Anything but Love (10 page)

Cole smiled and embraced her. He kissed her hard. “Well, I don’t think I can. Want to find out?”

Kendall nodded, and for the first time didn’t give a thought to the patients she had waiting. Her only thought was that Cole definitely knew how to take her mind off work.

* * *

When Kendall finally made it to work it was almost eleven. Thanks to Cole and his stamina, she was well on her way to finding out the answer to her research problem. They had made love until she cried uncle.

Thank goodness she didn’t have any morning appointments. She was supposed to research costs for the hospital, but she could still do that later. Staci was her first afternoon appointment, so she had a little recoup time. In only a few days, she’d had more sex with Cole than she’d probably had in her entire adult life. She glanced at her clock; it was just before noon. She could take a little nap on her couch, and no one would know she and Cole had gotten their “freak on,” as her nephew called it, again. Yes, thirty minutes of sleep should recharge her batteries, she thought as she walked to the couch.

The last thing she remembered was kicking off her stilettos.

“Kendall, wake up.” A cold hand shook her.

But she didn’t want to open her eyes. She had just closed them. Wasn’t she allowed a little catnap doing the day?

“Kendall.”

It was Staci’s voice, she finally realized. But that appointment wasn’t until one. “Staci, you’re early. Come back at one.”

Staci laughed. “Girl, you better check your watch.”

Kendall finally pried her eyes opened and gazed at her friend. “It’s barely twelve. Why are you here so early?”

Staci sat in the chair next to the desk and let out a tired breath. “First of all, Ms. Thing, I’m about an hour and a half late. It’s two-thirty. I left you about five messages explaining I had an emergency and would be late.”

Kendall sat up slowly. “I didn’t hear the phone ring.”

“I know. Jami thought you were trying to take a nap, so she took the messages. But I called your cell and you still didn’t pick up.”

“I would have heard the phone. I must have had it on silent or something,” Kendall said. “I couldn’t have been that tired.”

“Don’t tell me you and Cole have been bouncing around on the sheets again?”

Kendall couldn’t hide the look. At least not from Staci. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Nice try, Kendall. But the next time you’re trying to feign innocence, make sure that you don’t have a hickey on your neck.” She started laughing. “I crack myself up!”

Kendall wanted to be mad. But soon she found herself laughing as well. “You got me.”

“Okay, can I have some details?”

“Why on earth would you want details?”

“Hey, my very frigid friend is getting laid more times than an intern at the nation’s capitol. Of course I must have details.”

Kendall nodded. When Staci wanted to know something, there was no stopping until she was satisfied. She was much like Cole in that respect. “All right.”

* * *

Staci leaned back in the chair and sighed. “If I wasn’t pregnant, I’d need a cigarette after that story.” She rubbed her stomach and laughed. “I can’t believe two forty-year-old people used an entire box of condoms!”

Kendall couldn’t either. “Actually Cole is forty-five,” she said with feminine pride. “He’s in pretty good shape.”

Staci hoisted herself up from her chair. “Don’t think I don’t see you grinning like a Cheshire cat. I know you’re proud of your man and I’m proud that you got some. I think Cole is going to give your hormones a run for your money, not to mention your heart.”

“Oh, I don’t think that will happen. I know it was because I confessed about the crush I had on him when I was a teenager.” She opened the office door so that they could finally get started on Staci’s test.

Staci walked to the door and slammed it shut. “Okay, start from the beginning.”

Kendall shrugged, not wanting to remember that particular part of that magical evening. “Not much to tell. Remember after my divorce you thought I was depressed about James?”

“Yes. You didn’t date for at least two years. When you finally started dating it was sparingly, I might add.”

“It wasn’t because I missed James. It was because I didn’t love James in the first place. I married him in hopes he’d give me closure over Cole, my teenage crush.”

“I guess that didn’t work, did it?”

Kendall shook her head. “I felt bad for ruining what could have been a good marriage.”

“He did cheat on you.”

“I drove him to it,” Kendall admitted. “I never gave the marriage my all.”

Staci planted her hands on Kendall’s shoulders. “Now you look here, missy. So your marriage didn’t work. Don’t blame yourself. James had been cheating on you longer than you realize. So don’t go thinking you failed him.”

“What do you mean?” Kendall faced her friend.

“I mean that man has had just about every nurse at my hospital. The only ones he never approached were yours. They were too afraid to cross you. Thank goodness you scare the daylights out of people.”

