The Doctor's Bride. Patt Marr

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СКАЧАТЬ Everyone can love children, face-to-face,” she said, teasing back. “But I know how busy surgeons are. I can’t see my dad or my sister taking time to attend a conference like this.”

      “You’re right,” he said candidly. “I’m here for Mom. My dad died recently, and Mom’s looking for a new direction for her life. I think she’s found it.”

      “I hope so! I want to meet her, but I’m due in the conference dining room. Each speaker hosts a table. Perhaps you and your mother could sit with me.”

      “Mom would love that! I’m supposed to meet her outside the ladies’ room. Shall we surprise her?”

      Walking out of this big room with Zack Hemingway she felt so different than she’d felt walking in. She’d been scared to death, but look at her now! She had the attention of the most sought-after bachelor in Beverly Hills.

      He was quite a bit taller that she was, six feet two at least. She always noticed a man’s height because she was taller than average. Zack’s clean-shaven jaw angled before squaring off a bit at the chin, and his nose was less than perfect, which she liked a lot, considering the man lived in the plastic-surgery capital of the world.

      His tan suit looked as expensive as the ones her father wore and probably was, the way it fit his wide shoulders so well. Usually she preferred the rugged look of a guy in a T-shirt and jeans, but Zack in a suit and tie looked…

      Though she had an IQ of 170 and a vocabulary to match, yummy was the word that came to mind.

      Zack put his hand on Chloe’s elbow and stopped their progress outside the restroom. “This is where I agreed to meet Mom,” he said.

      The words were barely out of his mouth when a pretty blond woman in a pink suit and low-heeled pink pumps entered the hallway. She spotted Zack right away, but when she saw Chloe, her blue eyes lit up as if it were Christmas.

      “Oh, Chloe! Zack said he would introduce us, and here you are!” She embraced Chloe in a light hug.

      “Chloe, this is my mother, Bonnie Hemingway, a retired high school biology teacher from East Moline, Illinois—my hometown.”

      “I’m happy to meet you, Mrs. Hemingway,” Chloe said, impressed with the joy of life this woman seemed to have.

      “Please, call me Bonnie. Chloe, your presentation touched my heart more than I can say.”

      “I’m so glad. I’ve never been more nervous in my life.”

      “It didn’t get the best of you! You’re a natural-born speaker and teacher.”

      “Thank you,” Chloe said from the bottom of her heart. “You don’t know how I appreciate the encouragement.”

      “I couldn’t believe it when Zack said he knew your family.”

      “And even when the moderator said your name, I couldn’t believe you were Sterling’s daughter,” Zack added.

      “You didn’t recognize me?” Chloe asked with feigned dismay. “After all we’ve meant to each other?”

      “I know! What can I say?” He hung his head in mock shame.

      “Oh, I wish I’d been there to see your clown act!” Bonnie said. “I love clowns! I even collect them.”

      “She does,” Zack affirmed with his great smile. “She has all kinds. Salt and pepper shakers, figurines, you name it. Is there any possibility that Flower could make a special appearance in honor of Mom’s birthday?”

      For the opportunity to spend time with this guy, it was a done deal. “Flower loves birthday parties, but she’s pretty busy today.”

      “I’m here until a week from Monday,” Bonnie said.

      “Name the day, Chloe. This is Mom’s week. Not only is it her birthday, it’s her first visit to California. I took vacation time, so I’m available as a chauffeur, sock-puppet carrier or anything that doesn’t involve me in a clown suit.”

      “Bonnie, would you like a clown lesson from Flower?” Chloe asked.

      “Oh, my! Yes!”

      “You’ll have to decide on your clown name and persona so we can design your makeup and costume.”

      “I’ll have my own clown personality?” Bonnie’s blue eyes sparkled at the thought.

      “Well, sure. Once you’re in costume, you’re not you anymore.”

      “This will give me something to think about! Chloe, this has been such a pleasure. I wonder if you could join Zack and me for lunch? It would be so special to celebrate my birthday with you.”

      “As a speaker, I’m hosting a table. I thought you and Zack might join me.”

      “But of course we could. That would be marvelous!”

      “I should be there now.”

      “Then we shouldn’t dawdle. Those tables could be filling up fast.” Bonnie turned to walk ahead.

      Zack fell into step beside Chloe. “That’s my mom, leading the way.”

      “She’s wonderful,” Chloe said softly before turning to catch up. She would love to have a close relationship like that with her own mother.

      “Mom, I need to call the hospital. You two go ahead and grab those seats. Okay?”

      Bonnie waved him on, then took Chloe’s arm and set a pace that would get them there quickly.

      “Chloe, are you seeing anyone?” she asked bluntly.

      “No,” Chloe answered, wondering where this was going.

      “I hope you’ll forgive a mother for saying so, but I think you and Zack would make a perfect couple.”

      Bonnie had said she collected clowns, but this took hobbying to a whole new level. “Your son, the doctor, and Flower the Clown?” Chloe teased.

      “No, my son, the man who says he’s too busy to fall in love and have a family, and Chloe, my tender-hearted new friend who seems to know that a life without love is no life at all.”

       Chapter Four

       Z ack draped his arm over the back of his mother’s chair, the better to observe Chloe during the luncheon speaker’s presentation. In this environment she was a star, though no one would think it from her humble attitude. Humility wasn’t a Kilgannon trait he’d noticed before, but it seemed to be as much a part of Chloe’s personality as her sense of humor.

      It took very little to make her laugh. A minute ago the speaker had made a comment that Zack thought was funny even if the others at the table didn’t. Chloe had glanced at him, seen that he had no reservations about holding back a grin and burst into a goofy little giggle. It had only lasted a second, but for him it was the high point of the luncheon.

      What СКАЧАТЬ