“But you won, right?You’re able to work and can progress without a black mark against your name?”
She nodded, her smile finally poking out.“It’s such a miracle, but I don’t want to talk about it here.Find me a quiet place so we can talk uninterrupted.”
“My place?”
She eyed him oddly.“Not there.”
Yeah.Dumb idea.His attraction to her wouldn’t be helped by being alone with her in his home.He needed somewhere private, yet still public.Someplace safe.
“Hey, I’ve got an idea.”Thanks to his recent trip to see one of the house contenders.
Twenty minutes later, they were seated in the Seattle Botanic Gardens Arboretum.A number of the trees were displaying their Fall foliage, but here, where they sat in the sunshine, was protected from the coolness that carried on the breeze.At this time of day there were few other visitors, giving them privacy, giving them peace, and the chance to finally talk.
She sipped her green tea, from their pit stop at the nearby café.“How did you find this place?”
“I just happened to be in the neighborhood, and remembered you liked Japanese gardens.”
“I do.So thank you for this.”She held up her tea.“And for this.”
“You’re welcome.Now, at the risk of sounding impatient, are you ready to talk?”
She nodded.“I still can’t believe what happened.”
“Well, I’d like to believe it but Istilldon’t know what it is, so if you can tell me that’d be awesome.”
She chuckled, turning to face him more fully.“Thank you for being so supportive.I mean it.It was so comforting knowing you were there, and feeling like if the outcome had been different you would’ve come storming in to protect me.”
“Of course I would’ve.I can’t believe I started tearing into your boss like that.”He winced.“I hope I didn’t create a problem.”
She chuckled.“On the contrary, I think you further convinced him that I’m someone who has friends in high places.”
“You mean his comment about me being a celebrity?Please.I’m not.”
“Well, some people beg to differ.Did you know that one of the board members is actually a tech millionaire, who just so happens to be neighbors with one of your hockey buddies?”
“No way.Who?”
“Have you heard of Pemberley Enterprises?They deal with green energy and helping environmental concerns around the planet.Liam Darcy heads it up, and just so happens to live next door to where Mitchell Reilly grew up, just outside Trinity Lakes.”
“No way.”
“Actual way.”She took another sip.“So, I don’t know how this happened, maybe it’s because you asked the guys to pray, but it looks like Mitchell might have said something to Liam, who then pointed out to the rest of the board members that it really wasn’t a good look for the hospital to treat me this way.”
“Well, yeah, of course.But why?”
“Remember how Marcie encouraged me to drop a few hints on social media?I didn’t want to because it felt petty and problematic to point the finger at the place I want to reemploy me.But apparently when the coach reached out to the hospital he was pretty persuasive, which is why the hospital allowed my name to be mentioned on social media.And it ‘just so happens’ that this Liam friend of Mitchell’s also owns a stake in your hockey team.”
“Whoa, that’s right.”Kyle was pretty sure he’d met the dude at a function once or twice.
“And when the team put out that bulletin about how I helped you and then how I helped your coach, well, that apparently is exactly the kind of publicity that the hospital wants to be associated with.And Liam reminded them of that.”
“I knew I liked the man.Was he there today?I don’t recall seeing him.”
“He sent his representative.Apparently Liam is in Africa on a water provision project.”
“That’d be awesome to do one day, don’t you think?”
She nodded.“I’ve wondered about working overseas.”
