Chapter VI

Rusty was excited to the point of giddiness, this experience was movie made, nothing like this ever happened to her. She rolled down the driver side window and closed her eyes as the wind blew over her face as she stretched her face out toward the sun.

 'I'm not losing you am I?' Sera asked as she glanced over to Rusty with her head hanging out of the car.

Rusty turned to face Sera with her back to the door and her hair flying out of the window.

'Your not in any danger of ever losing me. This trip is more fun than I've had in my entire life.'

Your entire life?

"My entire life!" Rusty confirmed. “I’ve moved from orphanage to foster home, back and forth until the day I graduated high school; I aged-out a months later. I already had my plan set I to motion. I was going to be a nurse."

" A nurse, how did you end up being a P.A.?"

Well, I initially  wanted to be a nurse because I have a vague memory of my mother being a nurse"

Sera's jaw dropped but Rusty was so deep in thought she didn't notice Sera's change in stance so she quickly closed her mouth. Her mother was a nurse, surely that couldn't be just another coincidence.

"My mother died when I was about three years old, the only memory that I have of her was being a nurse so I decided to honor my deceased mother. I would also be a nurse. But nursing school ended quickly and I couldn't find a job that would pay well enough for me to live a good life and save so, I decided that I needed to be more than just your standard RN. I was going back to school. When I visited my guidance counselor at school I was informed of a program where rural townships used their  tax money to pay for your tuition in exchange for you working for them for several years after you graduate. This allowed me to continue to put more money away in my rainy day account while I was going to school. The town of Angel Pass even set up my residency so there was really not much I needed to do for myself. I made sure that my cost efficient apartment was near the hospital so that I wouldn't have to worry about purchasing a car and buying gas. I placed everything that I entertained for myself on hold until after my stent in Angel Pass' she finished quietly.

'Stent huh?' Sera questioned. 'Why does it sound like your going to jail?

'It kind of feels like it' Rusty admitted it.

'I know I said it before but…Life is meant to be enjoyed. Every minute of It., You’ve made many smart choices given your circumstances but that doesn't mean that while you are hard working and dedicated you can't enjoy life. Let’s see how much fun we can get ourselves into before we reach Angel Pass.

Sera had a gut feeling that Rusty was one of her lost sisters and her gut feeling always paid off.  Working with her constantly drove that feeling home. With Rusty leaving Boston there was no way she was going to miss out on the opportunity to join her sister wherever she was going. This was something she'd always dreamt about. She would make sure her little sister got an adventure out of this and if her gut feeling ended up being a bust at least she would have gained a good friend, a sister of her heart.

