Wash (20 page)

No lie
there. He was one of the best doctors in the country, even had a
hospital named after him. “I didn’t think you would, but why the
phone call just over six months before your birthday?”

“
The hospital wants to make a big deal with it. I guess they
need to. I said I would take care of it since I don’t want it to be
about me. I want the focus on something else.”

She had
no idea where he was going with this.

“
I was wondering…” He swallowed and a quick sigh echoed through
the phone. “We’d like to hire you to do the party.”

She
blinked in surprise. He hated her job and always made sure she knew
how disappointed he was that she’d dropped out of med school. “I’m
not a party planner.”

“
You don’t organize parties and plan big events?”

Good
point. “I do but they are for hospitals wings, additions,
equipment. The galas are to raise money for non-profit issues
hospitals need.” Not some retirement party where the birthday dude
wasn’t even retiring.

“
Exactly. That’s what I—what we want to hire your for. To make
money for some new equipment at the hospital. My milestone age
marker is just the excuse to do it.”

Charity
tapped her fingers against her lip as she thought. It was actually
a very good idea. Everyone knew and liked her father. He never made
a fuss about himself publicly so a lot of doctors from all over the
country would fly in for the night. Plus the countless patients
whose lives he had saved. It was a great idea.

So why
her?

“
I’ve just signed a two year contract down here in Atlanta. I
can’t drop everything for them for six months and help you. That
wouldn’t be fair.”

“
I’m not expecting anything spectacular. It’s fine. I’m sorry I
bothered you.”

Giving
up that easy? That wasn’t her father. That competitive side of her
kicked in. He didn’t think she could do spectacular? Boy was he in
for a surprise. “How much money are you hoping to
raise?”

“
It doesn’t matter.”

“
How much?”

“
A hundred thousand would cover half the price of the equipment
in the emergency room.”

“
Your gala could easily raise quadruple that.”

He
scoffed. “Really?”

“
Easy.” She thought about going back home. Did she want to?
Part of her did. The kid in her wanted to prove to her father that
she was good at her job. That she deserved to be patted on the head
and told she’d done a good job. That her career change hadn’t been
a bad choice. “Look. If you can handle working on the weekends for
this, I can do it. The flight to NY from Atlanta is direct. It’s
only a one night gala. I can work online from here and fly up twice
a month or whatever to get it set there.” Six months wasn’t that
long.

“
You’ll do it?” The surprise in his voice made her
smile.

“
Sure. I’ll have to come up this weekend to find a location.
It’s going to be a time crunch, but it’ll work.”

“
Perfect.” Scribbling of a pen made its way through the phone.
“I need to go. Duty calls.”

“
Life of a doctor. I’ll meet you at the hospital Friday
afternoon sometime. I’ll email you my flight details.”

“
I can send someone to pick you up.”

“
Don’t worry. It’ll be easier if I rent a car.”

“
Sounds good.” He paused. “And thanks, Charity.”

“
You’re welcome.”

She
stared at the phone after her father hung up. What had she just
gotten herself into?

Chapter 4

Once off
the plane Charity waited for her bags and then picked up her rental
car. The mid-size car she hired wasn’t available so the young
teller bumped her up to a Mustang. Blue. Sapphire blue. She laughed
out loud in the parking lot when she tossed her suitcase and bag in
the trunk. The weekend might actually turn out to be
fun.

The week
itself had been busy. She’d painted the office, had it decorated,
went through the email list, and set up a luncheon with Malcolm for
Monday. They needed to go over a few plans and she also needed to
meet with the board next week. Juggling the two jobs would be
interesting.

She
drove straight to the hospital and parked in the visitor parking
section. The newly designed hospital almost looked inviting. They
had torn down the older hospital two blocks away months ago. The
grey outer walls had loads of windows and sections of it spread
like rays of sun around the nucleus.

The warm
heated air brushed the cold autumn air away as she stepped though
the sliding doors. She headed for the elevator but slipped into a
restroom just before. She washed her hands and looked in the
mirror. Her ponytail had slipped down so she grabbed two chunks of
hair to tighten it. The pony band snapped and shot off like an
elastic.

“
Crap!” Charity searched through her purse for another one but
found nothing. She ran her fingers through her hair and tucked a
few strands behind an ear. It would have to do. Except now she
needed to touch up her makeup. Little makeup worked with a ponytail
but not with her hair down. She grabbed a lip gloss and added
eyeliner and mascara. She stepped back. Dark jeans and white button
up would have to do.

She squared her shoulders and exhaled a long breath.
“Please give me patience and don’t piss Dad off,” she mumbled
before leaving the bathroom. She hit the elevator button and the
far door slid open.
Perfect timing
.

An older
couple walked off together and she smiled at them before stepping
into the lift. Leaning against the wall, a tall glass of hot water
stood in medical scrubs. Short, dark, slightly mussed brown hair,
bright blue eyes, and a sexy five o’clock shadow held Charity’s
gaze a moment longer than what was considered polite. She quickly
turned and pressed the sixth floor button. It was already lit up.
Hot muscle guy had to get off on the same floor.

She closed her eyes and silently sighed. She should have
looked at his badge instead of his face. The thought of his chest
made her wonder what he might look like with his shirt off. She
forced herself to open her eyes and stare straight ahead.
You’re being
ridiculous. Cute guy and you act like a thirteen-year-old boy-crazy
kid.

She
turned around and smiled, willing her eyes to stay on his face, not
cruise down and then back up. “Are you a doctor here?”

“
I am.” The stranger smiled but offered no more
information.

Sexy smile
. She tried again. “Is your office on the sixth
floor?”

