What she Really wants for Christmas
Debbi Rawlins

www.millsandboon.co.uk

MILLS & BOON

Before you start reading, why not sign up?

Thank you for downloading this Mills & Boon book. If you want to hear about exclusive discounts, special offers and competitions, sign up to our email newsletter today!

SIGN ME UP!

Or simply visit

signup.millsandboon.co.uk

Mills & Boon emails are completely free to receive and you can unsubscribe at any time via the link in any email we send you.

Contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Epilogue

1

Rumor has it that Atlanta’s own Just Between Us, the three-year-old, sex-themed, hot-topic afternoon television show hosted by Eve Best, is soon going into national syndication. Geared toward women’s perspectives and concerns, the local show has garnered a widely growing audience and advertisers have taken notice. While taking on contemporary, cutting-edge topics, Ms. Best’s energy and spontaneity has captured the attention of teens and mothers alike.

Recently, however, the local show has drawn a maelstrom of not-so-flattering publicity. Most of you already know about the state lottery win, shared by six employees of the show, including Ms. Best. But what this reporter has just learned is that despite attempts to keep the unpleasantness quiet, a lawsuit filed by a former segment producer, Liza Skinner, has halted the disbursement of the winnings.

According to my source, Ms. Skinner was an original member of the lottery pool before leaving the show nearly a year ago. There is some confusion as to whether she still had money in the pot, but the number 13, which she’d chosen, was among the six winning numbers, and apparently she seems to think she deserves a share.

L IZA QUIT READING the article and threw the copy of last week’s Atlanta Daily News onto the passenger seat of her compact car. When she got home, she was throwing the tattered paper away. No use continuing to torture herself. The wheels were already in motion. Soon it would all be over. She hoped.

She pushed a shaky hand through her tangled hair and tried to get comfortable—not easy with her long legs. She had no business being here. Her attorney had told her to stay away from the Just Between Us studio. At least until her lawsuit was settled. Of course then there’d be no reason to be here, in the parking lot, waiting, like a smitten schoolgirl, for a glimpse of Eve and Jane. No matter which way the suit went, her friends would never speak to her again.

She didn’t blame them. All she’d done in the past year was cause them pain. Hadn’t they warned her about Rick? From the start, they knew he’d be trouble. They’d been her best friends since the sixth grade, closer to her than anyone in the whole world. Why hadn’t she listened to them?

Liza let her head fall back against the worn cloth upholstery and forced herself to breathe. He’d been just her type, wild and sexy and a little dangerous, and she’d thought he was the one. He turned out to be way more dangerous than she’d ever imagined.

Movement caught her eye and she turned her head just in time to see a woman step outside, the sunlight glimmering off her pale-blond hair. She looked like Nicole, the Just Between Us segment producer who’d replaced Liza. The woman who was going to get Liza’s share of the lottery money. Unless the lawsuit was successful.

God, why didn’t they just pay up? It wasn’t as if each of them wasn’t going to still be filthy rich after coughing up her share. She closed her eyes, blocking out the image of the woman walking toward a red convertible. A reminder of how much Liza had lost. Just another month and it would all be over.

Although, if she had the guts, she could go to Eve and Jane now. Confess everything. The idea took hold and her breathing quickened. Slowly, she opened her eyes. Could it be that simple? After nearly a year of selling her soul? Ha. Sure, confessing would ease her conscience, but that wouldn’t solve anything. Eve would still be vulnerable to public humiliation. And it would still be Liza’s fault.

She hung her head and stared at her pitiful cuticles. Nowadays she couldn’t even afford a manicure. The small inheritance she’d received after her father’s death last year was nearly gone and there was rent to pay, attorney’s fees and a myriad of other things. But what she resented the most was the money Rick spent on cigarettes, booze and drugs. Money she could’ve used to buy a better car, live in a better neighborhood.

Maybe when this was over she’d be able to find a decent job. Never one like she had with Just Between Us. That had been a dream job. The once-in-a-lifetime kind. She knew because she’d been a part of it from the beginning. Those crazy, fifteen-hour days when none of them knew what they were doing, but they pushed forward, tackling any task they were given, their passion making up for what they’d lacked in experience.

Their hard work had paid off. The show was a huge success. This should have been the best time in Liza’s life. But she was no longer a part of her friends’ lives or a part of the show. All because of her stupidity. Even if Eve and Jane eventually forgave her, she seriously doubted she could forgive herself.

Eve walked out of the redbrick building, and Liza bit down on her lower lip. The radiance in her friend’s face made Liza’s stomach knot. Behind her was the reason for Eve’s glow. Tall and good-looking, with dark hair, the man put a familiar hand at the small of Eve’s back.

Liza had heard Eve had found someone, Mitch Hayes, the guy who had once represented the television network wanting to sign Just Between Us. She looked happy. Happier than Liza had ever seen her.

Damn. No way was Liza getting her friends involved now. She’d push for the settlement, pay off Rick and then she’d disappear. Start a new life where no one knew her, where she wouldn’t be considered scum of the earth.

And never see her friends again.

Liza squeezed her eyes shut, willing the threatening tears away. At least Eve would be spared any humiliation. A tear escaped and, angry, Liza swiped at it. Crying wouldn’t solve a damn thing. Never had. Never would. She scrubbed at her eyes, disgusted at the display of weakness.

And then she heard something. Knocking. At the car window.

Opening her eyes, she swung her face toward the sound. A man with short dark hair and concerned brown eyes stared back at her. It took a moment to recognize him…the doctor who consulted for the medical drama shot in the studio next to Just Between Us. Dr. Evan something. He’d asked her to lunch once. She’d blown him off. Sedate and conservative. Definitely not her type.

She took another furtive swipe at her eyes, annoyed that he might have seen her crying. When he motioned for her to let down her window, she was tempted to ignore him. But that was bound to make matters worse, and the last thing she needed was a scene in front of the station.

Lucky she could afford a car at all, she didn’t have the luxury of automatic windows and manually rolled it down. He ducked through, gripping the top of the door, and smiled. She didn’t.

