The Doctor’s Simple Life (Love Heals All Wounds #3)

22. Sienna

CHAPTER 22

SIENNA

I ’m making my way back to the office when Giselle pulls me aside. “Hey, Sienna, you got a minute?”

Even though I know I can’t be in trouble, the fear of the unknown still churns in my stomach. “Yeah, why?”

“I just need to speak with you for a second. It’s nothing bad.”

We head into one of the back rooms, an office that clearly hasn’t been so much as dusted in weeks, let alone used.

“What’s up?” I ask as we step inside.

She indicates for me to take a seat. I do, and my blood pressure spikes. I know it’s nothing. I know she wouldn’t lie to me, but being pulled to one side always makes me feel like I’m going to get fired. There’s a dumb part of me that starts going through every single thing I’ve done over the last few weeks and trying to figure out which one it is that I’m about to get told off for.

Giselle laughs and shakes her head. “Will you please wipe that worried look off your face? Honestly, Sienna, you’ll know if I’m upset with you because I won’t be smiling. Okay?”

I chuckle nervously. “Then, what is it?”

“Well, as far as I can see, you’re doing an excellent job babysitting our newest hire. I just wanted to hear it from your mouth. How’s it going? How’s he doing? Is his performance up to scratch for our hospital?”

I frown and hum slightly. I can’t exactly tell her what I really think. It’s so unprofessional of me to have even considered sleeping with Reece, let alone actually do it.

I could probably be forgiven, seeing as he’s a temporary member of staff. But what is it they always say about workplace relationships? They always end badly. And I don’t want that to happen with me and Reece. Even if I never speak to him again after he goes back to Miami, at least things won’t be ending badly.

So yes, I do think he’s doing great. And it’s not even because of the sex. He’s become a great doctor here, exactly the kind of person we would want to hire.

“You know what?” I say. “He’s actually doing just fine. He’s way less annoying than I expected. And he’s good at his job. It took him a while to warm up to our way of life, but now I think he’s doing great. I think if he wanted to stay, I would recommend it. Obviously that won’t happen, but I would give him my endorsement.”

Giselle blinks at me, surprised. “Okay, good. Right. That’s not the answer I was expecting you to give at all. I know he’s been softening out lately, but it’s great to hear that you’d be so willing to accept him here with us.”

“I know I sound crazy. He’s just… well, it’s like being taken out of the city has made him into a completely new person.”

“You know it won’t last, don’t you?” Her dark eyes turn stony, and a chill runs down my spine.

“What do you mean?” I ask, although I already know.

She frowns like she’s scrutinizing me, and my heart leaps into my mouth.

She can’t know about us, can she? We’ve been discreet. Well, discreet enough. Never mind about the kisses in the dark corners or that one time we locked the office door and tried our best to be quiet. In hindsight, that probably wasn’t our smartest move.

At least we closed the blinds.

“I know this look on a girl,” Giselle says, her face softening into worry. “And I also know you. I just don’t want to see you hurt. I’d prefer you not to get involved with him, mostly because that’s a paperwork nightmare waiting to happen.”

“I know,” I sigh. The last thing I need right now is a lecture. She can’t tell me anything I don’t already know.

“You know what they say: a leopard never changes his spots. He might seem like a different guy now, but we both remember that guy who first arrived, who acted like we were less than nothing to him. That guy is still inside him somewhere.”

“I know!” I say, folding my arms. Does she think I’m stupid? “What’s your point?”

“I worry about you, hon,” she says gently, reaching out to put her hand on my knee. “I don’t want you to do anything you’ll regret, or anything that’s going to hurt.”

So maybe she doesn’t think I’m stupid. She just wants to protect me. But that doesn’t mean I can’t look after myself. “He’s not going to hurt me.”

Giselle hums, her eyebrows twitching up in disbelief. I purse my lips, trying not to get angry. This isn’t her being nasty. This is my friend disapproving of my taste in men. Somehow, that feels worse.

I double down on my point. “I think he has changed,” I say. “A guy like Reece — he doesn’t pretend to be something he’s not. Guys like that don’t tend to have the brain cells.”

“A girl from a small town isn’t going to be a big prize where he comes from, you know,” Giselle says.

“I’m not a prize. I’m an adult making a choice,” I huff.

She sighs and sits up straight again. “I know you are, hon. But you know he’s not going to stay, don’t you? Please tell me you’re not getting it into your head that he’s going to give up his life in Miami for you.”

“Guys like him don’t do that for girls like me,” I say, bile rising in my throat.

It’s true, isn’t it? Reece could have any girl he wanted, and he’s choosing me right now. But he won’t commit to me. I’ve tried to ask him a bunch of times, and every time he’s brushed me off like he doesn’t want to think about it. I just can’t decide if he doesn’t want to think about me, or if he doesn’t want to think about leaving me.

I hope it’s the latter. Somewhere in my heart, I want it to be.

But Giselle’s words are chiming a cold bell inside my chest.

I’m fun for now, but what about when he leaves?

“He might be great now, and I’m genuinely happy that he’s fitting in great here. Honestly, that should be all I care about. But you’re my friend, Sienna, and I love you. Have you really, actually thought about what’s going to happen when he goes back?”

“No,” I snap. “Because that’s a later problem. And you never know what’s going to happen.”

I’m being contentious for the sake of it now, but this is starting to annoy me. How is it any of her business what I do with my life?

She gives me a pitying look, and I take a deep breath. This isn’t the time or place to be discussing my personal life. “Look,” I say. “He’s doing great as a doctor here. Is there anything else you need to know? He’s even gotten used to doing paper charts again, mostly.” I try to give a little smile and add some levity to the conversation.

“Good,” she says, deciding not to push me any further. “Let me know if anything does change, okay?”

“He’s not going to stay, all right?” I blurt before I can stop myself.

Because, dammit, she’s right. I have been fantasizing about it. I can’t help it now. Even though Reece doesn’t want to be mine, I can’t help but imagine his change of heart.

In my head, it’s like a movie. I wave him a tearful goodbye, and he hits the road, watching out of his rearview mirror as I wave and get smaller and smaller. Then, he barely leaves the town before he realizes he’s wrong. He has to stay here with me because he loves me, and he loves Gramma, and he wants the family and life he never could have before. He turns right around and falls into my arms, and I tell him he’s dumb, but I forgive him.

There’s never an ending where I don’t forgive him.

I take a sharp breath and add, “But if he was to stay, I’m professional. It’s not hospital policy to disclose anything. If it were, I would, but I can look after myself. I’m not going to let anything happen if I don’t want it to.”

“I know, hon,” says Giselle, getting to her feet. “Let me know if you need anything, okay? You know I’m always here for you.”

“I know.” I sigh. Even if this has wound me up, I can’t stay mad at Giselle. She is a good friend really. “I will.”

She gets to her feet and squeezes my shoulder once. Then she straightens up and says, “Right, back to work. Come on now. We have patients to deal with.”

I smile at her and say nothing as I follow her out of the room. My mind is too busy churning with possibilities that will never be.