Celebration's Family

She knew she shouldn’t take it personally. He’d been through a lot of trauma losing his wife. Now he was raising two teenage girls on his own. She wondered if he was this stern with them at home. Teenagers needed room to grow, to try on different attitudes and personas. But she wasn’t here to offer parenting advice. Besides, that definitely wasn’t her field of expertise. She was just here to do her job, and that required focus.

Regrouping her thoughts, she decided to stick to her spiel about the pediatric wing. Although, to get to the heart of why she’d asked him to meet her today, she would need to delve into his personal life a little. She braced herself and decided to dive in.

“Do you think the auction will send a bad message to your girls, or is it the date afterward that bothers you?”

She had such mixed emotions. What a lonely life it would be for someone like Liam to take himself off the market. However, she suspected it was the date more so than the auction that bothered him. And the alternative plan she was ready to propose to him hinged on him not wanting to go through with the post-auction date.

“As I’ve said before, the event will be tastefully done, and your children won’t be there to see their father being auctioned off. It’s being taped for an episode of Catering to Dallas, but that show won’t air for several weeks.”

His gaze darkened a bit. She felt like her persistence might be pushing him away. She hadn’t meant to be pushy or to make him feel as if she were doing a high-pressure sales pitch on him. Again she forced herself to stay quiet through another awkward silence.

“Actually, my daughters don’t watch much television. But truth be told, they’re sort of excited about the auction. They know the daughter of one of my colleagues. Since her father is doing it, they want me to join in. Still, I suppose it’s the post-auction date that bothers me. My wife hasn’t even been gone two years. The girls have taken the loss of their mother hard. I don’t want to add to their grief by going out with someone new. I don’t think they fully comprehend this auction means I will take someone out on a date.”

“That’s perfectly understandable. I’m so sorry for your loss, Liam. I can’t even imagine how difficult that must be.”

He lowered his gaze again, toying with the edge of his napkin, finally taking it off the table and putting it in his lap.

There were different kinds of loss and different kinds of pain that went hand in hand with them. Kate had known the pain of losing both her parents and watching her nephew, Cody, recover from the accident that had claimed his grandfather’s life. Before her father’s death, she’d watched him sink into a dark, drunken depression over the loss of her mother.

She’d also known the pain of losing an unborn child. But the miscarriage wasn’t something she allowed herself to think about at great lengths—because that inevitably led her to the memory of the engagement she’d walked away from, and...well, it really was like Pandora’s box, and she didn’t want to open it.

Still she couldn’t fathom what it must be like to lose a spouse...a soul mate. The mother of the children over whom Liam was so protective. She felt bad for him, but since she was already batting a thousand today, she decided to spit out the proposition before she lost her nerve.

“Were you serious when you said you would be willing to write a check to the foundation in lieu of participating?”

His demeanor brightened. “Yes, that’s what I’d prefer to do.”

“Here’s what I’m thinking,” she said. “As you know, Dr. Dunlevy is adamant that every senior staff member participate in the auction—especially you, since you’re in charge of pediatrics. How would you feel if I bid on you with the funds from that check you are so eager to write? For all intents and purposes, you will be auctioned off. You’ll look great in the eyes of your boss, but you won’t have to go through with the post-auction date. Essentially you will buy your freedom. But that part will be our little secret. What do you say, Dr. Thayer?”

Chapter Four

It was a brilliant idea.

It was pure genius, and for a moment, it was as if a huge weight had been lifted off his shoulders.

“I think it’s a fabulous plan,” he said. “You’re really willing to do that for me?”

She beamed her one-thousand-watt smile. “I wouldn’t have offered if I didn’t mean it.”

However, as they ate their lunch, the initial relief wore off, and Liam found himself doing internal battle with a barrage of logistical questions. One of the most pervasive was whether he should offer to take her to dinner or provide some sort of post-auction compensation over and above his secret donation...as a thank-you. After all, he was enjoying their lunch and her company. A casual dinner wouldn’t be so bad since she knew exactly where he was coming from—that he wasn’t interested in anything more than friendship.

Thinking about the possibility that gorgeous Kate Macintyre might be interested in him as more than just a friend made him feel foolish and presumptuous. That was enough proof that the dating game was way out of his league. He’d be better off simply donating a little extra to the cause.