“Liza, hi.” He paused. “Remember me?”

She deliberately frowned and gave a small shake of her head. If the slight embarrassed him, maybe he’d leave her alone.

“Evan Gann.” He inclined his head toward the building. “From the studio beside Just Between Us.”

“Oh, right. You’re the consultant.”

He nodded, his eyes probing. “I haven’t seen you for a while.”

“I’m persona non grata around here. Surely, you’ve heard.”

“Ah, the lawsuit.” His eyebrows drew together. “I don’t know the details—”

“You wanted something?”

His mouth curved in an annoyingly tolerant smile. “I was surprised to see you. Look, you want to have a drink sometime?”

“Why?”

He chuckled. “Because you’re attractive and I like you?”

It took Liza a moment to collect herself. Was this guy nuts? He’d probably be banned from the station just for talking to her. She frowned. Except he really wasn’t nuts. He was this straightlaced, normal kind of guy. “I’ve got too much going on right now.” She reached for the knob to roll up the window, and when he didn’t move, she said, “Do you mind?”

“Why don’t you take my number for when you have some time? I’ll buy you dinner.”

“Look, Evan, you’re a nice guy but—”

“Thought you didn’t remember me?” His slow, teasing grin did something to the inside of her chest.

She almost smiled. “See you around,” she said, and this time when she attempted to roll up the window, he let go and stepped back. She started the engine, reversed out of the parking spot and drove off without looking back.

E VAN REACHED INTO his slacks’ pocket for his car keys and used the remote to unlock the doors. His silver Camry was parked right next to the spot Liza had vacated. That was the only reason he’d noticed her, sitting behind the wheel of the small white compact, crying. Wisely, he hadn’t mentioned it. From what he knew of her, she wasn’t the type of woman who indulged herself with tears. In fact, from what he’d heard around the station, she’d been more prone to express her anger or pain with a few choice words.

Still, the lawsuit she’d launched didn’t add up. Until a year ago, Liza, Eve and Jane had been inseparable. He’d admired their loyalty and friendship. The show was really taking off, thanks to Eve Best’s charismatic personality and Liza’s creative genius. And then suddenly Liza disappeared. No one seemed to know why she left or where she went, and he had to admit, he was a bit curious.

Mostly because he’d liked Liza from the first time he’d met her. He’d been on his way to the set of Heartbeat when he’d bumped into her. Literally. She’d been talking to someone over her shoulder and hadn’t seen him come around the corner. Abruptly she’d turned and plowed right into him. Unfortunately for him, she’d been holding a cup of coffee.

He smiled when he thought about how she’d tried to right the wrong, using her napkin to blot his suit, regardless of where the coffee had landed. When she’d finally realized that pressing the napkin to his crotch might not have been the wisest move, she’d looked him in the eye, apologized and asked to be given the cleaning bill.

No nervous twittering or inane remarks. She wasn’t like so many of the women he met, either on the set or at dinner parties hosted by his well-intentioned friends, who were determined to find him a wife. Liza was straightforward, to the point, and he liked that. Normally he preferred petite blondes, which made his attraction to her all the more curious, since she was tall with long, unruly brown hair.

Not that it mattered. He’d asked Liza out to lunch once, and in her no-nonsense fashion, she’d turned him down flat. No excuses, no little white lies to let him down easy. Just a frank refusal that told him not to ask again. After that there was the occasional exchange of greetings when they passed each other in the lobby or parking lot.

Realizing he was still staring after her long-gone car, he opened the door of his Camry and slid behind the wheel. Eve had walked out of the building ahead of him, but obviously she wasn’t the reason Liza had been here. So why was she here? More importantly, why did he care? She’d just shot him down again.

I T WAS SO LATE by the time Liza got home that there wasn’t a single parking spot left in the complex and she had to park a block away from her apartment. Sighing, she cut the car’s engine and then grabbed the bag of burgers she’d picked up from a drive-through. She really hated parking on the street, especially in this crappy neighborhood. Hopefully, any thieves would go for the nice new black sedan parked in front of her.

Not that she loved her secondhand lemon of a car. But if something happened to it, she couldn’t afford to buy another one. Rick had naturally insisted on buying a brand-new Harley-Davidson for himself. With her money. Amazing he hadn’t cracked it up yet. Not that it would hurt her feelings if he had. In fact, in her more stressed-out moments, she’d actually wished he would. He didn’t have to die or anything, just end up in a coma for a good five years.

Her steps slowed as she thought about how he lived in the apartment right next to hers, and that if he happened to look out of the window he’d see her walk up the stairs. Inevitably he’d come outside and grill her about where she’d been. His language would be foul and he wouldn’t give a damn about who overheard. But if she was lucky, he’d be passed out and she wouldn’t have to deal with him until tomorrow.

Sighing, she took the first few stairs, her daze darting toward Rick’s door, praying, hoping she’d have an evening of peace and quiet. So far, so good…

“Hey, Liza, what you got in the bag?”

The sound of her new neighbor’s high-pitched voice made Liza cringe. She waved for Mary Ellen to keep it down and then, with one eye on Rick’s door, she hurried the rest of the way to the third floor.

Leaning over the railing, which was decorated with a string of large colored Christmas lights, Mary Ellen waited, dutifully keeping her mouth shut until Liza joined her. “I think he’s passed out,” the younger woman said in that strange drawl of hers.

She claimed that she and her kid were from Mississippi but Liza had her doubts. The apartment complex’s residents weren’t exactly members of mainstream society. At least once a week Liza heard a shot fired nearby, or watched the police drag away an abusive husband or boyfriend. But the rent was cheap and since she had to fork out money for both her place and Rick’s, this was the best she could afford.

Rick thought it was stupid to have separate apartments, mostly because he wanted complete control over her. But that was the one thing she wouldn’t negotiate with him. She didn’t care that she’d end up broke, but as threadbare as it was, her sanity wasn’t something she was ready to give up. Bad enough that he tried to keep track of her every move, she sure didn’t need him in her face.