“
It is.”

Did she detect an accent? Her eyebrows furrowed together.
Had they met before? She would have definitely remembered. She
glanced down at his hospital tag just as the elevator came to a
stop.
Dr.
Bennet.
The
door slid open so she turned to step out. She stopped short when
she realized she didn’t know where to go.

Dr.
Bennet walked right into her and grabbed her elbow so she wouldn’t
fall.

“
I’m so sorry. Are you a’right?”

Definitely an Australian accent, or something by there. “It’s
my fault.” She shook her head. “I’m not sure where Dr. Thompson’s
office is. Last time I was here they were still finishing this
floor.”

Two
young nurses walked by. One winked at the doctor. “Hi, Elijah.” The
other nurse elbowed her. “Oops. Hello, Doctor Bennet.” The two
disappeared into the nurse’s room.

Elijah?
Charity remembered her dad’s phone call when she’d spoken to him.
“I’m Charity.” She held out her hand. “I’m Dr. Thompson’s daughter.
We spoke earlier this week on the phone.”

Elijah
reached for her hand. His warm, strong fingers enclosed around hers
and he smiled at her again. “I remember. You’re much more beautiful
in person.”

No
wonder the nurses were so friendly. He was a lady’s man.

“
I can take you to your dad. I was just about to see him
myself.”

“
That’d be great.” If he was a flirt, she could flirt, too.
“Lead the way.”

He
pulled his phone out of his chest pocket and checked his messages.
“I just need to call downstairs to see if my x-rays are done.” He
headed past the nurses’ station and down the hall.

Charity followed and admired his lean muscular shoulders
that dipped into a firm derriere that looked fantastic in hospital
pants. She felt her cheeks grow warm.
There’s nothing wrong with
appreciating a fit body. Get over it, girl.

“…
Thanks. Have someone send them up to the sixth floor review
room. I need them quick.” Elijah tucked his phone back in his
pocket. “Sorry about that. So, how long are you in town to see your
dad?”

“
Just the weekend. He wants a fancy to-do for his sixty-fifth.
He’s asked me to plan it.”

“
I’m sure you’ll make it amazing.” He scratched the stubble on
his chin. “I have to admit, I Googled you after we spoke on the
phone. You’re quite the successful donor-fundraiser… party planner…
thing.” He shrugged and made a confused face. “I don’t know what
your official title is.”

“
Neither does my father,” she teased, “but at least he knows
what I do or he wouldn’t have called.” She noticed the wing they’d
been walking down now had expensive wooden doors. The first office
had her dad’s name on the plaque, and across the hall was Elijah’s
name. “You must be pretty special to have an office right
here.”
By my
dad
is what
she wanted to say but held back. Her opinion of her father was not
shared with fellow doctors. He was
the
man. The Dr. Scott Thompson. Lifesaver
super-hero.

“
The chief gets the next best office.” Elijah dropped his head
a bit and grinned like a little boy. “Sorry, just trying to impress
you.”

Charity
blinked, surprised at his honesty. “I’m impressed. A little.” She
pretended to shrug. “You’re pretty young to be chief. I’d ask who
you had to sleep with to get the job, but since my dad’s in charge,
I don’t really want to know.”

Elijah’s
head tilted back and he burst out laughing.

The door
to her father’s office swung open, probably from the sound in the
hallway. “Charity!”

Chapter 5

A bit
more grey in his hair and a little more tired, her father still
commanded power. Years of hard work and respect earned from success
gave him that posture. He was one of the best doctors in the
country, even at almost sixty-five. He would always be
distinguished and handsome. Charity sometimes wondered why he
hadn’t remarried since her mom passed away. He’d probably had a lot
of offers.

She
hadn’t seen her dad in over a year, almost two years. Two
Christmases ago she had flown home to spend the holidays with him.
Christmas day ended in a big row right after they had gone to the
gravesite to drop some flowers off on her mother’s stone. She’d
left early the next morning, not even sure if her father was still
in the house or already gone to the hospital. Last year she made up
the excuse she had to work so she wouldn’t have to fly home. She
felt guilty, but guilt was better than fighting with a man who
couldn’t be wrong.

They
still called each other once every two or three weeks and never
discussed the fight. He had made the first call and she had called
him the next time. It continued until he called earlier this week.
Four days and two phone calls had broken the pattern.

“
Dad!” She awkwardly stepped forward to shake his hand at the
same time he leaned over to hug her.

“
I trust your flight was all right?” He stepped back so she
could come into his office.

“
It was fine.” She stepped through, absently tucking a strand
of hair behind her ear.

Elijah
followed her into the office. She’d momentarily forgotten he had
brought her down the hall. “Why don’t I let the two of you catch up
and I’ll chat with you later, Scott.”

“
No!” both Charity and her father said at the same
time.

“
I mean,” said her father, “I want your opinion on what I’m
hiring Charity to do for the hospital. As chief you also need to
sign off on it.”

Charity
glanced back and forth at both men. Did her dad seriously mean
that, or was he just as afraid as her to be in the same room alone
together?

Elijah
checked his watch. “I can really only stay a moment. I have surgery
in thirty minutes and need to scrub in with a first year. It’s a
cardiothoracic, so I’m not leaving my attending in
charge.”

Her
father harrumphed. “Right.” He clapped his hands and walked around
to his desk and sat down behind it. “Why don’t you meet Charity and
me for drinks after?” He stared at Charity. “What’s that place we
went to before… the Threaded Cork? Yes, that’s it. Meet us at the
Threaded Cork when you are done.” It wasn’t a request.