Total pages in book: 69
Estimated words: 67492 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 337(@200wpm)___ 270(@250wpm)___ 225(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 67492 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 337(@200wpm)___ 270(@250wpm)___ 225(@300wpm)
Suddenly, I have a new agenda item on my to-do list. I’m going to make Dr. Grumpy love this holiday as much as I do.
“Well, I’ll let you get to your patients. Have a great day.” I offer him a bright smile before strolling out of his office.
I want to call Isla and tell her what happened, but that’s going to have to wait until I get home tonight. I have a full day ahead of me, and I need to confirm my aunts Palmer and Scarlett and Captured Moments can work the gala. My to-do list is seventeen miles long, and I have no business adding Dr. Grumpy and his lack of love for the holiday to it, but I just can’t help myself.
When I make it back to my office, I take the other container of cookies that I brought today and place them in the small break room in the administration office before getting to work.
CHAPTER
FOUR
Oliver
This has been the longest week of my life. It’s finally Friday at five, and all I want to do is go home, wash off this week, kick back with a cold beer, and relax. Instead, I’m just now sitting down at my desk to chart because it’s been that kind of week. Yesterday I was in surgery all morning, which also ran over and put my day behind. I hate it when I get behind… for me and for my staff.
Blowing out a heavy breath, I pull up the patient file I just finished with to chart the visit, and then move on down the list from the day. I need to read over each chart note to make sure they are complete before submitting them so I can go home. Sure, I can do this from home, but I don’t want to. I want to leave this week and work behind until Monday morning.
I’m fully engrossed in what needs to be done so I can get the hell out of here when a soft knock sounds at my door. Looking up, I find Kathy standing there.
“Just checking in before I head home. Do you need anything from me?”
“No. Have a good weekend,” I grumble, even though I don’t mean to. I’m not a complete asshole. Kathy is invaluable to me and this office. Of course, I want her to have a nice weekend. Just because I grumble the sentiment doesn’t mean it’s not true.
“You too, Dr. Thompson. Oh…” She steps into my office and places a small clear container with a red top that’s noticeably empty on top of my desk. I glare at it.
“What’s that?” I know damn well what it is. What I don’t know is why she’s giving it to me.
“That’s Blakely’s container. You have a meeting with her on Monday, a lunch meeting. I thought she’d want it back.”
I grunt in response.
Another fucking meeting. A lunch meeting at that. Hilary never did any of that. I’m going to have to remind Ms. Kincaid that I don’t want to be a part of the gala. I couldn’t care less about what decisions she’s made. I won’t be there to see them.
“Have a great weekend,” Kathy sings, walking out of my office. She’s not the least bit upset or intimidated by my reaction. Like I said, I’m not a complete asshole to work for. I like things a certain way, and having lunch with Blakely Kincaid is not on the list.
The marketing beauty is everywhere. I hear her name in the halls, in the cafeteria, in my office. Hell, she’s even in my head. Suddenly, it's as if she’s a part of my life.
She’s not. I don’t do relationships. Been there, done that, and I have the scars to prove it. They might just be emotional scars, but they’re still there all the same.
Shaking out of my thoughts, I get back to work. An hour later, I’m shutting down my laptop and grabbing my coat to head home. The empty container with the red top glares at me from the corner of my desk. I’m not sure an object has ever annoyed me. I guess there’s a first time for everything. Hitting the switch, I turn off the light, lock my door, and head out to my car.
Stepping outside, the cold greets me. My eyes scan the parking lot, looking for—well, I refuse to voice even in my own head who I’m looking for. I don’t see her car, and I heave a sigh of relief. Hitting the key fob, I remotely start my 4Runner as I make my way through the lot.
Once I’m behind the wheel, my eyes take another scan of the lot, just to be certain she’s not broken down again, or anyone, for that matter. Satisfied, I put my SUV in Drive and head home, ready to put this week behind me.