Have Gown, Need Groom by Rita Herron Page B

as if dismissing them. “Well, I, for one, thank you for your honesty, Dr. Hartwell. And I will hold you to your word. If not…”
    Hannah nodded as he let the sentence trail off, wincing at his silent warning.
    Seth’s parents shook Dr. Porter’s hand, Hannah apologized to them again, and the Broadhursts left with a brief thanks, although Hannah sensed they weren’t totally satisfied. Seth’s gaze caught hers, an awkwardness between them that she hated. He forced a small smile for which she would forever be grateful. Maybe they could remain friends. Maybe he would recommend a good shrink….
    When the door had closed behind them, the chief of staff caught her hand. “Dr. Hartwell, you are aware how much the Broadhursts’ contributions mean to this hospital?”
    “Yes.”
    “Then I’m asking you to do everything you can to rectify your relationship with them. Do you understand?”
    “Yes sir.”
    Hannah’s stomach plummeted. She would do everything she could to smooth things over with the wealthy couple, except marry Seth. With a heavy heart, she slipped out the door to follow through on the promise she’d made to her father the night before.
    She was going to find Jake Tippins, the man who had virtually seeped unwanted into her dreams and caused her to go crazy for a day and drive him home. And she’d have to do it without letting the man know that she’d seen him naked in her dreams. And that he was the very reason she’d called off her wedding.

    J AKE RUBBED his hand over his eyes, trying to block images from his latest dream. After Trevor had left, he’d dozed off, but instead of having another nightmare about his childhood he’d had erotic dreams of sleeping with a blond vixen—Hannah Hartwell.
    She’d been naked and hot and writhing beneath him.
    Boy, he was in trouble.
    As if temptation had his number, the good doctor walked through the door. “Hi, Mr. Tippins, how are you feeling today?”
    “Like I’ve been to hell and back.”
    Dr. Hartwell lifted a narrow blond brow. “You don’t mince words, do you, Mr. Tippins?”
    “No reason to,” he said. “What you see is what you get.” Except for the fact that he wasn’t a car salesman, he was a cop. And that he could lie at the drop of a hat.
    And he’d like to see the slender curves that lay beneath that lab coat.
    Oh, hell…he wasn’t handling this well at all.
    “Are you ready to go home?”
    “Yeah.” He indicated the backless hospital gown. “Just let me grab my luggage.”
    A soft chuckle escaped her as she tossed a paper bag at him. “Sorry, no suitcase, but I did pick up a pair of sweats for you to wear home.”
    He opened the bag and peered inside at the shapeless black drawstring pants. “Thanks, Doc.”
    She blushed. Actually blushed. Had he ever seen a woman look so innocent and so wanton at the same time? “I didn’t know your size and figured sweats would be more comfortable with the bandage.”
    Heat climbed his neck. “Yeah, well, this is great. Not that I haven’t enjoyed giving all the nurses a thrill with this hospital gown, but I don’t want to get arrested for indecent exposure.”
    The door opened and Wiley poked his head in the doorway. “Hey, Tippins, how’re you doing?”
    “Fine,” Jake said.
    “Can I see you a minute, Hannah?” Wiley asked.
    “I thought you were out of town.”
    “I’m on my way, just running a little late,” Wiley said.
    Jake noticed Hannah’s shoulders tense. She told Jake she’d be right back, then disappeared into the hallway.
    Curious, Jake awkwardly climbed from the bed, dragging the gown together in the back as he hobbled over to the doorway. He peered through the door crack and saw Hannah frowning at her father. They appeared to be arguing. He tried to read their lips and thought he saw Hannah say something about the car business, that she didn’t want his money. Finally Hannah slipped an envelope into her pocket with a frown. His suspicions mounted. Hannah