Chapter 4
Chapter Four
As Lottie walked along, she enjoyed the smells of freshly brewed coffee and warm donuts from the local coffee shop. Checking her watch she saw she had time to pop in.
“May I help you?” asked the counter girl.
“Yes. Can I get a double blondie over ice? I’ll also take an assorted dozen donuts.”
Lottie sighed, shifting her weight from one foot to the other as she waited for her order. It wasn’t the time that had her squirming, it was what waited for her at work. Razor.
Today she was working the early morning shift with Razor. The man drove her crazy with his light blue eyes and his tattoos. She wasn’t short but even in stilettos he towered over her, making her feel soft dare she say delicate.
She was interested in every single inch of the man, but that’s where things stood. The interest ended at just watching him from afar.
Since Sway’s attack she had dated a couple of times.
Only once had she tried to get intimate.
It had been the hotel train wreck three nights ago.
At least she hadn’t gone to jail for drunk driving.
That had nothing to do with her being smart.
It had everything to do with her dropping her keys and locking herself out of the car. Thank God for small favors.
Shaking herself she tried enjoying her surroundings.
The coffee shop buzzed with the hum of quiet chatter and the sound of steam wisping from the espresso machine, but it did little to calm her nerves.
Her mind went straight back to Razor, knowing he’d be waiting to question her again about the hotel parking lot.
Letting out a sigh she decided there was nothing she could do about it but let it go for the moment.
“Your order, miss.”
Lottie smiled and handed over her debit card.
Lottie thanked the young woman as she headed for the door. The smell of fresh espresso and dark roasted coffee drifted from the cafe as she stepped out.
The narrow cobblestone streets were quieter in the morning, the city beginning to wake beneath a bright sky. Cool air carried the smell of warm bread, butter, and pastries fresh from ovens.
Nearby restaurants carried traces of garlic, herbs, and stock simmering low in their kitchens as they prepped for the day. Yes, she truly loved being in the city. There was something about walking through Old city with its boutiques, pubs, and restaurants.
Tucking the bag under her arm she took a deep breath, letting the city's scents and sounds wash over her.
The hustle and bustle of early morning traffic, the occasional distant honk of a car horn, the faint chatter of pedestrians—all of it felt familiar and comforting.
She loved the cobblestone streets and quaint architecture.
There was history in every corner, and the mix of modern life with the charm of older buildings made the area feel timeless.
She walked past a boutique window, catching a glimpse of a delicate dress. The vibrant colors stood out against the otherwise muted tones of the city streets. The old pubs lining the street added to the atmosphere, giving off an inviting warmth, especially on chilly mornings like this one.
Beneath it all sat the damp smell of old stone and river water rising from the Old Port, mixing with the crisp morning air.
As Lottie passed by a small bakery, the aroma of cinnamon, sugar, and maple lingered from freshly baked bread and pastries made her stomach rumble.
She couldn't resist stopping for a moment to peek inside.
It was the kind of place where the owners knew their customers by name, and you could always count on them for a friendly greeting.
The thought made her smile, but her mind quickly shifted back to her day. Work was waiting and she’d wasted enough time dragging her feet.
She didn’t rush, the clinic was a few blocks down and on the next street over.
Cutting down the side street she could see the clinic’s sign swinging ever so softly in the cool morning breeze. Taking a deep breath she walked the half block determined to deal with whatever came her way.
Stepping through the doorway of the clinic, Lottie closed her eyes after seeing the waiting room packed to the brim.
Taking a calming breath, she opened her eyes giving the patients a smile as she made her way towards the back.
Giving the receptionist a nod, the girl met her at the door and opened it for her.
“Thanks,” Lottie said as she eased into the hallway. “I brought donuts from Dough Lish.”
“Oh, yum, I love their donuts.”
“Well, I have a dozen.”
“I’ll take them to the breakroom for you. Dr. Clermont is already here.”
Of course he was early. “I’ll pull the client folders.” And that was how her day started.
“Lottie, what are you doing? We have a waiting room full of patients to see.”
Turning she smiled at Razor. “Yes, sir.”
Dropping her backpack and purse behind the counter, she clipped on her ID. Knowing the drill, she went straight to work picking up the first patient file. Opening the door, she called out the name on the folder and greeted the first of what would be many cases.
Lottie’s routine was familiar, but no less demanding.
The clinic was always a whirlwind of energy…
patients coming and going, the hum of quiet conversation mixed with the sound of phones ringing.
She didn’t mind the chaos. In fact, she thrived on it.
But the constant stream of people meant she had to stay sharp, focused, and above all, calm.
“Ms. Pricher,” Lottie called into the waiting room, her voice warm but professional.
She kept her eyes on the folder in her hand as the patient approached, her mind already half-anticipating the details of the case.
She had seen Ms. Pricher a few times before, a chronic case of mooning over the good-looking doctor was what the woman had.
"Hello, Ms. Pricher," Lottie greeted with a smile as the older woman entered the room. "How are you feeling today?"
