ER Doc's Las Vegas Reunion
Автор
Denise N. Wheatley
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PROLOGUE
EVA’S CELL PHONE vibrated through her black satin clutch. She quickly pulled it out, expecting to see her fiancé’s name flash across the screen. But it was Amanda, her friend and fellow ER doctor at the Black Willow Medical Clinic, calling for the third time.
“Hey,” Eva whispered into the phone. “I can’t talk now. I’m about to—”
“Let me guess. Attend yet another elaborate campaign event with your devastatingly handsome, soon-to-be senator fiancé?”
“No, not tonight. Kyle and I are actually having a quiet dinner at the Chateau Eilean.”
“Ooh, the hottest new restaurant in all of Iowa? Fancy. Just the two of you?”
“Yes, can you believe it? No campaign manager and no entourage. Which is nice considering we haven’t had a date night in months.”
Eva stopped in front of a gold antique mirror inside the chateau’s lobby and smoothed her long loose waves, then tightened the belt on her red wrap dress. She didn’t know whether it was the triweekly spin classes or wedding planning stress that had whittled her size 8 frame down to a 6. Either way, her charmeuse trumpet bridal gown had to be taken in a few extra inches after the last fitting.
“I wish tonight could be all about rekindling the romance that’s taken a back seat to our busy schedules,” Eva continued. “But I’ve got to use this rare time alone with Kyle to finalize plans for the big day.” She paused, wincing at the death stare on the hostess’s face. “Listen, I’ve gotta go. Phones aren’t allowed in here and I’m pushing it. I’ll call you later.”
She glanced at her watch, realizing she was fifteen minutes late.
Good. Let Kyle wait on me for once...
A Little Leaguer had shown up to the clinic at the last minute with a hamate hook fracture that Eva had to cast before heading to dinner, which set her back. But while she worked hard to stick to her schedule and be on time whenever possible, it was Kyle who always ran late these days thanks to his unpredictable campaign activities.
“Hello,” Eva said to the hostess, whose scowl quickly transformed into an artificially sweetened smile. “My name is Eva Gordon. I’m meeting Kyle Benson for dinner. The reservation should be in his name.”
“Yes, Dr. Gordon. Right this way.”
The haughty, model-thin greeter led Eva through the elaborate Victorian-style dining room to a table near the window. It was empty. No Kyle.
Late. Per usual.
A server approached the moment she sat down.
“Good evening, Dr. Gordon. May I offer you a beverage while you wait for Mr. Benson? A glass of wine, perhaps?”
“A glass of cabernet sauvignon would be perfect. Thank you.”
She checked her phone. It was almost seven twenty. Their reservation was at seven. Kyle hadn’t called, nor had he texted.
Eva sent him a message asking what time he’d be there, then glanced around the beautiful eatery. Crystal chandeliers hung from the vaulted ceiling. Intricate carvings outlined the cream wooden walls, which were adorned with vintage oil paintings. Blue silk chairs matched the curtains hanging from arched bay windows.
The chateau was buzzing with the who’s who of Black Willow. Bankers, attorneys and politicians hobnobbed over charcuterie boards, steaks, seafood and pasta. Eva’s mouth watered at the sight. She hadn’t eaten since breakfast.
Just as she checked the phone once again, a commotion erupted near the entrance.
Eva watched as Kyle came strolling through the restaurant, stopping at practically every table on the way to theirs.
The handsome six-foot-three former soccer player turned political pundit was hard to miss. His movie-star smile could light up a night sky. His almond-shaped brown eyes danced when he spoke on his plans to change the world. His warm demeanor made people feel as though they were all that mattered.
The chateau’s manager rushed over and shook Kyle’s hand. “It’s great to see you here tonight, Mr. Benson. So, what do you think? Is this the best night of the week to come out and rub elbows with Black Willow’s elite or what?”
“It certainly is. I’ve already got my eye on several potential donors.”
Eva dug her fingernails into the linen tablecloth.
So that’s why we’re here. To network. Not spend a quiet evening alone.