Chapter V

Chapter V

Rusty couldn’t get the nights events out of her mind as she packed. She couldn’t get back to sleep when she arrived home so she put her restlessness to use and began packing up her studio. Surprisingly she heard a knock at the door.
Opening the door not sure what to expect she was pleasantly surprised to find Sera on the other side.
“Sera I totally forgot you were coming over to help me pack” Rusty replied. 
“Well how else was I going to see off the only friend that I had ever made since working at Boston General and get the scoop on last night’s events at once.
Rusty had a friend, a friend that she was leaving. Where would she start?
‘It was the night I always dreamed of. We didn’t talk much…’ She said giving a secret smile. 
‘Oh really’ Sera said. ‘Well don’t stop there, I want to know everything’. She said sitting down on the couch.
We went to Dolce’s and I don’t remember what I ordered. I was so focused on him; it could have been tree bark. After dining we went to the Salsa club and danced the night away.’
‘I didn’t know that you can dance.’
‘Neither did I. Prior to last night I had only danced in my apartment in front of the TV. I just put all of the moves that I practice there to good use. It was the greatest night of my life.’
‘Oh really…the greatest night you say? How did it end?’ knowing that Rusty was leaving things out.
‘This morning with me sneaking out of his hotel room before he woke up and deflated my ego.’ She said as matter of fact plopping down on the couch beside Sera.’
‘Why Rusty that could be the man of your dreams, why give up the promise of a relationship?’
‘Because Russet has been packed away in one of those boxes’ She said pointing down to the few boxes that held everything precious to her in the middle of the floor.
‘And when I take her back out, it will be after my sentence in Angel Pass. At this point in my life I have nothing to give but Rusty and I can’t lose focus. I am almost where I need to be to start living my life for me.’
‘Is that what you’ve been doing all this time? Is that why you haven’t gotten close to anyone at the hospital, why you haven’t let anyone get close to you…because you feel everything in life is temporary until you finish your stent in Angel Pass? Oh Rusty, don’t you know by now that life will throw you a curve ball and your entire plan will go up into smoke. Life is about living in the moment not waiting to be lived. You better start living it now before it starts living you.’
‘I don’t quite understand what you’re saying but this has been my plan since I was a child and I have lived it well without any hiccups. I have lived a much disciplined life. I have left room for curve balls after Angel Pass and not before.’ She said getting up off of the couch. ‘Now what I need to do next is get these boxes taped up so that when the movers get here they can be loaded up immediately.’
‘Movers, why do you need movers, you have, ‘she paused to count the boxes, seven boxes, one duffle and three suitcases. Why are you wasting your money on movers? Drive!’
‘I don’t have a car let alone an SUV how am I supposed to do that with no vehicle.’
‘Rent one’ Sera said not giving an inch.
‘I don’t want to rent one then I would have to drive all the way to Montana by myself. Rusty knew Sera was building up to something she was hoping she didn’t suggest asking Max to drive with her because then she would have to tell her that she never got his number.
‘What do you think about a friend to go with you?’
‘Then I would lose my one hundred dollar deposit’ She said hoping she wouldn’t have to lie to her friend about not getting any form of contact from Max.
‘How much money are the movers charging for the total trip?’
Rusty didn’t want to answer because she knew what would be next but she couldn’t bring herself to lie to her new best friend.
‘Two thousand plus tolls and gas’ she said with her head down.
‘And how are you getting there?’
‘The bus’ she mumbled
‘the bus! Are you kidding me? We are so going to have a road trip… I haven’t taken a vacation in the five years I’ve worked at Boston general and I just happen to own an SUV so we are loading up your things and hitting the road.’ She said throwing her arms around Rusty. ‘Now you can thank me later for saving you so much money. Now go and call the moving company while I call the job and let them know that I am taking some time off.’
Rusty was stunned, she didn’t expect for Sera to suggest that she come along and it would give her more money in her account for after her sentence was complete plus allow her to do something she had never done before and that was bond with a friend.
‘Uh Sera, there is one more thing. I don’t drive that well. The only time I’ve ever driven was to pass the driving test.’ Rusty said embarrassed, hoping that Sera didn’t retract the offer. 
‘Well then that means we will be killing two birds with one stone. Get ready to get behind the wheel.’ She said giving her a hug. I am going home to change and pack. I’ll be back in a couple of hours. I’ve always wanted to do something like this. Thanks for letting me come along.’ Sera gave Rusty a hug and ran out of the door. Josie felt like she was hit with a freight train. Sera was a little ball of energy, a beautiful red-head with a sandy brown year round tan not much taller than Rusty. The hospital crew didn’t usually include Sera in much of anything either, probably because although she was a talker and didn’t S sitting around listening to gossip. She always had a kind word to say about everybody, including the people who were mean to her. That was probably why Rusty liked her so much they didn’t really fit in well at the hospital together. Everyone knew that when they were at work the job was always done right. The crew that came behind them never had to prep before their shift began; unlike Rusty and Sera…When they came into work had to clean up from the nurses and P.A’s from the previous shift and stock up their own supplies. This would be an interesting trip to Montana. She couldn’t wait!

