You do whatever you need to. Dont worry about me. I can entertain myself. Youve got a computer and a TV I can use, and there must be a bookstore somewhere in the area. Ill give you a list of books Ive been wanting to read.
She couldnt say, Dad, go home, you make me crazy. She loved him, but she couldnt continue seeing Eric. It wasnt fair to him, and she was embarrassed enough already.
Youll miss your only grandsons birthday Wednesday, she reminded him.
Sam will only be three. He wont care when I present my stack of presents, and Ill get out of going to the party Carly has planned at Buckos Pizza Palace. Have you ever been to one of their birthday orgies? Corny clowns, noisy game machines, kids screaming and running. He shuddered. I went to Kims fifth-birthday party there. A sledge hammer couldnt give me a worse headache.
You love sharing your grandchildrens big events, she said. Cake, candles, hugs and kisses for Grandpa.
The nice thing about retirement, he said, speaking from his weeks of experience, is I have plenty of time for the grandkids plus time to get to know my future son-in-law better.
Dad, were not that serious!
I know chemistry when I see it, he said smugly. He started leafing through the TV listings, and she dejectedly began her day.
BY MIDMORNING Mindy was the one with a headache. She had to check with the woman who was catering the Robinson family Thanksgiving reunion, twenty-two people and counting, then run to the party store outlet for orange napkins and table decorations. After that, she had to meet a new client at two and make sure the carpenter had come back to finish the shelves in Mrs. Konkles home office. People paid her to worry, and she was good at it.
Unfortunately, with her dad dropping his bomb on her head, she couldnt concentrate anymore. How could she work with her father in the house? Even before she left to run errands, he was busily using her computer to e-mail everyone he knew, however slightly. She could bump him, of course, but then what would he do all day? She remembered his book list and tried to figure out a time for a library trip. No point in buying thirteen books unless they werent available to borrow.
I have to talk to Eric, she said resolutely to herself.
The bogus romance had to end. Telling her father it was a hoax was no longer an option, not when hed be there with her day and night expressing his disappointment with sad, mournful pronouncements. He took her single status as a personal affront because she rejected his opinion of it. He refused to believe she was happy the way she was and in no hurry to rush into a relationship just to satisfy him.
She dialed Erics office on her cell phone while she waited her turn to drive through a construction area. How she loathed those two-sided signs carried by the bored workers who reduced a four-lane road to one lane. There seemed to be a rule that the busiest lane had to wait the longest.
Kincaid Veterinary Practice, Della answered. How may I help you?
Della, its Mindy Ryder. I desperately need to talk to the doctor.
Sorry, honey, hes in the middle of a procedure. I can have him call you when office hours are over.
No, I need to talk to him now.
Has something happened to Peaches? Della remembered pet names better than most people remembered people names.
No, shes fine. What about lunch? When does he take a lunch break?
Traffic in Mindys lane started inching forward.
I never know for sure. Sometimes he runs upstairs for a bite. Other days hes so busy he just skips it.
Can you work me in anytime today? Shed pay for an office visit if that was the only to talk to him.
It must be really important.
Della was curious. This was good. No doubt she remembered giving Eric the directions to her house.
It is.
Tell you what, if you come over right now, Ill squeeze you in as soon as humanly possible.
Thank you, Della, thank you, thank you, thank you.
WHEN SHE GOT to Erics office, the prospects for seeing him very soon seemed grim. Half a dozen people were crowded into the area with a Noahs ark of pets. The biggest gray cat shed ever seen was perched on an elderly ladys lap, glaring at a Saint Bernard waiting with stoic resignation. Mindy eyed a square red cardboard box barely large enough to hold a teapot. It had holes punched in the top. Did Eric treat snakes? She shuddered and hoped the hidden creature was something soft and furry like a gerbil.
Mindy Ryder. Della solemnly announced her name after only a couple minutes of waiting, giving her a nod.
She self-consciously walked to the door of the examining room, not at all comfortable about cutting to the front of the line.
The procedure took longer than expected, Della explained. Please be as quick as you can. Were really backed up today.
Thanks, Della. I appreciate this so much.
