Page 52 of Wild Promises

"How long have you worked here?" Lincoln asked as he looked around at my bare walls. In an ideal world, I would have unpacked my things and placed my degrees on the wall behind me. But I hadn't, and it didn't matter if I was working here temporarily. But it didn't look great. Why would anyone keep me on if I'd only worked here a few weeks?

Panic filled me, making my throat tight. "I just moved back home. I was working as an emergency-room doctor in New York."

Lincoln whistled. "I bet that was busy."

I chuckled. "You have no idea. But I longed for the slow pace of a small-town practice. I like to get to know the patients, in and outside of work. I can follow up with patients here. At the hospital, I'd see them for a few minutes and then never again."

Lincoln leaned forward and clasped his hands. "I have to be honest. It's a little odd that your father isn't giving the practice to you. This feels like a bait and switch. Like he's going to change his mind at any moment and hand it over to you."

“That’s what I wanted when I moved home. In fact, it was the plan when I went to college, then medical school. But I changed my mind and stayed in New York. Dad moved on and made other plans. I don't blame him for looking out for himself."

Lincoln leveled his gaze on me. "But you want more."

I cleared my throat, wishing I had water in my office. "It was always my dream to work here. I hope my honesty doesn't hurt my chances of continuing to work here, should my father offer you the practice."

Lincoln was quiet for a few seconds while my heart galloped in my chest. "I haven't made any decisions yet. But your presence is concerning."

I frowned. "You think my father will back out of the deal?"

"Possibly."

I hadn't considered that my presence would hurt Dad's chances of selling the practice. I wanted him to give it to me, but I also wanted him to get the money he needed for retirement. "Listen, I want the practice, but I can't afford to buy it. I have student loans. You know how it is."

Lincoln nodded. "I do."

"He wants the money for his retirement, and I'd never get in the way of that."

Lincoln nodded. "You're a good daughter."

"I don't feel great that I backed out of my original promise to my father, and I won't do anything to get in the way of what he wants now." Then what was I doing with Xander? If I didn't want to stop the sale and take the practice for myself, what was the point? The voice inside my head reminded me that I wanted to be close to Xander. I was enjoying lunch, the flowers, little touches here and there, and the promise of future kisses.

Lincoln inclined his head slightly. "That's commendable. A lot of people wouldn't do the same."

"I'm not a saint. I just want what's best for my dad." But what if what's best for him wasn't what was best for me? "Tell me about yourself. Where did you work before, and why do you want to own a practice here in Telluride?"

Lincoln leaned back in his chair, relaxing now that the awkward part of the conversation was over. "I worked in a small practice in Denver. I loved the area, but it was a family practice, and I had no chance of ever becoming a partner or co-owner."

That was why he was wary of getting into a similar situation. "I can understand why you're concerned."

Lincoln nodded. "I've been saving up, and it's time for me to make this move now. I want to be a business owner."

"I can understand that. You'll love Telluride. It's a little smaller and quieter than Denver.”

"I think that will be a good thing."

"You'll get to know the people and the community. My dad can't go anywhere without someone stopping to talk to him about their symptoms or recovery."

"That sounds nice, actually."

Lincoln was the perfect buyer. I just wasn't sure he'd let me stay on. "If you were to buy this practice, would you want more doctors?"

"It sounds like you need two or three."

I nodded. "That's right."

"I'd have to see how things worked before I added any additional employees. I wouldn't want to overextend myself."

That meant he wasn't going to keep me on. I stood and smoothed out the wrinkles in my slacks. "I should get back to my patients." I had a few more weeks to enjoy my job before the practice sold and I was out of a job.

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