Chapter 10
10
AMELIA
I was in my lab, scrubbing down the countertops after a long day of experiments, when Clair burst in, slapping a file down on the freshly sterilized surface.
I jumped, nearly dropping the bottle of disinfectant in my hand.
“You know we have people who do that for us, right?” Clair said, leaning against the counter with a smirk.
I shrugged, spraying the counter with another burst of cleaner.
“I like to use this time to clear my head. Decompress a little. It helps me think.”
“That’s what the grounds are for,” she said.
“There’s a gazebo, coffee shop and, of course, the beach.”
“And there are people all over there,” I pointed out.
She laughed. “Are you telling me you want to be alone?”
“No, just saying that’s why I was in here and not out there.”
Clair rolled her eyes but didn’t argue.
Instead, she tapped the file she’d just dropped.
“This is one of Jared’s cases. Bad car accident a few years ago. Scar tissue in a specific section of the brain. He wants your opinion on a radical surgery and experimental treatment to give the patient back control of his hands and possibly restore his short-term memory storage.”
I froze, my hand tightening around the spray bottle.
The mention of a car accident sent my mind racing back to memories I’d spent years trying to bury.
My father’s accident, the one that had changed everything.
I swallowed hard, forcing myself to focus.
“I’ll review the case and get back to him as soon as I can,” I said, my voice steady despite the storm raging inside me.
Clair nodded, her expression softening.
“You okay? You look a little pale. Have you inhaled too much disinfectant?”
“I’m fine,” I said.
“Just tired. And hungry. I skipped lunch.”
She studied me for a moment, then shrugged.
“Well, if you’re up for it, a few of us are heading to the cantina tonight. Let loose a little. It’s the weekend tomorrow, after all.”
I hesitated, glancing at the file on the counter.
I should stay in, review the case, and get a head start on the research.
But the thought of spending another night alone in my condo, with nothing but my thoughts for company, was unbearable.
“Sure,” I said, smiling.
“I could use a drink.”
Clair grinned and clapped her hands.
“Awesome. I feel like we’ve been two ships passing in the night. We never get to hang out. Meet you there after you change?”
“Sounds good,” I said.
I finished cleaning up, my eyes drifting to the file.
I wanted to dig into it, but I had been studying so many of those cases and I knew the outcome.
It wasn’t great. Then again, maybe Jared had a new approach to an old problem.
It seemed to be his specialty.
I shut off the lights and left the building.
I loved that it was still warm.
It was always warm, but now it was comfortable.
The breeze and the smell of the ocean were invigorating.
I headed back to my condo to change.
I slipped into another sundress.
I let my hair down, rubbing my scalp after my hair had been up all day.
My makeup box was sitting on the counter.
Since I spent sixteen hours in the lab, I didn’t even bother putting makeup on.
My face seemed to have forgotten what it was like to wear it.
I put some on, keeping it light.
I didn’t want to look like I was going out to the club.
These were my coworkers.
But I also didn’t want to go bare-faced like I didn’t know how to fix myself.
I walked down the path, smiling to myself.
It was a little on the humid side, but I didn’t mind.
The cantina was already buzzing with activity when I arrived.
I spotted Clair at the bar and made my way over, sliding onto the stool beside her.
“Margarita?” she asked, holding up a glass.
“Please,” I said, smiling.
Clair was easy to talk to, her humor and warmth making me feel at ease.
She was really the only person I felt like I connected with here.
Then again, she was the only person I actually talked to.
My assistants were a lot like me.
They were very focused on their work, which I loved, but it was a little cold in the lab.
That was probably for the best. Bosses and their employees should not fraternize.
“Do you like it so far?” Clair asked.
“Like it?” I said, swirling the margarita in my glass.
“Clair, I love it. The lab is incredible. The equipment, the resources—it’s everything I’ve ever wanted. I mean, I’ve only been here a few weeks, but it already feels like home. Well, the lab does, at least.”
Clair grinned, leaning closer.
