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“Someone threw a brick at your apartment building? What part of town are you in?”
“Rittenhouse Square.”
Okay, well, it wasn’t like the rich preppies were rioting far as I knew. “Wha—”
His grin turned pained. “Photos got out from this weekend. Harper Tyne’s fans are blaming me for... ?” He shrugged.
“Whoa. The price of being a Hardcastle.”
Davis shook his head, all attempts at kidding fading from his expression. “Nah, this is chump change compared to that.”
“With a cash discount?”
He nodded, pulling his hand from mine. His expression was shuttered now, but I couldn’t forget that moment of vulnerability on the balcony, and even in the break room. Underneath the handsome face and the loaded bank account, there was a well of pain that he didn’t want to touch.
“Wait.” I took his hand back and looked over it again before I realized I hadn’t done that to check the wound but because... I thought I could offer some tiny comfort. I glanced at the nurse and lowered my voice. “You shouldn’t have to bear the burden of what she did to you.”
“I’mnotfiling a report.”
“You should—”
“Don’t.” It wasn’t harsh, but it was enough, especially once he pulled his hand from mine.
I had to be the last person he wanted comfort from. Well, after Harper Tyne. “So, this afternoon?” I made my voice light, as if we hadn’t discussed anything serious at all.
“Yep.”
“Or we could meet over lunch,” I offered. “You need to get down to the cafeteria to put those platinum membership benefits to work.”
He offered a little laugh. “I do, but I can’t today. Another appointment.”
I was probably already intruding as it was; he could hardly want me as a friend. I wasn’t even sure I wanted that.
Um, hi? The guy had had weeks to give me any evidence of misogyny, and he’d failed. Or rather, he’d passed that test. He’d carried more than his share of the load with our task force. He’d written alliterative emails, for heaven’s sake.
And every once in a while, a seam appeared in all that perfection, and I caught a glimpse of the broken person that might lurk underneath. Someone I wanted to help.
I waited to see if he’d offer another time or a generic raincheck to gauge his interest in furthering our relationship—our collegial relationship, I corrected myself.
He held up his clipboard. “Ready?”
I ignored a heart-drop. I shouldn’t have held out hope; I hadn’t meant to. Hopefully it didn’t show. I kept my voice upbeat. “Let’s go.”
I led him to my first patient’s room. Even if I was sort of his doctor now, Davis Hardcastle’s wellbeing was none of my business.
Monday had ended with a bang—literally—but Tuesday at work had actually been okay. For a while, watching Cassidy with her patients, I could forget the childish pranks and more serious property crimes looming over me. And at lunch, Luke had reported in. He was already hard at work finding me a new apartment—rented by an LLC he was also setting up to maintain my privacy—so hopefully even the Tynies’ torments would terminate in a short time.
Great, now I was even doing it in my thoughts.
I looked down at my hand again, remembering that one little moment where Cassie’s caring had been turned on me. It felt better than I’d ever imagined, not just her soft, cool fingers tracing over my skin, but knowing that someone did care about you.
And somehow we hadn’t parted with an argument for once.
So despite the little cut last night—and paying to replace the plate glass as an apology for the inconvenience—today was looking up. And in another ten minutes, Cassidy would arrive at my office and maybe she’d look at me with the same concern and caring.
It was too much to hope she’d take my hand again as more than a physician. Today, at least.
I popped out to pick up my printout—LLC paperwork requiring my signature—and my mail. I tried to ignore the little flush of pride.Davis Hardcastle, Asst Dir, was getting very official mail here at the hospital because I was contributing here. Building a career, maybe even a legacy, beyond cash contributions. Doing an important job.
