Authors: Jennifer Ryan
He loved listening to her voice in person or on the phone, even when she lectured him. He liked that she didn’t hold back the truth—about anything.
He’d love to get his hands on her. The few times she’d touched him to check out his injuries, she’d worn gloves. What he wouldn’t give to have her put her bare hands on him. He’d kiss her. Finally discover how she tasted. He spent far too much time fantasizing about making love to her, knowing that she didn’t have anyone else in her life that she connected to on that level. Not just the physical, he wanted to share that bond two people felt when they came together and made love. With her, it would be different.
A voice inside warned him not to get too close. He didn’t want to hurt her. He didn’t want her to think she was just another conquest, but he wanted her more than he’d ever wanted another woman. He wanted her in a way he’d never experienced with anyone. Dangerous ground for a wanderer like him, especially now that he’d settled back home on the ranch. If this went south, if he screwed it all up, he’d have to see her again eventually. He didn’t know if he could live with himself if he hurt her. By accident, or on purpose.
He entered her office behind Ella. Bell closed the door next to the windows that looked out onto the main office space. Another set of windows dominated the wall behind her desk and chair. She took her seat, and Ella took one of the chairs in front of her. Dane leaned his crutches against the wall, pulled out the other chair, and sat down.
Her diplomas hung on the wall next to Ella. “Bell Brittany.”
Bell’s gaze locked with his.
“So they gave you a first and middle name but couldn’t bother to give you a last name?”
“Apparently my mother never made it past the Bs in the baby name book.”
“Oh, Bell.” Ella reached over and put her hand over Bell’s on the desk.
Uncomfortable, Bell slipped her hand free. She clasped her hands together on the desk and stared at Ella, waiting for her to begin the meeting.
“You didn’t have parents, honey, you had a sperm donor and an incubator,” he said.
She glared at him.
“What?”
“He does it without thinking,” Ella answered.
“What do I do?”
“Call every woman honey.”
“This again.”
Bell sighed. “Ella, about the clinic. I spoke with Dr. Sheldon. He mentioned that you’ve got quite a project outlined for updating the facility. He held back the details.”
“I asked him to, because I wanted to go over them with you in person. Here’s the thing. Since I’ve moved back, I’ve wanted to do something to give back to the community. You were one of the first people I met here. You took such good care of me, I thought why not start with the one place everyone in town needs. The clinic. Not just someplace they can go for minor illnesses and injuries but a place that can service the community.”
“You want to turn the clinic into a hospital?”
“On a small scale, but yes. I’d like to add a surgical suite. Maybe two. Rooms for patients to stay for observation or extended medical care for a week tops. Serious conditions that require round-the-clock doctors and nurses on staff would still need to go to Bozeman. Mothers could have their babies closer to home. I’m thinking an overall general practice with minor surgeries performed on-site.”
“The building we’re in now won’t accommodate what you have in mind.”
“No, but the old feed store and warehouse on the outskirts of town is a perfect space to renovate.”
“I don’t think it’s available anymore. I pass it every morning on my way in to work. Someone is already working on the buildings.”
“I am.” Ella took out a folder from her tote bag and set it on Bell’s desk. She pulled out a folded paper and spread it wide to cover the majority of the available surface. Dane leaned in, along with Bell, to get a better look.
“The building has been gutted. The electricity and plumbing are being done now. What do you think of the layout? I worked on it with Dr. Sheldon, but I’d love your take on the overall project.”
“Well, I love that you’ve got birthing suites across the building from the surgical suite and recovery rooms. You’ve got the scrub room on this side of the first surgical suite, but quite far from the second one. You might think of moving it between the two rooms with a door leading into each room. If you make the room a bit bigger, we can store some of the surgical equipment in there, too.” Bell pointed to the section between the surgical suites. “If you put it here, you’ll have more square footage. This smaller suite will gain room on the other side where the scrub room is now. It’s a better use of space and allows for a better flow from room to room if there is an emergency and doctors and nurses have to move between them.”
“Okay, I didn’t think of that. Dr. Sheldon didn’t mention it.”