When Sera arrived back at Rusty’s apartment she was toting bags.
‘Uh Sera? You do know that we are leaving this apartment for good, right?
‘Yup!’ She said enthusiastically, ‘then why is it that you are bringing packages in when we are to be carrying packages out?’
‘Because’ Sera began with a mischievous look on her face. Russet gave me a few ideas, according to the navigational system in my truck we are going to be on the road for an entire day. I think that we are going take Russet back out of the boxes and resurrect Serafina, with a twist.’
‘Serafina? Is that your name, boy are we a pair. Russet and Serafina, why can’t we just be Rusty and Sera and bring forward our inner Russet and Serafina.
‘Which brings me to my bags.’ She said handing Rusty one of her shopping bags. ‘This is for you.’
Rusty opened the bag and took out the tiniest pair of shorts she ever seen along with smallest of shirts. At the bottom of the bag there was a pair of running sneakers in the brightest of colors, So out of the ordinary for Rusty’s normal white signature Nurse orthopedic shoes that were made for maximum comfort
‘Oh they gave you the wrong size for me, these are way too small’ Rusty said holding up their shorts…
‘No they’re not; you know what I noticed yesterday. You are absolutely beautiful. You wear your hair in that tight bun every day covering up your beautiful eyes with those thick rimmed glasses. You wear big bulky clothes, clothes obviously made for comfort and not style, not to mention those 1970 style nursing shoes. We both live our lives trying to get through the day and not actually living at all. We are going to discover the other side of comfort on this trip, shorts, t-shirts and sneakers. You look about my size about a two right?
‘Yes, but that doesn’t look like a two, it looks about a two for toddler.’ Her comment made Sera laugh.
‘Go and get changed and I am going to start loading up your things into my truck.’
‘So when are you going to get changed. This isn’t a one person show. If you aren’t going to change then neither am I’
‘Okay, I was going to wait until you changed being that you only have one bathroom. But you and I are the only two people in this tiny apartment so I guess me changing right here in the living room really wouldn’t be much different from me changing in the bathroom.’ Sara said as she started to take off her clothing.
By the time Rusty came out of the bathroom from changing Sara was already outside loading up her SUV with boxes. Rusty looked around the room at the life she lead for the last several years there was nothing of Rusty here. As she glanced at the corner she noticed her Antique mirror was still in the apartment with the blanket wrapped around it, she walked over to carry it to the truck and the blanket fell off. For the second time in two days Rusty was looking back at a woman she knew was herself but didn’t recognize. She looked like a teenager.
‘Rus, there is one thing missing,’ Sara said staring at Rusty look back at her reflection in the mirror. ‘The bun has got to go.’ She walked over to Rusty and pulled the bun out of her hair and watched her spiral curls spring to life as her hair tumbled down her back.
