The Rebel Doc Who Stole Her Heart (7 page)

She’d watched Ty work numerous times in surgery. He was respected professionally by both the males and females. His directives were followed without question but he could still interact on a personal level with the staff. They all seemed to like him. Was it just her that he rubbed the wrong way?

“Hey, Doc,” he called as she started to pass. “Can I ask you something?”

Michelle tightened her lips for a second at the casual way he spoke to her. She was getting used to it but it still caught her off guard. No one else dared to speak to her the way he did. Her parents hadn’t even called her by a nickname when she’d been growing up.

She approached him, glad the desk stood between them. He looked up at her from where he sat in a chair.

“Yes?”

“Tell me something, do you have any idea what a game master is?”

A sick, unsure feeling filled her. “Well, no.”

“That’s what I figured.” He looked back down at the chart.

She waited but he didn’t look up. His hair had fallen across his cheek so she couldn’t tell if he might be looking at her. “Well?”

“Well, what?” His head rose and he considered her.

Ty picked then of all times to act serious. “Are you going to tell me what it is?” she snapped.

He grinned. “Oh, that. It’s when you win at a video game. Shawn had to spend so much time taking it easy in the last few months that he’s had plenty of time to get good at playing video games. He’s a tough one to beat.”

“I see.” She didn’t know if she should say the next words for fear he’d use them against her but she pressed on anyway. “You were really great with him the morning he went into surgery.”

“I’m the last person he sees before he goes under. He might not have said it but he was afraid he wouldn’t make it. He needed mine to be a friendly face.”

She’d never thought about his job like that. “Still, I appreciate you taking so much time with him.”

“Not a prob. He’s a great kid who’s had a lot of hard knocks.”

Michelle wished she was that reassuring to her patients. She worked at not letting any emotion show. If it did, she was afraid it would overflow. She’d learned early on when her father had died the necessity of being strong. As a child it had been for her mother. In med school she’d had to be professional to survive. Now it was important that she always remain in control because her team followed her lead. Over the years it had become her demeanor, who she was. Who she had to be. She didn’t know how to act any differently.

Could she be more unlike Ty if she tried?

“You’re good at your job.”

“Why, thank you, ma’am. I think am good at what I do too.”

Why did he always manage to turn everything around so that it maddened her? “And you don’t lack for an ego either,” she said in a snippy tone.

“That wasn’t ego talking.”

“You’re right. I can’t fault your skill in the OR or with a patient. You have my sincerest apology for the way I acted on the day you arrived.”

He presented her with a rakish grin. “Well, that was nice and unexpected. Would you mind insulting me again so I can hear you say ‘I’m sorry’ one more time?”

Ooh, the man made her want to slap that smile off his face while at the same time wanting to laugh. Instead, she turned and headed down the hall.

The sound of Ty’s soft merriment followed her. He knew full well he’d gotten to her.

* * *

The day was beautiful. It was Ty’s non-surgery one or what he typically called his “hate paperwork” day. He finished up with the two patients on the OR schedule for the next day and headed out to make the most of what was left of the hours before dark. Using a short cut he found by going through the women’s center to where he parked his bike, he was looking forward to being outside.

Sunshine streamed through the two-story-high glass windows of the building. Waiting areas with low, modern seating in front of doctors’ offices occurred every fifty feet or so. Green plants were placed artfully around the areas.

He’d almost reached the exit on the other end of the building when he saw Michelle. She was sitting next to a woman who had to be her mother, the resemblance was so strong.

He pulled up short and said, “Hi, Michelle.”

She looked up from a magazine she’d been leafing through. Her eyes widened and she shifted in her chair. She wasn’t pleased to see him. As he approached she glanced at the woman next to her. “Hello, Ty.”

The older woman beside her watched their interchange with interest, looking between the two of them. He glanced at the woman.

“Uh, Ty, this is my mother, Betty Ross.” Michelle acted as if she wasn’t eager to introduce him.

He stepped forward and stretched out his hand. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Ross. I’m Ty Smith.”

Michelle’s mother didn’t stand but placed her fragile, pale hand in his. It was cool to the touch but there was warmth in her eyes. “Hello. Do you work with my daughter?”