“I don’t know if I should thank you for that compliment or wait until the baby’s born and knock you silly for the insult.”

Staci ignored her remark and headed out of the room. “Yeah, yeah, yeah. You like it.”

Kendall laughed. “Yes, I do, but that is about to change. I don’t want the nurses to be afraid of me. In fact, I don’t want anyone afraid of me anymore.” They walked down the hall to the examination room.

“I knew you would change one day. Power is great, but friends last longer.”

Trust Staci to hit the nail on the head.

CHAPTER 10

Cole was in the zone. Everything he typed on his laptop computer screen sounded like gold to his ears as he read it out loud. His story was coming along nicely and he was way ahead of schedule, and could probably set up a date with Kendall very soon. The more he thought of their night together, the more he had to see her, and soon. Who would have thought a forty-five-year-old man could feel this horny?

He thought he heard the phone ringing, but kept typing anyway. Whoever it was would have to call back. His family knew when he was writing that everything was off limits and not to call.

But the phone kept ringing, forcing him to stop his flow of creative juices and answer the darn thing. He walked down the hall to the nearest phone and snatched it to his ear. “What?”

“Dad?”

“Taylor?” Cole silently cursed his bad luck. Of all the times for his estranged teenaged son to call, he mused. He’d only been waiting a year for this call.

“Yes, Dad. Did I catch you at a bad time?”

“No, no. What’s up? How’s school?”

“That’s kind of what I want to talk to you about. Is it okay if I come to Texas for a visit now?”

“Sure, Taylor. You don’t have to ask. I didn’t think you’d want to visit me here. At least that what your mother said each and every time I’ve called to speak with you.”

His son sighed. “Well, Mom told me that you didn’t want to see me, and that you went back to Texas to get away from me.”

“That’s rubbish,” Cole spat. “You know how much you mean to me, Taylor. How could she tell you such lies? Sure, it didn’t work out between your mom and me, but that has nothing to do with you.”

“She was mad at you, Dad,” Taylor clarified for his father. “I just found out she was lying to me about you. I overheard her on the phone to Grandmother. She told Grandmother she doesn’t want me to see you, ever, and would do whatever it took to make sure it didn’t happen.”

Cole was about to let a string of expletives fly out of his mouth, but stopped abruptly. Taylor was an innocent in all this, and besides, it wouldn’t do any good to be as spiteful as his former wife. His ex-wife was using the one thing Cole valued most against him, his son. “I’ll get your ticket and call you back with the information.”

“Okay, call me at this number.” Taylor quickly rattled the numbers to his father. “Mom will kill me if she knew I called you.”

“How’s she going to take you coming to Texas?” Cole already knew how his ex would take the news. She’d more than likely kick Taylor out on his butt.

“I’ll most likely be living with you from now on, but I just can’t take it living here with her anymore. I don’t like being her showpiece to all her friends. She keeps telling people that I’m going to Harvard. I don’t want to go to Harvard. I want to go to SMU. Mom said if I stepped one foot on Texas soil, I no longer existed in her eyes.”

Cole’s heart sank at how selfish one woman could be. “Well, welcome to Texas.”

“Thanks, Dad.”

He heard the catch in his son’s voice as Taylor ended the call. A sixteen-year-old shouldn’t have to go through this. Taylor should be concerned with dating and college prep exams, not afraid of getting tossed out by his mother. But Cole would make sure his transition would be as painless as possible. First thing he had to do was to book a ticket for his son.

* * *

Kendall rubbed her head in frustration. The board wasn’t making this PSA nonsense any easier. Now they wanted her and Cole to do two spots instead of just one. The CNT reporter wanted to do a phone interview before she committed to flying down to do the real interview.

What happened to her safe, controlled world? She couldn’t imagine working with Cole through two PSAs. She’d be a basket case by then. Or a nymphomaniac.

She looked through her desk for some aspirin just as Jami walked in unannounced, breaking Kendall’s cardinal rule. But one look at her new friend’s tear-stained face, and Kendall’s heart instantly softened. “What is it, Jami?” She rushed to meet her and guided the younger woman to the nearest chair.

At first Jami was quiet and shook her head. Kendall knew the move well. Keeping everyone at a distance. She’d done it herself, countless times. That was why everyone feared her now. But it was time to change all that. She hugged Jami and offered words of comfort. “Jami, I know this looks bad now, but things will clear up, I promise. My offer still stands. Whenever you need me, I’ll be here.”