Rusty turned around and looked at Sera who now looked about nineteen in her shorts and sneakers and glanced up at her French roll. Sera, as if reading her mind reached into her hair and starting snatching hair pins out. After the last pin was out she shook out the curtain of red hair that looked like it would never hold a curl. She walked up to Rusty and put an arm over her shoulders and just stared back at the two of them in the mirror.
‘You know we favor one another, we could be sisters or cousins or something. Look at us’ Sera said excitedly
‘I think that your mother would have told you if you had a sibling.’ Rusty replied.
‘Well she actually did before she died. I have two sisters. Both younger, we were separated as children when my parents died.’ The mood suddenly changing as Sera’s voice became morose.
‘What happened?’ Sera asked silently. 
‘My parents didn’t have any other living relatives. They died in a boating accident when I was five. My sisters and I were all sent to foster homes and then separated.’
‘Oh that sounds awful!’Rusty exclaimed. ‘Have you tried looking for your sisters?’
‘Yes, that’s what actually brought me to Boston. The last bit of news that I’ve heard is that my youngest sister’s foster parents relocated here.’
‘Where are you originally from?’
‘Tennessee.’ Russet froze where she was.
‘Rusty what’s wrong with you? Why are you looking like that?
‘I was adopted from a foster home in Tennessee, when my foster parents moved here? I know it is farfetched but what a coincidence is that that we are both from Tennessee and both adopted. We could almost be sisters’
‘Almost, Rusty how old are you?’
‘Twenty three’ Rusty watched as Sera’s mouth dropped. Sera I would love to have you for a sister but it is highly impossible that you and I are of the same two parents. You are Caucasian and I am not’
‘What gave you the impression that I’m Caucasian’ She said with a cheeky grin on her face.
‘Your complexion, not to mention your bone straight red hair.’ Rusty said her voice dripping with sarcasm.
‘Well do you see this tan?’ She said to Rusty. It didn’t come from the sun or from a bottle it is my skins complexion. To be honest I don’t know what I am but I do know that I am not one hundred percent Caucasian, maybe a mix, but not pure anything. And I don’t think you are either.’
‘Well what are your sister’s names, because I think you would have asked me a long time ago if you had a sister named Russet.’ Rusty said as a matter-of-fact.
Well, I’m the oldest, the older of my two sisters is Nuri-Ena and my youngest sister is McKenna.’ Sera said with pride.
‘Where in the world did your parents get those names from? McKenna was the only one with a normal name’. Rusty exclaimed. Rusty wasn’t about to tell her that her first name was hyphenated and McKenna was the second half. She was searching for her sisters and it would be cruel to give her false hope with so many odds.
‘All of our names mean fire. Sort of like yours, Russet.’ Sera made a mental note to contact her investigator and inquire about Rusty; too many coincidences didn’t sit well with her.
‘Fire huh, well let’s get take our smoking hot selves off to get the rest of these bags out of here and on the road. I don’t want to be late on my first day.’

