Chapter Four
Claire
The evening gown was hung on the back of my bedroom door. I sat on the edge of my bed across the room and stared at it. How was I supposed to go from ER scrubs to black satin?
I'd already done my makeup. It should have been easy but my hands fumbled over the unfamiliar routine. I couldn't remember the last time I wore mascara. Maybe on that date with Dr. Daniels. The end effect had shocked me, my dramatically outlined eyes blinking back at me in the mirror. My eyelids shimmered with a pale purple eyeshadow, illuminating the golden flecks in my brown eyes.
My hair was simple, not a far stretch from my normal tidy bun. Though, this time, I'd used the blow dryer to tease a softness out of my hair. Little wisps escaped and curled around my face. The rest was twisted into a loose knot at the nape of my neck. I'd spent a half an hour fussing to make it look exactly like the magazine shot Julie had recommended.
Now all I had to do was put on the dress.
"This is ridiculous," I called for the fifth time. "We don't have to go. We could just order a pizza and watch one of those action movies you like so much."
"And miss out on the fancy tiny foods and all the people watching? No way." My brother's voice was muffled but got louder as he approached my bedroom door. "Just get dressed, Claire. It'll be fun."
I heard him twist the top off another bottle of beer. My stomach clenched. Reese had shown up in a tuxedo as promised, but I knew he was there for more than just a fun night out. The symptoms were obvious: he hadn't sat down since he arrived, his voice had a cheerful edge to cover his desperation, and he was drinking hard.
He only acted that way when he needed money.
"I'll reimburse you for the tuxedo rental," I said.
Reese started knocking on my bedroom door. "I'm going to keep doing this until you come out," he called.
"Or until you need another beer," I muttered.
I stood up and stared down the gorgeous evening gown. I had insisted on simple but the yards of glimmering black satin looked anything but. The strapless bodice had a demure sweetheart neckline but the back plunged almost to my waist. There a black matte band accentuated my tight stomach while the flowing folds of satin made my hips look fuller. The A-line skirt fell all the way to the floor and moved in shimmering waves as I walked.
Reese continued to knock, steadily getting louder. "Hurry up or will miss the appetizers," he whined.
I took the gown off the hanger, stepped into it and stretched back to zip it up. If I could tie off tiny, nearly invisible sutures, I knew I could fix the little hook at my waist but it still took a struggle.
Reese was pounding on my bedroom door by the time I snatched up my black high heels and opened it. He stumbled back, his empty beer bottle clanking against the opposite wall. His mouth gaped then curved into a wicked grin.
"Well, well, well, Dr. West. There is a woman in there after all," my brother said.
I punched him on the arm and stalked off down the hallway. He caught up to me downstairs as I leaned against the banister and slipped the high heels on.
"Why do you want to go to this thing?" I asked. "It's just going to be a bunch of rich people mingling around and bidding on overly-priced items. I thought you hated 'those people.'"
Reese set his empty beer bottle down on the stairs and straightened his black bow tie. "I do, but they come in handy now and then."
"Because you need money?" I was blocking the front door and there was nowhere for him to escape.
My brother's eyes, brown flecked with gold just like mine, darted around my bright foyer. They finally settled on his polished black shoes. He sighed. "You can tell, so I'm not going to lie about it."
I picked up a small, beaded clutch purse and held it tightly with both hands. "Gambling again?"
"It was a sure thing, Claire. I swear. And it wouldn't be a big deal if the guys I owed weren't..." Reese trailed off.
"Are these the same guys you borrowed money to pay off a few months ago?" I asked.
My brother scowled. "I made the payment on time, but he told me the VIG had gone up. Called it a service fee. I tried to negotiate with him."
Negotiate. That was Reese's euphemism for starting a fight and making everything ten times worse.
I raised a hand to my face, remembered my makeup, and had to let my fingers hover over my eyes without smearing anything. "So, now what?" I asked.
Reese reached around me and opened my front door. The town car I had ordered was waiting at the end of the driveway. "Now we go to this gala and have a good time."
"I don't need a good time," I said.
My brother jumped on the change of subject. "You are under orders to go to the gala, drink, be merry, and meet attractive men. I promised your nurse."
"Julie." I ground out my friend's name like a curse.
Reese laughed and swept me out of my house and down the driveway. The town car driver had been lounging against the trunk but he jumped up when he saw us coming. He swept open the door and tried his best to keep his eyes off my dress.
My brother laughed as he joined me in the back seat. "That is some dress, Claire. I thought you'd come out looking like some sort of nun in a plain little black number."
"This was supposed to be plain and simple," I grumbled.
