20. Poke The Bear
POKE THE BEAR
“Wow,” Luca said when she opened the door to her condo ten days later.
There he was, in another suit that he must have bought, this one black. A white shirt, open at the collar again, black shoes on his feet.
He looked dark and dangerous and her body was telling her that tonight might not turn out the way either of them might have planned.
“The same,” Gabriela said. “Did you come back here to Boston to buy this?”
“I ordered it and had a courier deliver it last week. Good thing it fit, or I’d be wearing the same one from the Bond Fundraiser. Not sure if people notice those things or not.”
“I would have,” she said. Because she hadn’t been able to keep her eyes off of him that night and she wouldn’t be able to tonight either.
“As cute as your toes are,” he said, his gaze dropping. “I think you need shoes for the proper attire.”
She held her finger up. “Got it. And our ride is on the way.”
“I’m not driving?”
“Nope. You’re not going to find a parking spot anyway. And this way, we can both have a drink if we want. You’re parked in my building and we’ve got a service here.” She looked at her watch and turned to run back to her room, calling over her shoulder, “It will be here in ten minutes.”
She found her nude pumps to go with the deep violet dress she was wearing.
V-neck, what would be sleeveless, but had sheer sleeves down to her forearms, a thick black band around the waist showing a bit more attention there, then straight to the floor, a slit up to mid-thigh.
Yeah, she bought this dress last week.
Might as well poke the bear some and see if he growled.
The way his eyes traveled over the length of her said mission accomplished.
She strutted back to the living room in her heels, just her big toe and the one next to it peeking out with the same polish as the color of her dress.
Her hair was in loose waves, her side part a bit more exaggerated, her makeup minimal but visible. Exactly how she’d done it for the last event they went to together.
Why mess with what worked?
“Shit,” he said. “I better get all my cussing out now before I get in front of more coworkers.”
She did a tiny twirl. “I thought the pedicure was a nice touch.”
His eyes dropped, she stepped one leg out, the slit giving way to more leg and pointed her toe side to side.
“It is,” he said, clearing his throat.
She reached for her black jacket, slipped it on, covering most of her dress, then fit her arm through his. “I think we make a pretty dashing couple tonight, don’t we?”
“I’m not used to getting into fights, but if anyone’s eyes are on you too long, fists might be flying.”
“Aww, I found that very sweet.”
“That you like men fighting over you?”
“Never that. Just that you’d defend me if that happened.” She locked her door. “You know, other men have complimented me in the past.”
“You don’t say.”
She laughed. “I do look good tonight. But what I was going to say was that normally it’s cheesy. Or they’ve planned it exactly that way. With you, I’m positive it just slipped out.”
“You seem to have that effect on me.”
She patted his arm. “Glad to know it’s not only me that is infected.”
“Being doctors and all, we could cure it.”
“Maybe I don’t want to,” she said, then stepped into the elevator.
“Gabriela,” Dr. Green said, moving closer to her almost the minute they arrived in the massive ballroom of the hotel. “We are so glad you could attend. How is it going on the island?”
The Chief of Pediatrics kept his eyes on her face. She always liked him. He was nice, professional, and didn’t put up with any bullshit.
He always sought her out and she knew it had more to do with her family name than her ability to do her job.
Take the good with the bad.
Others had made comments about it in the past, but she brushed it off because there wasn’t much she could say.
She knew it was true.
It came with being part of the Bond family and a long line of medical professionals on the Mills side.
Many who had held head of department positions, just like her father had now. Her grandfather before him.
“It’s going well. I was just telling a few others how I love the five days on, ten off.”
“That’s what we like to hear,” Dr. Green said. “Luca, how are you finding the island?”
She knew Dr. Green would have interviewed Luca. It wasn’t that long ago, but he was good with names so no surprise he’d remember.
“It’s a lovely place to live and work. I’m finding my way around. Gabriela has been instrumental in my transition.”
“I’m thrilled to hear that. Make sure you both pass the word. Not just for my department but for the others too. Remind them I came up with the idea though.”
She laughed and patted his shoulder. “I’ll be sure to do that.”
Dr. Green moved away and left the two of them alone for the moment. It hadn’t stayed that way long though.
Her parents were here and mingling. Garrett passed on coming because Justine was working. She didn’t blame her brother; she would have passed any time she could have also.
And if she didn’t have Luca on her arm, even with all the pressure, she might have still tried to get out of it.
