Читать книгу Holding Out for Doctor Perfect - Teresa Southwick, Teresa Southwick - Страница 9

Avery was amazed that she forgot to be afraid at a cruising altitude of twenty-nine thousand feet.

The flight to Texas took just under three hours and she chatted the whole way with Spencer. Who’d have thought such a thing was possible?

Spencer was so charming and funny and interesting that when she remembered her feet were not on the ground, it had very little to do with the fact that she was in an airplane and a whole lot to do with her traveling companion.

As if that weren’t bad enough, he was also a gentleman. He’d put her carry-on bag up and he took it down. Then he carried it off the plane. She wasn’t used to this kind of treatment from a man, which kind of made sense since she pretty much avoided men. But for the next few days she couldn’t avoid this one, not completely. At least she’d have her own space at the hotel. After checking in she’d spend the afternoon preparing for her meeting with the regional VP of the Mercy Medical Corporation.

Spencer walked up the Jetway beside her. “Have you ever been to Texas before?”

“No.”

“I’ll have to show you the sights.”

“That’s okay. There probably won’t be time.” Not if she was lucky.

For the first time, keeping her distance from Spencer Stone didn’t come easily. Apparently he’d weakened her emotional defense system as easily as he’d managed her fear of flying.

They exited the Jetway and walked through the waiting area at the gate, then followed the signs to baggage claim. There was a revolving door and after negotiating it, the next step was to find the carousel that corresponded to their flight number. That didn’t take long, but the little elves who unloaded the luggage from the plane took their sweet time. Finally, the warning buzzer and light signaled that the conveyor belt was starting up and spit out suitcases, backpacks and boxes.

Spencer grabbed her bag and before she could process the fact that he’d recognized it, he snagged his own.

“We have to catch the shuttle for the rental car lot,” he said.

“Is it that far?”

He laughed ruefully. “Like everything else in the Lone Star state, DFW airport is big. There’s a centrally located rental car facility about ten minutes away, not counting stops at the other four terminals to pick up passengers.”

“Okay, then.” She connected her carry-on bag to the bigger suitcase, leaving just one handle to pull. “I’ll follow you.”

They went down the escalator to the first floor where ground transportation was located. Their shuttle was waiting, which was lucky. As it turned out, that was all the luck she got for the rest of the day. She turned on her cell phone and listened to a message from Chloe. Her Friday meeting had been canceled.

When they were settled the van moved forward, out into the sunlight, as it negotiated the curving and intricate roads onto the main highway. That’s when Avery could see the airport and signs directing cars to terminals A, B, C, D and E.

She could only see out one side of the vehicle, but it was enough to get an impression. “Texas is really flat.”

“Around here,” he agreed. “There are hilly parts that we natives call—wait for it—Hill Country.”

“No way,” she teased. “How original. Must be named by a man.”

“Are you saying that men have no imagination?”

“Yes. And a distinct lack of poetry. They just name it what it is.”

“And that’s bad—why?” he asked. “There’s nothing wrong with straightforward.”

She couldn’t argue with that. The problem was that in her experience men weren’t always up front and honest, her first lesson being when she was a pregnant seventeen-year-old. It was a good thing she didn’t have to meet Spencer’s folks. Apparently they had no tolerance for flaws and she had too many to count. One look at her and she’d be outted as unworthy.

“What’s wrong?” Spencer’s deep voice snapped her to attention.

“Nothing.” She had to figure out what she was doing tomorrow. “I’m just trying to take it all in.”

“Don’t bother. There’s not much to see until we get out of the airport.”

She nodded and just watched buildings go by. There were planes parked here and there, which indicated maintenance facilities. Then the shuttle exited the highway, turned left and followed the road for a few miles where it pulled into a lot. After grabbing their luggage, they walked into the air-conditioned building and found a spot in the line that formed.

“Since the reservation’s in my name,” Spencer said, “I can handle the paperwork.”

“Okay. I’ll keep an eye on your bag.”

She stood out of the way and watched him work his way closer to the counter. More than one woman did a double-take after noticing tall, handsome, hunky Spencer Stone. So, the women in Texas weren’t immune to his charisma any more than the females in Las Vegas. It wasn’t a comforting thought. He had the trifecta of temptation—above average good looks, charm and sense of humor.

After a brief exchange with a rental car representative, he was lacking the last of the three. The expression on his face as he walked toward her was distinctly annoyed, if not downright angry.

“What’s wrong?” she asked.

“The reservation’s screwed up. They’re not expecting us until Sunday.”