“I realize my colleagues will be paying for a date,” he said. “I understand that the money they spend on the night out will not go directly to the hospital—the guys will spend it on the women who win them in the auction. Since I won’t be paying for a date, I’m happy to donate the money I would have spent. It will go to the cause rather than be wasted on an evening on the town.”

That hadn’t come out quite right. His trepidation about dating sounded so ridiculous when he voiced it, but that embarrassment was at odds with the betrayal of Joy that pierced his heart when he thought of going through the motions of a date. Even if said date was contrived and a woman was bidding on a prize package—not really the time spent with him so much—the winning bidder still deserved to have a good time. Enthusiasm and interest were not something he could promise to deliver.

“What I’m trying to say is that I’m happy to donate more if you think that’s appropriate. Especially since I’m obviously being a colossal pain in the... Well, I’ve created more work for you, and I’m sorry about that.”

She laughed. “You’re not a colossal pain in the... Just get over that, okay?”

She caught her bottom lip between her teeth. She did that a lot. There was something kind of innocently sexy about it. She had nice lips; the kind that he imagined could be described as bee-stung.

“As I said,” she continued. “I wouldn’t have offered this alternative if I didn’t think it was a win-win situation for all involved. We’re good, right?”

She was so gracious. She obviously had a natural talent that put people at ease. Not to mention a pretty face to go along with the nice personality.

His gaze dropped back to the bottom lip that had just a moment ago been caught between her teeth.

“So, this new plan—you bidding on me—isn’t going to cause problems with a boyfriend? I don’t want to put you in an uncomfortable position....”

“Don’t worry,” she said. “I’m absolutely single. No jealous guys will be hulking around threatening to beat you up. Rest assured.”

She winked at him, and there was something in the gesture that made the blood course through his veins in a way that hadn’t happened in ages.

“Really? Have you ever been married?” He surprised himself by uttering the words out loud. “And that’s really personal. You don’t have to answer that question if you’d rather not.”

She had a serene smile on her face, as if his inquiry hadn’t fazed her.

“I don’t mind answering,” she said. “As long as you’ll answer a question for me.”

Liam was vaguely aware of the muted background chatter of other customers, silverware clattering on plates, coffee cups clanking on saucers. Background music to their conversation.

“Fair enough,” he said.

“I’ve never been married. I came close once, but...nope. Lately I’ve been too busy with work to date much. I figure I’m sort of married to my career right now. Kind of like a doctor, huh?”

“Is that the question you wanted me to answer? Because, if so, it’s a lot easier than I expected.”

She laughed. “Are you kidding? That’s a rhetorical question, and you know it. What I want to know is why, if your daughters are okay with you doing the auction, do you still want to go through with the charade of me bidding on you? Which I’m perfectly willing to do. But, again, I’m curious.

“Because it’s just a night out. You really don’t even have to call it a date. It’s not like you’re obligated to see her again. How painful could one night out with a woman be?”

Liam shook his head. “I don’t know how to say this without sounding like a pompous ass, but I’ll do my best. There might be women or, should I say, one woman in particular, who would be tempted to bid on me just to put me in an uncomfortable situation.”

Kate didn’t say anything, but the corner of her mouth quirked up as if she thought the possibility utterly ridiculous. “Would you care to elaborate?”

“Shortly after Joy died—Joy was my wife...” His voice cracked, and he wondered if he would really be better off not venturing into this territory.

Kate’s expression softened. “I think everyone in Celebration knew and loved your wife, Liam. She was an amazing woman.”

He cleared his throat. “She was an amazing woman. I think that’s part of the problem. Some women think a man like me, who is left to raise two teenage girls alone, needs or wants help.”

“And you’re speaking from experience?”

Liam felt himself sliding down a slippery slope. “Nah, never mind.” He didn’t need to unload his baggage on Kate. He should be telling her how grateful he was for her willingness to make his part in this fund-raiser as easy and comfortable as possible. But he’d already said too much. It was best to quit while he was ahead.

“No, wait, this sounds good. So you’re in demand? Throngs of females throwing themselves at you?” Her eyes were sparkling, and her tone was teasing.