"Life's not meant to be plain and simple, Claire." Reese chuckled and reached for a small bottle of complimentary champagne.
"And it's not supposed to be as complicated as you make it," I said.
The town car wound out of my neighborhood and sped toward the city. I looked out the window and wondered what was going on in the ER. We'd be driving right past my hospital. I could just pop in and check on my last patient. She'd burned her left arm in a kitchen fire and I was worried about her pain management. She was scheduled to see specialists first thing in the morning, but burns were notoriously prone to painful infection.
"Don't even think about it," Reese said.
I popped my mouth shut and scowled at my brother. "Fine. Then distract me. Tell me more about this 'guy' that you owe."
Reese swigged the champagne straight from the small bottle. "There's nothing to tell. I'll take care of it."
"And I'll help," I said.
All of my friends warned me to cut Reese off and let him deal with his own troubles. If he had to hit rock bottom, there was no reason he had to take me down with him. But he was my little brother and all that was left of my family. There was no way I could stay out of it.
The sweeping spotlights were a welcome distraction. They reached across the tall buildings next to us and then flashed across the museum's grand facade. An enormous banner hung above the bright doors announcing the exclusive charity event. A scarlet carpet led the way up the stone steps and photographers lined up outside the velvet ropes.
All thought of Reese's gambling debt flew out of my head. One hand fluttered to the door handle and I shifted uncomfortably in my satin gown.
"No turning back now, Dr. West," Reese said. He used my title to egg me on. If I could make it through medical school while working two jobs and manage a busy ER, then one little gala event should be easy.
I would rather have been working triage for a multiple car pile-up.
I forced my hand off the door handle and opened my little clutch purse. I handed a carefully folded stack of bills to my brother.
"This is for tipping. Behave yourself tonight," I said.
Reese took the money and then grinned. "One of us has to misbehave, so that means it's up to you."
The town car driver swept us up to the foot of the red carpet and ran around to open my car door. He took my hand and helped me out with an appreciative smile.
"You look beautiful, Dr. West. I hope you have a wonderful night," the driver said.
My brother slid out of the town car behind me and gave the driver a generous tip. "Don't come back too early, no matter what she says," he told the driver.
I looked at the intimidating length of red carpet as it stretched up the high stone step to the museum doors. Then I gathered the satin folds of my evening gown into one hand and reached for Reese with the other. He gave me his arm with a jaunty flourish.
"We're not posing for pictures," I hissed as he started us up the red carpet.
"But we look so good," Reese said. He waved at the photographs and turned me this way and that to show off my dress.
I was blinded by camera flashes when we finally reached the museum doors. At first, all I could see was the glittering chandeliers that had been hung in the museum foyer. More banners touting the museum's good cause draped from the arched ceiling to the marble floor. I felt dizzy and we hadn't even joined the swirl of black tie guests.
Luckily my brother took charge, emboldened by his pre-event drinking. Before I knew it we were in the midst of the gala, crystal champagne flutes in hand. Reese greeted everyone he saw, introduced me, and told charming little jokes to anyone that would listen. I envied his outgoing personality and his ease.
I didn't relax until we moved close enough to the small orchestra to make polite conversation difficult. With the pressure of chit-chat gone, I was finally able to enjoy myself.
Julie had been right, though I would never tell her so. The shimmering lights, the elegant surroundings, the well-dressed and smiling people, it was just the break I needed from the chaos and mess of the ER.
And there were attractive men everywhere.
I found a tall linen-wrapped table and put my champagne flute down, glad to be still in the midst of the undulating crowd. Reese flagged down every server with a tray until our small round table was filled with delectable appetizers.
"And now for a refill," Reese said.
Before I could stop him, my brother made a beeline through the crowd to the bar. I stood alone, picking at the tasty bites in front of me and pretending like my date would be back at any second.
I was fine as long as the music kept up. All I had to do was smile and nod at the people that passed my table; no conversation necessary. Then the orchestra finished their set with a flourish and emptied the stage for a break.
The first thing I heard above the buzz of the crowd was my brother's crowing laughter. He leaned against the bar and did his best to impress a pretty woman in a blue sequin dress. Her smile was tight and she edged away from him.
I gritted my teeth and abandoned my table. Reese's flirtations bordered on crude the more he drank and I hurried to intervene.
"There you are," I said. I gripped his arm and tugged him away from the bar.
My brother yanked his arm from my grasp. "Don't start with me, Claire. We're supposed to be having fun, remember?"
A few of his words were fuzzy and his eyes had taken on a desperate, angry glint. My stomach clenched. Bringing Reese had been a mistake.
"Fun's over," I said.