One Sure Thing (Mamma Lou Matchmaker Series) (26 page)

Raymond went silent, then, as if speaking his thoughts aloud continued, “It’s hard growing up without parents.” Hope gave him a how-would-you-know
look. Raymond saw her skeptical expression. “My mother died of breast cancer when I was young.”

“But you still had you father.”

“No, I didn’t. Not really. He was so devastated when my mother died that he couldn’t care for me. I was sent to live with Mamma Lou on Crescent Island. My cousin Tony’s mother had died the year before so he was already living there. We grew up together.”

“What about now? I know your dad is still at John Hopkins Medical Center, right? Are you two close?”

“Yeah, we are now. He’s the director of Neurology Critical Care at Johns Hopkins. After my mother died, he threw himself into his career. I hardly ever saw him. It was like not even having a father.”

“What about your maternal relatives?”

“I never really knew my mother’s family. They kind of slipped out of my life when my mom died.” A heavy moment of silence hung between them until Raymond continued. “So looks like we have something in common. We were both raised without parents.”

“But with a lot of love,” Hope added.

Raymond nodded agreeing completely, “Definitely, a whole lot of love.”

“She’s such a sweet lady.”

“Mamma Lou is something else. Lately she’s been driving me crazy.”

“What do you mean?”

“Mamma Lou thinks she’s a matchmaker. About a year ago she matched my cousin Tony up with his new wife, Madison, so ever since then I’ve been her next target.”

Hope began laughing. “Get out of here, really? She’s so sweet.”

“Don’t let her fool you. As A matter of fact, she wanted to match you up with Dennis over there.”

“Me? With Dennis? I thought you said that you were next?”

“I was, but that was before she went into the hospital. Since then, she’s left me alone.”

“So how did I get involved?”

“Oh, it doesn’t take much. Once Mamma Lou decides that she’s found the right person, she’s impossible to stop. She’ll do just about anything to make a match.”

“Well, I’m sorry to disappoint her, Dennis is a nice guy and all, but he’s really not my type.” She glanced over seeing Dennis and Faith still on the dance floor partying. “Although, I think he might definitely be Faith’s type.”

Raymond finally glanced toward the dance floor. “It looks like they’re having a great time.” He looked around as the music slowed to a soft romantic tune. He took Hope’s hand and stood up. “Would you do me the honor of having this dance?”

Hope opened her mouth to decline but closed it just as quickly when Raymond literally whisked her up and into his arms. He led her to the dance floor found a nice spot and embraced her gently.

The dance seemed to go on forever. All Hope knew was that Raymond was the smoothest dancer she’d ever met. He was firm, strong, and he moved and glided her across the dance floor like liquid silk. She melted with each step he took. Hope closed her eyes and reveled in the tenderness of his touch as he stroked her back and nuzzled her closer.

Her breasts tingled as her body pressed tightly against his chest. Her stomach quivered each time he maneuvered her closer. The music didn’t stop and the evening seemed to never end. To her surprise, she didn’t want it to.

After a while she was sure that she was floating since she didn’t remember much of anything else until they stopped walking and entered a small late-night café. Open until four in the morning, they sat and talked until it closed. The evening was a blur. She vaguely remembered him depositing her at her front door and saying goodnight. He turned to leave then stopped and turned back to her. With purposeful strides he came to stand in front of her.

“Is this the part where I ask you to kiss me?”

Raymond smiled openly. “May I?”

Hope looked into his soft hazel eyes. There was nothing she wanted more at that moment than to be wrapped in Raymond’s embrace. “Yes,” she said before even finishing her thought. With her one-word response, he kissed her until she saw stars.

Chapter Nineteen

What in the world was I thinking?

Hope yawned sleepily and leaned back against the sofa cushion as she half-listened to Hugh’s assistant talk endlessly about what a great time she had at the fundraiser. She was completely exhausted. Staying up until six in the morning talking to Raymond was totally out of character. And now she was paying for it.

She yawned again and tried hard to pat attention. Unfortunately, all she could think about was the past twelve hours and her wonderfully magical evening with Raymond Gates.

She admonished herself for staying up all night. She should have known better, but she couldn’t help herself. She was having such a wonderful time. Raymond was intelligent, charming, and funny. It was the best time she’d had with a man in a long time. She didn’t want their time together to end. And best of all, it seemed like he was also having a good time.

But she didn’t want to read too much into it. After all, she was talking about Raymond Gates, a flirt and a confirmed bachelor. Between Raymond and Dennis Hayes, they had just about every woman at the fundraiser eating out of their hands.

Hope remembered seeing them as they walked into the room. It was truly remarkable. It was as if every woman’s head in the room swiveled in their direction on cue, immediately drawn to the two men.

They entered together, laughing about something. Raymond’s dimples were magnetic. Women couldn’t help but fall in love with him. He was strikingly handsome clad in a designer suit that enhanced every inch of his fit body.