She reached the third-floor landing and furtively peeked into Rick’s open window. Sure enough, he lay flat on his back on the tattered brown corduroy couch that they’d picked up at a thrift store. An empty bottle of vodka sat on the end table, but she knew he’d consumed more than booze. Good. Maybe she could have a quiet meal with Mary Ellen and her daughter.

“Told ya.” Mary Ellen inclined her dirty-blond head toward Rick’s apartment, but her gaze stayed on the fast-food bag.

“Hungry?”

“Starving.”

“I bought extra burgers for you and Freedom.”

Mary Ellen broke into a wide grin that displayed a missing back tooth, which wasn’t usually noticeable since she didn’t smile much. “Oh, goody. I thought we were gonna have to eat macaroni and cheese again.” She turned around, put two fingers into her mouth and let out an ear-piercing whistle.

Liza cringed. With dread, she took a step back and squinted into Rick’s apartment. He was still out cold. However, Freedom heard her mom’s whistle and came bounding up the stairs.

“Hi, Liza.” The eight-year-old tomboy was covered with dirt. She pulled off her red ball cap and dust flew everywhere.

“Time for dinner?” she asked her mom, her hopeful blue eyes going to the bag.

“Liza bought us burgers.”

“Yahoo. Fries, too?”

Liza unlocked her apartment door. “They would’ve gotten cold.”

“The hamburgers are cold, too,” Freedom said, with perfect logic.

“That’s true,” Mary Ellen said, her slight frown accentuating the scar paralleling her lower lip.

Sighing, Liza led them inside and went straight to the microwave. Eating cold French fries wasn’t the same thing, but Liza didn’t want to get into it with them. She wanted them to eat and leave. In fact, she should’ve given them the food to take back to their own apartment, but she had a soft spot for Mary Ellen and her daughter.

As pitiful as Liza’s place was with its chipped paint and stained, olive-green carpet, the other two managed to live in a cheaper, cramped studio apartment. Mary Ellen still ended up two months behind on the rent since her welfare checks didn’t quite cover all their expenses. With her pronounced limp, she’d had trouble finding a job that would support the two of them. Liza had never asked her about the bum leg, but she had a bad feeling about it.

She finished nuking the burgers and Mary Ellen had already put napkins on the small table. It was only big enough for two, so Freedom sat on her mother’s good knee. She quickly wolfed down her burger, and eyed a second one. Liza pushed it across to her, wishing she’d bought more than five sandwiches. When Mary Ellen finished hers, Liza offered her the last one.

“What about Rick?”

Amazing how just the mention of him could knot her stomach and send the hair straight up off the back of her neck. “What about him?”

“Isn’t he eating?”

“Don’t know. Don’t care.”

Mary Ellen regarded her quizzically. “Why do you stay with him?”

“I’m not with him.” Liza grabbed the used wrappers and crumpled them as she got to her feet. She’d seen the curious looks Mary Ellen had given her on the unfortunate occasions when Rick was drunk and he’d yelled from the door of his apartment as Liza was trying to slip quietly down the stairs. But she didn’t intend to discuss her problems with Mary Ellen. Or anyone else.

“Why do you live next door to him, then?” the other woman asked.

Liza disposed of the wrappers, using the time to compose herself. Anyone else and she would have told them it was none of their damn business, but having to look into Mary Ellen’s perpetually sad eyes, Liza just couldn’t do it.

“It’s complicated,” she said finally.

“That means you don’t want to talk about it, huh?” the little girl mumbled, her mouth full.

“Freedom,” Mary Ellen admonished her. “This is grown-up talk. You be quiet.”

Liza hid a smile. Poor kid was going to grow up to be like her. Smart-mouthed and always in trouble.

“You went to college, didn’t you?” Mary Ellen asked.

Liza slowly nodded, not liking the conversation.

“You’re so pretty and smart and I don’t understand why you’d be living in a dump like this.”

Right. Real smart. So smart that she’d put herself in a position to be blackmailed. “Look,” Liza said in a tight voice, casting a brief glance at Freedom, who’d turned to licking her fingers instead of listening to the conversation. “I don’t think you want to start a question-and-answer session.”

Mary Ellen looked grimly down at her weather-roughened hands. “No,” she said quietly, and then cleared her throat and rose from the table. “Freedom, come on. We need to be going. Thanks for dinner, Liza.” She pulled her daughter along with her, keeping her face toward the door.

“See you later.” Liza stayed in the small open kitchen and watched them go. She probably should’ve made nice. Mary Ellen hadn’t meant anything bad by what she’d said. The woman seemed to have such a lonely life, likely she only wanted to talk.

But Liza didn’t have it in her. Not today. Everything had gone wrong. After being decisive all of her life, she’d become as stable as a palm tree in a hurricane. She should never have allowed the blackmail to get this far, but she’d panicked and everything had spiraled out of control before she knew what had happened. Winning the lawsuit would save her ass, if she could only keep her act together.

She walked to the love seat and sank down, careful to avoid the bad spring in the center. God, was this headache ever going away? She leaned forward, rested her elbows on her knees and cradled her head in her hands. She needed a couple of aspirin. But that meant leaving to get them. No way. She was staying right where she was to enjoy the peace and quiet while Rick was passed out.

Going to the station had been a bad idea. She’d known it before she’d gotten in the car. But that was the sort of stupid irrational behavior she couldn’t seem to control anymore. Even though she’d never made it out of her car. Thanks to Evan Gann. People didn’t know how to mind their own damn business.

If she’d gotten into the studio, she might have learned whether another settlement was being considered. The last offer they’d made, Rick had flatly refused. Although since she’d pumped Zach Hass, the new guy, for information, everyone named in the lawsuit had probably been warned not to talk to her. For all she knew, security wouldn’t even have let her inside. Unless…

She abruptly brought her head up.

Evan Gann. He could get her inside. No one could stop her if she was going to see him. Damn it. Why hadn’t she taken his phone number? Grudgingly she pushed to her feet, and got her cell phone. She hoped like hell his number was listed.

