“Of course I will.” I suspect he’s given me enough money to buy him caviar for the week, but I’m not going to argue the point. “What kind of food do you like?”
“I’m not picky,” he tells me. “But healthy food, obviously. Nothing too processed, no refined sugars. Lots of vegetables.”
Not picky, my ass. “Got it. I can do that.”
“Great. I’ll see you tomorrow, Alexandra.”
I’m being dismissed. I glance at my watch and see that it’s only ten-thirty. “Uh, is there anything you’d like me to do for the rest of the day?”
“Can’t think of anything, no.”
“All right. Thanks, Dr. Malone.”
As I turn to leave, his deep voice calls me back.
“Don’t forget your purse, Alexandra.”
THREE
DREW
Damn. I’m going to be late for the doctor’s appointment I promised my sister I wouldn’t miss.
If Breanna hadn’t spent the past three months nagging me about it, I wouldn’t bother going to the doctor at all. I’ve always been healthy, and I’m only thirty-four. I have years before I’ll have to worry about crap like getting my prostate checked.
But Breanna worries I’m not looking after myself, so she took it upon herself to book this appointment for me. Actually, this is the third appointment she’s booked for me, since I missed the first two. If Breanna wasn’t friends with this doctor’s receptionist, I doubt they’d have booked me a third time.
Of course, I could have pulled strings and made my own doctor’s appointment, but it was easier to let Breanna arrange it. And the good thing about this family doctor is that he’s pretty new to town, so I don’t know him professionally.
If I have to see a doctor, I’d rather it be a stranger. I considered finding someone in Toronto, where I could be comfortably anonymous, but the thought of driving an hour and a half each way was too much. Especially since I don’t really need a doctor in the first place.
I drum my fingers on the steering wheel as I wait at a red light. I would have been on time for this appointment, but my own clinic ran late. I blame Alexandra Parker for that; if I hadn’t wasted so much time arguing with her this morning, I’d have had time to review the charts in advance.
It just proves my point. I don’t have time for an administrative assistant.
Especially an administrative assistant like Alexandra. One with wavy blonde hair, sea-blue eyes, and sexy tortoiseshell glasses. A woman who didn’t try to flatter me or flirt with me, but who wasn’t afraid of me either.
I’m open to suggestions. I’ll do anything you want.
Fuck me.
That one’s above my pay grade.
Her smart retort has been playing through my head all afternoon. Alexandra’s quick, I’ll give her that. And that exchange could very easily be misinterpreted, so I’m grateful she didn’t run to Human Resources and claim sexual harassment.
Because I really wasn’t propositioning her, I was just cursing the situation.
If Heather Larkin’s trying to make my life hell, she’s found the perfect way to do it. A quick-witted assistant with legs for miles, who says she’ll do anything I want.
And one who looks strangely familiar. I’d swear I’ve seen Alexandra Parker before, I just can’t place where.
I turn into the parking lot of the family medicine clinic and find a space by the door. I’m exactly seven minutes late, which really isn’t too bad.
I paste on a smile for the receptionist, a pretty girl with dark hair and a friendly face. “Drew Malone, for six o’clock,” I tell her, handing her my health card.
“I was worried you weren’t going to make it,” she says with a smile, swiping the health card through the reader. “But Breanna promised you’d show up this time.”
“Yeah,” I say sheepishly. “Sorry I’m late. You must be Kristin?”
