Chapter 9
9
Malone
I walk through the clinic with Doug, who beams and says, “Malone, I feel like we could work well together.”
“I do too, sir.”
I want to pat myself on the back. I’m glad that he likes my work so far. I can see myself here, building a career and a practice. It’s exactly the type of place where I’ve always wanted to work. It’s exactly the type of clinic where my father wanted to work.
As Doug outlines the opportunities and how he sees me moving up over time with an eye to taking on a partnership role, I’m more certain than ever that this job is everything I could want.
When we head into his office, before he even sits down at the desk, he turns around and says, “You know what? I’m not going to keep you in suspense. You’re perfect for this job. I’d like to just go ahead and offer it to you.”
He extends a hand, and I shake it. “I accept. I’m thrilled.”
Thrilled is an understatement. I’m beaming inside.
I sit across from him at his desk as I sign the contract. As we review the final details, my eyes land on a picture frame, and it’s like I’m seeing double. As if I’ve slipped into another dimension. Maybe I have been thinking of her too much. Maybe she’s etched into my brain. Because how on earth could her photo be here in his office?
My brain slows. The cogs turn sluggish. Everything is a blur as I try to process the stunning image of Sloane staring at me. I stare right back at her, unable to tear my eyes away.
“How does that sound to you?”
I blink, having no clue what Doug just said. Somehow, I manage to pull my gaze away from the optical illusion—it must be—on his desk. “I’m sorry. I didn’t hear what you said.”
He smiles, nods at the photo. “She’s quite pretty, isn’t she?”
“Yes,” I whisper.
“That’s my daughter, so don’t get any ideas.” He says it playfully, adding a wink, like that softens the warning. But the teasing note only underscores the words. He means what he said.
I swallow past a thousand razor blades in my throat. I need to be certain. “That’s your daughter?”
Please say no. Say this is a massive misunderstanding. Say you’re kidding.
There’s no way that Sloane Elizabeth is the daughter of the man who’s just offered me the job opportunity of a lifetime.
He sighs happily and picks up the photo. “That’s my darling daughter, Sloane. She’s a great girl. You’ll meet her someday. I’m sure you’ll love her.”
The trouble is, I’m pretty sure I already do.
* * *
My heart is numb. I’m going to have to end the most wonderful relationship I’ve ever had before it’s even truly begun.
That night when I see her, we don’t kiss when she gets out of the cab. I tackle it right away. “That job I’ve been interviewing for? It’s with your father.”
Her jaw drops. “Are you kidding me?”
“I only wish I were.”
She purses her lips. “So what does this mean?” Her voice trembles, thick with tears.
And then I can’t resist her. I haul her in for one last kiss. A deep, hungry, needy kiss. A kiss that says I’m sorry . A kiss that says We can’t be together . A kiss that says I wish everything was different .
When I break the kiss, I stroke my fingers down her cheek. “Sloane, I’ve accepted the job. I can’t be involved with my boss’s daughter.”
She nods, taking it on the chin, understanding completely. “That would be a mistake.”
“I hope you know I’ll always look back on this last week with?—”
She holds up her hand, shakes her head. “Don’t say it. I have to go.”
I let her leave, with her voice breaking, her shoulders sagging.
But what else can I do? Life is full of choices. This is the one I’m making right now. Even though, as she walks away, I already feel like a boat taking on water, sinking in a sea of regret.
Seven years later, I see her on this very same street where I’m faced with another choice…
Malone and Sloane’s story continues in Satisfaction Guaranteed !