Holiday Man (21 page)

Will marveled at how a guy who resembled him physically could act with all the subtlety of a Saturday-morning cartoon character.

“So keep the movie-ticket stubs from your dates,” Bingley said. “Invest in a digital camera, or even grab your old Polaroid, and snap some pretty pictures of the two of you. Save her e-mails and make sure she shows up happy and talkative by my birthday. It’s on Mother’s Day, this year.” He tilted his head as if in deep contemplation. “Whoever this chick is, I
wanna
see her hanging on your arm with lovely-
dovey
eyes only for you.”

Will thought of the one woman he wanted, no,
needed
to win this wager with Bingley. Charlotte Lucas. If only she could be as amazing in person as she seemed online. A youthful but professional twenty-two-year-old future child psychologist. Bright, humorous and a sports enthusiast with a warm heart. Someone who’d fit in perfectly at the clinic, if he’d gauged her right. And someone he could tolerate for five dates outside of it.

She’d described herself as being five-foot-six with light-brown hair and brown eyes, but she held the advantage. She’d seen him—a scanned picture anyway—but he had yet to see her. Maybe, just maybe, after three weeks of cautious e-mailing, that’d change tomorrow. The clinic’s funding depended on it.

Still, this was a hell of way to make a few million bucks.

“I’ve got to go,” he said. “My rounds start in a few minutes. Talk to you next week.”

“Catch you later,” his cousin said. “Don’t be a stranger.”

“They don’t come any stranger than you,” Will muttered, their standard childhood reply.

“I heard that.” Bingley smirked, his fingers scoring his thick brown hair, his lean legs sauntering on his way through the sliding doors.

Will sighed and took to the stairs. The guy never changed. There was always some weird bet, some eccentric agenda in Bingley’s quest to “feel needed” or whatever. But this time the ends might justify the means.
 

Will tucked the flap of his shirt into the dress slacks he’d worn for the administrative meeting today and readjusted his tie with a scowl. He missed his scrubs but formalities had to be observed with the hospital board.
 

“Hey, Dr. Darcy,” a ninety-year-old patient called from her bed on the second-floor east wing. “You my doctor today?”

“Wish I was, sweetheart,” he said, winking and making the elderly lady blush. “None of the patients on my roster could hold a candle to your good looks.”

“Oh, how you do go on!” She looked away, her head and hands shaking, feigning disgust, but he could see teeth. She was grinning big.

Parkinson’s. Stage Two. He struggled to close his mind to it and move down the hall. The pain of dealing with deteriorating elderly patients would chew him up if he dwelled there. Even though the low-income moms he liked to work with were often in dire straits, it was still less agonizing to watch than the suffering of the elderly.

He slid into an empty room and flipped on the computer. He had huge plans for his clinic. He just needed to get the hospital’s final stamp of approval, which he could get if he could secure the rest of the cash.

The board had said so.

This morning.

To get the cash, though, he’d have to get Bingley onboard. To get Bingley onboard, he’d have to get Charlotte Lucas.

Immediately.

He scanned his list of unread e-mail messages, but didn’t see anything life-threatening in the subject lines. Clicking on Charlotte’s e-mail address, he typed what he hoped would be a hard-to-resist invitation.

Will proofed it for errors, took a deep breath and clicked SEND.

And here is some information about Marilyn’s award-winning women’s fiction, published by Kensington Books:

ACCORDING TO JANE

In Marilyn Brant's smart, wildly inventive debut, one woman in search of herself receives advice from the ultimate expert in matters of the heart...Jane Austen.

It begins one day in sophomore English class, just as Ellie Barnett's teacher is assigning Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice. From nowhere comes a quiet "
tsk
" of displeasure. The target: Sam Blaine, the cute bad boy who's teasing Ellie mercilessly, just as he has since kindergarten. Entirely unbidden, as Jane might say, the author's ghost has taken up residence in Ellie's mind, and seems determined to stay there.

Jane's wise and witty advice guides Ellie through the trauma of adolescence and beyond, serving as the voice she trusts, usually more than her own. Years and boyfriends come and go, but Jane's counsel is constant, and on the subject of Sam, quite insistent. Stay away, Jane demands. He is your Mr. Wickham.

Still, everyone has something to learn about love--perhaps even Jane herself. And lately, the voice in Ellie's head is being drowned out by another, urging her to look beyond all she thought she knew and seek out her very own, very unexpected, happy ending...

PRAISE:

“A warm, witty and charmingly original story.” -- Susan
Wiggs
, #1 New York Times bestselling author

“A charming book.” -- Family Circle Magazine

“Brant infuses her sweetly romantic and delightfully clever tale with just the right dash of Austen-
esque
wit.” -- Chicago Tribune

“What an unexpected, uplifting, and urbane debut novel! …Subtly powerful and amusingly acerbic, you will be gently reproved into agreeing in the power of love to transform us all.” -- Laurel Ann
Nattress
,
Austenprose
and editor of Jane Austen Made Me Do It

“Fresh, original, and lots of fun.” -- Barnes & Noble Review

FRIDAY MORNINGS AT NINE

Every woman remembers her firsts: Her first kiss. Her first lover. And her first time contemplating an affair...