“Right? I felt the same way when I first started. It’s like Disneyland for nerds. And the campus? Honestly, it’s kind of unfair how beautiful it is. Like, who gets to work and live in a tropical paradise? Plus, the cantina’s not bad either.” She gestured around us with her glass.
I laughed, taking a sip of my drink.
“True. Though I’m pretty sure I’ve spent more time in the lab than anywhere else on campus. I still haven’t made it to the gazebo or the coffee shop.”
Clair gasped dramatically, clutching her chest. “Amelia Pritchard! You’ve been here this long and haven’t even gotten out. We’re fixing that this weekend. No excuses. You went to the beach, right?”
I cringed.
“Once. Did Jared tell you?”
“Tell me what?”
“He insisted I try one of his jet skis. We wiped out.”
“Oh no.” She laughed.
“Clearly, you survived.”
“Yes, but I don’t think I’ll be climbing on one of those machines again anytime soon.”
“Did you dunk Jared?”
“Oh yeah.” I nodded.
“I went flying one way and he went the other.”
“I would have paid to see that.”
I took a drink.
“How is Shawn?”
“I’m sure he’s fine.”
“Uh-oh.” I smiled.
“There’s a story there.”
She groaned, rolling her eyes.
“There would be if he’d just ask me out already. But he’s so shy. It’s infuriating. I don’t know how many different ways I’ve dropped hints. He just doesn’t seem to get it. I think he likes me. I pick up on the vibes but then nothing happens. It’s so hard to date nerds.”
I laughed, shaking my head.
“Maybe you should ask him out.”
Clair raised an eyebrow.
“And risk rejection? No thanks. I’ll wait for him to grow a spine.”
“You’ve been waiting a while?”
“Yes, but I’ll keep waiting. Until another man comes in and sweeps me off my feet.”
I chuckled, taking a sip of my margarita.
“Well, for Shawn’s sake I hope he figures it out soon.”
“What about you?” Clair asked, her tone casual.
“Any love life to speak of?”
I shook my head, my smile fading.
“Not really. I’ve always put my education and career above everything else. Relationships have never been a priority.”
Clair nodded, her expression sympathetic.
“I get that. But you know, it’s okay to want more. You don’t have to choose between your career and your personal life. At least that’s what I tell myself all the time.”
I didn’t respond, my attention caught by the sound of the door opening.
I glanced over and froze, my stomach dropping.
Jared had just walked in, and he wasn’t alone.
A tall, redheaded woman was beside him, her arm linked through his.
She was beautiful, with sharp features and an air of confidence that made me feel instantly inadequate.
I shouldn’t be surprised.
He was rich. Hot. Smart.
What straight woman wouldn’t want to be on his arm?
She was stunning. Perfect skin.
Slim. Her smile looked like she could be in toothpaste commercials.
I wasn’t jealous. Not really.
It’s not like I had any right to be jealous.
He was my boss. And way out of my league.
And a player.
Clair followed my gaze and sighed.
“That’s Gemma. Dr. Graceland. She’s a neurosurgeon too. Lives on the mainland, so thankfully we don’t have to see her much.”
I forced myself to look away.
“Do they work together often?”
Clair shrugged.
“Not really. She’s here for a surgery.”
“They seem… close.”
“She and Jared used to date.”
And there it was.
I was used to reading people.
Their chemistry was off the charts.
It was clear they’d had sex.
There was just a way people looked at each other after they had seen each other naked.
Those two had definitely been very naked together.
“Used to?” I asked.
“They broke up a while ago. Not sure why, but from the rumors, it sounds like it might have been her fault. She did something. Jared broke things off with her.”
I nodded, trying to seem indifferent, but I couldn’t help feeling a flicker of curiosity—and something else I didn’t want to name.
“They seem to be close still,” I said.
“I don’t know. I think she wants him. I mean, she’s got a pulse, so that’s not exactly a rarity. Which makes me think she did something to piss him off. And he doesn’t have to stick with anyone he doesn’t want to. He can have anyone.”