“I do. She’s an outstanding doctor.”

He didn’t miss the slight color that settled on Michelle’s cheeks. Wasn’t she used to being praised for her work? Or was it her looks that most people commented on?

“Why, thank you. I’m proud of her. She works so hard. Too hard, I think. So are you a doctor as well?”

As unsociable as Michelle acted, her mother went to the other extreme.

“Mom.” Michelle’s tone said she wished she could gracefully exit from the entire conversation. “I’m sure that Ty must have been on his way somewhere.”

Ty ignored her blatant effort to get rid of him. He was enjoying talking to her mother and learning a little more about Michelle. She was so close-mouthed about anything related to her personal life that he’d been surprised to see her mother was still alive. “I’m an anesthesiologist. I work in the OR with your Michelle.”

He didn’t miss the tightening of Michelle’s lips. Making her sound like a little girl didn’t please her.

“Mrs. Ross,” called a nurse from the door of an office.

Michelle’s head jerked toward the voice before her gaze returned to meet his. There was a look of pain in her eyes but it disappeared when she blinked. That pain he didn’t believe had anything to do with him. What was going on?

“Dr. Smith, it was nice to meet you. I hope we see each other again,” Michelle’s mother said softly.

“It would be a pleasure.”

“Come on, Mom, the nurse is waiting.”

Mrs. Ross rose slightly then sat down in the chair again as if she didn’t have the strength to stand on her own.

“May I help you?” Ty asked, stepping forward and offering his arm.

“Thank you. I hate being so weak.”

“Hold onto my arm and I’ll support you as you stand up.”

“I can do that.” Michelle moved to the other side of her mother.

“I don’t mind. In fact, I’d be honored.” Ty didn’t relinquish his place.

Mrs. Ross giggled like a young girl. “Michelle, I do believe your friend is a prince charming.”

Ty winked at Michelle and grinned.

Michelle groaned, and his grin grew into a smile.

“Mrs. Ross, I take that as real praise coming from you.” He helped her stand.

“How would you like to come to dinner some time?” Mrs. Ross asked him.

He glanced at Michelle. She looked appalled at the idea and as she opened her mouth to speak, Ty said, “I’d love to.”

“Mother!” Michelle hissed.

Mrs. Ross ignored her and asked, “Tomorrow night?”

“That would be wonderful. I look forward to it.” He looked past Mrs. Ross to find a resigned look on Michelle’s face. “I’ll get directions from Michelle.”

“Mother, the nurse is waiting,” she said in an exasperated voice laced with a tiredness that sounded bone deep.

Ty watched as Michelle assisted her mother into the office. He gaze rose to the large letters above the reception window. Oncology.

That was a tough diagnosis. No wonder Michelle could be difficult at times. She had to be worried about her mother.

* * *

Ty grinned at the look on Michelle’s face as she opened the door of her mother’s home the next evening. He’d had a warmer welcome from his cadaver in med school. “Good evening, Michelle.”

“Come in,” she murmured.

“Thank you for the heartfelt welcome.”

“You know this wasn’t my idea.” She moved as if to make sure their bodies didn’t touch as he entered.

“You’ve made that perfectly clear. But I’m glad your mother invited me. I’m going to enjoy having a home-cooked meal. It’s something I don’t often get.”

She looked contrite. “I’m sorry. I’m not being very gracious. Come in. My mom is in the kitchen. I normally cook for her most evenings but she insisted on doing most of the meal tonight.”

She closed the door behind them and he followed her to the kitchen. Michelle’s mother’s home was the kind that made him think of laughter and warm fires. It was as foreign to his growing-up years as he could imagine.

His life before Joey had really become sick had been carefree. He’d been encouraged to read and question but there had been little structure. Nothing permanent in his life other than his parents and Joey. In fact, he’d known nothing of his grandparents until he’d overheard his parents talking about them when he’d been around eight.

Ty paused to looked at the pictures in the hallway of Michelle at different stages in her life, some of them including her parents. There had been no family photos like these in his life. Heck, it was hard to hang a picture on the side of a tent.

