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“What’s going on with your lunch?” Mattie’s pink-and-purple lunch box was open, leftover contents and containers spread on the ground. Lucy knelt, helping her put the items back inside.
“One of the boys kicked my lunch box on the bus and everything fell out.”
At Mattie’s quiet explanation, Lucy’s outrage spiked a few degrees. “Sounds like I should pay a visit to your school bus tomorrow.”
The girl’s smile was like the sun coming out from behind clouds. “It’s okay. He doesn’t bug me very often. My dad said he was going to pick me up so I didn’t have to ride the bus today, but he must have forgot.”
Oh, be still her heart. No matter how much Lucy didn’t like Graham right now, she knew he’d never forget Mattie. “I don’t think he forgot, sweetie. I think he just had a busy morning.”
Lucy barely resisted scooping the girl up in a big hug. They closed the lunch box and stood, slipping it into Mattie’s backpack.
After Graham and Mattie had left the other night, Olivia had told Lucy that Graham’s wife had passed away from cystic fibrosis at a young age—only in her twenties. Since then, it sounded like Graham pretty much worked and took care of Mattie.
As if her thoughts had summoned him, Graham came out of the office and jogged to his car, the beep-beep from his key fob interrupting the quiet. Since he was parked on the other side of the building, he didn’t notice them.
Lucy and Mattie shared a grin. “Told you he didn’t forget. Think we should stop him or let him go?”
“Let him go.”
Lucy laughed. “I’m not sure whether to be impressed or shocked.”
That earned her a giggle.
The thought was tempting. A trip to school and subsequent freak-out would serve Graham right. Smothering her impulse to let him suffer a bit, Lucy called out to him across the lot. He looked in their direction, shoulders sagging when he saw Mattie.
Since his adorable daughter was standing next to her, Lucy would figure out how to talk to Graham in a civilized manner. She would put on her maturity cape—at least, until no little ears were listening—and if she could manage it, beyond that.
He came over, dropped in front of his daughter and pulled her into a hug. Lucy ignored the tug on her heart. I will not like Graham. I will not soften toward him. When Graham buried his face in Mattie’s hair and inhaled as if he wouldn’t live another second without smelling her, Lucy lost the battle. The chant wasn’t working.
“Did you take the bus?”
Mattie nodded.
“Why didn’t you wait? I told you I’d come get you.”
“It’s okay, Dad. I didn’t mind.”
Graham ran a hand through his hair, causing the dark locks to stick out in every direction and reminding Lucy of a young boy. She skipped over the thought, concentrating instead on the irritation she’d felt inside the office minutes ago.
“Next time, just wait for me, okay?”
The small shrug told Lucy Mattie’s answer was far more of a “we’ll see” than a “yes.” Lucy liked the girl more and more by the moment. If only Mattie didn’t have that look marring her features. Lucy couldn’t figure out if she was sad or serious or both.
“Why don’t you go inside and find Danielle?” Graham spoke to Mattie. “I’ll be in in a sec.”
“Okay. ’Bye, Ms. Lucy.”
So they’d gone formal. Lucy offered Mattie a fist bump, which she answered with a small nudge.
Graham watched Mattie go inside before facing Lucy. She fought the temptation to squirm, knowing she hadn’t done anything wrong. It might have looked strange to find Hunter behind her desk, but Graham could have given her the benefit of the doubt. He could have let her explain.
Instead, he thought she was so unprofessional that she’d throw herself at one of his patients.
Lucy sent up an SOS prayer that she’d be able to talk to Graham in a mature manner and that God would show her how to handle this conversation. After Graham had walked away from her inside, Lucy hadn’t even considered asking God for guidance. She’d just followed her instincts. She was horrible at remembering to pray for help, usually barreling forward without stopping to think. Certainly without stopping to pray.
But in this situation, Lucy needed all of the direction she could get. Because not only was she at a loss for what to do if this job didn’t work out, she’d never been very good at keeping her thoughts to herself.
* * *
When Graham had realized Lucy was no longer inside the office, he’d wondered if she’d just left to grab some lunch...or if she’d taken off, never planning to return. After the way he’d acted, Graham wouldn’t blame her if she had bolted.
Hunter had told Graham what had happened and why he’d been behind Lucy’s desk. A very simple explanation. If only the sight hadn’t sent Graham into thinking the worst.