Chapter IV

Max made a beeline for his mystery women now known as Russet and swung her up into his arms in a caveman attempt to mark his territory. The crowd roared with approval. Men and women alike, as he carried her off the stage and straight out of the hotel in his arms.
Rusty buried her face in Max’s chest completely embarrassed at how she was swept up and carried out of the ball room like a helpless child. This was her evening to take charge, to leave the men panting, to take risks and leave them wanting for more. Her being carried out of the ball room catered to the Nurse Rusty persona that she left in her apartment. She had to take back her resolve that was snatched from her in one swoop of his rock hard biceps. Taking a deep breath, her trademark for gathering strength, she was side swiped by the spicy male scent of his rock solid chest. 
‘Goodness, he is all muscle’ Rusty thought.
Max held her close to his body taking long strides determined to exit the hotel as fast as possible daring anyone to interfere with his mission. Her scent seized his senses which resulted in a powerful erection. 
“And just where are you taking me” Russet whispered into his chest causing a shiver to ripple through Max’s body giving her a surge of power and the relinquishment of enough of her resolve to surrender the helpless child and take her sexy right back.
Max squeezed her tighter giving in to the impulse to massage her body against his erection. She would be his tonight. 
“Okay, macho man put me down.” Rusty said as she forced her decent down the mountain of a man that held her in his arms. Not expecting her journey to be so long she stumbled against him when her feet finally touched the ground immediately putting her hands out to prevent being engulfed in his mesmerizing scent, not anticipating the sizzle of electricity that surged through her from the point of contact.
“Now that you’ve had the chance to play the role of caveman we can get on with our date” Shimmying her dress into place. She looked up locking in on his menacing blue gaze; she grabbed him by his tie ignoring the intimidation that he exuded. 
“I’m in charge here” She said as a matter of fact and turned around and walked toward the cab she rented for the night and got in praying that he would follow, she refused to look back believing it to be a sign of weakness.
No way was she leaving him. Besides the twenty five thousand he spent on this evening’s event, he wanted more and that more did not end on the sidewalk in front of the hotel he had just carried her out of. He chuckled at the thought of her being in charge, never had he ever allowed himself to be led around by a woman and definitely not a little scrap of one. He would let her get comfortable thinking she was in charge and just when she didn’t expect it he would make his move. Caveman… she hadn’t seen anything yet.
The ride to Dolce Ristorante, Boston’s most exclusive Italian restaurant was more intense than she had expected. Rusty kept her eyes closed and her head back very casually, not wanting to give away her nervousness. She could feel him looking at her as his cell phone rang. Surprised that he answered, she listened to him speak medical terminology to the caller and was glad to know that they had something in common to break the ice with. Deciding to take the risk opening her eyes Rusty glanced up at his daunting expression feeling slightly intimidated but refusing once again to submit she went from the fuel, sitting on the other side of the cab with her head leaned back and eyes closed, to the fire, sitting right next to him with her head leaning on his shoulder, eyes once again closed and to give the fire a little crackle she placed her hand on his thigh feeling his muscle jump. The phone fell to her lap, she used her other hand to close it shut disconnecting the call and not saying a word.
This little lady was going to be trouble. Max thought as he tried relaxing his fast approaching erection.
The restaurant could have been a barn; he would have never known the difference. His focus was totally on his partner. She chose the lobster, eating it slowly and seductively, he stared all through the meal not touching anything on his plate. It was a good thing that dinner didn’t last long. But to his surprise they went to a salsa club for a night of dancing.
Rusty not wanting to share anything of herself chose the salsa club specifically for that purpose. She always dreamed of dancing the night away with the man of her dreams and tonight she was going to live that dream. She kept him on the dance floor showing him the moves that she practiced at home in front of her television. With Latin dancing being such a sensual expression of movement she treated tonight like four play. Rubbing, bumping, grinding and gyrating all around the dance floor. There were several attempts to cut in but all were meant were gruff looks of dare and possibly a growl. She was having the time of her life.
The night was coming to a close. Rusty had danced the night away not wanting to think about what was coming up. The agreement that she made with herself is that she would take some risks this night, but as the night progressed the biggest risk she had taken was leaning up against him in the car and placing her hand on his thigh. The music slowed down giving Rusty the perfect segue. She leaned her head on his chest and listened to his heart beat. This is where she wanted to be always she thought to herself.
Max wrapped his arms around her waist and massaged her back.
‘This is more like it’ He thought. He wasn’t letting her go tonight. She was his. He lifted her chin and gave her deep kiss, slipping his tongue into her mouth mingling with her own. It was time to go. Ending the kiss with a light peck he linked hands with her and led her out of the club and back into a cab and off to his hotel room. He was in charge now.
