Total pages in book: 87
Estimated words: 82198 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 411(@200wpm)___ 329(@250wpm)___ 274(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 82198 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 411(@200wpm)___ 329(@250wpm)___ 274(@300wpm)
“Harmony! How’s it going?”
Ugh. I knew I couldn’t get that lucky. Opening one eye, I smiled. “It’s going.”
Closing my eye again, I hoped he got the hint that I was tired and not in the mood to talk. It had been a little over a week since I’d seen Preston and I was exhausted from lack of sleep. The night he held me in his arms was the best night I’d slept since the accident.
“You look tired,” Chuck said as he flopped down next to me.
Go. Away.
“I am, Chuck. School and work have taken their toll on me.”
“Yeah, I bet. I’m sure with the holidays coming up, it’s got to be hard on you, too. You know, not having your son and husband.”
Jesus, did he really just bring that up? What a dick and a half. No. No, Chuck was a full-on dick. He didn’t think I noticed him brush up against me yesterday as I was bending over. I could feel his nasty hard-on and it made me want to jump out of my skin.
Oh God. I’m going to puke.
Just as I was about to tell Chuck to get the hell away from me, the door opened again. Opening my eyes, I smiled when I saw the head of nursing walk in. “Joel, did you say you needed to talk to me?”
It only took Joel half a second to notice what was going on. “Yes, if you have a minute, Harmony. I’d like to talk to you in my office.”
Closing my eyes and saying a quick prayer, I jumped up and said, “See ya later, Chuck.”
“Oh yeah, um, see ya later, Harmony.”
Following Joel into his office, I let out a moan as my eyes went heavenward. “Thank goodness you showed up when you did.” Sitting down in one of his chairs, he gave me a look and asked, “Is everything okay, Harmony?”
Nodding, my eyes roamed freely over his body. Why in the hell do I not find this man attractive?
Oh wait. It could be because he’s my boss. Or maybe it’s the fact that he is ten years older than me.
“Yes, I’m just tired. Thank you again for meeting with me for lunch. It really meant a lot that you would take time out of your schedule to discuss my concerns on where I saw my nursing career going.”
Sitting back in his chair, it was Joel’s turn to let his eyes roam freely over me. Biting my lip, I looked away. I didn’t think he meant to look at me the way he did, but it still made me uncomfortable. Ever since he saw Preston staring at us at the restaurant, he seemed to act differently toward me.
I looked back at him and Joel smiled. “I know it’s been a rough few months, Harmony, and that’s what I’m here for. I was thinking though, how does the maternity ward sound?”
Feeling my smile spread across my face, I nodded and asked, “How did you know?”
Throwing his head back, Joel laughed. “Harmony, do you know how many times I’ve caught you on the third floor looking at the babies?”
I didn’t want to tell him it was because I was missing my own baby. Shrugging my shoulders, I said, “Labor and delivery has always been my main interest.”
His smile faded and he turned back to all business. Just like that day at lunch. “Then consider it done.”
I wanted to jump up and down and scream out how happy I was. My heart was pounding and my hands began to sweat. “When can I transfer?”
“I’ll put in for it today.”
Standing up, I held out my hand. Joel stood and extended his hand to me. “Joel, thank you for understanding. I really enjoyed working for you and I’ll miss—”
“Harmony, you’ll still be working under me. I manage the nurses and staff on the third floor as well.”
Smiling, I said, “Oh. I didn’t know that.”
Joel kept ahold of my hand and walked around his desk. His eyes turned to something I had never seen before. I couldn’t say for sure, but it looked like lust. No. Surely not.
“Harmony, do you have plans for Thanksgiving?”
My mind was spinning. God, please don’t let my boss be asking me out. Please.
“Um…Thanksgiving?”
“Yeah, my wife loves cooking. I’m sure she would love to have you and your brother over for dinner.”
His wife? I let out a nervous chuckle. Oh shit. Did I read into that all wrong?
“I’ll ask my brother, but I think we are going over to his girlfriend’s parents’ house for dinner.”
Nodding, Joel dropped my hand. “Well, the invite is open, if you should change your mind.”
“Thank you so much for the invite. I…um…I better get back to work.”
Turning, I quickly made my way out of Joel’s office. After closing the door, I leaned against it and took in a deep breath. Then, not looking where I was going, I walked right into someone.