Priceless(9)

“Well, if that’s all, Mack, I’ve got to run. I have a million things to do before my dinner guest arrives.”

“Anyone I know?” Maybe if his aunt had a social life of her own, she’d stop messing with his.

“No. This is just someone with whom I’ve recently become acquainted.”

“A man?” he pressed.

“If you must know, no.”

“Too bad. I could introduce you to some eligible bachelors anytime you say the word,” he said, warming to the idea.

Destiny laughed. “Most of the men you know are half my age. As flattering as I might find that, I doubt it’s very wise. There’s nothing worse than a foolish old woman trying to be something she’s not.”

“I do know a lot of rich, powerful men who own their own companies,” Mack retorted. “Though, frankly, I think a guy my age might find you more fascinating and challenging than some of the women they’re currently dating.”

“Ah, there’s that silver tongue of yours again,” she said, chuckling. “Thank you, darling. I must run, though.”

Mack said goodbye, then went over the conversation a few more times in his head. Had Destiny actually admitted to knowing Beth or not? He had a hunch it was something he needed to know before he got sucked right smack into the middle of one of her schemes. Forewarned was forearmed with his aunt.



Beth studied the older woman seated across the elegant dinner table from her. So, this was Destiny Carlton.

Beth had been caught completely off guard when she’d returned to her office after Mack’s visit to find a message from his aunt inviting her to dinner. Curiosity had compelled her to accept. Maybe tonight she’d learn why Mack had seemed so sure that Beth and his aunt were already acquainted.

So far, though, the evening had been filled with idle chitchat. Beth was growing increasingly impatient. She put down her fork and met Destiny’s penetrating gaze.

“Pardon me for being direct, Ms. Carlton, but why am I here?”

Destiny’s blue eyes sparkled with merriment. “I was wondering when you were going to ask that. I’d heard you were direct.”

Beth wasn’t sure what to make of that. Surely there hadn’t been time for Mack to report back to his aunt. “Oh?”

“No need to look so worried,” Destiny said. “As I’m sure you know, I do a lot of fund-raising for the hospital. I tend to hear about the rising stars on the medical and research staff. Your name has come up rather frequently in recent months. When I heard about your messages for my nephew, I decided it was time we met.”

“I see.” Beth was still a bit confused. “Are you interested in funding some of the research at the hospital?”

“Always, but my interest here has more to do with Mack. What did you think of him?”

“I’m not sure I understand what you’re asking,” Beth responded cautiously.

“Come, dear,” Destiny said with a hint of amusement in her voice. “From all reports, you’re an exceedingly brilliant doctor. Surely you have some idea of what I’m asking.”

“Not really,” Beth insisted, not sure she wanted to go down the path Destiny seemed determined to explore.

“Women have a tendency to fall all over themselves when they first meet Mack,” Destiny said.

“I don’t doubt that,” Beth said, not that she intended to be one of them. She didn’t have time for a man who took so little seriously. Even as that thought entered her head, she recalled just how seriously Mack had taken Tony’s situation. Maybe he wasn’t as much of a lightweight as she’d assumed, but that still didn’t make him her type.

Not that she had a type, she amended. Not anymore. Not since she’d discovered that the kind of man she’d always been drawn to, men who loved medicine as much as she did, often had an ego that couldn’t stand the competition from a woman in the same field.

That was how she’d lost her fiancé. Her team had inadvertently applied for the same research grant Thomas had applied for, and she’d won it. He had not taken the news well. Not only had she lost him, but a month later the grant had been withdrawn because of a vicious rumor he’d deliberately spun about her research methodology. Beth had been crushed by the betrayal, but she’d learned a valuable lesson about not mixing her professional and personal life.

“But you weren’t impressed by Mack,” Destiny guessed.

Now there was a minefield, Beth thought. Insulting him to his face was bad enough. Insulting him to his doting aunt, who raised millions for the hospital, was something else. Beth wasn’t the most politically savvy creature on earth, but she knew better than to offend a major donor.