“I’ll do my best,” I tell her.
“You should come home for a visit soon,” she says. “I can show you how much Bernie likes her bath.”
Watching my mother bathe her chicken is not the tempting offer she thinks it is. But seeing her and my dad is very appealing. “I’ll let you know soon.”
What I’d like to do is surprise them by showing up in town in my very own car with me behind the wheel. Which means I need to get up and make a call to see if my dream car is still available.
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
THOMAS
I want to meet with Constance this morning about as much as I want to take an ice plunge in Antarctica. Newsflash: I hate bathing in water that’s not hot enough to make soup.
At nine o’clock on the nose, I walk into the administrative offices and let the woman at the reception desk know who I’m there to see.Is it me or is that pity in her eyes?
I sit on one of the double-wide chairs in the waiting room, eyeing the outdated magazines. While reading headlines about dramatic celebrity weight loss, it occurs to me I should just leave. What’s Constance going to do? Hunt me down to tell me I can’t date Finley?
As I stand up to go, my boss walks out of her office. Constance is wearing a black cocktail dress with rhinestone embellishments. If the sparkles aren’t enough to scream “inappropriate work attire,” then the short length and plunging neckline do the trick.
“Constance.” I’m not even trying to keep the censure out of my tone.
“Thomas,” she gushes as she takes a step toward me. “You caught me trying on dresses for the Spring Fling!” She throws her hands into the air like she’s just released fistfuls of confetti.
I don’t believe I caught her doing anything she didn’t want me to. So, I tell her, “You set the time, not me.” I’m guessing she thought wearing an alluring dress would get me to see her as a dating prospect. If that was her plan, it didn’t work.
“I suppose time just got away from me.” She giggles like she’s half-drunk.
“I have a full day ahead of me, Constance,” I tell her. “What is it you’d like to talk to me about?”
Her face morphs into an expression of shock. “Oh.” She waves at me to follow her back into her lair. Which I reluctantly do.
Once inside, I see several large bags scattered around from various stores. Constance has clearly been busy. She forces a laugh that comes out sounding like the cry of a wounded animal. “I bought way too many things, but I really want to look great for this year’s fling.”
“Why am I here?” I ask bluntly.
Again, she doesn’t seem to expect my directness. “I guess I just … you know …” She walks over to her desk and rifles around it for a moment before picking up an envelope made of heavy card stock. She tries to hand it to me but I don’t take it. “I wanted to give you a copy of the invitation.”
She can’t be serious. “You emailed me the information, Constance. I don’t need a physical copy.”
She hurriedly opens the flap and pulls out the invite. “But they’re so pretty this year.” Once again, she jabs it in my direction.
I should just take it and leave, but I don’t. Instead, I stand totally still while narrowing my gaze like I’m peering at herunder a microscope. Then I tell her, “I’m not going to the Spring Fling with you, Constance. I’m going with Finley.”
“Ifyou’re still dating.” She raises a blonde eyebrow in challenge. Constance really is an attractive woman—pretty, even—but her manipulative ways coupled with her entitlement make her downright loathsome.
“Even if I’m not dating Finley,” I tell her, “I will not go with you. I don’t date people I work with.” This is a lie, but I’m not above telling a falsehood to shut this down.
Constance exhales loudly enough to show irritation. “Don’t tell me you’ve never dated another doctor or pretty little nurse, Thomas. I refuse to believe that.” The way she says “pretty little nurse” makes me feel dirty. Constance should show support to the medical community, but instead, she’s disparaging them.
“I don’t really care what you think, Constance. I don’t mean to be rude, but I do not like feeling hunted.” Her mouth hangs open at being spoken to so plainly. “I took the job in Elk Lake because I wanted a change of pace. I did not take it because I wanted to date you.”
My boss glares at me with an expression akin to hatred, which is rather unnerving. “I didn’t hire you because I wanted to date you, Thomas,” she practically spits.Liar.
“Then why have you been pursuing me?” I ask. “You’ve been bent on getting me to go to this dance with you even though I’ve told you on several occasions I’m already spoken for.”
Constance looks mad enough that if she had telekinetic powers I’d probably be on my way out the window. “I asked you to help you,” she says condescendingly. “I was doing you a favor.”
“A favor …” I repeat her words in shock. This woman is doing me no favors.
