His Four Poster Bed (Bedroom Secrets Series Book 2) (4 page)

As soon as I walked through the glass doors of the hospital, I felt better about the situation with Marco. Work was the great equalizer in my life, it gave me focus and purpose. I had patients who needed me and didn’t care what bad decisions I’d made the night before. My research landed outside the boundary of my personal life. I’d made a huge mistake mixing business with pleasure with Dr. Mike and I was determined to learn from my mistakes.

I walked into the front lobby and nodded to the volunteers at the front desk, my badge displayed. The lobby of Children’s was filled with bright sculptures and underwater creates, an enormous orca statue hung overhead. I passed families waiting for urgent care admittance or to pick up prescriptions in the pharmacy.

That’s when I saw him; I stopped in my tracks.

Marco Amador stood at the end of the foyer right next to Marcia Kim, the president of the board of directors. Marcia waved me over. There was no way to slip away without appearing rude.

“Good morning Marcia, hello Mr. Amador,” I said, doing a very bad job of hiding my surprise. What was he doing here in my workplace? I flipped my smile back on and hoped I looked poised instead of rattled.

It was hard not to notice the way Marco looked. He wore a thin black turtleneck, most likely cashmere and dark blue jeans that hugged his body. I caught a glance of his shoes, they looked expensive.

“Mr. Amador has come to deliver a donation to the hospital and it’s earmarked for your chemo study,” Marcia said, positively glowing. “It’s just wonderful, a wonderful surprise.”

I wasn’t sure how many zeros were on the check, but I figured it had to be generous to elicit this type of giddiness from Marcia. She was not known for being touchy feely, quite the opposite in fact.

I immediately felt conflicted. Dollar signs meant we could help more children, but this windfall came from the man I’d mistakenly made out with the night before.

“How wonderful,” I said. “You’ll have to thank your father for me. I’m glad the fundraiser was a success.” I said emphasizing the word father and knowing it was a bit of a low blow, but I’d be dammed if I was going to fall to the man’s feet and thank him for being born to a rich man. I appreciated the donation, but if he thought this would buy me off somehow, he had another thing coming.

Marco flinched at my words and opened his mouth as if he wanted to say something more but thought better of it.

“Actually, no,” Marcia said. “The Amador foundation will send us the check from the gala next week. Mr. Amador has given a personal donation to the foundation this morning. Isn’t that wonderful?”

“A personal donation?” I said, eyebrows raised. It was admirable for him to share some of his funds with us, but it didn’t change the fact that he was a rich man from a rich family. He was able to donate because of who he was, not because of what he had accomplished in life.

“Yes,” Marco said, cheeks burning. “I had thought this would be an anonymous donation.”

“That’s admirable,” I said. The fact he wanted to donate quietly was interesting. It didn’t change things, but I had to give him some credit.

“Oh, we won’t share beyond this group,” Marcia stated.

“I apologize Odessa,” Marco said. “I didn’t think you would be here this morning.”

“I’m sorry, do you two know each other?” Marcia said eyes darting between us.

“No,” I said. As Marco said “Yes.”

“Yes,” I repeated as he changed his answer to “No.”

“I see,” Marcia said, clearly not seeing anything at all.

Marco and I faced each other saying nothing.

“I’d like to give Mr. Amador a tour but I have a meeting that starts in ten minutes,” Marcia said. “Odessa would you mind?”

“That won’t be necessary,” Marco said.

“No, I insist,” Marcia said. “I know it’s an anonymous donation but at the very least you could see how your funds will be used. Please, let us show you the facility. It’s the least we can do.”

“All right then,” he said, looking at me his brown eyes a bit wide.

“I’ll leave you two to it,” Marcia said. “Good day, Mr. Amador, and thank you again for your generosity. We can do some wonderful things with this type of funding. Can’t we Dr. Starr?”

“Yes, of course,” I said.

Marco and I both watched Marcia leave.

I waited until she was out of ear shot.

“Seriously?” I asked, stepping closer to him keeping my voice low. “An anonymous donation?”

“You have to believe me,” he said. “I did not intend you to find out about this.”

“Oh please,” I whispered, moving closer. “You send me bird cages, expensive bird cages. An entire collection and you expect me to think that you are trying to be low profile.”

“It is a holiday, I assumed you would not be at the office. I was telling you the truth. And as for the gift, I felt I owed you an apology and an explanation.”

“Why did Veronica deliver them? What is the deal with you two?”

“So, you do care,” he said, a sly smile crossing his face.

“No, I don’t care. I don’t care one bit,” I said, my heart pounding.

“Veronica works with me,” he said.

“She works with you or for you?” I said, remembering the way she had stood there in that red clinging dress. “You expect me to believe it’s just a work thing. Do all your coworkers dress like that and have access to your bedroom?” The humiliation of kissing Marco in front of Veronica came over me and I felt stupid again for being sucked in by Marco’s good looks and money. “You know what? Don’t answer that. It’s not my business, forget it.”

“Odessa, you must forgive me if I missed my mark here.”

“You missed more than your mark. I appreciate the donation but it has nothing to do with me. It can’t. You understand that.”

“I gave you the cages because they are beautiful, like you and the hospital was a spontaneous decision. I woke up this morning inspired by your passion for these children. You were not meant to find out about it but you were my inspiration.”

“I inspired you,” I repeated trying not to let my gaze drift from his face to those strong arms. Damn, I loved the way the turtleneck hugged his body.

He stepped toward me and lowered his voice as a family sat down in chairs right in front of us. “Should we go somewhere private?”

“I don’t think that would be appropriate,” I said. “You and I are safer in a crowd.”

“Fair enough,” He said, flashing me a grin. “You must believe me that I woke up today and I wanted to do something on my own, to act. I’ve been silent for too long and being with you last night, however brief, has given me something I haven’t had in a long time.”

