“Okay.” The man stared at the paper in his callused hands. Grease permanently blackened his nails, etched out each and every wrinkle, outlining the story of his life. Years of hard labor as a mechanic couldn’t be washed away with soap and water. “Thanks.”

Kasey respected Mr. Oliver. Circumstances may have prevented him from having a better life, but he didn’t expect handouts, didn’t want a free ride.

Unlike her mother.

Despite their monumental differences, Kasey had mourned her mother’s death, wished she could have felt more loss over the woman than over what might have been. She couldn’t change the past. Her mother was gone and there was no longer hope that someday her mother might get her act together where they could have a real relationship. The relationship they’d had, however lacking, was all they’d ever have.

Kasey bit the inside of her lip to stop the new line of maternal thoughts heading her way. She forced her mother to the recesses of her mind and smiled at her patient.

“When you’re done getting the X-rays, stop by the pharmacy, which is one door down from the radiology department. You’ll have two prescriptions waiting. One for an anti-inflammatory and one for a muscle relaxant.” She told him what the generic prescriptions would cost. “Don’t forget to come back as soon as you can for the blood tests, preferably tomorrow. If your labs show anything requiring further treatment, I’ll call you.”

Gripping his front sheet, he left the exam room. Kasey headed to her office.

Sitting at her desk, she riffled through a stack of papers on her desk, ignoring an announcement of the addition of Dr. Eric Matthews to the ambulatory clinic of Rivendell Medical Center. Instead, she reviewed a cardiology consult letter on Bill Ridner. The words blurred before her eyes. Her mind was filled with the man who haunted her every thought.

The announcement had been sitting on her desk for a couple of days. Not that she’d let herself read the postcard-sized message. She hadn’t. Wouldn’t. The less she exposed herself to Eric, the better. The less she knew about the man behind the gorgeous body and quick smile, the better.

An image of that gorgeous body, his passionate kisses while he’d made love to her—had sex with her— caused her to inhale sharply. He’d started at the clinic the day after his surprise arrival a week ago and was working directly with her. How was she supposed to ignore that? Ignore him?

Perhaps she should read the announcement just to learn about her enemy better.

Technically, as head of the ambulatory clinic, she was Eric’s superior, but time and again Clive Evans sought out Eric, as did several longtime board members. Had the clinic ever put so much effort into schmoozing a new physician?

The more attention Eric got, the more nervous Kasey became about who would take Herbert’s board position.

She rubbed her temple, massaging the dull throb that erupted any time she thought of Eric.

She had a permanent headache these days.

“Okay, so I like him,” she admitted to Bones, grimacing at the skeleton on her bookshelf. “A lot.”

Way more than she should since a relationship between them was impossible. Could she have picked a worse person to be attracted to? A man who not only was someone she worked with but a doctor who was likely vying for the same promotion she was and had strong family ties to the medical center. Why else would he keep having so many private conversations with the administrator and board members?

He was just like Randall. Rich, spoiled, used to getting what he wanted. When push came to shove, he’d rise to the top, even if he had to step on her to do so. She’d do well to remember that.

Kasey massaged her temple with more vigor, wondering if she’d worn the flesh away from her skull yet. She’d always massaged her temples when she got agitated. At the rate she was going, she was going to look like Bones.

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