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)
“You’re trying to butter me up.”
“Yep. Is it working?” She laughs.
“Why is it so important to you that I go with you to see a venue you grew up in?”
“I didn’t grow up there.” She huffs out a breath. “Okay, fine, I did grow up there, but this is different. This isn’t a family get-together. This is my job, and I need this to be perfect. I didn’t attend the gala last year. I need someone who has been there to give me their thoughts.”
“Hilary.”
“She delegated this to me. To us. This is part of your job too. I promise it will be quick. I just… I need you there with me for this.”
There’s a tightness in my chest that I’m not used to. It happened as soon as she said she needed me. I don’t want to let her down or piss off the CEO because I’m not fulfilling my contract. It’s a quick stop at the end of my day. It’s not going to kill me to do it. I don’t want to be the reason she fails. I don’t need that on my conscience.
“Fine,” I grumble. “When?”
“Tonight?”
Tonight. She wants to meet tonight. “What time?”
“You tell me, and I’ll make it happen. I know there’s nothing scheduled at the manor. I already looked, so whenever works.”
“My last patient is at four. I can usually get out of here by five or so.” If I’m not finished charting, I can do it at home tonight. I don’t like to do that, but I can if needed.
“So, five fifteen or so?”
“Fine.”
“You’ll meet me there? You know where it is, right?” she asks. I can hear the relief in her tone, and that tightness in my chest eases.
“Willow River is a small town, Ms. Kincaid.” Why is my voice so low all of a sudden? I don’t understand why I respond to her this way. I’ve come to look forward to our conversations, even when she’s pestering me about this damn gala. That’s not good. I need to get myself in order. I’ll go tonight, pretend to care about what she’s asking for my help on, nod, and be done. That’s it. It can’t be more than that.
“That doesn’t mean you know how to get there, Oliver,” she sasses.
Fuck me, I have a list of things to keep that smart mouth of hers busy. “I know where it is.”
“Great! I’ll see you later today. Have a great day, Dr. Thompson.” I can hear the smile in her voice as the call ends. Somehow, the happiness in her voice lifts the corner of my mouth as I place the phone back on the receiver and stand to go see my first patient. I catch my reflection in one of the pictures hanging in the hallway and quickly school my features.
I’m not that guy, the one who walks around happy and smiling.
Not anymore.
I don’t know how it happened, but my day ran smoothly. In fact, it’s the smoothest day I’ve had in a while. All my patients were on time, and I stayed on schedule. That’s why I’m walking out of the office at four thirty. My charting is done, and I was driving myself crazy, sitting in my office, watching the clock, and staring at that damn Post-it.
I even splurged and ate the piece of Christmas cake that Blakely dropped off for me. The staff raved about it all day. One of the nurses even tracked her down in her office on her lunch break to get the recipe. Yes, it was good, I can admit that, but it was just cake. I don’t know why she had to toss the name Christmas in there—to make it more festive, I guess? Regardless, it was delicious, but I don’t plan on telling her that. That will be a win in her column, and this meeting is proof enough that Blakely Kincaid knows how to get what she wants. I should have remained strong, but damn, when she said she needed me, I knew it was going to be impossible to refuse her.
I take the long way around town. Willow River is small, so even the long route to Willow Manor isn’t going to take me forty-five minutes. I’m a punctual guy, so after driving way too slowly—so slow in fact, I’m surprised I didn’t get pulled over—I arrive at Willow Manor way too early. Not that I should worry, because I park next to Blakely’s car. I should have known she’d already be here.
Schooling my features, I turn off the engine and grab my keys and my phone before making my way inside. As soon as I pull open the door, I’m hit with Christmas music. Did she do that on purpose?
“Hello,” a woman with long brown hair and big brown eyes greets me. She’s older than me, but I don’t think by much. “Can I help you?”