When they entered the kitchen, Mrs. Ross turned away from the stove. She looked frail but there were red spots high on her cheeks. She wiped her hands and came towards him. “Welcome, Ty, I’m so glad you could join us.”

“I appreciate being asked.” He glanced at Michelle. She gave him more of a smirk than a smile.

“These are for you.” He handed flowers and a long thin box to the older woman.

The red of her cheeks all but glowed with her pleasure as she took them. “Why, Ty, how sweet. You didn’t have to.”

“I wanted to.”

“Michelle, honey, why don’t you put these in a vase while I see what’s in this pretty box? I can’t imagine.”

Michelle took the flowers and went to the sink.

Mrs. Ross opened the box and pulled out a multicolored scarf. “Oh, my, how beautiful.” She wrapped it around her neck.

“I thought you might like it. My mother always said a bright scarf lifts a woman’s spirits.”

He’d not thought of that in a long time. Not quoted his parents in years. His mother had wrapped a red scarf around her head the day they’d marched out to bury Joey.

Ty’s gaze shifted away from her mother to Michelle. Her eyes glistened and she mouthed, “Thank you,” and gave him a smile. It was the first full-blown one he’d ever seen from her.

His eyes widened, he blinked and returned her smile with a wink.

“Michelle, why don’t you take those flowers into the living room, and you and Ty have a little talk while I finish here? I won’t be long.”

Michelle looked as if she’d like to have the floor swallow her. He couldn’t help but grin. This might be the most entertaining evening he’d spent in a long time.

She gathered the vase and without a backward glance headed back the way they had come. He followed, admiring the sensual sway of her hips. Did she have any idea what she could do to a man? This power was stronger than any she employed as a heart surgeon. She could rule the world. His, anyway.

When they got to the living room Michelle placed the flowers on the nearest table and turned to face him. “I’m sorry about this. I couldn’t be more embarrassed.”

“Hey, don’t be. I’m flattered. I can’t say that I know of another mother who has thrown her daughter at me.”

He enjoyed the blush that covered her face. Yes, the ice queen had definitely melted.

Taking a seat on the sofa, he patted the cushion next to him. “Come sit and ‘talk a little’.”

Michelle sank next to him more out of defeat than anything else. He appreciated seeing her a little off center. The stiff doctor in control had all but been stripped away. She was just a daughter trying to make a sick mother happy.

“So your mother has cancer.”

“Yes.”

“How long?”

“We’ve been dealing with treatments for the last six months.”

“That has to have been tough. On both of you.”

“It has been. I have all this medical knowledge but I can’t help her. What good is it all if you can’t save the people you love?”

A stab of pain filled him. What would have happened if he’d defied his parents and taken Joey for help? He knew too well what it meant to watch a loved one die. He carried the guilt daily.

“So what is the prognosis?”

“Mom seems to be doing well medically but I worry over her depression. Tonight is the first time in months that she’s been this animated and energetic.”

“So the way to perk her up is to see you interested in a guy?”

Michelle shifted away. “I’m not interested in you.”

Ty took her hand in his and rubbed his thumb across the top of it. He turned it over to where he could feel the whip of her pulse under the delicate skin covering her wrist. “Are you sure about that?”

She pulled her hand away. “I appreciate you making my mother happy but I don’t plan to play the game any further than tonight.”

Was he playing a game? No, he didn’t think so. Suddenly he wanted to get to know this beautiful, complicated woman better. Careful, that idea sounded too much like getting involved. That, he wouldn’t let happen. They could be friends. Have a few laughs while he was in town but that was it.

“Ever thought that I might find you interesting? Want to get to know you better?”

“No. Why would you? I’m not your type. We are too different. We barely tolerate each other.”

“I think we’re tolerating each other just fine now.”

And they were. In fact, it had been a long time since he’d just enjoyed talking to a woman without there being any expectation on the part of either side.

Mrs. Ross stuck her head into the room. “Dinner is served.”

Michelle shot to her feet as if her mother had seen them doing something she didn’t want her to know about. He stood more slowly.

* * *