Rusty knew what was to follow and because this was something she had never done before ever in life she was nervous that if he knew he would not want to pursue the night’s course.
‘I hope I do everything right’ she thought to herself, her hands fidgeting in her lap.
Sensing her apprehension, he placed his hands over her fidgeting ones and kissed her forehead, causing her to look up at him giving him access to her plump lips that he claimed immediately.
He kissed her all the way in the cab to his hotel room. She knew where she was going but she didn’t care. As long as he held her in his arms everything felt right. She put all the passion she wished she had for a love that she wished would be forever but knew could only be temporary into loving him. Why did she have to meet him now? Why couldn’t she meet him after her sentence in Angel Pass? Buddhist believes that if something was meant to be yours it will always be yours even if separated it would make its way back to you. Would she ever find her way back to Max after she finished in Angel Pass? Tonight she would be giving him her most prize possession and he wouldn’t even know it. But she would. This would be a memory that she would treasure for the rest of her life. As he led her through the hotel lobby this time on foot she snuggled into the crook of his arm, shielding herself from the looks that swayed in their direction as they made it through the very hotel he carried her out of. When they made it to Max’s penthouse suite she allowed him to undress her all the way to the bedroom then he laid her down as he undressed himself.
She was hypnotized by his strip tease before she could think about what was going to happen he was there beside, all over, on top of her kissing her in places that she had never dreamed of being kissed.
He wanted to make this moment last forever. He wanted to slow down the pace to make it as good for her as he knew it would be for himself. They kissed… he was so desperate for her but something inside of him told said to keep it slow. As he settled between her thighs he looked into her once light brown eyes now chocolate with desire and said.
“Are you sure you want this.” As much as he wanted to just take her he had to make sure that she would not regret this in the morning.
Rusty realizing that he must have said something by the way he that he was looking down on her with a questioning gaze of desire.
“Yes” she breathed, meaning it to be a question but it came out more like an answer.
Max was so excited and relieved to hear the word yes he almost came before thrusting into her. He guided himself slowly into the moist walls of her womanhood hoping to tease them both into the best ride of their lives. Before he could fully occupy her body he was stopped by a barrier. He looked down at her clenched teeth and eyes squeezed shut and knew the answer to the question before he asked.
“You’re a virgin” He said in awe.
Rusty slowly opening her eyes looking back at him with a look of determination.
“Does that make you want me any less” she questioned. Rusty placed her hands on his butt and ground into him making him break eye contact when he closed his eyes at the wave of pleasure that shot through him and groaned.
“Are you going to claim what I am giving you or are you going to leave me wanting you forever” She said in a whisper.
“Russet”, he said her name for the first time tonight. “I am going to ask you this question for the last time tonight. Are you sure?” Praying to God she wouldn’t change her mind because he didn’t know how was going to disengage himself from her.
“I have never been surer about anything in my life. With the choir singing Hallelujah in his years he thrust home claiming her as his own. Not moving, attempting to give her body the chance to adjust to his own he was surprised to hear her whisper in his ears.
“So you’ve decided to change your mind have you?” Rusty said while grinding into his body. Gyrating against him like she was salsa dancing again.
“Am I going to have to put you on your back and show you how this is done” She issued a challenge that made him chuckle. She was in trouble now. He bent down and took her nipple into his mouth withdrawing himself almost completely out of her before he slowly slid himself back in over and over again, while making his way over to her other breast attempting to drive her as wild as he felt already. Turning her over on her stomach he put her in his favorite position, on all fours and gave his mouth the feast fit for a king. His Queen, he nibbled sucked prodded pulled and let his tongue play with her womanhood until she screamed with pleasure with that he positioned himself over her slamming home as her walls of pleasure contracted around him, he thrust in and out and attempting to hold on to his control until her climax was complete. Feeling himself about to come he covered her back grabbing her breast from behind thrust into her constantly until he was totally spent.
Lying down beside her, he turned his head to look over at her wondering if she was okay. She laid there with her eyes closed. He went to the bathroom and came out with a wet rag and began cool her off with the wet towel.
Rusty was not expecting for him to do this. This seemed more personal than what had just transpired. Before she could protest he was done and back at her side gathering her in his arms and drifting off to sleep. He took her again that night waking her up with his attentions and putting her back to sleep with exhaustion.
He was going to find a way to get her back to Montana with him. She was a keeper and he was going to do just that. He would spend the morning convincing her to come back home with him. Whatever she did at the hospital she could do exactly that in Angel Pass with a man that loved her. Love? Where did that word come from? Although he had never used it before, somehow it fit. He loved her and he would spend the rest of his life showing her just how much. He hugged her closer to himself not wanting to even be apart from her in sleep and dozed off. 

