What could he say to a woman with a drill in his mouth? “I ah-iss.”
She chuckled as she put another scary-looking bit on her drill. “Okay, one date—just a trial.” She asked her assistant, “Can you rinse that for me?”
Brad said, “Wait a minute... Did my brother just make a date with you after lying about his reading history?”
“I can’t believe it,” Olivia said, walking into the operatory with a decided scowl and her hands on her hips. “Shanna, you were supposed to torture him, not go out with him.”
Shanna shrugged her shoulders. “Sorry. It’s hard to be mad at him. He’s just so cute with those sad green eyes and his mouth propped open, full of cotton.”
“Eel ake ah-uh aw ow ake.”
“No, it’s not necessary to take cotton on our date. I’m sure you’ll look fine without cotton in your mouth.” Shanna’s eyes crinkled in a smile.
Brad said, “But don’t worry—his mouth will be open the whole time. And he’ll probably have his foot in it.”
*****
Kara wasn’t nervous about the meeting. Curious would be a better way to describe her feelings. Steven Gherring, chair of the board of directors at Mercy General, had called the night before to invite her to meet him at his office. The thought occurred to her he might have caught wind of her failed attempt to manipulate Brad, but she dismissed the idea. Gherring had mentioned a phone call he’d received recently from her father, so he was probably fulfilling an obligation.
Her dad had a lot of influence and a long reach—she’d been admitted to the residency because he’d ‘made a few phone calls’. Her grades and rank in medical school certainly hadn’t warranted her acceptance in the elite program. But unlike her lackadaisical attitude in medical school, she’d worked diligently during her residency at Mercy General. She was confident in her intellect and her record. She didn’t need Dr. Gates to satisfy her goals in life, but he would have been a very pleasant addition. Her mind replayed a clear image of the abdominal muscles she’d exposed the previous day. Yes, she would have enjoyed having Brad in her bed, possibly as a permanent partner. There were other eligible men, but it might be difficult to find someone with all the attributes Dr. Brad Gates had brought to the table.
As she exited the elevator and approached the receptionist, she put the unpleasant thought from her mind. She was in her element, interacting with one of her father’s cronies. These men were always easy to manipulate, eager to please her father and flattered by the attention she doled out. She only waited for a few moments before the imposing carved wooden doors opened and Steven Gherring emerged from his sanctuary, wearing a benevolent smile. Impeccably dressed and incredibly handsome, the tall, fit man was as appealing in person as he appeared in the magazines.
“Come in Dr. Dickson—we’ve been expecting you.”
She strolled across the marble floor in three-inch pumps to shake his outstretched hand. Her chosen shoes allowed her to look down on most men, but at six feet and three inches, Gherring still managed to maintain a height advantage. “We?” she asked, glancing curiously over his shoulder into his office. “Is someone else going to be at our meeting?”
He gestured for her to enter ahead of him. “Yes, Dr. Dickson. I’d like for you to meet my wife, Anne Best Gherring.”
Her smile only faltered for an instant. A wife would be a bothersome addition, eliminating the benefit she usually gained from flirtation. But she knew how to interact with socialites as well, having played the game for some thirty years. Her eyes took in the attractive, willowy woman with thick brown hair and laughing brown eyes.
“Mrs. Gherring, I’m thrilled to finally meet you. I’ve only seen your picture in the media before, and I must say you’re even more striking in person. I love that necklace! You must tell me where you got it.”
Anne chuckled. “It came from the Target in Ft. Worth. But it’s about ten years old, so I doubt you can still buy one.”
Kara’s intake of breath caused a coughing fit, which luckily disguised her outbreak of laughter. She remembered now Anne hadn’t been married to Gherring all that long. She hadn’t yet learned the rules of cultured behavior. She shot a sympathetic glance toward the billionaire, but was astounded at the adoring expression on his face as he regarded his wife.
One corner of his mouth lifted as he took in Kara’s quizzical countenance. “Anne was a unique answer to my fifty-year dilemma. The only way to be certain a woman didn’t love me for my fortune was to find one who isn’t attracted to money. And I must say I’ve learned a lot from her about what’s truly valuable in life.”
She pasted an isn’t-that-wonderful look on her face and hurried to change the subject to a more comfortable topic. “And so you’re a friend of my father?”
“As a matter of fact, we’re very old friends. I knew your father in law-school.” She allowed him to guide her to a seating area. She noticed Anne kicked off her shoes to tuck her feet underneath her.
“I hope you don’t mind me getting comfortable. I have to play the formal role all day, and I’m tired by the end of it.”
Kara could only wonder how this woman managed to function in high society with such an obvious lack of polish. She managed a stiff nod.
Gherring said, “So Dr. Dickson...”
“Please, call me Kara.”
His smile was unflappable. “So Kara, I spoke with your father this weekend. As you’re probably aware, he called upon me three and a half years ago when you were seeking entrance into the emergency medicine residency at Mercy General.”
“Yes, and let me say how grateful I am for the chance you gave me. I hope my record demonstrates I haven’t wasted this valuable opportunity.”
He continued as if she hadn’t spoken. “When he first contacted me, he expressed a grave concern he’d failed you. He was afraid you had grown up to be...” He gazed at the ceiling. “How did he say it? Oh yes, he thought you might have grown up to be a ‘spoiled, pretentious brat with no regard for the welfare of others.’”
Kara felt the blood rush to her face as he continued with a bland smile. “So since your time here is nearing an end, he was understandably concerned with the results of your time in the residency.”