Jami’s body started to shake and the tears began to fall. “I—I— don’t know what to do, Kendall. Karl tried to snatch Dylan from the daycare earlier today. Luckily they knew about the trouble I’ve been having with him and called me before they released Dylan to him. I can’t live like this. I can’t live every day wondering if this is the day Karl finally flips his lid. I have to do something.” She cried uncontrollably.

Kendall was trying to let Jami make her own decision, but a much-needed push wouldn’t hurt. “You’re going to move into my house, that’s what you’re going to do,” Kendall said in a voice she hoped no one would argue with. “Tonight you can stay with me and move your things in tomorrow. I don’t want you going to your house alone.”

“I’ll move in, but tonight I’m staying with Keerya. Her brothers are going to help me get my stuff out of the house, bright and early. I’ll be at your house in the morning. Is that okay?”

Kendall nodded. “That’s fine, Jami. I’ll have your room ready. Are you putting your things in storage?”

“Yes. Keerya’s brother owns a storage company, so we have free run of the place. He said I could use as much space as I need and he’s not going to charge me.”

Kendall smiled. Her mother was right. Sometimes things may look their darkest, but there’s always some sunshine just around the corner.

* * *

Cole felt a little more at ease after he purchased the airline ticket for Taylor. Until then he’d felt like a spy making secret arrangements with his son to pick him up at the airport the next day.

After he finished with the arrangements, he realized one little tiny inconsequential thing: He didn’t have any furniture in any of the other bedrooms. He would definitely need help. He dialed the number to the hospital.

“Hello.”

“Hey, Max,” Cole said. “What are you doing later?”

Max grunted. “Not going home.”

“Good. Want to go shopping for furniture?”

Max laughed. “What?”

Cole knew he had to explain the sudden change in his household. “My son will be coming to live with me. I need some furniture for his room.”

“Have you told my boss that your son is coming to live with you and there will be no more sexual marathons?”

“Hey, there’s always her place.”

“I guess you haven’t heard the latest,” Max said quietly.

Cole couldn’t begin to fathom what could possibly be worse timing than his son coming to live with him just as he finally got Kendall where he needed her. “Okay, I’ll bite, Max.”

“I’ll tell you later. But I can tell you this. Kendall is going to have a houseguest for awhile.”

Cole’s world tilted just a little off that perfect axis he’d worked so hard to achieve. “Is it her ex?”

Max laughed. “I’ll let you figure that out for yourself, man.”

Cole knew how determined exes could be. But he could be more determined. “Still want to go shopping?”

“Of course. Actually I’m getting off in about another hour. Why don’t I meet you at your house?”

“Sure.” This would make his plan work even better. If Max was getting off early, maybe Kendall was, too. But Max was always one step ahead of him when it came to Kendall.

“Kendall’s got a meeting with the board this afternoon. She should be home around six.”

Cole snickered. “You think you know me?”

“I don’t know you, but I do know Kendall. And I like the smile you put on her face.” There was a slight hesitation in Max’s usually gentle voice. “She’s the most important person to me in this world. She’s like a sister and I don’t want to see her hurt, especially after what that ex-husband did to her. So if you cause her pain, you will answer to me.”

“You’d have to get in line behind her brother Charlie,” Cole said. “He’s already given me the speech. So I already know the consequences of my actions.”

“And?”

Cole didn’t want to say the words. He wasn’t sure of his emotional state at the moment. After all, it could just be really good sex and the fact that he finally found a woman that could keep up with him, for the most part, anyway.

“Cole?” Max prodded. “What’s going on in that writer’s brain of yours?”

He didn’t want to say it, especially to Max. “Just pondering.”

“Yeah, I’ll bet,” Max chuckled. “Sure, I’ll go shopping with you. I love to watch people spend money.”

Cole laughed, wondering when his life had gotten so strange. Never in a million years would he have imagined one of his closest friends would be a white physician assistant, not to mention that he’d fall in love with Kendall. Now how was he was supposed to manage that with his son underfoot?

A few hours later, Cole and Max toured the furniture store looking for furniture for a teenager. Cole had expected Max to pounce on him the minute he saw Cole, but Max played it cool.

Max gazed at the sea of beds. “So how tall is your son?”