Rusty came to the next morning not remembering where she was. Trying to move she realized she was trapped in an iron grip. She placed her hand on the iron grip and a flood of last night’s events invaded her thoughts. She had to get out of here. She slowly slid out of his grip and out of the bed. Grabbing her clothes, putting them on as she made her way through the suite to the front door, she slowly opened the door hoping that he wouldn’t appear questioning where she was going, she slid through the door and made her way through the hotel lobby for the third time in two days she was hoping she didn’t run into anyone who recognized her.

CHAPTER III

This night was turning out to be very interesting; many of her male colleagues were tripping over themselves, bombarding her with a flood of compliments, many which were often very short with Rusty, not bothering to even give her the time of day and, those that did excluded her from out of office gatherings. She didn’t have to say anything just nodding and pretend to drink her champagne while they spoke only to themselves and over one another. As they did the auction continued on. Knowing she would be up soon Rusty excused herself to the powder room to freshen up.
Max watched his lady leave the cluster of salivating men and walk toward the powder room. Excusing himself from the group he was standing with he followed in her direction and was stopped short by Dr. Cade and a passel of provocatively dressed women. Not wanting to be disrespectful Max allowed himself to be absorbed into another conversation about how great Boston General was. It seemed like he was working his way up to offering him a job. Max wouldn’t leave Angel Pass for anything. Not after he finally found the place.
Sera knew that Rusty’s knew identity was going to make this masked auction ball the most successful of all of her auctions. She had to suppress a giggle as she walked up to the podium to introduce her secret weapon.
“All right everyone, I have surprise entry. Russet Foster everyone” Sara exclaimed , She made a hood with her hand over her eyes to take down the glare of the spotlight looking for Russet out in the sea of people in the ball room. Suddenly she spotted her coming toward the podium from the direction of powder room. Motioning to the man behind the spotlight, pointing in the direction of the woman approaching, the spotlight swung in her direction and the crowd began to murmur with anticipation.
When the spotlight landed on Rusty, she almost lost her courage to go through with her plan. She could hear ‘who is she’ whispers of the crowd and that brought back her gumption. ‘These people didn’t know her’ she thought. ‘They would never see her again after tonight’. This was her one night of absolute freedom, consequence free because Russet only existed in her mind and on her birth certificate. After tonight she would pack Russet up along with the rest of her Boston gear and store them somewhere safe in a closet in Angel Pass, Montana.
Rusty tossed her head over her shoulders and caught the eye of the closes man to her left giving him a wink she put on the greatest cat walk performance of her life. She walked to the front of the podium gave herself a spin and walked back toward the center of the stage and struck the most fierce pose she could think of while she was being auctioned off.
Before Sera could give the crowd information on what they would be winning if they’d won her, bids were being shouted out. It was just as she suspected. She smiled and the auctioneer began her duty.
Max was not going to let his mystery lady walk away in the arms of another man. Not today. The bid was already up to five thousand dollars and he knew that at the rate that it was climbing he was tired of waiting.
“Ten thousand dollars” he yelled out. Interrupting the chattering women clustered around him. Jaws dropped and heads turned and a buzz of excitement ricocheted through the crowd. 
“Alright” Sera said “I have ten thousand dollars, do I hear twelve thousand.
“Fifteen” said a voice in the corner
“Twenty-five” called out Max and there was a hush that was broken by the auctioneer. This was a room full of doctors but not many have seen bank accounts like his. It was time to separate the men from the boys.
“Twenty-five going once… twice… sold to the tall sexy man standing next to Dr. Cade for twenty five thousand dollars. Sera yelled,” Come claim your prize. With that the crowd exploded into applause as Cade made his way through the crowd amidst the congratulations and shoulder pats.
Cade felt like he won the lotto…

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.

