Redeeming The Rebel Doc

“Yes, there’s one just around the corner.” She pointed up the sidewalk.

“Would you like to join me?” Rex asked.

“I guess so.” Tiffani didn’t make a habit of socializing with clients but she couldn’t think of a good excuse not to. She was hungry and had time for a quick meal before she had to leave to see her father. Plus, she had one more thing she needed to discuss with Rex. He’d be more receptive to it if he heard her proposal with a full stomach.

He fell into step beside her. “The women I dine with usually sound more eager to share my company.”

“This isn’t a date,” Tiffani retorted, a little more stiffly than intended. “And I only have time for something quick.” She felt his dark eyes on her.

“You have a problem with dating?”

“No,” she said slowly. “And you are my client.”

He stopped. She did too and looked back at him. People walked around them. He said, as if choosing his words carefully, “And if I wasn’t your client? How would you feel?”

“I don’t do business and pleasure in the same place.” She’d more than learned her lesson there.

“That was a loaded statement. Care to elaborate?”

“I do not. It’s too long and too ugly a story.” And too humiliating to repeat. Especially to a man who probably never had a female turn him down. “And it has nothing to do with us. The PR campaign, I mean.”

“They say talking it out with someone makes it better.” He continued along the sidewalk.

She couldn’t believe his arrogance. Did he really think confiding in him was going to make anything better? He was a doctor. One she didn’t trust. And definitely not a confidant she’d trust her embarrassment to.

“I know you’re very sure of your bedside manner but do you really believe I’d spill my life story to you?”

“Not really. But it sounds like it might be interesting.”

She looked at her reflection in the glass front of the restaurant. “You should save your charm for the TV interviews.”

“Now you’re trying to ruin my meal.” He opened the door to the small sixties retro café.

They were shown to a table for two in the middle of the dining room and handed menus. After studying the menu, Rex asked, “Anything you can recommend?”

“I’ve only been here a couple of times. The pork chop and potatoes or the spaghetti is good.”

He nodded sagely. The waitress took their drink orders on her way to another table. After a moment he questioned, “Have you decided?”

In principle, sharing social time with a client wasn’t a good idea, but the raw truth was that being seen with a good-looking man gave a much-needed boost to Tiffani’s damaged ego. Being told you’re not wanted by someone she’d thought had loved her had been devastating. After that catastrophe, having any male attention was like a much-needed salve.

Against her better judgment, her mind started to chew over her past love life. Learning Lou didn’t return her love had nearly destroyed her. To make matters worse, he’d made a show of announcing to their coworkers that he wanted nothing more to do with her. Had arrogantly declared he was now available during an office meeting. Tiffani had wanted to melt under the table. She’d never been more mortified. In her despair, she’d vowed never again to share herself completely with a man. All the males in her life had always wanted more from her than they had ever been willing to give in return.

The waitress returned with their drinks and took their orders. Tiffani settled on a salad and Rex asked for a pasta dish. With that done, Tiffani said, “I wanted to let you know that I have a photographer coming tomorrow to take pictures of you.”

“I have surgeries planned.”

“I know. I got your schedule from Dr. Nelson. We’ll work around it. The photographer will be at the hospital to take pictures so he can shoot you between your cases.”

Rex thumped his fork on the table. “You have to be kidding.”

The noise accompanying his disbelieving tone startled her. If she showed weakness now, she feared all would be lost. “Dr. Nelson said we could use a conference room to take formal portrait shots of you.”

“You’ve got it all worked out, haven’t you?”

She could tell by the way he clenched his jaw that he was holding back what he would like to say. “It’s my job.”

“I don’t think much of it.” His words were heavy with contempt.

She looked him straight in the eyes. “The feeling is mutual.”

“How’s that?” He looked confused.

“It doesn’t matter. We don’t have to like each other, or each other’s professions. We just have to work together long enough to repair the hospital’s public reputation.”

Crossing his arms on the table, Rex leaned toward her. “You expect me to accept that cryptic explanation?”

“You don’t get a choice.” She took a swallow of her drink and let the ensuing silence between them speak for itself. Thankfully the waitress brought their food in short order. They said little as they ate.

“Someone, help!” cried a woman on the other side of the room. “She’s choking.”

Tiffani’s eyes jerked in the direction of the desperate plea. Even as she did so, Rex shoved his chair back and hurried to the distressed woman, who was beating a child’s back, dodging tables as he went. Tiffani followed.

“I’m a doctor. Let me have her,” Rex commanded with unquestionable authority.

The woman stopped her movement in midair and handed the gasping child to him.

Rex took the girl’s arm and turned her round, pressing her back against his chest. He wrapped his arms around her, clasping his fists together and positioning them under her ribs before giving her a tight squeeze.

Nothing happened. The girl’s lips were turning bluer.