The Surgeon's Cinderella

“Okay. Then how about a ride through the valley since you’ve never been to Napa? It’s a beautiful day.”

Secretly pleased, she admonished, “You know you don’t have to entertain me. Don’t you need to be hanging out with Malcolm and the other board members?”

“Nope. I have you here and I understand the need to appear ready to settle down, but I’m not going to pander to anyone for a job.”

She was glad to hear that Tanner had a moral line that he wouldn’t cross.

“Let’s take that ride. Do you have a hat?”

“No, but I have a scarf.” She gave him her best mischievous grin.

“We’re going to find you a hat.” He grabbed her hand and pulled her toward a boutique with hats in the window.

A few minutes later, they came out with her wearing a tangerine-colored wide-brimmed hat that was far more attention-getting than anything else she owned. But she loved it. Between it and the dress she was really stepping out of her comfort zone. Somehow Tanner was bringing out her inner diva.

“That color suits you,” he said as they settled in the car.

“Thank you. You do know you don’t have to compliment me when there’s no one around to hear?”

“Has it occurred to you that I might like complimenting you?”

It hadn’t, but she had to admit she liked the attention from him.

Over the next couple of hours they just drove at a peaceful speed along the main road through the center of the valley. The vineyards they passed were impeccably groomed and endless. Tanner pulled over at a little roadside stand and bought them bottled drinks.

“This is so beautiful.” Whitney stood beside the car, looking off toward the east where the hills created one side of the valley.

Tanner leaned against the car and crossed his ankles. “I was impressed the first time I visited as well. It’s like a little piece of France at your back door.”

“I would love to visit France one day.” Whitney took a sip of her cola.

“I think you would like it. I’d heard so much about Paris that I didn’t believe it could live up to the hype, but it was everything I had expected and more.”

“Do you travel a lot?” She couldn’t help but look at him. Even his body movements captivated her. She was so on the road to trouble. Heart trouble.

“When I can. It takes some reconfiguring for me to get away from the hospital.” He didn’t sound disappointed, just resigned.

She met his gaze from under the brim of her hat. “So what about this weekend? Who’s watching over everything?”

“I’m close enough to be there in an hour or so. I have good staff who will help out until I can get there.”

Their lives were so different. Her career almost seemed frivolous compared to his yet he’d asked for her help. No matter what people did in life they wanted to share it with someone. The more she was around Tanner the more she could understand why he would be considered a catch.

But why was he so against a relationship that involved love? She had a feeling he had a lot stored up to give.

They were in the car again and Tanner was about to turn into the road to head back the way they had come when Whitney said, “Thank you for making the afternoon nice for me. It was sweet of you. I would have made it through tea by myself but it was good to have your support.”

“You’re welcome. If you have any issues with Charlotte, just let me know. Max will be here this evening and most of that will stop.”

“Is she always so catty?”

He glanced at her. “Only when she can get away with it.”

Whitney watched his capable hands on the wheel. He had nice hands. What would it be like to be intentionally touched by those fingers? That wasn’t a safe subject. Charlotte was a more benign one. “She said she was at Berkeley at the same time we were.”

“She was. We dated awhile in my senior year.” He slowed and let a car go around them.

“I don’t remember her.”

“She transferred in.” Tanner looked up into the rearview mirror.

So that was why she hadn’t recognized her. Charlotte had been around during those years she hadn’t seen much of Tanner.

They returned to the château around four that afternoon. Whitney pulled off her hat and shook out her hair as they walked toward the main entrance.

“You have beautiful hair. That chestnut color is so unusual.”

“Thank you.” Oh, yes, the man had charm. And was laying it on thickly.

He pushed a strand off her cheek. “You should wear it down more often.”

If she let him keep this up he would have her in bed in the next fifteen minutes. “Tanner, I think we need to make a rule that you only touch me if it’s necessary.”

“Do I get to decide what’s necessary?” He fingered her hair.

She stepped out of reach. “No, I think I should make that decision.”

“What’re you afraid of? That I’ll uncover the true Whitney?” He waited for her to join him on the stairs.

Tanner was perceptive, she’d give him that. Was that the part of his character that made him such a good doctor? But he was her client and she had no intention of confessing any of her secrets.

CHAPTER FOUR

TANNER COULDN’T REMEMBER when he’d spent a more relaxing few hours with a woman. Whitney didn’t need to be entertained. She seemed happy just being along. Few women he knew would have been glad to spend hours riding in a car. There was something reassuring about having Whitney in the seat next to him. It was an odd feeling. It was nothing like what he’d seen in his mother and father’s relationship. He wasn’t going into that emotional minefield. They had nothing to do with him and Whitney.

Now she was in the bath, preparing for the evening. He was confident from her no-nonsense personality that he wouldn’t be left waiting long. After showering and shaving, he’d given the bathroom over to her. He had no idea what she planned to wear that evening but he was determined that his response would be positive, no matter what her attire.

There was a knock at the door. He opened it to find one of the bellboys.

“Mrs. Jarvis sent this up for Ms. Thomason.” The young man handed Tanner a dress bag and was gone before Tanner had time to tip him.

Tanner closed the door. So had Whitney taken his suggestion and bought something for herself after all? He tapped on the bathroom door. “Marie has sent you something.”

Whitney opened the door a crack. Her eyes widened when she saw the bag. “I forgot.” She reached out and took the bag. “Thank you.”

Seconds later Tanner was left looking at the panel of the door.

It had been twenty minutes since he’d heard anything coming from the bathroom. He checked his watch again. What was Whitney doing? They would be late if she didn’t hurry up. He tapped on the door. “Is everything all right in there?”

A muffled sound reached his ears. That wasn’t good.

The door barely opened. Her voice held a note of misery. “I can’t zip my dress.”

So that was what this was all about. “Step out here. I can help with that.”

Tanner registered a flash of red as she came only far enough into the room to present him with her back. For a moment his focus was on nothing but the bare V of skin between the two sections of the zipper. Whitney wore no bra. He made himself swallow.

Stepping up to her, Tanner took the tiny pull of the zipper between two fingers. Why were his hands trembling? He’d seen many bare backs. The zipper didn’t move when he tugged so he had to hold the material below it snugly, which brought his hand into contact with the curve of her back.

Tanner didn’t miss the sharp intake of Whitney’s breath. He was breathing harder as well. Getting hard. This simple action of closing a zip was turning into somethi

ng personal, sensual. With the zip closed Tanner stepped away, shoving his hands into his pants pockets.

What was going on here? He had no particular interest in Whitney. Still, what he wouldn’t have given to run the tip of a finger over the exposed creaminess of her back. Or to taste the ridge of her shoulder.

He cleared his throat and stepped back until the backs of his legs touched the bed.

“Thank you,” she said as she turned.

That scalding desire Tanner had felt had been fading and now it ignited to explode throughout his body as he took in the full view of Whitney. Her dress was demure by most standards but sexy on Whitney. With a V neckline that only showed a suggestion of cleavage and a length that stopped at her knees, she looked amazing. Just as he had suspected, there were curves under those baggy clothes she usually wore.

Her hair flowed thick and free around her shoulders. Tanner fisted his hands in his pockets so he didn’t reach out and grab a handful. “Whitney, you look lovely.”

A shy smile covered rose-tinted lips. “Thank you. I’m ready when you are.”