I watched out of the corner of my eye as Jared and Gemma found a table, their heads bent together as they talked.
Jared looked bored, his expression distant, while Gemma rattled on, her hands gesturing animatedly.
Her desire for him was apparent.
I didn’t miss her casually touching his hand and then his arm.
I finished my drink and stood, needing to get out of there.
“I think I’m going to head home,” I said, forcing a smile.
“Early start tomorrow.”
“What, no? We only had one drink.”
“I want to dig into that file,” I said.
“Split some nachos with me,” she insisted.
I didn’t want to be a stick in the mud.
Plus, nachos. “You found my weakness.”
Clair grinned.
“Do they serve a lot of nachos in England?”
“Not nearly enough.”
“And let’s get you another margarita.”
I laughed softly.
“I made it through high school and university and never caved to peer pressure. You’re a bad influence, Clair Morgan.”
“Really? I’ve always wanted to be a bad influence. I’ve always been the book nerd.”
“Congratulations, you’re officially doling out some major peer pressure.”
Clair grinned triumphantly, flagging down the waiter for another round of drinks and nachos.
I settled back into my seat, though my eyes kept drifting toward Jared and Gemma despite my best efforts to focus on Clair.
They were still deep in conversation, Gemma’s laughter ringing out across the room.
It was easy to see why she and Jared had once been a couple—both of them exuded a kind of magnetic energy that drew attention wherever they went.
They were the IT couple.
Clair followed my gaze again and sighed.
“She’s trouble, that one. Always has been. But don’t let it get to you. Jared’s not exactly an easy man to figure out.”
“I’m not trying to figure him out,” I said quickly, perhaps a little too defensively.
“He’s my boss. That’s it.”
Clair gave me a knowing look but didn’t push it.
Instead, she changed the subject, launching into a story about one of her early days at the lab and how she accidentally locked herself in the supply closet for hours.
Her antics managed to pull me out of my head, and by the time our nachos arrived, I was laughing so hard my sides hurt.
The nachos were delicious.
I didn’t even care how messy they were to eat.
Jared could have the polished surgeon with fuck-me heels.
I was cuddling up with chips and cheese and guacamole.
Talk about a match made in heaven.
I was glad Clair had convinced me to stay.
The booze and junk food had done wonders for my mood.
Tension released from my shoulders and I felt like I could breathe more easily.
So this was what relaxing felt like?
After finishing the nachos and the second margarita, I was ready to crash.
The long hours and stress had caught up with me.
“Now, I really do have to go to bed,” I said.
Clair nodded. “Thank you for hanging out. And letting me peer pressure you.”
“You’re welcome. And thank you for being a bad influence.”
She grinned.
“Just wait. Next time we’re going to TP Jared’s mansion.”
I paused.
“I don’t know what that is. TP?”
“Toilet paper?”
“Oh, bog roll.”
“Yeah, sure,” Clair said.
“That sounds straight out of Harry Potter, but great, we can br his mansion. Whatever.”
“It’s going to take a lot more margaritas to get me to do that,” I told her.
We said our goodbyes and I walked away.
As I passed Jared’s table, his eyes lifted and met mine.
For a moment, I felt frozen, caught in his gaze.
He gave me a soft smile that made my stomach bungee jump off a bridge.
I found myself smiling back, my cheeks flushing, before I quickly looked away and hurried out of the cantina.
The walk back to my condo was quiet.
The sound of the waves crashing against the shore was familiar now, but I didn’t think I would ever get tired of hearing it.
Like the heartbeat of the universe.
I had learned a little more about my boss tonight.
It made me even more curious.
Did he dump Gemma because he got bored?
That seemed like something a man like him would do.
Love ‘em and leave ‘em.
Or had she broken his heart, and that was why he avoided romantic entanglements?
It was an interesting question, but it wasn’t the one I needed to be worried about.
The important question was, why did I care so much?