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)
I’m not heartless.
However, that screwed with my entire day. A pharmaceutical rep dropped off lunch. Thankfully, today wasn’t my turn to sit and listen to their speech about their medications for their required “meeting.” I share that responsibility with the other physicians in the practice. We all take turns, basically taking one for the team, so the staff gets free lunch.
Regardless, I was thankful for lunch because I had to eat between patients. I hate running behind with my schedule, but times like today can’t be helped and are inevitable in healthcare.
It’s finally the end of my shift. All my patients are gone, and I have a lot of charting to get caught up on. When there’s a knock at my door, I bite out, “Yes,” a little more harshly than needed. Did I mention that I’m over this day?
“Sally from administration called. They need your new wallet card for your medical license. Do you have it yet?” Kathy asks.
“I have it,” I answer, keeping my eyes on my computer screen.
“Great, if you want, I’ll walk it over now.”
“Who needs it again?” I stop and focus on the conversation, when all I want to do is finish my work and get out of here.
“Sally in administration. She handles all the credentialing.”
“Right.” I nod. Sally replaced Martha, who was the person I worked with to finalize all my credentialing when I started at Willow River General. I reach for my wallet, then stop myself. Blakely’s office is in administration. Glancing at the clock on my computer for the time, I see it’s a little before five. I don’t know when she wraps up each day, but damn if I’m not willing to do this myself just to get a glimpse of her. “I’ll handle it.”
Kathy looks surprised by my answer. Usually, this is something I’d hand off to her. Nothing about what I’ve been doing or thinking lately is anything near normal, not when it comes to Blakely Kincaid.
“Okay. Well, I’m going to finish up and head home if you don’t need me for anything else.”
“I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Good night,” she says and turns out of my office.
I’m on my feet, stalking down the hall and through the connecting hallway to get to the hospital side of things. I’m not a lucky man, as my past has shown, so I know my chances of running into her are slim, but I still want to try. I can chart at home or, hell, just stick around. It’s not like I have anything or anyone at home waiting on me.
When I finally reach the administration office, the receptionist isn’t at her desk. That’s fine. I know where Sally’s office is. I’ve been there a few times. I don’t know exactly which office is Blakely’s, but I do know which is Hilary’s, and lucky for me, I have to walk right past it to get to where I’m going.
I peer into each office until I find Blakely. Leaning against her door frame, I watch as she concentrates on whatever she’s looking at on her computer. “Is that something for the gala?” I ask.
She jumps and places her hand over her heart. “Oli—Dr. Thompson,” she corrects herself. “You startled me.”
“I’m sorry.” I step into her office, needing to be closer to her. I don’t understand it. What makes her so different?
“What are—can I help you with something?” She sits up straighter in her chair.
“I came to see Sally about some credentialing. I saw you in here and thought I’d say hi.”
“You wanted to say hi?” She tilts her head to the side, and her hair falls over her shoulder. I can still feel the softness of the strands as I ran my fingers through them last night.
“Yep.” We both know this is out of character for me.
“Hi.” She waves, and her face blushes. She’s fucking adorable. Sexy and adorable. How is that possible?
“Working on the gala?” I ask again, so I don’t come off as more of a creeper than I already am.
“No, actually. This is for the Tree Lighting Ceremony the hospital has every year.”
“Right.” I nod. “When is that?”
“The first weekend in December.”
“You’re in charge of that too?”
She points to her chest. “Marketing.”
“I know that. I just assumed the gala was your main project.”
“No. Hilary has most of the gala items complete, at least the pressing items. I’m just the follow through on what she’s already lined up.”
“We.”
“What?”
“We’re the follow through.”
She looks surprised, and I admit, even I’m a little shocked at the words that just came out of my mouth.
“You want nothing to do with the gala.”
But I want everything to do with you. That’s not true. I know this can’t go anywhere, but until this gala is over, I have an excuse to be around her, and I’m taking it. Even if that means she immerses me in all things Christmas. I have a feeling the torture will be worth it, on all counts.