One Sure Thing (Mamma Lou Matchmaker Series) (25 page)

“Faith, I’m warning you, if you don’t…”

“Hope,” Dennis crooned in his richly toned baritone. Both Hope and Faith turned around to see Dennis standing behind them.

Hope smiled instantly as Dennis’s eyes went from face to face. The resemblance was evident. With his eyes glued to Faith, he took Hope’s hand and brought it to his lips and gently kissed it. “A pleasure to see you again doctor.” Then, he turned to Faith and smiled seductively. “I don’t believe we’ve met.” He took Faith’s hand and repeated the action.

“Faith, this is Dennis Hayes, he owns the Spotlight. Dennis, this is my sister Faith Adams, she’s a pediatric nurse at the hospital.”

“The pleasure is all mine, I assure you.” Dennis brightened as he eyes remained fixed on Faith. “Both of you in medicine, how delightful. Your parents must be very proud.” He stepped between Hope and Faith and placed their hands in the bend of his arm and escorted them to the front door. He nodded at the security and continued inside. “Shall we?” Dennis escorted the two women through the foyer and up to the main reception area.

Dennis had pulled out all the stops.

Spotlight NYC,
the newest and hottest restaurant and nightspot in Manhattan, was the perfect location for the hospital fundraiser. Centrally located, it offered an eclectic mix of uptown cache, downtown chic and sophisticated style.

With a simple plaque at the door that read, “Check Your Ego Here,” the word had quickly gotten around that everyone was welcome. It
was the place to be.

By nine o’clock the dance floor was packed solid. Faith returned to Hope’s side after several dances with Dennis and other friends. She fanned her face with her fingers as Hope handed her a cocktail napkin.

“This place is incredible,” she yelled above the loud music then leaned in closer. “Guess who’s here?”

“I’d rather not,” Hope said indifferently.

“That’s right,” she said, “he’s right over there surrounded by about a dozen women.”

“Drop it Faith.”

“Girl, why didn’t you tell me before that you knew Dennis Hayes?”

Hope shrugged her shoulders. “We actually just met a few days ago.”

“He is so cool. I wonder…” Hope noticed that Faith smiled in a way that told her she was very interested.

“Don’t you dare,” Hope warned.

“What?” Faith asked innocently.

“You know exactly what. Don’t you dare go after him.”

“I wasn’t even thinking about it, but, now that you mention it,” she began then burst into laughter. “Oh my God, you are not going to believe who just walked in.”

Hope tried to turn. “No, don’t look, wait a second.”

Hope stood still. She waited until Faith glanced back in the direction of the front entrance. “Okay, hurry up, look.”

Hope turned quickly expecting to see Raymond and instead saw someone entirely different. “What is he doing here?”

Faith shook her head “Good question, I thought he was in California with a wife, and kids and white picket fence.”

“Apparently not.”

Hope turned back around. “There’s no way I want that man to see me here.”

“Why not?”

Their conversation was interrupted.

Recognizing the voice, Hope turned nonchalantly. Her eyes sparked seeing Hugh Wescott’s son.

“Hello Hope, Faith.” Hope eyed him as Faith rolled her eyes and turned her back and walked away.

Hope nodded her greeting. “Nolan.”

“You haven’t changed a bit.” He smiled through thin pressed lips. “How’ve you been?” She didn’t answer so he continued. He looked around the room. “I assume you’re here alone?” His smirk was evident.

“Can we drop the pleasantries?”

“Hope, it’s been years. Can’t we at least be civil. The past is the past. Let it go. You’ll find someone just as I have.”

“If you expect friendship, I suggest you look elsewhere. If you’re looking for forgiveness, then tough luck.”

“Forgiveness for what? You knew the marriage was a farce just as I did. It didn’t take a blind man to see that it was a mistake.”

“You’re right. It didn’t take a blind man. It took your father.” She turned to walk away when he reached out and took her arm.

“That was petty and completely uncalled for.”

She seethed. “I don’t usually use this kind of language. But, I think I’ll make an exception. I’d advise you take your hand off me and leave me the hell alone.” He removed his hand when she gave him a warning look.

She turned around and came face to face with Raymond’s very forbidding face. “Here’s your drink darling.” He handed Hope a wine glass then leaned down and kissed her briefly. Nolan’s mouth gaped open.

Raymond glared at Nolan as he wrapped his arm around Hope possessively. Suddenly nervous, Nolan extended his hand to shake as Hope introduced them. “And you are?” Raymond asked Nolan.

Hope, not sure who she was more annoyed with made the introductions. “Dr. Raymond Gates this is Nolan Wescott.”

“Dr. Wescott,” Nolan corrected. Raymond nodded and shook appropriately then turned to Hope. “Shall we dance darling.”

“Dr. Gates?” Nolan asked. “Are you by any chance the plastic surgeon?”

“Yes.”