At least her parents were giving her space to move around, though they sat together for dinner.
It was just easier all around for Luca to have a few friendly faces.
“Can I get you another drink?” he asked.
“I’ll take another white wine.”
“I’ll be right back.”
“I need an introduction to your date, Gabriela.”
She turned her head and saw Abigail Cohen next to her. Director of Nursing for the hospital on the island. She was surprised Abigail didn’t know who Luca was.
“That’s the new pediatrician in our office.”
“Oh,” Abigail said. “So he’s single. Got it. I thought for sure it was your date.”
Well, he kind of was, but guess it was coming across as just friends to everyone else.
Just not her family a few weeks ago. Not even tonight with the way her mother was giving her the eye.
“I’m introducing him around.”
“A new single doctor brings in a lot of chatter. I had heard about him but didn’t know he looked like that.”
Gabriela wiggled her eyebrows. “It was a blow to my ego to check in on a patient and see her disappointment that I wasn’t Dr. Brewer.”
“I’m sure your ego can take it.” Abigail lifted her hand and waved. “I’ll catch up with you later. Need to go rub elbows with some donors. You know how it is.”
“I do,” she said through forced teeth. It was the thing she hated the most with her last name, but she did it because she knew it was the thing to do.
“What did I miss?” Luca asked, handing her a glass.
“Not much.”
No reason to say it was going to make the rounds he was single now. She hadn’t argued it, the mark on his left ring finger was long gone, and if he’d had a wife, he’d be here with that person and not her.
And since all they’d done was some serious flirting and not even a kiss like he’d said, she had no claim on him.
“Are you sure?” He was looking at her face. “Because your eyes look ready to stab someone.”
“You know how these things can be. It’s all good.”
“Speaking of these things, any way we can sneak out when they start the fundraising part? Some of those items are way out of my league.”
“I already called the service to get us in thirty minutes. One step ahead of you.”
Because if she had to stay here a minute longer and watch the women eyeing the guy who was her date, she might do more than stab someone with her eyes.
She might pick up a fork and jam it on the top of their hand.
Yikes.
What happened to not having any claim on him?
“Guess it’s our last drink of the night,” he said. His name was called, so he walked away to Dr. Green again. She knew he was being introduced around.
It was all good for him.
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing, Mom. How come you’re here with me and not by Dad’s side?”
“Because your father is rubbing elbows with donors and I excused myself to go to the ladies’ room.”
“I’m going to talk to a few donors now and then my work here is done.”
“Where is Luca?”
She put her glass to her lips and pointed a finger. After her sip, she said, “Dr. Green is showing him off.”
“He’s doing his part, you do yours.”
“Heard,” she said, then made her way toward her father. Might as well piggyback off of him.
“And here is my daughter,” her father said. “She’s one of the pediatricians on the island as some of you know.”
“That’s right,” she said, shaking the hands of the men in front of her.
She wished there were at least one woman in this group.
“I’m giving the island a try now. Much of the money raised in the past few years has gone towards training and technology there.
They are always looking for ways to make hospital stays easier on staffing and patients. ”
“Sounds like it’s money well spent,” one of them said.
“It is, but there is always more that can be done. We never seem to have enough to meet the needs and give the best care possible, but our ranking increases yearly.”
“You don’t have to sell me,” another man said. Older than her father and spending way too much time with his eyes anywhere other than her face. “I’ll get my checkbook out now.”
She smiled and patted his hand. “We appreciate your generosity.”
Two minutes later, she was shaking her arms off and making her way back to Luca.
“You look ready to bolt.”
“If we don’t leave now, I might have to point out the first person for you to throw a fist at.”
“Who?” he asked, looking much more serious, his head spinning around the room.
Whoa. Didn’t see that coming.
And did it ever get her juices flowing.
Now she needed to leave for another reason.
“Sorry. Bad joke. Not really, but I can’t point him out to you. He’s old. It wouldn’t be a fair fight.”
“Are you sure?” he asked, still not budging.
“Positive. Let’s go now and get our ride back.” They moved toward the coat closet, she got her jacket, he pulled it out of her hand and held it while she slipped it on.
“Your shine has gone away.”
“Nope. I’m just hiding it now so no one else gives me the creeps.” She closed her eyes, waved her hand in front of her face, opened them back up and held his stare. “It’s back.”