CHAPTER I

CHAPTER I

Rusty Foster looked into her antique full length mirror in her tiny studio apartment and wondered who it was looking back at her. She was way too sexy for the woman she really knew was commonly known as Nurse Rusty, although she was actually a P. A. Her entire outfit was a mistake that worked out in her favor.
Rusty peered into the eyes of the woman on the other side of the mirror searching for pieces of herself, the eyes were hers… light brown, the eye lashes…yeah, too thick to do anything with that stretched out then curved in a swoop toward her eyelids. Her gaze dropped to her feet, her one indulgence the most beautiful pair of red stiletto open toed Jimmy Choo’s she’d ever seen. Thank God her feet were so small even at the Salvation Army they were $50. If her feet were a couple of sizes bigger she would have still been searching for a pair that went with her dress. Rusty’s gaze travelled up to her legs.
“Uh Excuse me” Rusty said allowed. “And just where did you come from” Rusty said to her legs. Her legs were smooth and supple like and defined, she reached down to touch the mocha complexion of her legs to make sure that they were hers and was surprised at what she felt. Rusty bathed with loofah gloves every day. Not because she was attempting to wash off dead skin, but because she had itchy dry skin and with the long hours she put in at the hospital during her internship she needed to spend as little time as possible tending to herself and more time tending to her patients. That along with the mentholated cocoa butter soothed her skin after every shower. The black cocktail dress she found at the Salvation Army fit like a dream, it was more revealing than she would have liked but it was Versace. This was a designer that she’d only read about in the hospital lounge magazines, and in her wildest of dreams she was wearing dresses like the one she had on now. She felt like Cinderella getting ready for the ball with the exception of the singing rodents she would pay the small toll of having her cleavage plunge to her waist in a U shaped drape and a hem that cut off right below her thigh. This was a daring dress to wear to the hospital fundraiser’s masked auction ball but, this was only going to be one night for Rusty, her only chance to live before she began her sentence and she was going to do it right. A sudden movement startled her causing her to glance up at her reflection a nervous giggle escaped when she realized that movement was only her hair slipping to the front of her shoulders. She doubted if anyone would recognize her, even her hair was different. Not wanting to chance taking too much out of her savings Rusty decided to do something she never did and that was let her hair down. She was use to her severe bun extracting every curl from her hair because, let down her curls sprung to life and Rusty spent over two hours blow drying, then flat ironing it bone straight and it fell to her waist like a sandy brown curtain. The finished product wasn’t Rusty, the interning physician’s assistant at Boston General and for that reason she was not Rusty tonight she was going to be Russet. Rusty walked over to the coat rack that stood near the front door and grabbed her black trench coat, putting it on and tying it tight at the waist, making sure that it covered every inch of herself then opened the door, not having enough courage to step foot out of the door Rusty turned and looked at the mirror again and remembered for this one night she was not Rusty she was Russet, she was sophisticated, educated and confident. With that she shook off the last vestiges of Rusty, grabbed her mask and stepped out into the hallway of her apartment as Russet-McKenna Foster.

The ride in the cab was short. Rusty took in the scenery that passed by as a tourist would have seeing it for the first time, letting the street lights of downtown Boston amaze her. For the first time in her life surviving wasn’t her main goal, “This is what it must feel like to anticipate fun.” She whispered to herself and a little bubble of joy burst inside her. Tonight she was going to be free of her normal life because tomorrow she was headed to the small town of Angel Pass Montana. The town that paid the tuition of an orphan that without their help may not have been able to afford to go to school and pay for room and board. Monday she would begin paying them back. Monday she would be one step closer to living her life for herself. Her own life would start in five years. She saved every penny she didn’t dedicate to bills and food, her studio apartment was in walking distance to the hospital so that she didn’t have to take public transportation. Rusty paid the driver and got out of the cab putting on her mask before she walked inside of the Hotel.
Once inside she followed the signs that pointed toward the ball room, Rusty walked with confidence feeling like she was in a movie, sensing heads turn toward her and using their gaze to fuel her confidence, she removed her coat and slung it over her shoulder glancing to the right at the man that caught her eye giving him a secret smile she checked her coat and walked into the ball room ready for anything.

Romance2Go

For everyone who loves romance novels and short romantic stories I hope that you enjoy this. This is everything that I want to read about and everything that I didn't. It may start a bit rough but it is a working progress so stay with me as I fine tune my rough edges and take you on many fantastic journeys with the most career minded, struggling to get by, dominant, take charge, submissively intriguing people who get themselves into and out of all kinds of situations trying to get by in there day to day lives all while finding love on the way. Stay tuned…