She went through the swinging door to Erics examining room. It was empty, but only seconds later he came through another door that led to his hospital wing. He made eye contact for a second or two, and her heart thumped as enthusiastically as her dogs tail usually did at the sight of the vet.
Mindy, I didnt expect to see you today. Wheres Peaches? He went to the sink and started scrubbing his hands with pink liquid soap from a wall dispenser.
I wont take much of your time, but I had to see you. We really shouldve broken up yesterday.
You know, Mindy, Im overbooked today. He dried his hands on a paper towel. Exactly why are you here?
He sounded pleasant enough, but she hated the feeling that she was only a nuisance to a man who could turn her on with a smile.
Dads decided to stay.
How long?
He didnt say, but he canceled his flight home. He wants to get to know you better. She paused. Hey, is there a snake in your waiting room?
Doubt it, unless one slithered in by itself. About your father
Yes, what about my father? If I calmly announce that were no longer an item, hell probably try to get us to reconcile. He wont let it rest unless you do something unforgivably mean.
What did you have in mind?
His scowl wasnt enough to mar his good looks, and she was filled with regret. She shouldve kept going to the big impersonal vet clinic even if they had muzzled Peaches on her last appointment there. Mindy wouldnt mind seeing Eric a lot more often than twice a year at her dogs checkups, but by now he probably thought she was nothing but a nuisance. And here she was again, trying to use him to solve her problem.
I shouldnt have come. Youre busy, and youve already done more than I had any right to expect.
She started to leave, but he stepped in front of the door and put both hands on her shoulders.
But you did come, and Im glad.
What did he mean by that? She met his eyes and was even more confused. She shrugged, but he didnt remove his hands.
Ill fake a breakup on the phone. I shouldve thought of it before I barged in on you, she said apologetically.
You didnt barge. I told Della to send you in as soon as you got here.
But your waiting room is full.
Happens sometimes. I try, but He dropped his arms and turned away from her. So your dads not leaving as scheduled, and he expects to see me.
But your waiting room is full.
Happens sometimes. I try, but He dropped his arms and turned away from her. So your dads not leaving as scheduled, and he expects to see me.
Often, Im afraid.
Then you and I had better strike a deal, he replied, facing her again.
A deal?
Her shoulders felt warm where his hands had rested on top of her silky cherry-red ruffled blouse. Shed worn it with dressy gray slacks and low-heeled black pumps in anticipation of meeting a new client, hoping shed look businesslike but imaginative. She looked good in red and hoped what she saw in Erics eyes was at least a trace of admiration.
Maybe we can help each other out, he said slowly.
The last time shed heard that, her date had been trying to wiggle his fingers between her thighs. She looked at Erics hand, strong but gentle and soothing with his patients, then at his face. Who knew eyes could actually twinkle? Maybe he was only teasing about a deal, although he seemed too busy for games.
Helpful is nice, she said wanting to kick herself for sounding so clueless.
There is something you can do for me.
She dropped her eyes to the apex of his legs, which was not quite covered by the lab coat, then realized what shed done and was mortified. She hadnt intended to check him out, certainly not in his examining room where the air was heavy with disinfectant and tension.
He reached out, the back of his wrist brushing against her breast, but all he did was flip over the cameo pendant she was wearing.
The backside was showing, he said, his grin reminding her of the way shed straightened his tie.
Im in a bind myself. He sighed. You can see how busy I am, but my mother has involved me in a big charity event to raise money for pet adoptions. Of course, she had an ulterior motive. Shes hoping Ill meet the future mother of her grandchildren among the single women working in the event. She put me on the committee and expects me to help bring the thing together, thinking Id be thrilled to get involved. Party planning isnt my forte even if I had time to kill. But youre a professional organizer
Its what I do for a living, she said cautiously.
I dont want to let Mom down in front of her friends, but my idea of organizing is putting everything in a pile to worry about later.
Whats your deal? she asked.
Once, as a kid back home in Pennsylvania, shed been sliding down a snow-covered hill on a plastic sled when she hit a bump and headed straight for a tree. This felt the same way, but she didnt have the option of wiping out on purpose and landing on soft snow.
