Chapter 1
CHAPTER
ONE
Concerned about why her boss wanted to see her, Candace Dennison walked down the hall to Kassie Winters’ office.
She took a deep breath and rapped on the door.
Usually, Kassie visited the physical therapy room when she made her daily rounds to check on her staff.
The summons came by way of a note from her secretary, sending her nerves jittering.
“Come in,” Kassie called in her usual upbeat voice.
“You asked to see me?” she asked, half in question, more than a statement.
Kassie walked from behind her desk, motioning for her to take a seat. “Yes, Candy. I have a special request and before I honor it, I need to speak with you,” she said, pouring them each a cup of tea and passing a plate of scones.
“Thank you. What can I do to help?” she asked, picking a chocolate chip goodie and setting the plate down.
“A patient requested you as his physical therapist. As you know, we don’t assign a specific person to the care team, yet he seemed reluctant to stay if we didn’t accommodate him. When he explained his situation, I felt it deserved some consideration,” Kassie informed her.
“Oh,” Candy said, suddenly intrigued by her boss’s explanation. “May I see the file?”
Kassie smiled. “The patient asked to speak to you alone. I gave him fifteen minutes here in my office, and I’ll be next door with Avie, feeding the twins. His request will not be honored if you don’t feel comfortable,” she said firmly, leaving the decision to Candy.
“I can’t imagine turning anyone down, but I’m happy to meet him,” she assured her.
Someone knocked on the door, and Kassie rose, greeting the person on the other side. Candy set her rattling cup on the table as her nerves got the best of her.
A man on crutches slowly entered and the air left Candy’s lungs. Rising, her hand covered her heart. Archer Miller, her ex-fiancé’s best friend and her former friend, stood before her.
“Hello, Candace,” the man said softly as his gaze swept over her, soaking her in. His warm green eyes pleaded for her to listen before casting him aside, but she already made up her mind. Once upon a time, Archer and his best friend left her with a church full of guests and no explanations.
“There’s no need to leave, I won’t treat this man,” she said to Kassie before turning her glare toward him. “We have several qualified professionals on staff who can assist you. I have nothing to say to you,” she gritted out.
“I understand,” he said, nodding. “Will you at least hear me out? I promise to leave you alone if you’ll give me fifteen minutes to explain.”
Kassie waited by the nursery, ensuring Candy agreed before tending to her children. Candy glanced at Kassie and nodded, giving her the green light to go ahead. Taking her previous chair, she watched as he progressed to the couch and sat across from her.
Candy picked up her cup and sipped it, attempting to appear collected when his appearance shook her to the core. What did he want after all these years and how did he find her?