Each Friday morning at the Indigo Moon Café, Jennifer, Bridget and Tamara meet to swap stories about marriage, kids and work. But one day, spurred by recent e-mails from her college ex, Jennifer poses questions they've never faced before. What if they all married the wrong man? What if they're living the wrong life? And what would happen if, just once, they gave in to temptation...

Soon each woman is second-guessing the choices she's made -- and the ones she can unmake -- as she becomes aware of new opportunities around every corner, from attentive colleagues and sexy neighbors to flirtatious past lovers. And as fantasies blur with real life, Jennifer, Bridget and Tamara begin to realize how little they know about each other, their marriages and themselves, and how much there is to gain--and lose--when you step outside the rules.

PRAISE:

“Marilyn Brant’s sophomore effort is a brilliant character study of three very different women each asking the question we all wonder about sooner or later: did we make the right choices during our journey and if not, what steps do we need to take in order to live our best life?” -- Manchester Books Examiner

“
Emotionally packed, it’s hard to put down…
What intrigued me most was this book was as much about friendship as it was about what goes on behind the closed doors of marriage. Does anyone really know someone? Do we even know ourselves? Will we have the courage to go after what we want when presented with the options? …
A highly recommended women’s fiction read.” -- Kelly Moran, award-winning author and reviewer

“Marilyn Brant masterfully writes on the intricacy of female friendship in a carefully crafted, entertaining and yet philosophical look at love, marriage and family…Fans of women's fiction shouldn't miss this novel full of wonderful insights into our friendship and family, people and topics always at the forefront of our minds. I was so pleased with the way this one turned out and highly recommend it and Brant's debut novel, ACCORDING TO JANE.” -- Megan Snider, Write Meg reviewer

“Readers will sympathize with women who feel stuck in their lives and don’t know what to do next…” -- Romantic Times
BOOKreviews

A SUMMER IN EUROPE

Brant transports readers across the pond on a grand journey of self-awakening amidst the classic architecture and stunning vistas of Europe.

On her 30th birthday, Gwendolyn Reese receives and unexpected present from her widowed Aunt Bea: a grand tour of Europe in the company of Bea's Sudoku and Mahjongg Club. The prospect isn't entirely appealing. But when the gift she is expecting -- an engagement ring from her boyfriend -- doesn't materialize, Gwen decides to go.

At first, Gwen approaches the trip as if it's the math homework she assigns her students, diligently checking monuments off her must-see list. But amid the bougainvillea and beauty of southern Italy, something changes. Gwen begins to live in the moment -- skipping down stone staircases in Capri, running her fingers over a glacier in view of the Matterhorn, racing through the Louvre and taste-testing pastries, wine and gelato. Reveling in every new experience -- especially her attraction to a charismatic British physics professor -- Gwen discovers that the ancient wonders around her are nothing compared to the renaissance unfolding within...

PRAISE:

“How I wish I were on this European tour with Marilyn Brant's winsome, wonderful characters. I loved every minute of this delightful novel, from the breathtaking sights to the deliciously described food to the thrilling new experiences.” -- Melissa Senate, bestselling author of The Love Goddess’ Cooking School and See Jane Date

“A SUMMER IN EUROPE is Brant's best book yet. A thinking woman's love story, it swept me away to breathtaking places with a cast of endearing characters I won't soon forget.
Bravissima
!” -- Susan McBride, author of Little Black Dress and The Cougar Club

“Reading a Marilyn Brant book is like eating a piece of rich chocolate -- it gets you excited, it’s deliciously satisfying, and it leaves a smile on your face after you’ve finished it!” --
Simone
Elkeles
, New York Times & USA Today bestselling author of the Perfect Chemistry series

“Brant’s charming and engaging tale will allow readers to immerse themselves in the magic and beauty of Europe along with the characters. Although the descriptions of the scenery are amazing, the development of the characters and their unique personalities are what really make this novel shine. What an enjoyable escape!” -- Romantic Times
BOOKreviews

“Brant’s newest...distinguishes itself with a charismatic leading man and very funny supporting cast, especially the wonderful elderly characters with their resonant message about living life to the fullest.” -- Publishers Weekly

Connect with Marilyn Online:

Website
: www.marilynbrant.com

Facebook
: www.facebook.com/marilyn.brant

Twitter
: twitter.com/
marilynbrant

Amazon Author Page
: www.amazon.com/Marilyn-Brant/e/B003B2BGBG/ref=sr_tc_2_0?qid=1306899328&sr=1-2-ent