The Surgeon's Cinderella

Mr. Wilcox glanced from her to Tanner and back. Those old eyes missed nothing. “You will come back soon?”

Whitney put a hand on his arm. “You can count on it. I’m glad you’re doing so well.”

“I have to give part of that credit to Dr. Locke here. He’s a great doctor.”

“I know he is.” She did. How could Tanner be anything but that? “Bye, now.”

When she passed Tanner he reached out and caught her arm. His touch sent an electric shock though her. The simplest touch from him had her trembling. “Would you please wait for me in the hall until I’m done here? I won’t be but a few minutes.”

Whitney glanced at Mr. Wilcox. He was still watching them closely. She nodded to Tanner.

Minutes later Tanner joined her. He looked at her carefully. “How have you been?”

“Fine. And yourself?”

“Let’s not talk here.” He took her arm and led her around the corner to a small consulting room. Opening the door, he let her step in before he entered. The door closed.

“Tanner, I don’t really have time—”

His hands cupped her face as his mouth captured the rest of her words. There was an edge of desperation to the kiss as his lips moved across hers. Yet he was holding back. His mouth left hers to run kisses over her cheek. “I’ve missed you.”

Heaven help her, she craved him still. But they must be sensible. She gently pushed him away. “Tanner, we can’t do this.”

He let her go and moved away, giving her space, but still breathed deeply as if he was holding himself in check. “Forgive me. I couldn’t help myself. Look, what I brought you in here for was to ask you if you would go out with me? I have two tickets to Jazz in the Park tomorrow night.”

“Shouldn’t you be taking one of your matches?”

“None of those have worked out. Besides, I enjoy your company. What do you say, Whitney? Go with me.”

This time he was asking, not demanding, she do something with him. She knew better but she couldn’t bring herself to turn him down. It didn’t matter what the best thing to do was, she wanted to go. Wanted to spend time with Tanner. “What time should I expect you?”

A smile came to his lips. One that reached his eyes. He’d been worried she wouldn’t go. “Seven. Don’t eat dinner. I’ll bring it.” His phone buzzed. “I have to get this. I’ll see you tomorrow night.”

Whitney thought he might kiss her before he left and was disappointed when he didn’t.

She had a date with Tanner. A real date.

* * *

Tanner had been out with a number of women but for some reason he was nervous about this date. Everything must be right. He enjoyed Whitney’s company more than anyone’s he’d ever known and he was going to do whatever it took to continue to see her, to have her in his life, permanently.

It had occurred to him that she was his match. The one he’d been looking for. She met all his criteria. Whitney enjoyed his company. She’d proven that over and over while they’d been in Napa. They were extremely compatible in bed. Which made her almost perfect. She wanted children, was a great cook, did well in social situations. What was not right about her? Their life together would be satisfying. He just needed to convince her of that.

He’d been planning to give her a little more time before he asked her out but, seeing her in Mr. Wilcox’s room, he hadn’t been able to wait. He’d missed her, longed for her. Before she’d been his matchmaker and now she wasn’t. There was nothing stopping them from dating.

Now all he had to do was woo her, show her that they belonged together. Surely he could do that? Had that been what his mother had tried to do? But Tanner wasn’t going to make the mistake his mother had. He wasn’t going to fall in love. Somehow he and Whitney would make it work without that emotion.

The next afternoon after half an hour of indecision, Tanner settled on a light blue collared shirt and jeans with a navy jacket as his outfit for the evening. Dressy, yet casual. Before he left the hospital he made sure that he had two doctors taking his calls in case something came up. He didn’t want any interruptions tonight.

He was at Whitney’s promptly at seven in his freshly washed car. Why was he acting as if he were going to the prom? Because he wanted Whitney to see the possibilities between them.

Adjusting his collar for the third time and checking his hair in the mirror, Tanner climbed the steps to her front door carrying a small flowerpot. The lady at the flower shop had said she would love this one.

He rang the bell. No one came. Had Whitney forgotten? He pushed the button again. Waited. Relief washed over him when the knob turned and the door opened. Whitney looked amazing. She was dressed in a light pink sweater set and darker pink pants that skimmed her hips, and wore her hair down around her shoulders, and he’d never seen her look more beautiful.

“Wow.”

She smiled. “Thanks. You look nice yourself.”

He offered the potted plant in his hand. “I brought you a flower.”

Whitney took it and gently touched one of the purple blooms. “It’s beautiful. You remembered how much I like violets.”

“I did.” He’d won points.

“Come in while I find a home for this and get my purse.”

Tanner would follow her anywhere. He’d never felt like this about a woman. Right now all he wanted to do was carry her upstairs to her bed. Hell, he’d settle for her sofa. But he wasn’t going to do that. She deserved better than a rutting buck.

Instead of following her farther down the hall, he chose to remain near the door so he wouldn’t be further tempted. She soon returned with purse in hand.

“I’m ready.”

“Great. Let’s go.” He went out the door and waited on the steps as she locked up. Taking Whitney’s elbow, he helped her down the steps. When she went to the passeng

er side of his car he redirected her to the driver’s. “I promised you could drive. I thought you might like to tonight.”

She grinned. “Really?”

He held the door open for her. “Really.”

Whitney dropped her purse into the space behind her seat and climb in. She already had the car started before he was in his seat and buckled up. He groaned when she revved the motor.

She smiled. “This is going to be fun.”

“You break it, you buy it, that’s all I’m going to say.”

“Oh, you’re no fun.” She pulled away from the curb.

Over the next few minutes Tanner sat back and enjoyed watching Whitney’s facial expressions as she negotiated the narrow hilly streets of San Francisco in the powerful car. She was having fun. The evening was off to a good start.

When they were closer to the park he gave her directions about where to pull in and stop. He helped her out of the car and then went to the trunk and removed the picnic basket and blanket he had stored there.

“Nice. Fix that yourself?” Whitney asked.

He gave her a bashful look. “No, but I did call and order it.”

She gave a bark of laughter. “If nothing else, you’re honest.”

“Yeah, about this, but I wasn’t straight up with Malcolm and Marie. I plan to come clean the next time I see Malcolm.”

They started toward the stage already set up in an open grassy area in the middle of the park. “Good. I felt bad about deceiving them.”

They wouldn’t be upset if he could tell them that he and Whitney really were a couple.

Finding a place where no one else would be sitting too close to them, he spread the blanket out. They took a seat on it. Opening the basket, Tanner unloaded the food. Tanner had requested raw vegetables with dip, ham and cheese rolls, fruit and wine.

“This is nice,” Whitney said. “Who decided on the menu?”

“I did.”

“Good choices.” She bit into a carrot that she had pulled through vegetable dip.