“He’s a general practitioner with years of experience, but not in an emergency room or surgery. At the front of the building, you could section off the waiting room and add an additional door. Here.” Bell pointed to a window on the drawing. “Add a wall here and create two rooms. The smaller one will be for sick patients who may be contagious. The other side for injured patients or follow-up visitors. Shift the reception desk thirty degrees to the right. Put in a half wall that keeps patients separated but allows for the receptionist to have full view of both rooms.”
“That’s a great idea.”
“If it’s possible, you might want to add a couple cots in the locker room. If a doctor needs to stay for a double shift, they’ll need a place to grab some sleep for a couple of hours.”
“Do you sleep at the hospital?” Dane asked.
“A lot. Mostly it’s the ER staff that stays over, but I cover shifts once in a while. Other times, I sleep at my desk at the clinic.”
“Bell, that’s no way to get a good night’s sleep,” Dane said.
“The cots will be a lot more comfortable.”
“I’ll pay for the damn cots.” Dane shook his head at Bell. She deserved better than a chair, a cot, that damn tiny cabin she lived in with her grandmother.
“You’ll earn enough money for those and a lot more at the charity benefit I’m holding in two weeks.” Ella’s bright smile hinted that she’d left something out.
“What are you talking about?” Dane asked.
“I’ve put together a charity benefit and invited a lot of influential people from the surrounding communities. I’m looking for investors, but I’m also looking for the community to donate their time and money to make this a place they feel a part of and comfortable coming to for all their needs. To raise money, I’m holding a charity dinner and bachelor auction. I’ve got ten of the most eligible bachelors in Montana ready to take their lucky ladies out on a date at this swanky restaurant I got to donate dinner for two for each couple.”
“What does that have to do with me?” Dane asked, dreading the answer.
“You, my professional bull riding champion, are my most sought-after eligible bachelor.”
“No way. Not going to happen.”
“Are you really going to say no to me? To the community? To Dr. Bell’s new cots and the facility that will be a wonderful place for her to work and run?”
“Wait. What?” Bell asked, her eyes wide.
“That’s what I wanted to talk to you about. In addition to your input on the new facility, I wanted to offer you the position of chief surgeon.”
“But there are other doctors who are more qualified, with many more years of experience.”
“I’ve spoken to several doctors at the hospital, here, and at the clinic. They all reluctantly state that you are the best choice. You’ve got the medical training, knowledge, and practical experience to do the job. You work an amazing hundred-hour week between the hospital and the clinic. Every week. The vacation you took to Las Vegas is the first vacation you’ve ever taken. Ever. That’s inhuman. I’m offering you a sixty-hour week. You’ll be closer to home. The clinic will be less than half the drive you make now from your grandmother’s place. I don’t know what your current salary is. You may take a hit going to the new clinic for a short time, but as the clinic gets up and running and taking more patients, you’ll earn more money.”
“It’s not about the money. I always thought I’d work in the hospital.”
“Are you happy doing that? Does what I’m offering you interest you at all? Maybe you have another idea, something I haven’t thought of that we could come to a compromise on. I don’t want to lose you altogether. The community has come to count on you at the clinic. With you onboard for the project and playing a larger role, it’s my hope that the town will embrace this new project.”
“It’s a good idea,” Dane added. “So many times the people living in and around Crystal Creek can’t get the care they need because of limited resources. This will make things a lot easier for the residents. It’ll save on ambulance trips to Bozeman for less-serious injuries and illnesses.”
“Does that mean you’re my most eligible bachelor?” Ella pleaded with her eyes.
“Can’t I just write you a check and take Doc out to dinner?”
“I expect you to write me a check and do the auction. If Dr. Bell wants to buy you for the date, that’s up to her.”
“Oh, no. I’ll write you a check, but I am not bidding in an auction for Dane or any man. No way.”
Ella laughed at Bell’s horrified expression. “From the sound of things, I think all you’d have to do is say yes to get a date with Dane.”
“That’s all any woman has to say.” Bell pointed out the cold, hard fact that used to be true but wasn’t anymore.
“Hey.”
