Total pages in book: 79
Estimated words: 76452 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 382(@200wpm)___ 306(@250wpm)___ 255(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 76452 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 382(@200wpm)___ 306(@250wpm)___ 255(@300wpm)
I spent this week pretending I didn’t need to see her. I’ve worked late every single night. So much so that even Linc commented on the hours I’ve been keeping. He left Monday to go back to his place that he was sharing with Audrey, who is now living with Charlotte.
“Spencer?” Lucia says, and I shake out of my thoughts and give her my attention. “Should I schedule a catch-up with Dr. Montoya?” she asks of our new oncologist.
“No. That won’t be necessary.” She nods and hesitates before standing.
“Call me if you need me. Anytime,” she says. Her voice is lower, as if she’s trying to be sexy. She’s not, well, maybe she is, but she’s not to me. My idea of sexy is a blue-eyed, auburn-haired long-legged beauty who’s had me chasing her and my tail for the last ten years.
Lucia leaves my office, and I stare at the open door. Knowing that I can’t hold off any longer, I stand, close the door, and settle back behind my desk. Grabbing my cell, I hit Charlotte’s contact and place the phone next to my ear. It rings once, twice, and three times before she answers.
“Hello.” I can hear the uncertainty in her voice.
“Good afternoon, Charlie.”
“Spencer.” She’s not just saying my name. She breathes it as if hearing from me puts air into her lungs.
“Missed you this week.” Those four words shock even me. That’s not at all what I meant to say, but it’s what I was thinking, so I’m not surprised the words passed my lips. It’s too late to take them back. Not that I would if I could. I think it’s time to take a different approach with my Charlie. In the past, I’ve always been on the defensive. I think it’s time to change the play.
“It’s been a week.” I can hear it in her voice. She, too, has been counting the days since the last time we saw each other. That’s as close as a confession that I’m going to get from her, at least for now. I’m going to wear her down.
“What does your schedule look like Monday?” I can’t wait another full week to see her. I want to curse Lincoln for ending things with Audrey, taking away my random chances to see her, but then again, we might not have shared the moments that we have if that didn’t happen.
“What do you need?” she asks.
“I’d like to go over the staff for each location. Attendance records, any disciplinary actions, skill sets, performance appraisals, things like that.”
“For every staff member?” she asks.
“Yes. The contract states that the employment of current staff will be secured. I need to know what we are getting into and if there need to be any exceptions.”
“Okay.” So easily, she concedes to what I’m asking of her. We both know it’s complete bullshit, but she doesn’t call me out on it. I know if this were one month ago or even two weeks ago, she would have.
Progress in the making.
“We’ll start with the Charleston location.”
“So, you’ll come here?”
“Yeah, I’ll be there. What time do you get to work?”
“Eight.”
“I’ll be there at eight.”
“Okay. I’ll start gathering everything that you need. When I started, I transitioned us to electronic for these kinds of things, so we’ll have paper and electronic files. I’m only one person, and due to the confidentiality of the materials, I’m really the only person other than the physicians who have better things to do with their time that could scan items.”
“Electronic is a good idea. You’re a jack-of-all-trades, huh?”
“I’m everything the practice needs me to be.”
In my head, I hear her telling me that she’ll be anything that I need her to be, and my cock swells at the thought of her being mine. I clear my throat. “Monday, 8:00 a.m. I’ll see you then,” I tell her.
“I have it on my calendar. Would you like the number to my direct line at my desk so that you don’t have to call my cell?”
“Do you have an issue with me calling your cell?”
She hesitates. “No,” she finally replies.
I smile. I’m sure if anyone were to walk into my office right this moment, I look like I’ve lost my mind, grinning like a fool while on a work call. “Cell phone it is. I’ll see you on Monday.”
“See you Monday.”
“Have a good weekend, Charlie.”
“You too, Spence.”
The line goes dead, but the smile on my face grows. I bet she doesn’t even realize that she just called me Spence. Damn, this woman, she’s taking over my mind. I don’t know how I’m going to stop constantly thinking about her, but what I do know is that for the first time in my life, I’m ready for the weekend to pass quickly and for Monday to roll around.
After talking to Charlie yesterday, the rest of my day flew by. I was more productive in a few hours of the afternoon than I had been all week. Just talking to her, hearing her voice, pulled me out of my “missing Charlotte” slump I’ve found myself in. I know that’s why. What I don’t know is what I’m going to do about it. I can feel her starting to soften up to me, but I’ve been shot down by that woman more times than I care to admit. Sure, she thought I was joking every time I asked her out after the very first time. I might have been teasing to get under her skin, but I was still serious.