2

A T THREE FORTY- FIVE Evan took a few minutes away from the set and called his office and then his answering service. Because of the consulting job, he only saw patients three days a week, but inevitably, on the rare occasion that he wanted some personal time, there’d be an emergency that would consume the rest of his day. Fortunately, this afternoon he was free to see Liza.

What a shock it had been when she’d called last night. As a result he’d been on edge all day. It seemed as if every shot had gone wrong and there’d been so many retakes that he was afraid he wouldn’t be done when she arrived at four fifteen. He’d finally had to pull the assistant director aside and tell her that he was going to be out of here by four, no matter what.

The truth was, his concentration wasn’t what it should be anyway. He didn’t get why Liza had decided to see him. No sign she’d been interested yesterday. So why the sudden change of heart? And why did she want to meet him at the studio? Strange that she’d want to show her face here at all.

Even stranger that he was still interested in her. Especially this time of the year. Ever since medical school and the Angela debacle, he had no use for the holidays. So what was it about Liza? He couldn’t quite grasp the attraction. Had to be something chemical. Pheromones, maybe. Or maybe that he was a sucker for a crying woman. He had an annoying urge to rescue them.

He checked his watch and saw that the AD had noticed. She gave him a small nod and he didn’t think twice before grabbing his jacket and heading off the set. He was early but he kept an electric razor in his car’s glove box. He could barely make it through the day without dark stubble covering his chin.

He’d made it halfway through the lobby when he heard the receptionist call out his name. Melinda wasn’t at her usual station but was decorating a Christmas tree in the corner. She was blond, petite and pretty, and she wasn’t shy about making her interest in him known. But she was too young and a little too brazen for his taste. Besides, she reminded him of his ex-fiancée.

“You’re right on time, Evan,” she said brightly, holding a glittering star and standing on a short ladder. “I can’t reach the top.” She demonstrated by stretching so high that pretty much everyone in the lobby noticed that she wore pink lacy underwear.

Evan kept his eyes on her face as he stayed en route to the double doors. “Where’s Leroy?” The ex-basketball-player-turned-security-guard wouldn’t even need the ladder.

“I don’t know,” she said petulantly. “Can’t you help me?”

“I’m running late.” He hesitated and glanced out the glass doors. “All right.”

She smiled and handed him the star before slowly descending the ladder, with a seductive sway to her curvy hips.

The tree had to be eight feet tall and since he was only six-two he didn’t dare try securing the star without using the ladder. He got up a couple of rungs and felt Melinda’s hand near his right thigh. He frowned down at her.

“I’m holding the ladder for you,” she said with a wink.

He ignored her, placed the star on the top of the tree and then quickly got down.

“You’re leaving early.” The woman had no concept of personal space.

He backed away from her, at the same time glancing out the glass doors. He spotted Liza pulling into a parking space. “I’ve got to go.”

“You have a date or something?” she asked in a teasing tone.

“Yeah,” he said, and headed out of the building without giving her a second look.

The sky was darker and the air chillier than when he’d come to work midmorning. He buttoned his jacket as he walked, watching for Liza, his gaze staying on the large black SUV she’d parked behind. A second later he saw her, dressed in jeans and a bulky red sweater that unfortunately hid her curves. He waved to get her attention.

“What are you doing out here?” she asked as soon as she got close enough.

Evan checked his watch. “Weren’t we supposed to meet at four fifteen?”

Resentment flashed in her eyes. “Too embarrassed to be seen with me inside?”

“Never even crossed my mind. I was done, and I walked out here to meet you. Is that a problem?”

Her gaze flickered toward the station doors. “No.”

“Shall we take my car?”

“I guess.”

He didn’t appreciate her indifferent tone. “Look, if you’ve changed your mind, no problem.”

Liza shook her head. “No, I’m sorry. I’d like to have a drink with you. Anyplace. You choose.”

Evan tried not to smile. Originally she’d asked him just to go for coffee, which was okay because he’d considered it a nice start. A drink was better. Maybe it would even lead to dinner. “How about we go to Sardis?”

“That’s a couple blocks away, isn’t it?”

He nodded.

“Let’s walk.”

“You’re not cold?”

Liza laughed. Nice husky sound. “It’s only the beginning of December. Ask me next month.”

Would she still be around then? Naturally he said nothing. He simply walked alongside her, and when they got to the sidewalk, promptly swung around to take the outside position closer to the street.

Her lips lifted in amusement. “A perfect Southern gentleman, I see.”

He shrugged sheepishly. “My grandfather once made me promise to never let a woman walk on the street side. Do you know how the custom came about?”

“Ah, no.”

Evan smiled. He could tell she didn’t care but she was going to hear it anyway. “It started back in the old west. Unpaved roads, puddles of water…you starting to get the picture?”

She shook her head in mock disgust, but he saw the smile dancing at the corners of her mouth.

“A gentleman always walked on the outside to protect the women from getting their long skirts splashed.”

She laughed, making her eyes sparkle. She wasn’t classically pretty but she had an interesting face. Her eyes were small and almond-shaped, and her nose looked as if it had been sculpted by a skilled surgeon. Although she didn’t strike him as a woman who’d go in for that kind of thing.

He smiled. “And now you know.”

“Is that true?”

“I have no idea.”

Her eyebrows arched. “You made it up?”

“No, I heard it from my grandfather. I imagine he did read it somewhere, though. I remember him always reading a book or newspaper.”

She looked away. “I don’t remember my grandparents. I was a baby when they died.”

“All four of them?”

“Yeah,” she said, showing undue interest in the Santa window display they were passing.

He got that it might be a sore subject and dropped it. “You look nice.”

She gave him an annoyed look. “This is a drink, okay? You’re not getting lucky.”

“No problem. I’m celibate.” As much as he wanted to see Liza’s expression, he had to look away because he had a lousy poker face.

Fortunately, at that moment they arrived at the bar, both of them going for the door, but he got it first. He held it open for her.

“Celibate and a gentleman. This is going to be interesting,” she murmured as she proceeded him.

