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Kinsey turned the corner outside of the cafeteria, then started jogging. She needed fresh air – and she needed it now!
Her entire body felt as if it was on fire. How did the man work her up so quickly with so few words. There was no way she could be a personal nurse for Joseph. Normally, she’d love to take the job. It was ideal, and would practically ensure her a lifetime job with the hospital, considering how much money the Anderson’s donated, and the influence they had, but thinking of those long, silent nights with Austin always there…
She knew he’d be there – all the time.
A shudder racked her body as she pushed through a side exit and took in a deep breath of lilac scented air. The cool spring breeze of the late morning was just what she needed in her lungs. She took several breaths as her thoughts kept jumping over one another in her head.
She wasn’t this wanton woman. She had plans, goals. Heck, she even had a ten year plan all typed up, double spaced, Times New Roman font, sitting on her desk at home.
She absolutely didn’t get fuzzy headed, or weak in the knees, over a man, especially an arrogant, self-satisfied, amazingly great lover of a man.
Stop it!
She wouldn’t think of Austin and lover in the same sentence. She had to pull herself together and do her job. She’d simply tell her boss, thank you, but no thank you.
Yeah right. That conversation was going to go real well.
After about ten minutes, Kinsey calmed down enough to head back inside. She didn’t care if she caught slack, she was taking a few minutes to go to her on-call room and lay down. She needed to get her head to stop spinning before she faced Austin again.
She walked inside, leaving the lights off, and sighing as she closed her eyes against the pitch blackness of the space that was no bigger than an average closet. Her pager went off before she could relax too much, and she reluctantly sat up, knowing her hiding time was over.
As she left the room, she had to remind herself that she was a professional. She was being paid twice her normal salary, and she wasn’t going to let a man stand in the way of her career. She’d just have to develop thicker skin and continue to ward him off. Eventually, he’d grow bored with his game of chase. He had to, she reassured herself.
With her shoulders back, she entered the Anderson room, then let out a sigh of relief when she saw that Austin wasn’t there.
As the day wore on and she noticed herself checking the door often, she couldn’t decide if she was relieved or disappointed when he didn’t return. She may need a prescription for Valium before the day was out, let alone the month.
“I swear I’m going to walk out the door if you don’t pull yourself together,” Austin’s secretary, Margie, said as she glared at him across his desk.
“What are you talking about?” Austin glanced up at his highly irritated employee.
“You’ve been walking around here like a bear with a thorn in his paw, snapping at everyone, and acting like a horse’s ass.”
“Margie,” he said with shock. She’d worked for him for ten years and was like a member of the family. She’d never been afraid to speak her mind, but she’d never been quite as verbal before.
“Don’t you Margie me. I’m not some new kid, fresh out of college, and I refuse to put up with your bad behavior. You can either talk to me about it, or I can take the rest of the afternoon off.”
“I’m fine,” he insisted.
“Well then, I guess it’s option two. I’ll see you tomorrow,” she said as she turned to leave the room.
“You can’t leave. We have a lot of work to get done,” Austin insisted, rising from his seat.
Margie turned and stared him down with her brow raised. She was waiting.
With a sigh, he resumed his seat. He knew he was being a little grumpier than usual, but he hadn’t thought it was to the point of employees walking out the door.
He was just so frustrated. He’d been avoiding the hospital for a week, thinking that maybe a bit of distance would help his hormone ravaged body.
It wasn’t helping.
Nothing was.
Margie stood in front of him with her glasses hanging halfway down her nose, her gray eyes glaring at him over the top of the gold rims. She had one hand on her hip, and her toe was tapping. He felt the corners of his mouth rise, which wasn’t a smart move on his part.
Her eyes narrowed further and she blew her breath out in frustration through her bright pink lipstick. She really was amusing when she was in a snit. He noticed this week she had bright pink streaks running through her short white hair. She was close to sixty, but she’d once told him that age was nothing but a number. She said she was a long way from being dead, and she’d dress and do what she liked.
It was one of the things he loved about her. She brought humor, love and loyalty to the office. Plus, she was a genius. He had no doubt he’d crumble without her. If she needed him to talk, he’d dang well talk, cause his office would fall down around him if she staged a walkout.
“There’s just been a lot going on… My father, Uncle Joseph…” he trailed off. He knew from her narrowed eyes that she wasn’t buying it.
“We both know that’s bull. Yes, you’ve been concerned about your family, but this has to do with something else,” she insisted.
“Well, it’s just that… I’m dealing with a personal problem,” he hedged. He really didn’t want to admit to dating issues.
“Ah, now we’re getting somewhere. What’s her name? Did one of your Barbie dolls get a blister on her foot from her five inch heels?”
“Margie…” He blew out a frustrated breath.
Margie suddenly grinned, and he had to fight the damn blush that wanted to creep into his cheeks. She was far too smart to be working for him. She should be running for president. He saw the knowing look come into her eyes, and he felt his humiliation was complete.
“Oh my goodness. Did a girl actually tell you no for the first time. One did, didn’t she? Ha, that’s hilarious. Welcome to the real world, Austin Anderson,” she mocked.
“That’s not what happened,” he practically shouted.
“Oh yes, it is. You’re hooked on a girl and she doesn’t want anything to do with you, and you just don’t know how to deal with that. It’s about time. She may just be a keeper if she’s that smart.”