A continuous stream of women paraded in front of him trying to attract his attention. Who could blame them? To be by his side, dance with him was just heaven. Hope remembered the heated stares she got when Raymond stayed by her side ignoring everyone else.

“Dr. Adams?” Hope looked up from the magazine that she was holding. “He’ll see you now.”

She sighed. Being beckoned to Hugh’s office was beginning to feel like being sent to the principal’s office in grade school. She stood and walked to the half open door. A smile tugged at her lips when she remembered her University of Pennsylvania sweatshirt and the last time she stood here with a cup of coffee. She pushed open the door and entered.

Hugh looked up from his desk with annoyance. “Sit down.”

Defiantly, she stood, assuming this meeting was about her upcoming time off. This wasn’t the first time Hugh had changed the schedule.

He looked up again seeing that she hadn’t moved.

Propping his elbows on the desk, he steepled his long thin fingers under his chin and got right to the point. “I am told that you attended the fundraiser.”

“You saw me at the fundraiser remember,” she spoke slowly.

“What is your relationship to Dr. Gates?”

She didn’t respond. She was too stunned.

“I asked you a question. What is your relationship to Dr. Gates?” he repeated.

“We’re colleagues obviously.”

“Are you romantically involved?”

“That’s none of your business, is it?”

“It is when it could damage this hospital’s reputation and the Barclay Med Corporation. Dr. Gates will be working here in the near future,” he lied. “I don’t want him feeling uncomfortable because of you.”

Hope laughed knowing of course he was lying.”

Hugh slammed his palm on the desk. “I will not stand aside and have you ruin someone else’s life like you tried to destroy my son’s.”

“And I will not let you or your son try to destroy my life and control me! You did it once, which was enough. What I do and with whom I do it is none of your damn business.”

“Everything in this hospital is my business, young lady. That includes your selfish behavior.”

“What?”

“Everything you do is a direct reflection on this hospital and I will not have it.” He slammed his fist down this time. “You will not destroy my work here by embarrassing me with your gold-digging.”

“My what?”

“If you think you’re gonna get Raymond Gates you’re wrong. You’re so far out of his league it’s laughable. At first I thought you were simply interested in getting that disgusting mark off of you face. But now I learn that you’ve actually been romantically involved with Dr. Gates,” he spat out, his contempt was obvious.

“Oh, I see.” It suddenly dawned on her that Nolan had told his father of Raymond’s remarks the night of the fundraiser.

“Yes, that’s right, Nolan. And don’t think that a minute you’ll be getting him back.”

She laughed. She couldn’t help herself. Her laughter just burst out like a damn. Hugh’s express was livid, which made her laugh even harder. As tears began to well in her eyes, she tried to get her laughter under control. “There is no way that I’d want your pathetic son back in my life. He’s under your thumb so much that I’m surprised he had the balls to move to California. He hasn’t made a single decision on his own since the day he decided to marry me. Thank God you made him divorce me. I can’t imagine spending the rest of my life living with a spineless coward for a husband and having you as a control freak father-in-law.”

“I beg your pardon.”

“You should have.”

“My son is the best you’ll even know. And as for my paternal instincts, I knew exactly what you were the moment he brought you to my door. Do you think I hadn’t already checked up on you the moment Nolan told me that he was dating you? Yes, I know about your family, your mother and your murdering father. The only reason you married my son was for his inheritance. Don’t deny it.”

“He’s my murdering stepfather and the two of you should get along admirably. You’re exactly the same.”

“If you think that a man like Raymond Gates truly wants you in his life, than you are pathetic. He only wants one thing from you.”

Her eyes narrowed into slits of fury as she smiled. “Jealous? Do you want him?”

“You’re out of line,” he snapped.

“No, I’m out of here.” She turned to walk away.

“Get back here. This isn’t over,” he demanded as she opened the door to leave.

“It is for me,” she said. The door closed soundly behind her as Hugh called to her. She kept walking, but she knew his vicious words would stay with her. They always did.

Chapter Twenty

“Three days later she was still thinking about what Hugh had said to her. Being with Raymond was wonderful but she knew it wouldn’t last. They were from two different worlds. Still, in her heart she wanted to be wrong. She had already fallen for him.

Hey. Are you okay?” Maxine asked as she walked up to the nurse’s station. She placed her hand on Hope’s shoulder.

Hope lifted her head from the counter and squinted against the bright lights above her. “What?”

“I asked if you were okay,” Maxine repeated bending down to look into Hope’s eyes. “You look a little peaked. Are you coming down with something?”

“No, I’m fine. I’m just tired and I’ve got a headache that’s all. I guess I’ve been overdoing it lately.”

“There’s that summer flu bug still going around. You’d better take care of yourself and use your down time to get some rest and regroup.”