Ill play Dr. Boyfriend if youll help me out on Moms charity event. Quietly. She doesnt need to know youre involved. Ill go to the committee meetings and volunteer for as little as possible. Naturally most of the planning was done months ago. I call my moms group the committee for last-minute disasters. It doesnt matter how far in advance they plan, something inevitably goes wrong. You handle what Im supposed to be doing, and in exchange, your dad and I will be best buddies. Hell go home sure youre in good hands.
There was nothing wrong with Erics proposal, but she couldnt believe two competent adults were scheming to hoodwink their parents.
Maybe we should both fess up instead, she suggested.
Take our medicine, get the spanking over with? he asked.
At least insist were mature adults who want to run our own lives.
Well spoken, he said solemnly, but I cant do it without hurting Moms feelings, a lot. Thats just the way she is.
I cant, either, she admitted. Dad misses Mom so much, he doesnt want me to end up lonely and alone. Its just that hes soso insistent.
So do we have a deal? Eric asked.
She knew it was the answer to both their problems, at least temporarily, but it was only a little over six weeks until Christmas. She had parties to plan, people to consult, lists to cross off.
On the other hand, she hadnt seen her father so happy and animated in a long time, even with his bum ankle keeping him housebound.
Okay. She said it with deep reluctance, but he smiled broadly.
Shake.
She lifted her hand to meet his. Strong fingers pressed against hers, and his firm palm felt wonderful. When his fingers brushed against her wrist, she felt ripples of pleasure course up her arm. One part of this charade would be a snap. She wouldnt have any trouble pretending Eric was sexy and appealing.
He dropped her hand, and she had a terrible thought.
Youre not involvedthat is, seeing anyone else, are you? I wouldnt want to interfere.
Theyre lined up ten-deep to be with me, he said with a grin, but theyre all four-footed and furry.
Oh, my gosh, I forgot all those people in your waiting room. They must be ready to lynch me by now.
Ill see you safely out.
He opened the door, let her step through, and put his arm around her shoulders.
Glad you stopped by, sweetheart, he said for the benefit of his crowded waiting room.
He walked her to the outer door, opened it for her and gave her shoulder a squeeze.
She could feel the hostility in the waiting room turn to curiosity. They forgave her line-jumping because they thought she was Dr. Erics love interestor at least one of them.
See you later, he said.
He grinned broadly as a finale to his act just as she stepped outside. She stared after him as he walked back to the examining room. How sincere was he about this deal? Was it just a ploy to get rid of her? Shed hate the additional stress so much shed bail? She couldnt resist the sudden urge to test him.
Eric!
She held the door open as he turned to face her again.
Dinner tonight at my house, seven oclock? she asked in an expectant tone.
He hesitated for an instant, then agreed. Fine. Ill be there.
Whatever the cost, she had a boyfriend, at least for the duration of her dads visit.
There had to be a better word than boyfriend. Lover, partner, significant other? Nothing quite described their nonrelationship.
She drove away, behind schedule and seriously short of time, and wondered if shed ever before seen eyes as blue as his.
ERIC RAN a couple of extra miles after work, but still felt as though his brain were full of cobwebs. He wanted to sidestep any little committee chores his mother had lined up for him, but was the price of Mindys help too high?
He wasnt ready for a new relationship, but keeping Mindy at arms length was harder every time he saw her. The impulse to take her in his arms and let nature take its course got stronger all the time. But hed felt that way about Cass not very long ago, and hed been as wrong about her as a man could be.
Sure, sometimes bachelor life was lonely after working hours, but he had friends and interests to keep him occupied. He didnt need a new best buddy who expected him to become a son-in-law.
If hed been free earlier in his office when Mindy had called, he wouldve cheerfully helped her orchestrate a breakup her father would believe. But when she walked into his examining room, he hadnt wanted an abrupt end to their tentative relationship. Hed had a flash of inspiration. They could trade favors and make both parents happy. It was a spur-of-the-moment idea but seemed reasonable. An I help you, and you help me kind of thing.