Thoroughly impressed, Nolan’s demeanor completely changed. “Of course, my father is Dr. Hugh Wescott. He mentioned that you were on staff at Golden Heart. It’s an honor to finally meet you. Your work is very well-known in California and I am constantly amazed by your father’s work.”

“Thank you.”

Nolan turned to Hope. “So Hope, I’m glad to see that you’re finally going to get the thing on your face removed like I suggested.”

“I beg your pardon?” She hadn’t been listening to him but then suddenly realized what he was implying. She made a motion to walk away when Raymond took her hand and held her to his side.

“Dr. Wescott,” Raymond began in his most condescending tone. “Although our relationship is none of your concern, I’m going to let you in on a little secret. A man, a real man, looks at Hope and sees beauty in its purest form.” He turned to look at Hope admiringly. “If I could I would stop time for this woman. I treasure every second, every moment that I am blessed to spend with her.”

He turned directly to Hope piercing his eye to hers alone. “A lifetime with you will never be enough for me. I would gladly give everything I posses for just a smile, a touch, a whisper.” He picked up her hand and gently caressed her as his kissed each finger. “I am yours for eternity.” He turned back to Nolan. “There is nothing on this perfect face that I would dare touch.” He turned his back to Nolan and guided Hope to the dance floor.

Nolan stood with his mouth wide open for some time. It wasn’t until someone bumped into him did he realize that he was still standing in the same spot staring at the loving couple on the dance floor.

“What are you doing here? Tickets were sold out months ago,” Hope asked as Raymond held her too close.

“I was invited.”

“By whom?”

“Dr. Gates.” Hugh Wescott hurried across the room, “I’m delighted you could clear your schedule.”

The song ended and Raymond and Hope parted. “Hello Hugh,” Raymond said as Hope turned away to look around the crowd. The men shook hands.

“Good evening Hope.”

“Hello Hugh.” She turned to Raymond. “Thanks for the dance,” she said pointedly, glad for Raymond’s timely rescue from her ex. “If you’ll excuse me,” Hope said having had her fill of Wescott men for the evening. She found Faith talking to several staff members from the pediatric ward with Dennis at her side. Hope spent the remainder of the evening as far away from Raymond, Nolan and Hugh as she possibly could. And since Hugh and Nolan barely left his side, it worked out perfectly.

After an hour, Raymond was finally able to lose the doctors Wescott. He searched for Hope. He found Faith and Dennis just as they were about to disappear into his office. The two of them had been completely inseparable. But Hope was nowhere in sight.

Raymond began to wonder if she hadn’t already gone while he was being tormented by Hugh and Nolan. Then he spotted her talking outside on the terrace.

Later that evening, tucked away in a secluded nook, Raymond had finally been able to talk Hope into sitting down with him. “I called you several times.”

“I know.”

“You obviously got my messages. Do you want to tell me why you’ve been avoiding me?”

“Do you want to tell me why you snuck out in the middle of the night like that?”

Raymond honestly had no idea what she was talking about. “You could have at least said good-bye or left a note.”

“What? Oh, Hope I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to hurt you by leaving like that. I had an early morning meeting and I didn’t want to disturb you. You were sleeping so peacefully that I didn’t want to awaken you. But you’re right, I should have left a note. I’m sorry.”

Hope looked away more angry with herself. She’d expected a more sinister excuse.

“Are we okay?” He took her hand and held it to his lips. “I would never do anything thing to hurt you. I hope you know that.”

“I do.”

After that, Hope and Raymond spent most of the evening talking.

“I’d love for you to see Crescent Island.”

“I can’t believe I’ve never heard of it. Exactly where is it again?”

“A few miles off the coast of Virginia. There’s a ferry that’ll take you across the Chesapeake. It’s one of the most beautiful places in the world.” He took her hand lovingly. “You really have to visit one day soon.”

“I might surprise you and just show up one day. How often do you go down there?”

“Unfortunately, not as often as I’d like. I try to visit at least once every two months. I usually drive down and visit my dad in Baltimore, then keep on going down to Virginia.”

“Wow, the way you describe the island, it sounds incredible. The history is so unique.”

“It is.”

Hope spotted Faith on the dance floor partnered with Dennis. She smiled at how much fun they seemed to be having. “They look like they’re having fun.”

Raymond refused to take his eyes off of Hope. “So tell me about you and Faith. Is there another sister named Charity?”

“No, it’s just the two of us.”

“What about your mom and dad? Were you raised in the city or elsewhere?”

Hope took a deep breath. She hated this part—the questions, the getting to know each other part. “My dad deserted us when we were young. My mom remarried, than she died a few years later.”

“So you grew up with your stepfather?”

“No.”

“What happened to him?”

“He’s in the state penitentiary doing a life term for first degree murder.” Raymond began laughing until Hope’s expression didn’t change.

He instantly stopped. “You’re serious aren’t you?” She nodded slowly. “Hope, I’m sorry. That must have been extremely hard on you and your sister.”

“Faith and I were raised by our mother’s mother in Harlem. She’s a retired seamstress. We haven’t seen my stepfather in over twenty years.”