Evan followed her, disturbed by the new view he was getting. The sweater wasn’t hiding any curves. She’d lost a lot of weight. About twenty pounds that she hadn’t needed to lose. Was she sick? Was that the reason for her sudden disappearance? Is that why she needed the lottery money?

The light vanilla fragrance of her hair distracted him, and drew him closer than was polite. When she stopped suddenly, he nearly rammed into her. She turned to say something and their eyes met. She didn’t look pleased.

“There’s a table over there,” he said, discreetly backing up a foot.

She hesitated, her gaze turning toward the dimly lit room, the walls covered with racing memorabilia and autographed pictures. Artificial garlands interwoven with Christmas lights were draped along the heavy wooden bar. A Christmas tree stood in the corner but it hadn’t been decorated yet. There were a lot of customers for the time of day, talking and laughing or thoughtfully sipping their cocktails.

Evan only recognized one person who worked at the station—a cameraman from another show that was filmed down the hall. Luckily, he had nothing to do with Just Between Us and he was probably new enough that Liza wouldn’t recognize him.

“This okay?” he asked close to her ear.

“This is fine. I could do without all the damn decorations but I don’t think we can get away from that.”

“Don’t like Christmas, huh?”

“Not particularly.”

“Me, neither.”

She looked at him with surprise but a couple came in behind them and since there were only two available tables, he and Liza headed toward the one he’d spotted in the corner. It hadn’t been cleaned off yet from the previous customers and a waitress promptly removed the empty glasses, wiped off the tabletop with a towel and then said she’d be back to take their drink orders.

After a brief but awkward silence, Evan spoke first. “You can tell me to go to hell, but I’m going to ask the burning question. Where have you been for the last year?”

Liza leaned back in her chair and stared at him. “Does it matter?”

That, he hadn’t expected. “I guess not.”

“Good.” A hint of a smile played at the corners of her mouth. “Now I don’t have to tell you to go to hell.”

“Go ahead. I can take it. I’ve got broad shoulders.”

“Do you now?” She gave him an obvious once-over. “I see that you do.”

“Careful or I’ll think you’re flirting with me.”

She laughed. “I wouldn’t do that to a man in your condition.”

Now that he thought about it, he was painfully close to celibacy. His nurse thought he was too picky. “How thoughtful.”

Liza opened her mouth to say something and then closed it again when their waitress appeared. The woman waited patiently while Liza changed her mind twice about what she wanted to drink. Finally, she settled on a tequila sunrise with an extra cherry. Surprising, because he’d expected her to drink something like scotch or beer.

After he’d given his order and the waitress left, he waited for Liza to pick up the conversation again, but when she didn’t, he asked, “What have you been doing with yourself?”

She looked uncomfortable, shifting in her seat and feigning interest in the picture of a Grand Prix racing crew on the wall. “Nothing much.”

“You have a job?”

“I’m looking.”

“In the same field?”

“Why so many questions?” she snapped.

“Well, let’s see, I suppose we could talk about the weather.”

Liza sighed. “I really don’t know what I’m going to do yet.”

“Waiting for the lawsuit to play out, I imagine.”

She flinched. “It’s not about the money.”

“Oh?” Jeez, he really was just making conversation.

She moistened her lips. “Have you heard anything?”

“You mean, around the station?”

She slowly nodded, her anxious hazel eyes staying fastened on his.

He chuckled. “Your name has popped up from time to time.”

“I know they all think I’m a bitch.”

“I wouldn’t say that.”

Her chin went up in defiance. “You don’t have to protect my tender feelings. I really don’t give a damn.”

“I know. I was talking about the janitor. He doesn’t speak English, so I doubt he has an opinion of you.”

Liza grinned. “Very good, Dr. Gann.”

“Why, thank you.” Silly how good it felt to have impressed Liza. But mostly it was about how her face relaxed when she smiled. How pretty she looked.

“Here we go.” The waitress set the tequila sunrise in front of Liza along with a small white bowl of maraschino cherries. She put a bottle of imported beer in front of Evan, and then another bowl of pretzels in the center of the table.

“Thank you.” Liza looked at the waitress, an odd expression on her face, almost as if she was surprised by the kindness.

“I’ll check back with you later,” the older woman said as she took out the pencil she’d stuck behind her ear and then moved to the next table.

Liza reached for her second cherry, while eyeing the pretzels. “I wonder if the gang still goes to Latitude Thirty-Three,” she said with an unexpected wistfulness.

“I think they do. If you want we can go there after—”

“God, no.” She took a quick sip of her drink. “No one from Just Between Us wants to see me.”

“Why were you in the parking lot yesterday?”

She frowned. “Can we talk about something else?”

“Name it. I can’t seem to get it right.”

She tilted her head to the side, her eyebrows drawing together. “I don’t get you.”

“Me? I’m an open book.”

“Are you married?”

That annoyed him. “I wouldn’t be sitting here if I were.”

Liza shrugged. “Why? This is merely a friendly drink, yes? Plus, you’re celibate.”

He smiled. “I was ten minutes ago.”

She shook her head in mock exasperation. “Okay, were you ever married?”

“No.”

“Hmm.”

“What does that mean?”

“You seem like the marrying kind. Kids. The white picket fence. Steady. Stable. You know the type.”

Evan knew exactly what she meant. Liza was on the wild side, which meant she’d find someone like that boring. The thing was, he pretty much was that guy. He would have had it all by now if Angela hadn’t screwed him. And, literally, two of his friends. “I have the white picket fence. Came with the house.”

Liza chuckled. “Ah, so you do have the whole house-and-mortgage thing.”

“Gotta live somewhere.”

Her expression fell and her shoulders sagged. “I think I’d like a house someday,” she said softly. “With a small yard and garden. Apartment living is getting old.”

“Where are you now?”

She looked warily at him. “You wouldn’t know the place. Anyway, I’m not even sure I’m staying in Atlanta. Probably won’t. Too hot and humid.”

“Great for growing gardens.”

