Second Time Around (4 page)

Bryan looked at his watch and laughed. “Another fifteen minutes and they'll all be in bed, anyway. Come on over. I need someone to push me before Laura's good cooking puts twenty pounds on me.”

“You poor thing.” Kevin considered going home, but quickly dispelled the unappealing idea. Unlike his friend, he had no one, nothing to greet him at home. No commitments. No leash.
Keep talking, Kevin. Maybe you'll convince yourself.

“Come on. It'll be fine.”

“Sure, why not.” What was he bellyaching about? He had a business that was claiming more of his time each day. More than he'd ever dreamed possible. “I'll meet you back at Laura's—I mean, your house.” He winced at the mistake. He still found it difficult to understand why his best friend had agreed to stay in the house his new wife had shared with her late husband.

“Don't let it bother you. I do it, too. It'll always be Laura's, no matter how many changes we make. She promises to start looking for our own house as soon as things settle down.”

“With four kids, you don't plan on that being anytime soon, do you?” Kevin wrapped an arm around his friend's back and laughed. “Ah, wedded bliss.”

Bryan elbowed him in the stomach. “I'll take the chaos of a house full of kids over a quiet one any day. You sure you don't have time to build a house for us this spring?”

“If I'd known you were going to be back in town and in the market, believe me, I wouldn't have filled all my slots. You wouldn't believe how many calls I've had this week alone. But if the bid for the clinic falls through, you'll be the first person I call.”

“Not a chance. There's no way the committee can afford to turn you down. I'm glad to hear you're keeping busy.” Bryan stopped beside his new four-wheel-drive and tossed his bag inside. “Let's get going. We can catch up while we work out. Laura will be glad to see you.”

A few minutes later, Kevin stomped the snow from his shoes and followed Bryan into the turn-of-the-century home, half expecting an ambush.

The sound of happy children and the smell of fresh-baked cookies met him at the front door and tugged on his heart. Laura's youngest son, Chad, ran to Bryan and jumped into his arms. “Hi, Dad! Did you come home to tuck us in?”

“I sure did—wouldn't miss it for the world.” Chad beamed at his stepfather's attention. “Have you brushed your teeth?”

The youngster scrunched his nose, then turned toward Kevin and said hello.

Bryan set his stepson down and patted him on the behind. “Get it done, and I'll be right up.”

“T.J.! Kevin and Dad are here!”

“Chad, don't yell, please.” Laura passed through the kitchen just as they did, and gave her husband a kiss. “You're home so soon? We've only been married a few weeks. You can't be that out of shape yet,” she teased.

Bryan tilted his head toward Kevin and laughed. “Too many distractions there.”

“And you came to this zoo instead?” Then, as realization hit her, she grinned mischievously. “Oh. You mean…
distractions.
Well, you may as well use that contraption you two brought me last year. It's going to rust if someone doesn't use it. I told you I didn't have time.”

“I'm not giving up on you yet.” T.J. ran into the room and gave Kevin a high-five, and Bryan let his embrace loosen. “Is Jacob asleep already?”

Laura playfully pushed him away. “‘Already'? You haven't been chasing him since six this morning. I'm wiped out.”

“Mom,” their daughter beckoned.

“Just a few minutes, T.J. Kevin, please don't get him riled up, it's bedtime.”

Kevin gave his friend's wife a salute. “Yes sir, lady.”

Bryan kissed Laura again before she headed to the children's bedrooms, then turned to Kevin. “I'll help Laura tuck the kids in, and be right down.”

Kevin and T.J. visited about school and sports for
a few minutes before Kevin sent the young man up to bed.

He could see why Bryan liked this chaos. He paused.
Don't go there, Kevin,
said an inner voice.

He and Bryan lifted weights for an hour, taking time to catch up on each other's lives and discuss business before he left. Bryan insisted he wanted to remain a silent partner because he knew nothing about the construction business, but Kevin appreciated his friend's willingness to brainstorm business tactics, anyhow. Just talking helped clear things in his own mind. And there was certainly enough to muddle his thoughts these days.

