The Real Thing

She certainly hoped so.

Six

With little sleep and the memory of a kiss that just wouldn’t let go, Adrian, along with his brothers and cousins, helped his older brother Ramsey repair fencing on a stretch of land that extended for miles.

Ramsey had worked as CEO for a while alongside Dillon before giving it up to pursue his first love: being a sheep rancher. Adrian’s brothers Zane and Derringer preferred the outdoors, too. After working in the family business for a few years, Zane, Derringer and Ramsey, as well as their cousin Jason, joined their Montana Westmoreland cousins in a horse breeding and training business.

Ramsey’s wife, Chloe, had arrived with sandwiches, iced tea and homemade cookies. Everyone teased Adrian’s cousin Stern about his upcoming wedding to JoJo, who Stern had been best friends with for years. The two had been engaged for more than six months and Stern was anxious for the wedding to happen, saying he was tired of waiting.

Adrian didn’t say anything as he listened to the easy camaraderie between his family. Leaving home for college had been hard, but luckily he and Aidan had decided to attend the same university. As usual, they had stuck together. Their careers had eventually carried them in different directions. But Adrian knew that eventually his twin would return to Denver.

Aidan’s plans were similar to Trinity’s, regarding returning to her hometown to practice medicine. He could understand her wanting to do that, just as he understood Aidan. So why did the thought of her returning to Florida in about eighteen months bother him? It wasn’t as if she meant anything to him. He’d already established the fact that she wasn’t his type. They had nothing in common. She liked small towns and he preferred big cities. She wasn’t an outdoor person and he was. So why was he allowing her to consume his thoughts the way she had been lately?

“So what’s going on with you, Adrian? Or are you really Aidan?”

Adrian couldn’t help but smile at his brother Zane. It seemed that while he had been daydreaming everyone had left lunch to return to work. “You know who I am and nothing’s going on. I’m just trying to make it one day at a time.”

“So things are working out for you at Blue Ridge?”

“Pretty much. I can see why you, Ramsey and Derringer decided the corporate life wasn’t for you. You have to like it or otherwise you’d hate it.”

Adrian liked his job as chief project officer. His duties included assisting Dillon when it came to any construction and engineering functions of the company, and advising him on the development of major projects and making sure all jobs were completed in a timely manner.

As they began walking to where the others were beginning work again, Zane asked, “So, how are things going being the pretend lover of Thorn’s sister-in-law?”

Adrian glanced over at Zane, not surprised he knew. How many others in his family knew? Bailey hadn’t mentioned anything the other night at dinner so she might be clueless. “Okay, I guess. I’m busy trying to establish this relationship with her for others to see. The first night I made sure the doctor saw us together and last night I went to a show that I knew one of his family members would be attending.”

Zane nodded. “Is it working?”

“Don’t know yet. The doctor’s path hasn’t crossed with Trinity’s since we started this farce.”

“Hmm, I’m curious to see how things turn out.”

Adrian looked at his brother. “If he’s smart, he’ll leave her alone.”

“Oh, I’m not talking about her and the doctor.”

Adrian slowed his pace. “Then who are you talking about?”

Zane smiled. “The two of you.”

Adrian stopped walking and Zane stopped, as well. “Don’t know what you mean,” he said.

Zane shrugged. “I saw her at Riley’s wedding. She’s a looker, but I expected no less with her being Tara’s sister and all.”

Adrian frowned. “So?”

Zane shoved his hands into the back pockets of his jeans. “So nothing. Forget I said anything. I guess we better get back to work if we want to finish up by dusk.”

Adrian watched his brother walk off and decided that since he’d gotten married, Zane didn’t talk much sense anymore.

* * *

“Dr. Matthews, I trust you’ve been doing well.”

Immediately, Trinity’s skin crawled at the sound of the man’s voice as he approached her. She looked up from writing in a patient’s chart. “Yes, Dr. Belvedere. I’ve been fine.”

As a courtesy, she could ask him how he’d been, but she really didn’t want to know. She tried ignoring him as she resumed documenting the patient’s chart.

“I saw you the other night.”

Her heart rate increased. He had come to stand beside her. Way too close as far as she was concerned. She didn’t look up at him but continued writing. “And what night was that?”

“That night you were out on a date at Laredo’s.”

She glanced up briefly. “Oh. I didn’t see you.” That was no lie since she had intentionally not looked in his direction.

“Well, I saw you. You were with a man,” he said in an accusing tone.

She hugged the chart to her chest as she looked up again. “Yes, I was. If you recall, I told you I was involved with someone.”

“I didn’t believe you.”

“I don’t know why you wouldn’t.”

Belvedere smiled and Trinity knew the smile wasn’t genuine. “Doesn’t matter. Break things off with him.”

Trinity blinked. “Excuse me?”

“You heard what I said.”

Something within Trinity snapped. Not caring if anyone passing by heard her, she said, “I will not break things off with him! You have no right to dictate something like that to me.”

A smirk appeared on his face before he looked over his shoulder to make sure no one was privy to their conversation. “I can make or break you, Dr. Matthews. If you rub me the wrong way, all those years you spent in medical school won’t mean a damn thing. Think about it.”

He turned to walk off, but then, as if he’d forgotten to say something, he turned back. “And the next time you decide to report me to someone, think twice. My family practically owns this hospital. I suggest you remember that. And to make sure we fully understand each other, I’ve requested your presence in the next two surgeries I have scheduled, which coincidently are on your next two days off. What a pity.” Chuckling to himself, he walked off.

Trinity just stared at him. She felt as if steam were coming out of her ears. He’d just admitted to sabotaging her time off. How dare he!

Placing the patient’s chart back on the rack, she angrily headed to the office of Wendell Fowler, the chief of pediatrics. Not bothering to wait on the elevator, she took the stairs. By the time she went up three flights of stairs she was even madder.

Dr. Fowler’s secretary, an older woman by the name of Marissa Adams, glanced up when she saw her. “Yes, Dr. Matthews?”

“I’d like to see Dr. Fowler. It’s important.”

The woman nodded. “Please have a seat and I’ll see if Dr. Fowler is available.”

She hadn’t been seated a few minutes when the secretary called out to her. “Dr. Fowler will see you now, Dr. Matthews.”