She gave a shrug of indifference and in just those few seconds she became the old Liza. “I’m not really the hearth-and-home type. I was only making conversation.”

“Ah, I see.” He didn’t really. Better to let it go, though. “You must have something in mind, assuming you win the lawsuit.”

She’d just picked up her drink and it slid from her hand. Half the liquid sloshed onto her lap before she could right the glass. “Damn.”

He rose. “I’ll get a towel from the waitress.”

“No, that’s okay. I’ve got it.” She used both their cocktail napkins but he knew that couldn’t have done much good.

“I can get a towel.”

“No,” she said curtly, and then took a furtive look around before staring back down at her lap.

Only the couple at the next table had noticed, and they’d already restarted their conversation.

Evan just watched her swipe at her jeans with an angry frustration that went well beyond a spilled drink. She bit her lower lip so hard he wouldn’t be surprised if she drew blood. He wanted to help, to at least say something comforting or funny to distract her, but he knew better. He had this really strong and unexpected feeling that Liza needed to battle her own demons.

T HIS WAS SO STUPID. She wasn’t about to dry her jeans this way, but she didn’t want to meet Evan’s eyes. Bet he was sorry that he’d asked her out. Served him right. What had he expected?

“Excuse me,” she said finally. “I need to go to the restroom and take care of this.”

She only briefly looked at him as she slid out of her seat. There was no pity in his eyes, not even curiosity. In fact, she didn’t know what to make of his bland expression.

“Shall I order you another drink?” he asked calmly.

“No, thanks,” she murmured, and gave him her back as she blindly searched for the ladies’ room.

It had to be in one of the corners, and it was the second place she looked. She didn’t give a damn about her jeans and went straight to the sink. She turned on the faucet and splashed her face with cold water. At the last moment she remembered that she’d actually applied a little makeup before coming out. Too late now.

Didn’t matter, though. Unlikely she’d see Evan again. He probably couldn’t wait to finish his drink and get rid of her. She wouldn’t be surprised if he’d already paid the bill. Ironically, she’d enjoyed being with him. He wasn’t as stuffy as she’d expected him to be. Still not her type, but he’d been pleasant company. Didn’t take her crap, either. Always a refreshing discovery.

The problem was, she hadn’t found out anything about the lawsuit. She knew damn well people gossiped around there, especially in the coffee room. Evan wasn’t the type to participate, but he still might’ve heard something useful.

Staring at her reflection in the mirror, she cringed at the dark circles under her eyes. A couple of years away from the big 3-0 and she already had pronounced crow’s-feet at the corners of her eyes. Her skin was too pale, and now that she’d washed off the tinted moisturizer, she really looked like hell.

She pushed the hair away from her face and, as she’d seen her mother do a hundred times, a zillion years ago, Liza pinched her cheeks to give them some color. She didn’t do a very good job because the right side looked more like a bad mosquito bite. Great.

She grabbed a couple of paper towels and blotted her jeans, and then washed the stickiness off her hands. If Evan hadn’t already bolted, she’d come right out and ask him what he’d heard about the lawsuit. All he could do was tell her to get lost. But she doubted he’d do that. He was too much of a gentleman. And damn it, she liked that.

3

L IZA’ S HEART DID A funny little hop as she approached the table, and he smiled. His hair was too short for her taste, but he had great eyes, the perfect shade of whiskey-brown, and a square jaw with a dimple in the center of his chin that she found terribly appealing. That he had some stubble and wasn’t clean-shaven, as usual, was right up her alley.

The table had been cleaned off and her empty glass had been replaced with another tequila sunrise. She reclaimed her seat and noticed that he was also on his second beer. Guess he wasn’t going to run screaming from the room.

“Trust me with another drink, I see.” She decided not to point out that she’d said she didn’t want another.

“I asked for a lid but they didn’t have one.”

She smiled in spite of herself. Either she was really starved for male company or Evan was truly turning out to be less stodgy than she’d perceived him.

“What kind of doctor are you?” she asked, genuinely interested.

“An internist.”

“How did you get the consulting gig for Heartbeat?”

“The producer is an old frat brother of mine.”

“From med school?”

He chuckled. “Undergraduate. You don’t have time for a fraternity in med school. Between working and studying I was lucky to get four hours of sleep a night.”

“Here I thought you were one of those rich kids who had a trust fund.”

“Yeah, right.”

“Seriously, I did. You seem the preppy type.”

“Bad assumption. I just finally paid off my student loans, thanks to the consulting job.”

“I still have ten thousand outstanding myself.” Liza had no idea why she’d offered the information. It galled her to know that part of her inheritance had been used to buy Rick’s bike instead of making her debt-free.

“That’s not bad.”

“I guess not. Though I don’t like to owe any money.”

“Me, too. My parents scraped together every penny to pay down their mortgage. The day they made their last payment they had a huge barbecue in the backyard and invited all the relatives and neighbors.”

Liza smiled at the fondness in his voice. “You have a big family?”

“Two brothers. Lots of cousins, most of whom live here in Atlanta. How about you?”

“No siblings. Except Eve and Jane. They’re like—” She cut herself off, horrified at what she’d revealed. It was Evan’s fault. He was just too damn easy to talk to.

He looked clearly curious, but graciously filled the conversation gap. “My father is retiring in three months. He and Mom are thinking about buying a small condo in Florida but they’re not sure where. You’re from Jacksonville, aren’t you?”

“I was a kid when I lived there, and then I left after college.” She quickly picked up her drink and took a cooling sip. She didn’t like this warm squishy feeling of gratitude. Evan didn’t need information on Florida. He could’ve asked her all kinds of awkward questions. Not that she’d have answered, but still.

“Are your parents living there—in Jacksonville?”

“My dad died last year. My mom is there.”

She didn’t know where exactly, but that wasn’t something she’d share. Besides, with his background, he wouldn’t understand what it was like growing up with an alcoholic and a pill-popper.

“I’m sorry about your father.”