One of which was the Sonshine Medical Clinic bid. With Bryan's business sense, and Kevin's construction knowledge, they had come up with what they hoped was a winning proposal—one that would help the company remain secure for generations to come.

Laura sent a plate of peanut butter cookies home with him, another reminder of what was missing in his life. Homemade cookies…and someone to share them with.
A lot of good building a company is going to do—you don't even have anyone to pass it down to when you're gone.
He immediately thought of his father, and pushed the bittersweet memories away.

Kevin pulled the truck into the garage and climbed the steps to his empty house. Here it was, nearly ten o'clock, and he'd done everything possible to avoid coming home.

While dinner was heating in the microwave, Kevin showered and threw on a pair of ragged old sweats. Clearing that morning's breakfast dishes from the table, he poured a tall glass of milk and turned the big-
screen television on to catch the end of the late news and eat his “dinner.”

After the sports segment ended, Kevin switched off the TV, immediately deafened by the silence. He turned it on again and tossed the remote control onto the sofa, then retreated into his office. He clicked on the radio, hoping the noise would drown out the emptiness so he could concentrate on work.

He had already waited a week past the deadline to hear from the clinic regarding the renovations. If they wanted to break ground in a month, a decision had to be made soon. He couldn't afford to put off other projects much longer.

Having spent a year looking for the right project to launch a commercial branch, he couldn't believe it when he learned the best prospect would mean facing Emily on a daily basis. This decision came with a bucketful of mixed emotions. He'd almost backed away because of her; yet Bryan had convinced him to go through with it, even agreed to remain a silent partner to show his support and assure Kevin that he'd have the money necessary. They both knew Kevin couldn't manage the financial end without Bryan's investment. There was a lot riding on this bid. It was one thing to jeopardize his own financial security, but Bryan's and his employees' was another issue altogether.

The renovation of Sonshine Medical Clinic was a high-profile project with a strong emotional tie to the community. Even if Kevin lost money, if all went well, it would bring in more work than his growing company could manage. He wasn't going to get anywhere in this business by playing it safe. His dad's experience had proven that. In order to prove to him
self and his family that he could have kept the family business going after his father's death, he had to do this, and succeed. Nothing was going to stand in his way. MacIntyre Construction would make it to the top, and stay there.

He looked at the note Bryan had given him and read the verse from the Book of Proverbs: “Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed.” Kevin shook his head, trying to maintain his optimism. If it's meant to be, it'll work out.
Think positively.

Kevin perched himself on the edge of the chair, the clinic's blueprints spread across his drafting table. He took a deep breath and let it out, struggling to get his mind back on business. He looked at his changes. “Okay. We'll have to open this wall to do the extra wiring.” He jotted notes to contact subcontractors as he went along. His eyes roamed down the sketch to the office with “Dr. Emily” in the corner. His mind drifted back to the day he went to visit Laura in the hospital and ran head-on into his past…

“If you'll excuse us, sir.” Emily had said. No hello. Just that phony smile plastered across her face. Her disposition was as bristly as steel wool. Trying to ignore Emily, he had joked with Laura, leaving the poor patient in tears because it hurt to laugh after her abdominal surgery. Emily had mistaken Laura's tears for her feelings having been hurt, and the doctor had actually
scolded
him. So much for bedside manner.

Even angry, she'd attracted him. Affected him. Made him look at the years without her and see how empty life was. He faced the truth—he'd been living a superficial and indulgent existence. After nearly
eight years apart, merely seeing Emily had changed his life—again.

Kevin slapped the ruler onto the paper and drew in the new wall.
It's strictly business, Emily. Strictly business.
He tried to erase the image of the unforgettable redhead from his mind. He didn't need to be reminded of the pain. Hers, or his. Eight years was a long time.

He had changed. The past was over. And love was out of the question—something to be avoided at all costs.

But handing my troubles to God just isn't as easy as it sounds.

