Page 32 of Holiday Hopefuls
“The chaos would happen with or without my help. That’s more thanks to the eighteen children I have running rampant in here five days a week.”
“Of course.”
“So … you’ve been picturing my classroom, huh?” Taking a bite of salad, I do my best to not be envious of the mouthwatering sandwich in his hands. Why, oh why, did I have to be polite when he offered food this morning? A sandwich from Sandra’s Sammies would always be better than some dumb salad.
Swallowing, he grins. “Remember, I need to know as much about you as possible. What with you being my girlfriend, and all.”
“Fake girlfriend.”
Rhodes shrugs. “No one knows that. Except John, Rindy and Joanna.”
“And Ian.”
His lips tip down. “Your friend from the bar?”
“Yep,” I nod, ignoring his slight frown. “He’s my best friend. And he’s actually the one who found the flyer. Well, his brother is. But Ian encouraged me to come see you in the first place. Aaron doesn’t know I actually went to find you.”
“Huh.”
“So, really, we owe this entire outlandish situation to him.” Looking around my classroom as a slight reprieve from the intense stare of the doctor, I swallow and ask the one question screaming in my mind. “Dr. Rhodes, do you really think this will work?” I mumble.
He laughs, bringing my gaze immediately back to him. “Not if you don’t start calling me Oliver. Unless they’ll think it’s some kind of kinky foreplay thing?” Narrowing my eyes must be enough of an answer, because he clears his throat before continuing, “No, seriously, I think it’s worth a try. Besides, it doesn’t really sound like your family could get much worse. At least, from how John talks about them.”
My head snaps up from my grapes. “Wait, what?”
The man has the nerve to hesitate. “John may have mentioned you two have chatted in the past about the social experiment that is your family.”
“They’re not all bad.” Now, it’s my turn to frown up at the handsome doctor. “I mean, Prescott’s, well, Prescott. Same with Imogene. But they’re both always under a lot of pressure at work,” I amend quickly.
“Which one is the aeronautical engineer?” he asks around a mouthful of sandwich.
“Imogene. And she’s the second oldest after Prescott, who works with my dad at the law firm. Rutherford, Rutherford, MacCallum & de Luksa.”
Swallowing, Rhodes peers around the small space of my cramped classroom. “Do they really call you a glorified babysitter?”
Dry laughter escapes. “Among other things. Chris is the worst, though,” I grimace. “But our feud’s been going on for years.”
“And he was the brother at the bar on Friday? With your sister?”
Taking a swig of hot cocoa from my thermos, I nod. “The one and only.”
“What does he do?” I don’t miss the disdain in his tone, no matter how casual his handsome mask may be.
“He does financial analysis for the Bank of Serenvale Springs. He was really only there Friday night because of Connie. Constance. His twin. She does investment banking and is one hundred percent my favorite sibling. But don’t tell the others!”
Oliver’s eyes soften. “I won’t tell them anything you don’t want me to.”
“Really?” My eyebrows miss the memo about hiding my shock.
“Of course,” he laughs. “You and me? We’re a team, Ms. Rutherford.”
“Wow. I’ve never been on a team before.” Something swells in my chest. Pride. Satisfaction. Heartburn. Who really knows.
“Never?”
“Never ever.”
“You didn’t play any team sports when you were younger?” Oliver doesn’t bother hiding his surprise. “You’re pretty tall. No basketball?”