“Yeah. Guess it was his time.” She looked away so she wouldn’t see the revulsion on Evan’s face. She hadn’t meant to sound so callous, but a life of hard drinking never ended well. When she finally looked at Evan again, he smiled kindly. It annoyed her. Why was he so nice? What the hell did he want from her? She didn’t deserve his kindness. Or anyone else’s. Didn’t he understand that?

“You getting hungry?”

“Why?”

“Well,” he said slowly, the corners of his mouth twitching, “it’s approaching the dinner hour and traditionally people eat a meal at that time.”

“I’m not traditional.”

“True.” He loosened the knot on his tie. “That’s what I like about you.”

“Hmm.” She couldn’t come up with anything witty to say. She was too busy watching his long fingers work, and noticing the smattering of hair across the back of his hands. His skin was tan and more rugged-looking than she’d expect of a doctor. Probably belonged to a golf or tennis club.

“Liza?”

“What?”

He frowned at her. “I asked if you’d like to go to dinner.”

“Dinner?”

“Uh-huh, you know, eating.”

She glanced at her watch, shocked at how much time had passed. Yet she hadn’t gotten a word out of him about the scuttlebutt around the station. Rick had been sleeping when she left, and she wanted him to stay that way until she was safely in her apartment. “I can’t. I’m leaving after this drink.”

“All right.” He looked disappointed as he leaned back in his chair. His shoulders really were quite broad. She wondered what he’d be like without the jacket. “Another time, maybe?”

She nodded absently. He kind of looked like a jock. Not her favorite. But he definitely seemed as if he were in shape. The most exercise she got these days was climbing the stairs to her apartment.

“Your enthusiasm is heartening.”

“What?”

He smiled sadly. “One of the other things I like about you is your directness. If you don’t want a repeat, go ahead and say so. You’re not going to hurt my feelings.”

“That’s not it.” She cleared her throat. What a great opening he’d handed her. “It’s this whole lawsuit thing making me crazy. I’m not myself.”

“Ah. I understand.”

She fingered her straw, keeping her gaze lowered, hoping she sounded casual. “Have you heard anything?”

“About what?”

“The lawsuit. My attorney thinks they’re about to make another offer.”

“Good.” He slowly set down his beer, clearly avoiding her gaze. “I’m sure everyone wants to put this behind them.”

“But you haven’t heard anything?”

This time he looked her straight in the eye. “Is that why you called? So you could pump me for information?”

“Yes.”

He didn’t even blink at her bluntness. “Sorry you wasted your time.” His expression grim, he reached into his pocket. “And mine.”

“Wait. Initially I did want to meet with you so that I could find out what was going on.”

He pulled out some bills from his silver-and-turquoise money clip and picked up the check the waitress had left.

Liza plucked the slip of paper out of his hand. “I called you. I’m paying.”

“Will that assuage your guilt?”

“Had you been listening, you’d realize that I qualified my answer. This evening turned out to be a pleasant surprise.”

His mouth curved in a patronizing smile.

“Look, I’m glad I came, okay?” She dug through her purse, searching for her wallet. Mostly, she didn’t want to face Evan. Screw him. At least she’d told him the truth. She could’ve gone all dewy-eyed and saccharine-sweet to get what she wanted. But she hadn’t. Not that she’d ever use that tactic in a million years.

“Liza?”

Grudgingly, she looked up at him.

His gentle smile disarmed her. “I’m glad you came, too.”

“Yeah, well, now that the mutual admiration society has met, time to get out of here.” She found a twenty and looked at the bill. God. Even the beer was expensive in this place. She started fishing in her wallet again, but Evan reached over and touched her hand.

“I’m getting this,” he said and before she knew it, he grabbed the check out of her fingers.

“Give me that.”

“Nope.” He already had the money ready and handed the bills to the waitress as she passed by on her way to another table.

“This is the twenty-first century, in case you’ve just woken up.”

“A gentleman supersedes any period in time.”

“Oh, brother.”

“You ready?”

“You can stay.”

He snorted. “Right.”

“So now you’re insisting on walking me to my car?”

“You bet.”

She shook her head as they both got to their feet. “You’re something else.”

Winking at her, he took her arm with a flourish, the way his grandfather might have escorted his wife.

Liza laughed. “What am I going to do with you?”

His smile was far from patronizing when he asked, “Open to suggestions?”

A S THEY LEFT THE BAR, Evan placed his hand at the small of her back. She was pretty thin, which revived his earlier suspicion regarding her health. Yet her coloring was good and her energy level didn’t seem to be lacking.

“You’ve lost some weight,” he said once they got on the sidewalk and he’d positioned himself on the outside. Rush-hour traffic hadn’t subsided, and it wouldn’t for another couple of hours.

She frowned slightly. “Have I?”

“Must be the stress of the lawsuit.”

She moved away, self-consciously wrapping her arms around herself. “I guess.”

“You want my jacket?”

“Huh? Oh, no. Thanks.”

“By the way, I haven’t heard anything about the lawsuit.”

She turned back to him, lowering her arms, suddenly interested again. “Nothing?”

“Nada.” He shook his head. “But I’m not in the loop around the station. When I’m done for the day, I’m out of there.”

She turned away again, clearly disappointed.

“Sorry.”

“It’s okay.”

Was it? Now that she knew he couldn’t be of use to her, would she still go out with him again? “I wish you luck, though.”

She slowed. “Do you? Why?”

“Because you apparently believe you have a claim. I don’t know the particulars, but—”

“Don’t give me that. The story’s been splashed across the damn newspaper.”

“Do you believe everything you read?” he shot back and enjoyed the bewilderment on her face.

She stared at him for a long moment and then picked up the pace again, her eyebrows pinched together in a fierce frown. “I don’t understand you,” she muttered.

“I believe you’ve already pointed that out.” He tried not to smile and show just how much he enjoyed puzzling her. She was a bit of a wild one, and he absolutely wasn’t. But that didn’t mean he didn’t like a taste of the exotic once in a while.

“Yes, well, things haven’t changed.”

Evan finally smiled. “How about tomorrow night?”

“What about it?”

“Dinner, and a chance to figure me out.”

