Triplets for The Millionaire - K.C. Crowne Page 0,31

the man with whom he’d been speaking. “Lola, I’d like you to meet Dr. Ryan Anderson. He’s one of the best OB/GYNs in the state, and one of the newest members of the team. Dr. Anderson, this is Dr. Lola Bridges, the ace ophthalmologist I’ve been telling you about.”

We shook hands, and Dr. Anderson flashed me a charming smile. “Your reputation precedes you, Dr. Bridges.” His accent was distinctly New Zealand and his handshake was firm and friendly.

“Is that right?” I asked. “Pleasure to meet you. And welcome to the team.”

“Looking forward to working with you.”

“Now,” Duncan said. “We’ve got a few investors waiting for us– Finn’s keeping them company for the time being. If we can manage to convince them to get on board with our plans for the clinic, then we’re set. Now, you to do this?”

“Ready,” I said, total confidence in my voice.

Dr. Anderson nodded, silently giving his assent.

“Then let’s go fund us a free clinic.”

Duncan stepped toward the large double doors of the conference room, opening and holding them for Ryan and me.

I was all confidence and self-assurance as I stepped into the conference room. With its sweeping view of the city and long, twenty-four-person table, the room suited a space used to million-dollar deals. I soaked up the view of Denver before turning my attention to the group waiting for us – a handful of doctors along with the three potential investors.

I noticed pair of loud, Irish-accented voices among the conversation. One of them was Dr. O’Conner. And when I realized who the other voice belonged to, it was all I could do to not let my jaw hit the floor in surprise.

Patrick.

I mustered all the restraint I had to not blurt out the question that immediately formed in my mind – what the hell is he doing here?

Patrick was all smiles as he and the rest of the group looked at us. They rose, and I saw that he was dressed in a sharp, immaculately fitting dark suit, a pair of chestnut-colored wingtip shoes on his feet. The man cleaned up well. Just the sight of him dressed like that was enough to get me wet. And it wasn’t just his suit that caught my attention – he also wore a pair of gunmetal-framed glasses.

“Well, well, well,” he said, coming over to say hello. “If it’s not the good doctor herself.”

Duncan seemed surprised. “You two know each other?”

“Of course we do,” he said, smirking.

My heart skipped a beat as I imagined him saying something that would most definitely not be appropriate for a setting like that.

Instead, he tapped his frames. “Dr. Bridges is the reason I can see worth a damn right now. Pleasure to see you again, Doc.”

He placed his hand before me, and I took it. Relief washed over me as I realized he had the good sense not to blab about what had happened between us. I glanced at Finn, and if he knew what had happened between his brother and me, he wasn’t showing it.

“Good to see you again too, Mr. O’Conner,” I replied, shaking his head. “The new frames suit you.”

“They’re the least of what I have to thank you for, Dr. Bridges.” He followed this with a wink, one that made my heart thump hard in my chest – more at the fear of being found out than anything else. But all the other doctors and investors were too busy making introductions to notice the innuendo.

And good thing – Patrick’s words made my face burn. I hated blushing; I felt like it revealed too much of what I was feeling. Nothing to do about that but wait for it to fade.

But seriously – what the hell was Patrick doing there? No way he could be one of the investors…

“So,” Finn said once we were all seated, steaming cups of coffee all around. “I’m sure all the investors are eager to hear what we’ve got in mind. My brother was especially eager to know what Dr. Bridges has planned for the clinic.”

So he did have money to invest, and more than that, he wanted to invest it in a good cause.

The situation was getting stranger by the second.

I rose, a small, professional smile on my face. “Then I’ll be happy to inform him, along with the rest of the investors who were kind enough to give us their consideration. So, without further ado…”

Chapter 9

PATRICK

I would’ve been lying if I said I hadn’t been looking forward to the surprise, but