Cole shrugged. “I think he might be an inch or two shorter than me.” He looked at a king-sized bed. “You know, he’s not through growing yet. My dad was six-four.”

Max nodded. “Yeah, go for the king-sized bed.” He waved for the salesperson. “So why is your tall teenaged son coming to live with you?”

Cole had to admit Max had style. It had been almost an hour before he asked the first question. “It’s a long, horrid story involving my ex-wife and her selfish attitude.”

“Been there, done that,” Max said dryly. “She’s been lying to him? Telling him you’re a horrible father?”

Cole looked sideways at Max’s tanned face. “Man, were you in the room with her or what?” He noticed the salesman approaching them.

“Yes, sir, how can I help you?”

Cole pointed to the large four-poster bed. “I want this in king-size with pillow-top mattresses.”

The salesman instantly smiled, most likely tallying up his commission on the sale. “Yes, sir. When would you like this delivered?”

“Tomorrow.”

The salesman swallowed and asked incredulously, “Tomorrow?”

Cole knew it would be next to impossible for such a quick delivery, but he had to try. He didn’t want his son sleeping on the couch his first night home. “Yes, I need it delivered tomorrow. Is it doable?”

“I’ll have to check. Where do you live?”

“Biscayne Meadows.”

The salesman’s eyes widened in surprise, but he rebounded quickly. With his calm, stoic face back in place, he said, “Oh, I’m sure something can be worked out. Pardon me,” the salesman said as he walked away.

Max stepped closer to him. “He’s going to up the delivery charge for tomorrow. Just watch. He’s going to come back with a higher delivery charge for such a quick delivery time. We can do it ourselves. I can bring my truck and we can set it up tonight.”

“You really think he’ll do that?”

Max nodded. “Hell yeah. He’s probably worked a deal with the delivery guys and they’ll split the money. Just watch.”

Sure enough the salesman returned with a saccharine smile on his face. “Well, sir, we can deliver it tomorrow, but there’s going to be an express fee of an additional one hundred dollars.”

Cole glanced at Max, then back at the salesman. “Okay.”

The salesman beamed. “Okay. What time do you want it delivered?”

Cole shook his head. “Oh no, I’m taking it today, without the delivery charge.”

“Oh.” The salesman frowned.

Cole laughed. “And I’m going to need a nightstand, a dresser and an armoire.”

The smile was back. “Yes, sir.”

Max and Cole laughed as the salesman took off. “I can’t believe he was going to rip me off like that.”

Max shrugged. “Live and learn.”

* * *

Kendall rubbed her neck as she sat at her desk. The board meeting had taken longer than she expected. All she wanted to do was to help the less fortunate and add a cancer wing to the hospital, but all these people brought her were more problems. She reflected on the previous meeting.

“Dr. Matthews, the nuclear machine is going to cost a million dollars itself. We’re really going to need more donations to get all the machinery that you want at the hospital and remain a charity hospital.”

But Kendall knew tha
t. She had already run the numbers through her computer, and she needed at least four million dollars to keep the charity hospital charitable. She was going to have to go public. “Yes, I’ve been in touch with Holly Banton of CNT and she wants to do a phone interview first.”

“She’s still going to do it, right?” Marty Kleinman, director of cardiology, asked. “We really need the press.”

“So you do want me to mention Briarwood?”

Marty nodded. “It would certainly be a win-win. You can get more donations, and we can get some free advertising for the wonderful work that’s being done at the hospital. We also want you to mention your track record.”

She hated tooting her own horn. Hated it with a heartfelt passion. It reminded her of that dreadful day Cole landed in the emergency room, spouting those horrid words, ‘Don’t you know who I am?’

“How about one of you guys listing
my accolades? It sounds less cheesy that way. Holly wants to do a character study of me. She wants people who aren’t camera shy and can give me glowing recommendations. I hope you guys don’t mind, but I told her she could talk to you all.”

Marty spoke for the other four men. “Sure, Kendall. What’s good for you is good for Briarwood.”

“Of course. I wouldn’t do anything to harm Briarwood’s name.”

And she meant that. She would do anything within the law, as long as it was morally sound, to keep the name of the hospital as prestigious as it already was.

She rubbed her neck again. She could really use a massage right now. Where was Cole when she needed him? She didn’t have the time to take that lusty thought back when the phone rang. It was after five, so Jami wasn’t at her desk to screen Kendall’s calls.