T
he phone rang, and Kevin let the answering machine do its job, glad the volume was turned down. He was in no mood to talk to anyone. The machine clicked off, and he returned to work. A couple of hours later he decided to call it a night. On the way through the kitchen, he pushed Play on the recorder, and was puzzled by the final message.

Kevin rewound the tape and played the last message again.

“How could you?” the woman's voice said.

“Emily?” He sat down at his desk and dialed the only listing in her name, but was intercepted by the clinic's answering service. She wasn't the doctor on call. He tried to explain the situation, only the receptionist wouldn't give out a home number.

He thought of calling Laura and Bryan to get her number, then realized it was far too late to call anyone. Besides, Laura would
never
give up her task as matchmaker if she knew he was trying to reach Emily.

That night Kevin slept fitfully, pondering what exactly she had meant by her message.
How could I what?
Could she have found out he was bidding on the job? No, that couldn't be the case. They couldn't reveal names on a silent bid. Unless they'd already hired another contractor. No, he couldn't even consider that.

If he didn't get the bid, he'd be furious she found out he had even been interested in the project. Knowing the way women think, she'd jump to the conclusion that he'd done it to be near her. Not a chance. It was business, pure and simple.

By dawn, he was just plain mad. He wondered why she thought she should have any say in his life at all. It was still too early to reach Emily at the office, and he had plenty to do before the clinic opened, anyway. After breakfast, he loaded his briefcase, tossed it into the cab of his truck and headed to the job site.

Kevin inspected the equipment, gave directions to get the workers going, then went into his pickup and pulled out his cellular phone. He called his office manager, relieved that she had a message for him to call the clinic director. Kevin called right away, encouraged when the director wanted to set up a meeting as soon as possible.

When Kevin asked to speak to Dr. Berthoff, though, he had no better luck getting hold of her than he had had the previous night. He considered leaving his mobile number, but decided against it.
Sounds like it won't be long before I'll have plenty of opportunity to talk to her.

After getting the crew started on the two houses they were finishing, Kevin left for the clinic. Trying
not to be overly confident, he gathered his courage and walked inside. He was escorted through the lobby, down dingy halls, and into the director's office.

“Kevin, I'm glad you called.” The balding gentleman pumped Kevin's arm enthusiastically and motioned for him to sit down in the vinyl-upholstered armchair. Kevin could see why they were renovating.
Run-down
didn't begin to describe the place.

An hour later he walked out of the meeting with a new contract that would drastically change his life, one way or another. If all went as planned, he'd be doubling his staff size within the year. If not, he'd be jumping into the market looking for a new employer himself.

He turned left and headed to the lobby.

“Kevin?”

He'd know that voice anywhere.

Pivoting, he realized he must have taken a wrong turn and ended up near the examination rooms. Emily and another doctor stood shoulder to shoulder, having been reading a chart. He looked at the man, then to Emily, then back again.

“Excuse me, Bob. Unless you need this immediately, could we finish discussing it later?”

Kevin watched as the doctor assessed him. “Sure, why not over lunch?”

Emily's gaze met Kevin's as she gave the preppy doctor a curt response. “You know why not.”

As if her punch needed help, Kevin mumbled sympathetically to Bob, “I wouldn't let it keep you up nights.”

Emily paused momentarily to scold him with her eyes, then motioned for Kevin to follow her. There
was a tilt to the corners of her lips, but he could say with certainty that it wasn't a welcoming look. “How are you, Kevin?”

“From the sounds of your message, maybe I'd better let you tell me. That was your
charming
voice on my answering machine, wasn't it?”

She walked into a cubicle with her name on the door, and he paused to examine the nameplate: Emily Berthoff, M.D.

Her answer was interrupted by the phone.

Taking the opportunity to collect information, he tapped on the wall, pretending to examine the structure. Her office was filled with books, books and more books. Same old Emily. Only difference was the titles. He could still picture her with her nose in those college textbooks. Heaven knows, he'd done his best to take her mind off her studies…. It hadn't worked then, and if he was smart, he wouldn't bother trying now.