He’d jumped to conclusions and been a jerk. Now he was going to have to grovel. The thought almost tugged a smile from his lips. He hadn’t groveled in ages—not since Brooke. Though, even then, it had been more in teasing. They’d had a good relationship, not the constant back-and-forth bickering that some couples were prone to. Which was exactly why Graham didn’t expect to have anything like it again.
But he did have a bit of experience in apologizing. What husband didn’t?
“About earlier.”
She crossed her arms, gaze defiant.
“I’m sorry for my reaction. I was short with you and I jumped to conclusions.”
When she opened her mouth, he braced for her to be angry with him. Instead, like a slowly deflating balloon, her shoulders lowered. “Okay.”
Not exactly accepting his apology, but he’d take it for now.
On to the second order of business. Before he asked her to stay, Graham needed to know what had transpired at her old job. But he had the feeling she wasn’t going to like his prying. “Lucy, what happened at the dance school you worked at in Colorado?”
“I don’t want to talk about it.” She mumbled a word that sounded a lot like mature. After fidgeting with the collar of her green dress, she let loose a frustrated exhalation. “Why do you want to know?”
“If you’re going to be working here, and I’m going to trust you, I need to know.”
“But I’m not—” Her sigh scattered across the parking lot. “Fine. It’s not like I did anything bad there. I worked at the same school for years and loved it, but when they sold to new owners, we couldn’t get along.”
“Why not?”
A man could spend years deciphering the emotions that flickered through her gorgeous blue eyes. Graham focused on her mouth instead, but that didn’t help. Her lips pressed together, broadcasting frustration with his questions.
“They were so into the correct dance positions, they were cruel. I mean, I get that they wanted to win competitions. What school doesn’t? But they pushed too far. They were way too strict on all of the age groups, but especially the beginner’s classes. Those little girls are there to learn to love dance, not to do a perfect pliе at age four.”
“That’s it?”
“Um, kind of.”
“Lucy.”
“I confronted them about it, asking them to change the way they were treating the students. It didn’t go over well. They said I didn’t have the right attitude to be one of their teachers. That’s when I knew I couldn’t continue working there, so I packed up and moved.”
Huh. Graham had thought there might be a skeleton in her closet. Instead, she’d been a defender for the young girls in her classes. Wouldn’t he want someone to do the same for Mattie if she were in a class like that? He’d definitely had Lucy pegged as something she wasn’t.
This woman surprised him. And Graham wanted her to stay working for him. In one morning, she’d accomplished more than any of the temps. His patients even liked her, and they reacted to change as though he was trying to personally offend them.
“Lucy, will you consider coming back to work?”
She rubbed her arms. “I’m not a huge fan of yours right now.”
“I’m not a huge fan of myself right now.”
Those lips curved ever so slightly. “You know, I wasn’t doing anything inappropriate with Hunter. I’d been standing on the chair—”
“I know. He told me. I overreacted.” And seeing his hands on you...hadn’t bothered Graham in the least. Lucy was too young for him to be thinking about her in that way. Plus, besides his other list of reasons, she was his employee. Possibly his employee.
“I’ll get a stool.”
Her head tilted, loose curls cascading over her right shoulder as she studied him. “Why do you want me to stay, anyway?”
“You dealt with this morning’s chaos better than the temps I’ve had in, and they had experience. All I’ve heard today is how delighted everyone is with you.”
Lucy’s eyes narrowed. “But I didn’t get anything done this morning but handling the phone.”
“But you did handle it.”
She didn’t look convinced, but at least she wasn’t running for her car. “I’m not exactly qualified for this position.” Her hand flew through her hair with agitation, sending the locks bouncing. One finger pointed at him. “You can’t just throw me into a medical office and expect me to have a clue what I’m doing. You have to give me some time to adjust and figure things out.”
“I—”
“And you have to at least try to like me. I’m not asking you to fall in love with me—” Good to know since that definitely wasn’t on Graham’s to-do list. “But you could at least make an attempt to get along. People don’t usually have such a hard time with me.”
That was exactly what he was afraid of. Lucy had this energy, this essence that just attracted people to her. Graham felt the tug, too, though he didn’t plan to pursue anything more than a work relationship. A friendly work relationship. That he could handle.
“I accept your terms.”
“Really? You’re not just saying that?”