“What? Am I wrong?” Bell cocked up one dark eyebrow, an I-dare-you-to-contradict-me look in her blue eyes.
“Dead wrong. The only woman I want to see is you. I wish you’d believe that.” With his past, he didn’t blame her for being skeptical. Still, he’d never had to pursue a woman this hard. He’d never taken his time to get to know someone the way he tried to do with her.
“It’s kind of hard to believe.”
“Then I’ll just have to keep trying to prove it to you until you believe me.”
“Is there any way to call him off?” Bell asked Ella.
“No. Once they get something into their heads, it’s hard to deter them. Enjoy it. He’s never gone out of his way for any woman.”
Dane needed to thank Ella for throwing him a bone. She saw it. Bell didn’t.
Damn, it was hard to change his life. If he walked into a restaurant or bar right now, in ten minutes he’d have a woman on his arm. In half an hour, he’d have her in his bed. Not bragging. Fact. He’d done it more than a dozen times.
Nice of him to point out the glaring problem in his life. He had no problem getting a woman, but he didn’t know how to keep one.
He’d never had a real long-term relationship. Dating the same girl for months in high school wasn’t the same as doing it as an adult with the intention of leading to a lasting relationship. He’d never had one of those with a woman, but he wanted it with Bell. Bell had never had a boyfriend, so this was new for both of them.
“Ella, I can’t do the auction. If this is in two weeks, I’ll still be on crutches. How will I make this date happen? I can’t drive. Hell, I can barely walk.”
“You can use the car service. With your name attached to this, we’ll get tons of bids.”
“Can’t you find anyone else to do this?”
“I’ve found several men, but no one with your reputation.”
“That’s just it, I’m trying to overhaul my reputation.” He cocked his head in the doc’s direction.
Ella smiled. “I mean your rodeo reputation and star status in these parts. That alone will bring people in. Men to meet and mingle with you. Women for a chance at a date with you. Please, Dane. I need your help.”
“Fine. One date. I’ll eat dinner. I’ll be charming. But that is it.”
“And you’ll write a check.”
He rolled his eyes. “As long as you use the money for what Bell wants.”
“Deal. Now, Bell, please take some time to think about my offer. This thing is coming together quickly. I’ll get your suggestions over to the architect and put them in place.”
“One other thing. The second set of prints showed the building where the doctors will have their offices. They’ll each have an office and two exam rooms.”
“Yes. Do you want to change something there?”
“No, it’s just that . . .”
“What?” Ella asked.
“It’ll probably add a lot of cost to the construction, but you might want to think about adding a covered walkway between the two buildings. Maybe make it wide enough to add a few picnic tables for the staff to have lunch, or visitors to sit and wait in the spring and summer. When it snows, it will be easier for the staff to go from building to building. If we examine someone during office hours and they need further testing, they can walk over without having to go through the parking lot. It will make things easier for disabled and elderly patients.”
“I hadn’t thought of that. I’ll add it to my list.” Ella grabbed a blue sticky note from Bell’s desk. She jotted down Bell’s suggestion and stuck it to the blueprints over the spot where the walkway could be built.
“Well, it was nice to talk to you. I’ll think about your offer and get back to you,” Bell said, resorting to her professional demeanor when she was uncomfortable with the more personal stuff.
“Talk to Dr. Sheldon about the plans for running the clinic. See if it is something you really want. Your role will be different than it is now. It will expand. I hope I haven’t overstepped by implying that I think you’re not as happy as you could be as just a surgeon. Maybe that’s why you cover for the doctors at the ER and at the clinic. You want a more rounded doctor experience than specializing in one thing. You don’t seem to be the kind of person who settles for routine but looks to constantly expand her knowledge and experience. This is your chance to do both on a daily basis.”
Bell didn’t respond but pressed her lips together and stared off in contemplation. Dane hoped she took the job. She’d work closer to home. No more driving into Bozeman on the treacherous roads in the winter months. She’d be closer to him.
“I’ll get this one out of your way before he asks you a third time for a date,” Ella teased.
“I think he’s up to a hundred and eighteen.”