The wallpaper here was outdated, even by his standards. There wasn't a plant, flower or photograph in sight. Nothing to indicate a family or a life beyond her career—

She ended the phone call and looked at him expectantly.

“I don't think I've had the chance to congratulate you, Doctor.”

“Congratulate me?”

“On your degree.” Kevin touched the rounded desk corner sticking out from under the stacks of books, files and journals.

“Oh.” Her green eyes opened wide with surprise. “I never know whether to take you seriously or not.”

Blast it, lady, don't look at me like that. I'm trying
to be nice.
How could one sentence throw him all the way back to the day she'd walked out of his life?

Emily walked back to the door and closed it. “The last time we discussed my career choice, you were less than encouraging.”

And now she was back, he thought. Every work-day for the next six months. He had to keep peace between them.

“Whether or not I liked your decision is no longer an issue. I said ‘congratulations,' and I meant it. It took a lot of work, and you deserve credit for it.”

Obviously confused, she said merely, “Thank you.” Emily put her hands in the pockets of her yellow blazer and took a deep breath. “Why, Kevin?”

Same Emily. Right to the point. “Why? I thought the message said, ‘How could you?'” He smiled. “Don't I get some sort of congratulations for accomplishing
my
goals?”

“The way I remember it, your plan was to run your father's business. In fact, as I recall, that's why you stayed—and I left. Alone.”

“Things changed. I have my own company now, which just happens to have landed a terrific deal.” The elation inside was fading fast. He hadn't expected a red-carpet celebration, but even a halfhearted welcome would have been appreciated.

“So I figured out. Which was the meaning of my message last night. How
could
you bid on our project?” She stepped around the desk and looked him in the eye, as if trying to intimidate him. “Why this job? Why not some other building project?” she asked with more than a hint of disapproval.

“It was purely a business decision,” he said,
meeting her challenging gaze.
Two can play this game, Doc.

“A business decision?” Her voice caught.

“That's right, strictly business. Relax. It had nothing to do with you.” He stuffed his hands in his pockets and jingled the change against his truck keys. He wasn't about to tell her how many times he had almost turned away
because
of her.

She ran her fingers through her hair, lifting it away from her face, and he felt his heart skip a beat.
Don't do this, buddy. She's off-limits. Business and pleasure don't mix. Remember that, whatever you do!

“Surely there's another opportunity that would bring in a better profit than ours. As long as this is ‘strictly business,' that is,” she said tartly. Reaching for the desk, she closed a thick book and placed it on the jam-packed shelves. “How could you do this?”

Kevin crossed his arms and took a deep breath. “I could do it for the same reason you went across the country to your prestigious medical school. It was the best option available at the time.”

She stared, a cold look that could build walls in an instant. Her phone rang, and she answered, still holding his gaze. “I'll be right there,” she said into the receiver. Her eyes left his and she stepped around the desk. “I have an emergency.”

He nodded, then opened the door and waited for her to go ahead. “Let's make a deal, Doc. I won't practice medicine, and you don't tell me how to run my business. Okay?”

Without responding, Emily rushed out of her office, and Kevin followed. Down the corridor, he saw a petite woman struggle to keep a stocky teenager,
who'd obviously met up with someone's fist, on his feet. From the lobby, he heard the receptionist trying to get the woman to wait for a wheelchair.

“Here, let me get him.” Kevin wrapped his arm behind the boy's back and followed Emily's directions. Once the patient was secure on an examination table, Emily put on gloves and began to clean his cuts. Kevin backed through the door, right into the doctor Emily had brushed off earlier. Through the opening, Kevin heard Emily tell the nurse to bring in novocaine and a suture kit, then turn to soothe the upset mother.

“Looks like Dr. Emily has it under control. Guess I'll go grab some lunch by myself,” said the other doctor as he removed his stark-white lab coat and headed out the back door.

Kevin looked back at Emily, then walked down the long hall to the lobby. “If nothing else, this should be an interesting few months,” Kevin muttered as he headed to his truck.

