turned away from her patient in surprise. “Aren't you a sight for sore eyes! Come in, come in! I was just about to go ask Meg about Randall's lunch. Would you like me to tell her you'll be joining your grandfather?”

“That'd be great.”

Melissa recognized the nurse immediately, but before she could form a greeting, she saw Randall Booker. He watched them from his wheelchair, his head lowering once in a nod of welcome when he saw her looking at him. She smiled. “Hello, Dr. Booker. You have a beautiful home,” she murmured, trying hard not to let the old man see her dismay at his appearance. The once robust man she'd known was no more. Dr. Booker looked his age and then some. Forcing the sting of tears away at how fragile the old man appeared compared to when she'd seen him last, she turned her attention to his nurse. “Hello, Tilly, it's nice to see you.”