“What is that,” I said, trying to sound disinterested and failing.

“Hope,” he said.

“I gave you hope.”

“Yes. Hope that I can make a difference. That I can do good in this world away from my family’s shadow. You do good every day, why shouldn’t I try as well,” he said, looking pained. “I sound like an idiot.”

“No, you sound . . .,” I paused and smiled. “Inspired. I think you are full of shit but you do sound inspired.”

Marco wrinkled his nose. “So, the birds may have been too much.”

“You think?”

“I apologize if they made you uncomfortable. It’s been a while since I’ve met someone like you.”

“You know I can’t be bought.”

“I would never try.”

“Good,” I said.

And we stood like that face to face. He was so arrogant but clearly felt out of his element. I wanted to know more about Veronica and his desire to break free from his family, but I had a job to do and playing therapist to a hot billionaire with Daddy issues was very low on my list of things to do.

“Would you like a tour,” I asked, gesturing towards the doors. “It would have to be quick, I have patients to see.”

“Patients in your trial, or children you are evaluating for the next round?”

“The next round,” I said, smiling. “You were listening to me last night.”

“Every word,” he said, his eyes locking with mine again. And suddenly I felt like we were no longer standing in the crowded lobby of the hospital. The buzz and the noise of families and children surrounding me faded; I felt as though there was a single spotlight on us.

“Marco, I’m sorry, you seem nice . . .” But I can’t see you again, the words were right there, just sitting on the tip of my tongue, ready to be rolled out. After all he did seem nice and I didn’t understand his strange relationship with Veronica or his family, but he had listened to me. He was an amazing kisser and our brief encounter had resulted in a hefty donation to the hospital. None of this was bad.

“Before you decide anything,” he said. “See me tonight. We can talk.”

“I’m not sure that’s a good idea.”

“I’ll take a rain check on the tour,” he said. “You are busy and I would rather you focus your energy on your young patients than me. Come see me tonight. I’ll send a car.”

“I’ll drive myself thank you,” I said, without thinking about the implication of my comment. Marco’s face broke out into a wide smile.

“Excellent,” he said. “The woman will drive herself and I will see you this evening.”

Over Marco’s shoulder I caught a glimpse of Dr. Mike. He stood by the elevators with a pained expression on his face, he clearly had noticed my conversation with the young, hot billionaire. I hoped the acoustics in the lobby were playing in my favor. I did not need Dr. Mike questioning me about Marco after I’d just convinced him I wasn’t ready to date anyone.

“Thank you for your donation,” I said, unsure what to say next. “Truly, it will allow us to do some wonderful work.”

“Of course, yes. It was my pleasure,” he said. He looked at me knowingly before extending his hand. Just hearing the word pleasure come from this man’s lips made me feel a bit unsteady.

“Thank you for giving me another chance.”

“I won’t change my mind,” I said, knowing I sounded weak.

“Of course not.”

I shook his hand and his skin felt warm against mine, his hands were large and strong. He nodded and turned walking straight out of the building and through the glass doors.

So, Marco Amador had been inspired by our brief time together. Was he being sincere or was this some sort of bizarre method of seduction? He clearly was not used to dating
normal
women; his over the top antics demonstrated that clearly. His decision to shower me with bird cages was more bizarre than sweet. He said he loved being alone, but clearly he craved something more in his life. He was a complicated man and damn if he wasn’t hot.

“Paging Dr. Starr,” the sound of the overhead speaker snapped me to attention. I had patients I needed to see, data to review. The page seemed like a sign to me, a reminder of the life that I needed to focus on. I immediately felt guilty for standing in the lobby like a star struck school girl. This was why I had made a New Year’s resolution to stay single and focus on myself.

Marco may have talked me into seeing him again, but this strange relationship needed to end tonight.

“Odessa Starr, I’m here to see Marco Amador,” I said, to one of the bellmen who hovered near Marco’s private elevator.

The bellman, a slip of a boy who looked like a college kid earning extra money looked a little nervous. “I’m sorry, I’m not allowed to reveal the names of our guests.”

“I was here last night,” I said. “I was a guest of Mr. Amador’s and I have something to return to him. And he’s a resident, not a guest.” I nodded to the stack of black packages that I’d carried from the car.

The bellman seemed to consider me and I wondered if he was trying to figure out if I was Marco’s type. Marco claimed Veronica was a co-worker, but I truly had no idea about the number of women who traveled up and down his private elevator, no pun intended.

“Excuse me for a moment,” the boy said, giving me the once over. I resisted the urge to tell him to take a picture since it lasted longer. He was only doing his job. I supposed every billionaire needed a gatekeeper.

I checked my makeup in the mirror behind the front desk while I waited. I’d touched up my cat’s eyeliner and red lipstick in the break room before leaving work. My white blouse still looked crisp, even after rounds; my pencil skirt had survived the day as well. My hair pulled back into a sleek ponytail revealing gold hoop earrings completed my look; I wanted to look good, but professional. I also wasn’t going to change after our morning run-in. I did not want Marco to misunderstand my intent. This was business.

The boy returned holding a small notebook. “May I see your ID?” He asked as he paged through the book.

“Are you serious,” I deadpanned, pulling my license out of my wallet. “What are you TSA?”

His finger poised on the page he glance up at me, eyes wide. “I’m so sorry Ms. Starr, your name is on the list,” his cheeks flushed. “I’m sorry, I’m new. I just need to validate you are who you say you are this one time. My apologies.”

“Not your fault, and glad I’m on the list . . .” I eyeballed the boy’s name tag. “Todd. Thank you, I realize you are just following orders.”

“I’m so sorry Ms. Starr. You are definitely allowed upstairs; I apologize for detaining you.”