CHAPTER II
“Are you sure that Rusty Foster is going to be here tonight.”
Dr. Max Washington replied suddenly cutting off the incessant babbling of the
chief physician of the pediatric unit at Boston General. “I was looking forward
to meeting him before he appeared at work Monday Morning.
‘He?’ Dr Cade thought. He must have misheard him, brushing off the thought he
continued on about the successes of the pediatric unit enjoying the sound of
his own voice. The tiny P. A. affectionately known as Nurse Rusty was far from
male. He made it mandatory that she be here. Although she technically wasn’t a
member of his staff any longer she was good at her job and did what she was
told. Dr. Cade began to look around as he babbled, the auction was about to
start where was Nurse Rusty?
Max who stopped listening to Dr. Cade as he continued on began to look around
room. A guy with a name like Rusty stereotypically should have a rugged look,
maybe even a beer gut or maybe he was a young skater type guy who liked his job
as much as he liked to hang out with a shaggy kind of look. Max surveyed the
room looking for all men who fit that description when his gaze reached the
entrance hall of the ballroom and the most beautiful woman walked through, he
was stunned. Every step she made exuded confidence from the roots of her
glorious mane to the bottom of her however many inch stilettos. This was a
woman who knew what she wanted. She wore a tiny smirk on her face that said ‘I
know something you don’t’ and as if she could feel his gaze out of the million
others focused directly on her she turned toward him, looked him right in the
eye and her smirk became a smile.
Who is that?” Max asked Dr. Cade again interrupting his chatter.
Looking up Dr. Cade reached for his glasses hanging around his neck and focused
on the young women walking toward the bar “I don’t know she doesn’t work for
the hospital whoever she is or I would know her, she must be the guest or
daughter of one of the other physicians” said Dr Tanner Cade. “I have worked
for this hospital for twenty-five years and I never forget a face. She does
have a familiar look but I don’t recognize her so she must favor one of her
parents that work at the hospital” Dr Cade said massaging his mustache “Or…she
was just hired.” giving voice to his doubts that he just may not know everyone.
From the moment that ‘I don’t know’ left Dr. Cade’s mouth Max turned toward the
woman and began walking toward her. He could hear Dr. Cade still rambling about
not knowing the girl but the fact that Max had walked away and Cade was still
talking confirmed the fact that he was mostly talking to hear himself
speak.
As Max approached the woman he began to realize how compact this lady really
was. When she walked through the door she could have been about six feet for
how she drew his attention but as he got closer she was barely over five feet
in height if that not to mention that she was wearing very high heels. Max was
never one to be attracted to short women but for some reason he was drawn to
her like a magnet and she was the purest form of metal in the entire room. When
max reached her he stood there for a moment and breathed in her scent. Suddenly
the orchestra began playing Strangers in the Night. Not one of his favorite
songs but it was slow and slow songs meant bodies rocking gently in the
sweetest of harmony. He would be able to take her into his arms without her for
calling for security.
“May I have this dance?” the deep voice poured over her body giving Rusty a
little shiver. Glancing up from the drink she just began to nurse she looked up
at the man leaning against the bar to her left and her breath caught in her
throat he was gorgeous. Rusty had to tilt her head all the way back to look at
the deep blue eyes gazing down at her and the smoothest rustic complexion that
made you want to run your fingers through his red hair, the combination was
unusual and she was hypnotized. Without saying a word Russet held out her hand
and allowed herself to be led out onto the dance floor.
Max didn’t want to let her go, giving her a tug he wrapped his arms around her
and rocked slowly to the music she fit perfectly into his arms like she was
made just for him. He never wanted to let her go. For the first time in his
life he was terrified that a song would end and he would have to let her go.
She would never come back. With that thought he held her tighter. Words would
ruin the moment and not speaking would deny him another moment… what on earth was
he going to do, whatever it was he needed to do it quickly because the song
would end.
Russet inhaled the scent of his cologne and exhaled any doubt that this was not
where she was supposed to be at this very moment. Her head laying on his chest
and listening to his heartbeat knowing with everything within her that its
rhythm matched her own. This was the type of man she could spend the rest of
her life with, the type of man that could make her forget everything just being
wrapped in his secure embrace. The type of man that knew what he wanted and
went after it. She smiled to herself, this man had only asked her to dance,
lead her to the dance floor pulling her close and rocked her slowly but… she
didn’t doubt anything that she felt about him. She would put money on it and
the one thing that Rusty didn’t play with was her money, it was the key to her
future.
“Excuse me everyone” said one of the hospital coordinators standing at the
podium cutting into the music and ending their dance. “The auction is about to
start. Can all of the volunteers please come into the lounge to the left of the
podium”
Rusty could not move her head from this man’s chest. With every ounce of will
power she brought her hands up and laid them flat against his chest to give her
some leverage to help her unglue her head from where it laid. But it worked
against her because instead of Rusty using her hands to push off his chest she
was now using them to caress him against the rock hard muscles that clenched
underneath her palms.
“If you don’t stop doing that I am not going to be able to control what happens
next.”
His remark startled Rusty and she jerked up looking directly into his striking
blue gaze and was greeted with breathtaking smile, not trusting herself to
speak she returned his smile disengaging herself from him turned around and
walked toward the lounge with all of the other volunteers to be auctioned
off.
