“I said don’t worry about it,” he says gruffly, before turning back to scowl at his computer screen.
“Oh,” I glance at my latte. It’s cooled down now, but for some reason the cup feels like it’s burning my hand. “That’s not actually why I’m here.”
His gaze lifts back up to me, as though he can’t imagine why else I could possibly be in his office. “It’s not?”
“No. But obviously, I’d like to repay you . . . ” I scrabble in my bag for my wallet, which seems to have disappeared again.
He gives a sigh of resignation. “Look, Miss?—”
“Parker. Alexandra Parker. I’m?—”
He interrupts before I can tell him I’m his new administrative assistant. “Look, Miss Parker, I really don’t need your money. You can pay it forward and buy someone else’s coffee tomorrow.” His lips twitch a little. “Or maybe put it toward the cost of a smaller purse.”
Haha. What a wit.
“Here!” I say triumphantly, pulling my wallet from my purse. I hold my breath as I flip it open—I don’t usually carry cash—but it’s my lucky day. I have a ten dollar bill.
I set the money down on the desk.
“That’s too much,” Dr. Malone says, trying to hand it back to me. “Your drink cost less than eight dollars.”
“You can keep the change.”
He sets my ten back on the desk and pulls a leather wallet from his pocket. “Here,” he says, handing me a five dollar bill.
“But then I’ll still owe you almost three dollars.”
He rolls his eyes. “Take it, before this turns into a farce.”
“But—”
He walks around his desk and tucks the five into my purse, then sits back down in front of his computer. “Time is money, Miss Parker. If you don’t mind, I’ve got a lot to do this morning.”
“Actually, that’s why I’m here. I’m your new admin assistant.”
“No, you’re not.” He barely looks up at me this time. “I’m sorry, Miss Parker, but I already have an assistant.” His eyes flicker to the open door. “Her name is Celine, and since she can probably hear me, I’ll make a point of saying that she’s very good at her job.”
“Oh, not for your clinical work, for the department admin,” I explain. “Heather Larkin hired me?—”
“Of course she did,” he mutters.
Okay, then. Dr. Malone clearly doesn’t like Heather. Maybe that explains Celine’s attitude toward her.
“I assumed Heather had told you about me,” I say defensively. “She brought me down to introduce me to you, but Celine said you were in the operating room.”
That earns a smirk from Dr. Malone. “Like I said, Celine’s very good at her job.”
Right. Definitely no love lost between Dr. Malone and Heather Larkin.
“Well. Ms. Larkin explained that you’re the only department chief without an assistant, and you haven’t had time to hire anyone, so?—”
“I’ve had plenty of time to hire someone, Miss Parker,” he says curtly. “What I don’t have time for is an assistant.”
There’s a beat of silence while I process that. “Uh, I think an assistant could save you time, Dr. Malone. Heather mentioned you might need help managing your calendar . . .”
His eyebrows draw together. Point taken. Dr. Malone doesn’t like to be told he needs help with anything.
“Go on,” he says, but his voice is anything but inviting. “What else does Heather think I need help with?”