Her lips started to turn up, and then she sighed and shook her head. “I can’t.”

“Okay, how about Thursday night?”

“I can’t.”

“In other words, I should quit asking.” He watched her closely, hoping he was wrong. Hoping that she hadn’t merely been using him tonight.

She looked down at her hands and pressed her lips together. “I surprisingly had fun tonight….”

“Thanks,” he said dryly.

“I’m awful. I know. But that’s the truth. I expected you to be different,” she said, reminding him how much he found her frankness refreshing.

“Somehow I sense a ‘but’ coming.”

“I can’t see you again.”

“Okay,” he said slowly, realizing he deserved the mental slap. “Seeing someone else?”

“No,” she said quickly.

Annoyed with himself, he kept walking beside her, facing straight ahead. He shouldn’t have asked if there was another guy in the picture. The lady said no. That was enough. He was raised better than that.

They continued in silence to the station’s parking lot. Along the street, Christmas decorations were everywhere. Lights were strung around telephone poles and animated Santas and reindeers blinked from merchants’ windows. It was enough to sour his sudden precarious mood.

Damn, but he wished his parents would go to Florida for the holidays. But, no, they insisted on staying so the family could have a festive dinner together. They probably only maintained the tradition to keep Evan’s spirits up.

Ironically, getting together or even acknowledging the holidays was the last thing he wanted to do. Better to hide out at home, play some tunes, read a good book. And try not to think about Angela. About how this Christmas Eve would’ve been their seventh anniversary.

“Well, we’re here.”

He snapped out of his reverie. They’d already gotten to his brand-new Camry, and Liza was staring at him with open wonder.

“Thank you, Evan. I had a great time. Really.”

He motioned for her to keep walking. She started to protest and then closed her lush, pink mouth when she must have realized that he was going to walk her to her car whether she liked it or not.

Most of the lot was unusually empty for this time of day. Then he remembered hearing that one of the departments was having a Christmas party tonight. Otherwise, no one left until the director had his or her perfect shot. He saw Liza’s compact about a half dozen stalls away. The car was an older model and didn’t come with the convenience of a remote so he waited until she manually unlocked her door.

She got it open and then stood back. “I wish you would’ve let me pay the check.”

He smiled. “You’re welcome.”

She made a face. “I’m getting in now so you can leave knowing you’ve done your gentlemanly duty.”

He held the door for her until she was sitting behind the wheel. It took a good deal of willpower not to lean over and kiss her. Just a brief touching of lips. Nothing threatening. But she probably wouldn’t welcome the overture and he wasn’t one to push. “Drive safely,” he said, and closed the door.

Before he could walk away, she promptly rolled down the window. A floodlight from the building shined on her face, making her hazel eyes glitter. “I really did have a nice time, Evan.”

“Who are you trying to convince?”

She smiled. “Okay, I deserved that.”

“For the record, me, too,” he said and headed for his car before he gave in to his impulse and did something foolish. The woman wasn’t interested. He was a mature adult. He could accept that he wasn’t her type. Didn’t have to like it, but he could certainly accept the fact.

He got out his keys and used the remote to unlock the car doors. He was too busy to be dating, anyway. As it was, his receptionist constantly begged him to expand his office hours. She was tired of turning away patients. In about three years he figured he could quit consulting on the television show and start looking toward the future. Build a nice solid practice, work hard, retire early if he chose. Although he doubted it, because he really did like practicing medicine. The consulting job was a necessity for now.

He took off his jacket and laid it across the backseat before slipping in behind the wheel. It was cool for a moment, but then he turned the key in the ignition and both the promise of warmth and soft rock filled the air. The radio was too loud, but the volume always was deafening when he first started the car. Funny how it never seemed loud when he parked. Maybe that’s why he never remembered to adjust it.

The sun had recently set, leaving a pink tinge along the horizon, but it was dark enough that he glanced in his rearview mirror to make sure Liza had safely left the parking lot. Her car was still there. He squinted but he couldn’t see her behind the wheel. What the hell…

He grabbed the handle and jerked open the car door. He got out, and she was right there, so close, he nearly knocked her over.

“Liza, what’s wrong?” He gripped her upper arms.

“I’m okay,” she said with a nervous laugh. “Really, I’m okay.”

He didn’t let go of her. It felt good being this close. Close enough to feel her warm breath brush his chin. Close enough to smell the vanilla scent that clung to her hair.

“Evan? You’re kind of hurting my arm.”

“Oh, jeez.” He quickly lowered his hands. “I’m sorry.” He gave her some room. “What happened? Is something wrong with your car?”

“No, no. My car is fine.” She briefly glanced over her shoulder. “Well, other than it looks as if it’s been through a war zone. Can I change my mind about tomorrow night?”

That took him aback. “Sure.”

“Ever been to Simone’s?”

He smiled. No problem. She could choose the restaurant. “No, but I know of it.”

“How about seven?”

“That works for me.”

“Good.” She hesitated, and then took a small step back. “Thanks again for tonight.”

“My pleasure.” Was it his imagination or was she reluctant to leave? “I’ll wait until you start your car.”

She sighed. “Good night, then.”

“Good night.”

She made a sound of exasperation and came toward him. He was only about five inches taller, but she grabbed a fistful of his shirt and pulled him down to her mouth.

She hesitated, as if she’d changed her mind. He smelled her fear, and gently coaxed her lips to soften. Then they parted slightly and he readily accepted the invitation, slipping his tongue inside and exploring the tempting fleshy part of the inside of her cheek. She responded briefly. When she pulled back, he didn’t push. That was enough. For now.

Конец ознакомительного фрагмента.

Текст предоставлен ООО «ЛитРес».

Прочитайте эту книгу целиком, купив полную легальную версию на ЛитРес.

Безопасно оплатить книгу можно банковской картой Visa, MasterCard, Maestro, со счета мобильного телефона, с платежного терминала, в салоне МТС или Связной, через PayPal, WebMoney, Яндекс.Деньги, QIWI Кошелек, бонусными картами или другим удобным Вам способом.