“But today is Thursday.”

“That’s what I said,” he told her grimly. “It’s not like Laura to make a mistake like this.”

“Is that your office manager?” Stupid question, but she wasn’t at her best when thrown a curve.

He nodded. “She’s been a little distracted lately. A rebellious teenager and she’s a single mom. Personal problems.”

And now they had problems. “Can we take a taxi to the hotel?”

“Not necessary. There was a car available. I just wanted to fill you in.”

She nodded. What was there to say? Then something occurred to her. “Laura made all the arrangements, right?”

“Yeah.”

“Maybe I should check on the hotel. If one date was wrong that might be, too.”

“Good idea.”

After he walked back to the counter, Avery pulled the file with paperwork from her carry-on bag, then used her cell phone to make the call to the number listed. Her stomach dropped when the worst was confirmed. They were in Texas three days before the hotel expected them and had nowhere to stay.

When Spencer returned with car keys in hand she broke the news. “The hotel has us coming in on Sunday, too.”

“So, did you tell them we’re here now?”

“Yes. And, we’ve got a problem.”

“Oh, good. Another one.”

“There’s a convention in town and no rooms available,” she informed him.

“Great.” He rested his hands on lean hips.

“We need to find another hotel. Maybe we can ask the car rental agent for a recommendation. I can make some calls and find rooms.”

“No.” He shook his head. “I’ve got a better idea.”

“Better than a room?” She didn’t like the sound of that. “I hope you’re not planning to pitch a tent somewhere. If so, you should know that I’ve become pretty attached to things like beds, running water and that lovely little thing called electricity.”

“Not to worry.”

A gleam stole into his eyes and his mouth curved into a mischievous smile that snarled her senses and stole her breath. That reaction gave her a really bad feeling about his better idea.

“Worrying is what I do best,” she said.

“The place I have in mind has beds, indoor plumbing and juice for your blow dryer.”

“What do you have in mind?” she asked warily.

“My family will put us up.”

His parents? The people who set such a high bar that being a doctor wasn’t good enough?

“I couldn’t possibly impose on them,” she said quickly. “But you go ahead. I’ll find a room somewhere. It will be fine.”

“You won’t be imposing. They’d love it.”

“You can’t just drop in and bring a friend.” A Nobel Prize winning economist and biomedical engineer didn’t sound like your average go-with-the-flow couple. “It’s too much trouble. They’d have to make room—”

“My parents’ house is like Buckingham Palace.”

“Really?” The comparison to royalty did nothing to anesthetize her nerves.

“Not quite the palace, but it’s got more square footage than they know what do with.”

“Spencer, I can’t.”

“Sure you can. Live dangerously.”

“That’s not my style.” Not anymore. The one time she’d done that her life had fallen apart.

“Then your style needs to loosen up.”

“I like my style just fine, thank you very much. Fending for myself isn’t a problem. We don’t have to be joined at the hip. I’ve got your number.”

And how. This was probably a blessing in disguise. Alternative housing would give her even more distance and that would be a good thing after he’d been so nice to her on the plane.

“Really, you go see your family,” she urged him.

“Not without you. Come on.” He curved his fingers around her upper arm and tugged her along.

Her head was spinning. That was the only reason she didn’t put up more protest. So, not only was she going to meet the overachievers, she’d be staying with them.

Wouldn’t that be fun?

About as much as a root canal without pain meds.

Spencer loved his folks, but visits were always a challenge. He was a nationally respected cardiothoracic surgeon, for God’s sake, but all it took was walking through the front door of their house and he instantly became the boy he’d once been, always trying to prove himself. The child who worked so hard to be as good as they were and more. The kid who brought home flawless report cards and heard nothing unless one was less than perfect. Silent disappointment was the worst.

He pulled the rented Mercedes to a stop in front of the impressive brick house. This suburb of Dallas was home to a former president, chief executives of global companies worth billions, and Catherine and William Stone.

Without saying a word, Avery gaped at the sprawling, red brick structure with a portico supported by four white columns. The estate was set back from the street by a large, perfectly landscaped yard. When she looked back at him he saw that her jaw dropped and her mouth was open but no words came out.

“It’s not often you’re speechless.” He rested his wrist on the steering wheel of the sporty car.

“It’s not often a girl like me gets to see a house like this.” She glanced at him, then turned back and stared some more. “I’m waiting for the riffraff police to show up and escort me back to the poor side of town.”

“There’s the bright, shiny optimist I’ve come to know.”