Ms. Pricher settled into the chair, glancing around the room with mild discomfort before answering. "Better, I think. Though the pain’s been coming and going more frequently." She winced as she shifted, clearly not fully at ease.
Lottie nodded, already flipping through the file to pull up the necessary information. "Let’s check everything. Dr. Clermont will be in shortly to do a more thorough examination."
As she began the usual series of questions and vitals, Lottie’s mind wandered briefly to the donuts waiting in the breakroom. Maybe when she had a moment, she could grab one. Or two.
The door to the exam room opened, and Dr. Clermont stepped inside, his crisp white coat making him look even more authoritative. His eyebrows furrowed slightly as he adjusted his glasses and looked at Lottie.
“Everything okay with this one?” he asked, though his tone was more conversational than interrogative.
"Just getting her vitals," Lottie replied, smiling politely. “No major changes since last time, but I’ll leave the rest to you.”
Razor nodded, giving Ms. Pricher a reassuring smile as he took over the examination. Lottie quietly stepped back, preparing herself for the patient.
As she glanced over the list, she mentally braced for the hustle ahead. It was only a matter of time before Razor would check in to see if she was keeping pace. He always kept a sharp eye on everything, especially on days like this when the clinic was busy.
Still, even with the never-ending stream of tasks and patients, Lottie found a certain rhythm to it all, a rhythm that felt like second nature after all this time.
"Alright, Ms. Pricher, I think you’re fine, just a little indigestion,” Dr. Clermont said, finishing up his notes. Standing up, Razor let the patient know that Nurse McDaniels would be in shortly to take her to the front.
Opening the door he dropped the file in the box and let Lottie know the patient was ready to go.
Lottie opened the door, “Right this way, Ms. Pricher.”
Holding the door open, she stepped back waiting for the patient to walk with her to the front. As she did, her stomach gave a small grumble, reminding her that she missed her opportunity to eat a donut.
The rest of the morning passed in a blur of patients and appointments, but her thoughts kept returning to that fleeting moment with Razor when he brought her home.
It was a quiet storm building inside her.
A mix of attraction, curiosity, and the certainty that nothing would ever happen.
At least, not unless something inside her brain decided to switch gears.
As lunch approached, she found herself standing by the breakroom door watching the small group of nurses chat and laugh.
She couldn’t remember the last time she had felt completely relaxed in her own skin, but for now, the only thing that mattered was getting through the day.
Still, a part of her couldn't shake the feeling that, sooner or later, something would happen. And maybe it wasn’t just work she was distracting herself from.
“Nurse McDaniels, I need to speak with you.” Razor tapped a patient folder against his hip.
“Now?”
“Yes. Now.”
Sighing, Lottie followed Razor towards the office. She ran through all the patients they’d seen that morning and couldn’t think of anything she’d missed or done wrong.
But the way he held the red folder firmly, tapping it ever so slightly against his hip, made her think she’d screwed up something.
Razor pushed the office door open and held it. “Come in and have a seat.”
She wanted to be flippant, but didn’t have it in her. She’d listen to the lecture she was sure was coming and go back to work.
Dropping into an empty chair, she watched him move around the room then skirt the desk with ease. The red folder slapped against the wood as he dropped it on the desk. The sound was stark against the quiet of the room.
Razor took a seat as he stared at Lottie. He needed her to talk to him. If not him, someone. “How are you?”
Lottie raised an eyebrow at him. “Is this an evaluation or have I done something wrong?”
“I’d like to think we’re friends and that if you needed to talk to someone… you’d come to me.”
Lottie laughed. She hadn’t meant to but damn, the man was trying to be her friend and her counselor.
“I told you thanks for driving me home. I don’t have anything to talk about… with you.”
Razor nodded his head. “Why were you at the hotel?”
“Why don’t you ask Hemlock?”
He knew she was trying to get a reaction. “Hemlock was with a woman, and it wasn’t you.”
Okay, if he wanted to pry into her life she would let him. Lottie was sure Razor didn’t want to know all about her escapades with other men—attempted escapades, she reminded herself.
“Do you really want to know?”
Keeping his face void of emotion he nodded. “I asked, didn’t I?”
Lottie crossed her arms over her chest and stared at him. “I met a guy there.”
“Where was he when we arrived?”
She let out a sigh, he wasn’t letting it go. He should but it seems he wanted all the information. So she lied. “It was a casual hookup. He’d already left by the time I headed for my car.”
Razor’s jaw ticked and she knew he didn’t like what she’d said. Well, if he wanted her to not see other men, Razor should do something to change it.
“Maybe next time don’t drink so much. Maybe the guy will stick around.”
“Asshole.”
Shoving out of the chair Lottie pulled the office door open and walked out. She wanted to slam the door. Instead, she closed it without making a scene. Standing in the hallway she thought about that night and struggled to stop the tears from welling up.
Rushing down the hall she ducked into an unoccupied patient room and fell apart.