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All I’ve been able to do since he dropped me off is think about him. About our time together. I’m torn because it feels wrong. We spent so many years arguing, and now here we are, having sleepovers and… more. The more is what causes my face to heat. I don’t have to look into a mirror to know. I can feel it. What’s worse is that I can feel him. I can hear him and feel his hands on my skin. He’s consumed me.
A knock at my door pulls me out of my Spencer haze.
“How are you today?” Dr. Phillips asks.
“Doing well.” I don’t mention that he just busted me daydreaming about a certain sexy CEO.
“I have some paperwork that needs to go to Spencer. It came back from the bank sooner than anticipated. Would you mind dropping it off to him at the hospital?”
“Sure. I don’t mind at all.”
“Thanks. It’s our most recent bank statement. How’s the buyout going? I thought for sure it was going to be a done deal a couple of weeks ago.” I can hear the worry in his voice.
“It’s going well,” I reassure him. “He just wants to get a better idea about the staff given the clause that all jobs are safe outside of new disciplinary action that might occur. He’s just covering his bases.” I never thought I’d see the day that I would defend Spencer Pennington, but here we are.
“So you think it still looks like this is going to be a go?” he asks.
“Definitely. I think Mr. Pennington is just dotting all of his i’s and crossing all of his t’s. He’s very thorough.” Calling him Mr. Pennington doesn’t keep me from remembering how thorough he was with me this weekend.
“Good. Good.” He seems to be relieved at my reassurance. “Why don’t you go ahead and take this over to his office and take off the rest of the day? I appreciate all the support you’ve provided during this transition.”
“Oh, I don’t mind coming back,” I tell him.
“No. Go, enjoy the early day off. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Tomorrow Mr. Pennington and I are visiting the Calloway and Bridgewater locations to go over staffing files. I believe that’s the final piece he’s waiting for.”
“That’s good news. Thank you, Charlotte.” He raps his knuckles against my door frame, and walks away.
Grabbing my phone from my desk, I pull up Spencer’s contact to send him a text but decide I’ll surprise him. Besides, he might be in a meeting, and I don’t want to interrupt. If he’s in his office, I’ll say hello. If he’s not, I’ll leave the documents and head home. Decision made, I pack up my laptop, grab the envelope and my purse, and head out. It’s been a long time since I took half a day. That makes this Monday a lot more bearable.
The drive to the hospital is short, but I’m still sitting here in my car. The air conditioning is on full blast because it’s hot as hell outside. I’m second-guessing my decision to surprise him. I could easily leave the envelope with his secretary, Cheryl. I’ve talked to her on the phone a few times in the last couple of weeks. I don’t need to see him.
I want to see him.
Here lies the problem. I’m falling hard and fast for this man, and everything is twisted. I still feel like I’m doing something wrong, even though I know that I’m not. My phone rings and I welcome the distraction from my mental turmoil. I don’t recognize the number, so I put on my most professional voice.
“This is Charlotte,” I answer, and cringe at how stuck up I sound.
“Charlotte, hi, this is Tabby from Calloway Cancer Center.”
“Yes. Hi.” I sit up a little straighter in my seat while reaching over to turn the fan down on the air conditioner.
“You applied for our COO position, and we’d like to set up an interview.”
“Yes. That would be great. Thank you.”
“When are you available?”
“I do have a full-time job, but I can make whatever times work. Unless you have something this afternoon?” I ask hopefully. “I’m off for the day,” I explain, trying not to ramble.
“You know what, can I put you on hold for a few minutes?”
“Of course.”
Hold music plays in my ear, and I expel a heavy breath. My palms are sweating, and I want to turn the fan back up on the air conditioner. Even the cold blast can’t help this. It’s my nerves.
The Calloway Cancer Center is a treatment center, and they’re in need of a new Chief Operating Officer. It would be a step up from my current administrator position. It’s a huge facility. They’re their own little mini-hospital treatment center. This is my dream job. COO and CEO, that was always the goal while getting my MBA. I knew the pediatrics practice wasn’t my end game, but I’ve become complacent with my position there. This change, the buyout pushed me to look for another position, and never in my wildest dreams did I imagine I’d get a phone call from the very job I squealed over finding.