“Good luck with that,” the manager told Kyle. “If there’s anything I can do for you, please do not hesitate to let me know.”
“Will do, Douglas. Thank you.”
Kyle glanced over at Eva, grinning and waving as if he were about to deliver a victory speech.
“Hey, babe,” he breathed, finally reaching their table. “Sorry I’m late.”
She arched her neck for a kiss, despite being slightly irritated. Kyle’s lips barely grazed her cheek before he greeted a group of men seated nearby, then searched for the server.
Let it go. Don’t start the night off on a sour note.
“I was going to order appetizers,” Eva said, “but couldn’t decide on what to get. Everything looks so good.”
“Well, I’m glad you didn’t. I can’t stay long. I’ve got to get back to the office soon. Things are really heating up.”
“Wait, what about dinner?”
“Can’t do it. I’ve only got about thirty minutes to spare, if that. Just enough time to have a quick drink.”
Eva tossed her menu to the side. “What’s so important that you’re skipping out on what I thought was a special date night for just the two of us?”
“A meeting with my campaign manager. Stan added a last-minute speech to my calendar that I need to prepare for. It’s happening first thing tomorrow morning down at the mayor’s office. This is a big deal for me, Eva. And great exposure. Several media outlets will be there. I’ve got to be ready.”
She opened her mouth to speak but was interrupted when the server approached with her wine. While Kyle ordered a whiskey sour, Eva pulled out a stack of floral design photos.
“Since you have to leave so soon, can we at least look through the arrangements that Louise pulled together for the wedding?” She slid a picture in front of him. “I love this one. The etched crystal vase is gorgeous. And the various shades of pink peonies with eucalyptus added throughout is just perfection. But I also love the idea of keeping things traditional and going with roses. Or maybe even calla lilies. What do you think?”
Kyle remained silent, too busy typing away on his phone to respond.
“Excuse me,” Eva said stiffly. “Could I at least get my allotted thirty minutes to finalize these plans before you have to leave? We’re going to end up with a flowerless ceremony if we don’t make a decision and place the order—”
He held up a finger. “One second. I need to approve a couple of key points that Stan thinks I should add to my speech.”
Eva dropped the stack of photos and gulped down several sips of wine. Shards of anger sliced at her chest while her heartbeat pounded inside her eardrums. She was this close to suggesting they nix the wedding ceremony altogether and exchange vows at the courthouse once the election was finally over.
Kyle didn’t set his phone aside until the server brought over his drink. He took a long swallow, then rubbed his hands together.
“You know, I think I might go off script a little bit during my speech. Throw in a couple of bullet points on my education initiatives. I could cover how parents should be receiving school curricula, and suggest that fundraisers be held throughout the year in support of various scholarship programs. What do you think?”
Eva slowly exhaled. “I think those are both good ideas, Kyle. But can we just take a few minutes to look over the floral arrangements and choose the ones we want—”
His cell phone buzzed. He grabbed it, then began typing away once again.
“Kyle!” Eva said, louder than she’d intended.
He jumped in his seat. Several patrons turned and stared.
Kyle glanced at the nearby tables, smiling sheepishly before throwing Eva a look. “Will you please keep your voice down?”
“Sorry. I just wish you would tear yourself away from that phone and listen to me for once. Your fiancée. I understand that you’ve got work to do, but so do I. I left the clinic early tonight to be here with you. You’re already cutting our evening short. The least you could do is help me with all this planning. I’ve done most of it on my own. A little input would be nice.”
He dropped his head in his hand. The server approached and asked if they were ready to order. Kyle shooed him away.
Eva sat there silently, waiting for him to apologize and look through the floral designs.
“I can’t do this,” he muttered instead.
She reached over and caressed his arm. “Come on, Kyle. Of course you can do this. I’ve narrowed the choices down to four. All you have to do is pick one. As for your speech, you’ll knock it out of the park, just like you always do.”
“I’m not talking about flower arrangements, Eva,” he snapped, pulling away from her. “Or my speech. I’m talking about us. I can’t do us anymore.”