He raised his right hand. “I pledge to not be a jerk.” He winced. “I’ll do my best. And I really mean what I’m saying.”
Lucy’s eyes began to twinkle. “Do you think we can get one purse a month thrown into my salary?”
“No.”
“How about one for the whole of Hollie’s maternity leave?”
“No.” His lips twitched.
“We could call it a briefcase, make it a business expense.”
“Lucy.” He groaned. What was he going to do with this woman? He wasn’t sure whether to laugh or run in the other direction.
Her shoulders inched up. “I would try to keep bargaining for more, but we both know I’m not that valuable of a commodity. I don’t want to ruin my chances.”
He had a feeling she would be more valuable—to his office—than she realized. Now that he was over his misconceptions, Graham felt relieved he’d found a fill-in for Hollie that his patients liked.
“I think we should shake on it. Graham Redmond, you promise to be patient with me as I figure out this job—and give me a real chance this time—and I’ll do my best to be professional.”
Lucy offered her hand.
“I already pledged an oath.”
She raised one eyebrow, waiting.
Fine. Graham would shake on it. He cupped her hand in his. It was warm and soft and definitely didn’t make him think about a business deal.
He pulled his hand back. Scrubbed it against his pants.
She was right. He hadn’t really given her a chance. He’d been expecting her to fail. But Graham should know by now he was the one who excelled in the failure department.
He’d definitely made mistakes with Brooke. He’d loved her. That much he’d got right. But he hadn’t been able to save her. He’d known when he married Brooke there were risks. She’d had cystic fibrosis, but she’d been on medication and always done well. Until her lungs had got worse and worse. Even then, Graham had assumed he could help her, that she’d get better.
They’d married young—just out of college. She’d worked, putting him through medical school. And then they’d found out Brooke was unexpectedly pregnant. At first, Graham had been shocked. He’d been a wreck. Would Brooke’s body handle the pregnancy okay? How would they make it? How would he provide? He’d planned to quit medical school until Brooke had given him a verbal slap, knocking him back to reality. She’d told him it would be fine.
And she’d been right.
At least for a while. They’d welcomed Mattie into the world, and Graham had fallen for her just as he had her mother. The years of residency had begun. Brooke had been a rock. Working, taking care of Mattie and shining like never before. Motherhood had fit her. Both of their parents had helped out as much as they could while living over an hour away. Things had settled in again. He’d been months from finishing his residency when Brooke got sick.
Graham should have been able to save her. He should have had the knowledge. He’d pushed her doctors for every detail, searched for answers himself—any treatment options they might be missing. But in the end, it hadn’t been enough. He hadn’t been enough. She’d faded quickly, no matter what he’d done. No matter what he’d prayed.
He still didn’t know how he’d made it through those last months of residency without her. Prayers and family had carried him. Graham had come out stumbling. He’d followed through on his and Brooke’s plan to move back to Fredericksburg and open a clinic near both of their parents, missing her as though part of his heart had been surgically removed.
He’d done it for Mattie. Graham would do anything for Mattie. Which was why he’d continued to practice medicine while doubts about his abilities as a doctor assailed him.
If he thought too much about Brooke, about how he’d failed her and been unable to save her, then he wanted to crawl into bed and never come out.
Instead, Graham focused on Mattie. Her needs before his. He kept putting one foot in front of the other, hoping the whole town wouldn’t notice he’d fallen flat on his face two years before.
“You still with me, Hollywood?” Lucy’s question interrupted his sprint down memory lane. She’d moved closer, about a foot away, bringing the scent of lime and coconut with her.
“Hollywood?”
Her lips lifted. “So, you can hear me. I wasn’t sure for a minute.”
A light breeze tousled her hair, and Lucy pulled her curls to one side while the hem of her skirt flitted above her knees.
For a second, Graham questioned his sanity, asking Lucy to keep working for him. He only knew his decision had nothing to do with her looks and everything to do with his medical office. Lucy was good at the position—okay, maybe good was too strong a word at this point. She had the potential to do well, and that was what mattered.
Besides, it wasn’t as if he was in love with the woman. He could simply admit she was beautiful and leave it at that. Anyone meeting Lucy would think the same.
Relief slid down his spine. A bit of attraction? That he could handle. He wasn’t signing up for anything more than a businesslike friendship with Lucy Grayson.