This night was turning out to be better than Rusty ever imagined. She had a new
confidence as she walked away from Mr. Sexy as Hell. Walking into the lounge
Rusty was surrounded by all of her colleagues where she normally was greeted
with warm welcomes and mothering until she secretly couldn’t stand it, but
today she was gawked at with open curiosity. Finally Rusty was approached by
the Nurse Practitioner Sera Steinworthy. Sera was average height and a slim
build with the kindest eyes and sweetest disposition one could want in a
person.
“Excuse me ma’am but only hospital staff can be auctioned off today, although
I’m sure we could get a pretty penny for you. You are absolutely gorgeous.”
Rusty should have known that Sera would make her feel welcome without even
knowing it was her.
“I do work here Sera” Russet said placing her hand on Sera’s arm.
“You do, I’m sorry” Sera said looking like she was delivering the worst news
she could ever imagine but you would have needed to register by May 5th in
order to take part in the auction. We don’t have enough packages available for
another body but, that is a good idea for next year’s auction. The only
volunteer who hasn’t checked in is Nurse Rusty…what is your name?
“Russet” Rusty replied giggling inside.
“I do apologize, Russet but in order for you to take part in the auction your
name needs to be Rusty Foster”
“Sera do you think I could speak to you outside of the lounge for just a
moment”
“Why sure dear” Russet followed Sera Steinworthy out of the lounge and into the
ballroom. Gesturing her over into a corner she gave her the news.
“Sera it’s me Rusty” she whispered.
“Now Russet it’s quite mean of you to pretend to be someone that is near and
dear to my heart. Nurse Rusty is not as tall as you and a little bit tamer. Now
I’m sorry but I have to go” As she turned to walk away Russet placed her hand
on Sera’s arm in a feeble attempt to stop her from walking away, Russet ripped
off her mask.
“Sera, it’s me Rusty, look at me, ask me any question that only Rusty would
know, can’t you see that it’s me all done up I’m the Pediatric units P.A.” Said
Rusty sounding a little desperate she moved her hair off of her shoulders and
looked Sera straight in the eye.
“Well I’ll be darn, Rusty Foster it that aint you?
Max watched the exchange between his mystery woman and the hospital coordinator
and he thought that it was going to get violent when suddenly the woman threw
her arms over his lady then grabbed her by the arm leading her back into the
lounge but before they went in they stopped.
“Sera, I want to be auctioned off as Russet, not as Rusty. Russet looked
pleadingly into Sera’s eyes hoping that she wouldn’t have to say anymore.
Sera looked into the eyes of the beautiful woman that she considered a friend
and her heart broke a little.
“Russet is it? She said squeezing her hand in understanding. “So now I guess
you are going to deny me the privilege of informing everyone here of who you
really are?
“Please” She said letting a little of the Rusty inside slip out.
“Rusty no one at the hospital has ever trusted me with a secret before. You
have always been such a kind friend to me and I am glad that I get this one
opportunity be just that to you.” She wrapped her arms around Russet again
squeezing her tight. Don’t you dare be a stranger when you move, you have my
number and I’m expecting you to use do you hear me” She said firmly.
Russet too choked up to say a word nodded twice and for once in her life she
did something she never did before. She hugged her back.
“Now let’s not mess up our make-up” Sera cried wiping the tears from her face.
Come on Russet let’s get you auctioned off. Before they entered the room Rusty
placed her mask back on her face.
When Sera and Russet entered the room all eyes turned toward them. Sera made no
attempt to introduce and explain Russet to anyone of the volunteers, she just
continued on as if nothing happened.
“Everyone, I need to get your attention. I need all of you to remember that
when you are called to the stage I need you to walk as if you are a fashion
model and when you get to the end of the catwalk I need you to turn around
slowly and wait until I tell everyone what your packages includes. We are
trying to beat our last year’s totals of eight hundred and fifty thousand
dollars and we are going to need the help of all of our volunteers to
accomplish this. Now all of you go back out into the ballroom and as you leave
out the lounge door take a number. We will call you to the stage by number
announcing your name as you step onto the stage. Now everyone tell your
significant others to have their wallets and purses ready if they expect you to
spend this evening with them.”With that everyone started filing out of the
lounge everyone one of them giving her a curious look but none of them
approaching her.
When the last person left the lounge Rusty exhaled the breath she hadn’t
realized that she was holding.
“Russet, there aren’t any more numbers in the bowl, I hadn’t placed a number in
there for Rusty being that she never showed up” She said giving her a wink.
“So”…reaching in her folder for something. “Here is the last number you are
number twenty-seven. Let’s have lunch tomorrow and talk all about your date
before you head off to your new town Okay.” She said with a bright smile.
“I don’t know, I have a lot of packing still to do.”
“Well do you need any help” Rusty considered her offer and although she travelled
light, because the studio she rented was furnished, the only thing she needed
to pack was her clothes and toiletries she went ahead and agreed to Sera’s
request to help her pack. Turning toward the door Sera called her name before
she left. With one hand on the door she turned back to Sera and saw her smiling
back at her.
“Knock ‘em dead Rusty” Russet gave her a bright smile and continued out of the
door.