Neither of us had brought up the nightmare I’d had the night before, or the fact that he’d lain beside me.
And because I was a master of avoidance, I would pretend it didn’t happen as long as he did.
“I’m sure he left after his presentation yesterday,” Jay assured me.
I nodded, hoping that was the case. But I was mentallyprepared this time in case I did see him. I didn’t want to have such visceral reactions to Dr. Pike. I told myself if I saw him again, I’d refuse to let it consume me.
Thankfully, the rest of the conference passed without incident. The lectures were fine, and I took some notes and doodled in my notebook until three o’clock rolled around. When the final lecture ended, the attendees filed out of the conference hall and into the hallway to collect their continuing education certificates at the front table, where we’d originally gotten our lanyards.
“Ready to head out?” Jay asked, slipping his certificate into his bag.
I nodded. “Definitely. I’m ready to go home.”
We made our way to the hotel’s front steps. Jay told me to wait while he spoke with the valet. I found a bench just outside the entrance and sat down. The scenery was beautiful, and I thought I’d like to come back to the hotel someday if I could. Under different circumstances, of course.
As I sat there, lost in my thoughts, a familiar voice broke through my reverie.
“Hope?”
I looked up and felt my heart nearly stop. Dr. Pike suddenly stood before me. His salt-and-pepper hair and intense gaze were impossible to miss.
“Conrad,” I acknowledged, somehow managing to keep my voice steady.
His steely eyes narrowed slightly. “I didn’t expect to see you here. It’s been a few months.”
Breathe,I told myself.Do not panic.
I swallowed hard as my fingers tightened around my certificate. “Yes, it has.”
Dr. Pike’s gaze flicked to the certificate in my hand. “Continuing education credits, I see. How have you been?”
How had I been? He couldn’t be serious. Was he really so awful as to act as if nothing had ever happened? I’d up and quit the clinic not that long ago. He was the main reason I’d left. Surely my father had updated him on my escape.
My entire body burned with rage.
Before I could answer, though, I saw Jay approaching from the corner of my eye.
“Hope, the car’s ready,” Jay said. He came up beside me, his hand moving to rest at the small of my back as if he’d done it a million times. I didn’t relax completely, but I felt slightly better having him next to me.
Dr. Pike raised an eyebrow, a faint smirk playing on his lips. “And who might this be?”
“This is Dr. Jay,” I gritted out. “My new employer.”
Dr. Pike reached out to shake Jay’s hand, but Jay didn’t return the gesture.
“I would say it’s nice to meet you, Dr. Pike. But I’d be lying. We were just leaving.”
Whoa.
Dr. Pike chuckled, not seeming fazed by Jay’s dismissiveness. “It seems you’ve found yourself quite the position, Hope. Dating the boss, are we? Interesting career move. Does your father know about this little arrangement?”
Jay’s eyes flashed with fury, and he took a step closer to Dr. Pike.
“I wouldn’t push me,” Jay said, his voice low and controlled.
Dr. Pike’s smirk only widened. “Touchy, are we?”
Jay’s jaw clenched, and he was about a foot taller thanDr. Pike, so he looked somewhat overbearing in my eyes. I was surprised Dr. Pike wasn’t shaking in his Sperrys.
