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Her personality make-over wasn’t crazy. Necessity wasn’t crazy. “We talked about Mr. Ridge.”
“That’s it?” Karen’s face squished up. “Still no mention of your text message?”
“We were in the patient’s room with his daughter present. You expected me to ask him why he took me to dinner on Saturday and asked me again on Monday only to cancel with an impersonal text message?” Madison sighed, trying to keep her tone light, to keep her hurt hidden deep within her. “It’s obvious he changed his mind, that’s all. No big deal.”
And if he’d changed his mind again? Was she really willing to let him dictate all the terms of their relationship? To just be agreeable to whatever he dished out? Hot or cold? No, she wasn’t. The old Madison had dealt with that daily with Simon. The new Madison kicked butt and took names. Next.
“You talking about how Dr. Fielding saved your life again?” Melinda, a nursing assistant, asked, walking by and sighing appreciatively. “What a man!”
All week her co-workers had commented on how Levi had saved her, how he’d taken charge and swept her off her feet. All week Madison had been pretending the whole incident was no big deal. If only she could make herself believe her words.
If a man saved your life, did you allow him privileges you swore you’d never grant another? Was that why she was questioning herself so much?
“You want to go with me to Connor’s fundraiser tonight?” Karen asked from beside her. “You’ll have fun, plus it’s a great cause and I could really use your help. He’s making me work one of the game booths.”
Connor was Karen’s boyfriend. Her roommate had started dating the high-school principal a couple of months prior to Madison’s move to Angel Creek.
“Sure, I’ll go.” She stood, toyed with the earpieces of her stethoscope, feeling more and more claustrophobic under her friends’ watchful gazes. “I need to go and check on Mr. Watson in 220.”
“Weren’t you just in there?”
“I promised I’d return when I finished with my other patients.”
Karen shook her head. “See, that’s why you’re such a great nurse. You go above and beyond.”
Above and beyond. Was that what escaping more discussions about Levi was called these days?
Levi finished his patient rounds, but rather than go home he lingered, waiting to bump into Madison. It was Friday night and he wanted to see her.
Outside the hospital.
Hell, he’d wanted to see her all week, but his father had made his life impossible. Was anything in regard to Jonathan Fielding not impossible?
Levi sighed. How had he let his father talk him into this? How did Jonathan ever talk him into anything? You’d think after the hell the man made his childhood, he’d hate the scumbag. At times, he’d swear he did. At others he just didn’t know.
How could you love someone who’d taken you away from the mother who’d been your whole world? Especially since his father had only wanted him to send him off to private boarding school. He’d spent more time with his mother during the six weeks he’d gone to the lake house with her and his grandfather than he’d spent with his father all year.
But that was in the past and at his mother’s pleading he’d tried to forgive his father. He still hadn’t come to terms with how his father had hit his mother. Likely never would.
Which made his father’s latest project hit too close to home. Way too close to home. He’d somehow—probably through a generous donation—convinced the hospital to sponsor a family abuse center. One that would bear his mother’s name.
To see his father talk so freely with the committee about how he’d once been a victim of abuse and how that had led him to abuse had sickened Levi. He’d known, but had blocked much of that from his mind. It was the only way he could deal with the man who’d fathered him.
But this week had been hellish. Normally Jonathan preferred big city lights to Angel Creek’s small-town atmosphere. Levi preferred it that way. Jonathan’s presence here had thrown a major wrench in Levi’s plans to woo Madison into a real relationship.
First when he’d shown up unannounced and demanded Levi’s presence on Monday evening to meet with the hospital assembly he’d put together and then every night since as he’d put Levi in charge of a grand opening fundraiser event.
How was he supposed to have a real relationship with Madison when his father had gobbled up his free time?
Then there was Madison’s text message. What had that been about? Texting had just been a quick easy way to let her know his plans had changed. Should he have called? Maybe, but he’d been disgusted at his father’s unannounced visit and she’d been at work. He hadn’t thought she’d appreciate getting a personal call. Text messages were easy in that the person could take a look and respond whenever convenient. Madison had responded all right.
She wanted him for sex and nothing more, so what did it matter how he canceled their plans? Only, he wanted more.
Which left him in unknown territory.
He should just go home, figure out what he was going to do about dear old dad, and forget all about Madison and how good she’d felt in his arms last Saturday. Should forget about how easy she’d been to talk to. Should forget about how much he wanted her crying out his name in passion.
He should definitely forget that. Despite her snippy text, Madison wanted him. Eventually she’d have him and then what? Would she call it quits? Would he?