She stared across the table through wide eyes, certain she’d misheard him.
“I—I’m sorry,” Kyle continued, his voice barely a whisper. “But this is...this is too much. There’s no way I can run a successful campaign, win the election and marry you. So I think we should call off the wedding.”
Everything around Eva blurred, except for his sullen expression. She sat silently, waiting for him to recant the statement. But he didn’t. He just continued sipping his drink while avoiding her stunned gaze.
“Hold on,” she uttered, her voice trembling with shock. “Let me get this straight. You’re telling me that you want to cancel our wedding because of an election that you’re already on track to win?”
“Can you lower your voice? People are looking at us.”
“Kyle, you just ended our relationship, and you’re worried about who’s looking at us? Oh, but wait. Why am I surprised? You’ve always been overly obsessed with your image. That’s all that matters to you. To hell with reality. As long as you’re keeping up appearances, you’re good.”
“Okay,” he said, pushing away from the table. “I’m going to end this conversation now before things get ugly.”
“Oh, trust me. Things can’t get any uglier than they already are. Thank you, Kyle.”
“Thank me? For what?”
“For wasting the last five years of my life!” she snapped before jumping up and storming out of the restaurant.
Anger coursed through Eva’s chest as she ran to her car. But underneath it was the pain and confusion of knowing such a huge part of her life was over, and that for the first time ever, she had no clue what her future would hold.
Eva paced back and forth across the dark hardwood floor of her chic two-bedroom loft. She stopped at her desk, plopped down in the chair and logged in to her online journal. While waiting for it to open, an ad popped up.
“Weird,” she mumbled, double-checking to make sure her pop-up blocker was on. It was.
The words Are You Looking for a Change? flashed across the screen in bold red letters.
“Hell, yeah, I’m looking for a change.”
Eva clicked on the ad and leaned in closer, her eyes squinting as she read the details.
Hello! Do you work in the medical field? If so, are you interested in making a change? If the answer is yes, then we have an exciting opportunity for you! Las Vegas’s Fremont General Hospital is looking to fill temporary positions in our neonatal, radiation, intensive care and emergency room departments.
“A temp job in the ER?” she murmured, double-clicking the emergency room button. It opened a new screen.
Fremont General Hospital’s state-of-the-art ER is an intense, fast-paced environment, where the responsibility is as great as the reward. We are searching for an experienced emergency room doctor with in-depth knowledge of current medical treatments and procedures. Keen attention to detail along with excellent analytical and communication skills are a must. If you thrive on fascinating, fulfilling experiences, and possess the ability to think and act quickly, then click the link below to apply!
Eva’s fingertips hovered over the keyboard. She thought about the moment Kyle spoke the words I can’t do us anymore. Imagined all the scrutiny she’d be under once their small, gossipy town got word that their wedding, which had been dubbed “the event of the decade”, had been canceled. The struggle to mend her broken heart, along with the humiliation, would be unbearable.
She’d always done the right thing. Followed in her father’s footsteps by becoming a top doctor in her field and withstanding the pressure to be the best, just as he had. Abided by her mother’s fervent desire for her to marry well by getting together with Kyle soon after he’d been crowned Black Willow’s most eligible bachelor, then accepting his proposal. That had all worked for Eva, at least for a while.
When she and Kyle had met at a charity event five years ago, Eva felt as though he could be the man for her. His charm, his charisma, the way he seemingly adored her...it didn’t take long for Eva to fall in love. But as Kyle’s political career began to blossom, their relationship withered. His focus was solely on work as each new achievement grabbed his attention, making him crave more of the professional spotlight and less of time spent with her. Eva had thought his proposal would bring about a fresh start for them both. When nothing changed, she wondered whether Kyle really wanted the marriage, or simply the look of having a successful ER doctor on his arm.
Playing it safe to appease others had gotten her nowhere. Now it was Eva’s turn to do things her way.
“Here goes nothing,” she said grimly before clicking the link and filling out the application.