The remainder of the morning was a chaotic combination of reviewing applicants' resumes and ordering supplies. Always in the back of his mind was Emily, and the anger he'd seen in her expression when she saw him in the hallway.

But there was no room for second thoughts. He'd just landed the deal that could make or break his business. Emily had already met her goals, despite what they had cost her personally. He had let her go then, determined he wouldn't stand in her way.

Now, he'd be certain she didn't stand in his.

After getting his day back under control, Kevin called Bryan to tell him the news.

His friend bolstered his enthusiasm. “Told you they'd jump on your offer.”

Kevin swallowed a lump of pent-up apprehension and felt a wave of relief, content that he'd done the right thing. “Yeah. They're having some publicity shindig Friday night to get the deal moving. As a partner in the business, you're obligated to attend, and bring your lovely wife.”

“Sounds great.” Bryan paused. “Hey, friend, don't forget, you're expected to bring a date, too.”

A date.
Sure, why not. After all, this is a reason to celebrate.

 

Emily zipped the crushed-velvet evening dress, then stepped into her black pumps just as the doorbell rang. “I can't believe I have to go to this reception for Kevin.” She grumbled all the way to the front door. She tried to steel herself for a miserable night. Adding insult to injury, her car had had a flat tire when she'd left the office, and the first person to the rescue happened to be Bob Walker—Dr. Casanova.

She opened the door and met him on the porch. “Hi, Bob. I appreciate the lift.”

“If I'd known a flat tire was all it would take to change your mind…” He smiled suggestively and lifted her hand to kiss it.

Emily pushed him away, amazed that a man with such a brilliant mind could be such a loser. “I don't want to go through this all evening. I won't. If I had
any
choice in the matter, I wouldn't even be going tonight.”

“I wish you'd change your mind, Emily. All I ask for is a few minutes to explain.”

“There's nothing to explain. I'm well aware of the facts of life. I think that was covered in basic premed, wasn't it? Maybe you missed that year.”

“It was nothing,” he began, following her to his car.

Emily opened her own door, ignoring his attempts to act like a gentleman. “One receptionist may have been nothing, the second one—”

“We never went out.”

She dropped herself into a seat that barely cleared the ground. “Because she was married.” Emily looked at him. “You just don't understand, do you, Bob? That is bordering on harassment.”

“No harm in a little flirting.” He shrugged, ignoring her warning.

She shook her head and closed her door to Bob's lame explanation. He'd blown any chances of a relationship with her, or any woman in their office. And now Emily was getting a headache, complete with a sudden case of the jitters. The last thing she needed was Bob next to her whining all evening.

Everyone in the clinic would be there to kick off the renovation. It was critical that she and Kevin be on their best behavior. Neither could take a chance of endangering their positions by revealing their past relationship.

Kevin's employees would be there, as would his silent partner and best friend, Bryan Beaumont. At least she would have Laura to visit with.

When they arrived, Emily walked into the restaurant as quickly as she could to avoid being paired up with Dr. Casanova. She was immediately greeted by Laura.

“Emily, I thought you'd never get here,” Laura exclaimed. “Is this your new boyfriend?”

Emily turned around to see who Laura was referring to, praying it wasn't Bob. I can't believe I ever even considered dating him, she thought. “No, he's not. In fact, if Bob is any indicator of men these days, I'm through looking. Men just can't be trusted.” She glanced at Laura, realizing she'd stuck her foot in her mouth already. “Oh, I know Bryan's different.”

Laura smiled. “Yes, he is. But he isn't the only trustworthy man alive, you know.”

There was a dreadfully long silence before Emily explained the situation with her car, ignoring Laura's comment altogether. She didn't need to expose her jaded opinions of men to a woman who'd found another wonderful husband after the death of her first husband.
Just because all the men in my life walk out when I need them most doesn't mean a thing, I'm sure. Who needs them, anyway?
“Would you and Bryan be able to give me a lift home?”