Page 46 of The Doctor's Simple Life

CHAPTER 22

SIENNA

I’m making my way back to the office when Giselle pulls me aside. “Hey, Sienna, you got a minute?”

Even though I know I can’t be in trouble, the fear of the unknown still churns in my stomach. “Yeah, why?”

“I just need to speak with you for a second. It’s nothing bad.”

We head into one of the back rooms, an office that clearly hasn’t been so much as dusted in weeks, let alone used.

“What’s up?” I ask as we step inside.

She indicates for me to take a seat. I do, and my blood pressure spikes. I know it’s nothing. I know she wouldn’t lie to me, but being pulled to one side always makes me feel like I’m going to get fired. There’s a dumb part of me that starts going through every single thing I’ve done over the last few weeks and trying to figure out which one it is that I’m about to get told off for.

Giselle laughs and shakes her head. “Will you please wipe that worried look off your face? Honestly, Sienna, you’ll know if I’m upset with you because I won’t be smiling. Okay?”

I chuckle nervously. “Then, what is it?”

“Well, as far as I can see, you’re doing an excellent job babysitting our newest hire. I just wanted to hear it from your mouth. How’s it going? How’s he doing? Is his performance up to scratch for our hospital?”

I frown and hum slightly. I can’t exactly tell her what I really think. It’s so unprofessional of me to have even considered sleeping with Reece, let alone actually do it.

I could probably be forgiven, seeing as he’s a temporary member of staff. But what is it they always say about workplace relationships? They always end badly. And I don’t want that to happen with me and Reece. Even if I never speak to him again after he goes back to Miami, at least things won’t be ending badly.

So yes, I do think he’s doing great. And it’s not even because of the sex. He’s become a great doctor here, exactly the kind of person we would want to hire.

“You know what?” I say. “He’s actually doing just fine. He’s way less annoying than I expected. And he’s good at his job. It took him a while to warm up to our way of life, but now I think he’s doing great. I think if he wanted to stay, I would recommend it. Obviously that won’t happen, but I would give him my endorsement.”

Giselle blinks at me, surprised. “Okay, good. Right. That’s not the answer I was expecting you to give at all. I know he’s been softening out lately, but it’s great to hear that you’d be so willing to accept him here with us.”

“I know I sound crazy. He’s just… well, it’s like being taken out of the city has made him into a completely new person.”

“You know it won’t last, don’t you?” Her dark eyes turn stony, and a chill runs down my spine.

“What do you mean?” I ask, although I already know.

She frowns like she’s scrutinizing me, and my heart leaps into my mouth.

She can’t know about us, can she? We’ve been discreet. Well, discreet enough. Never mind about the kisses in the dark corners or that one time we locked the office door and tried our best to be quiet. In hindsight, that probably wasn’t our smartest move.

At least we closed the blinds.

“I know this look on a girl,” Giselle says, her face softening into worry. “And I also know you. I just don’t want to see you hurt. I’d prefer you not to get involved with him, mostly because that’s a paperwork nightmare waiting to happen.”

“I know,” I sigh. The last thing I need right now is a lecture. She can’t tell me anything I don’t already know.

“You know what they say: a leopard never changes his spots. He might seem like a different guy now, but we both remember that guy who first arrived, who acted like we were less than nothing to him. That guy is still inside him somewhere.”

“I know!” I say, folding my arms. Does she think I’m stupid? “What’s your point?”

“I worry about you, hon,” she says gently, reaching out to put her hand on my knee. “I don’t want you to do anything you’ll regret, or anything that’s going to hurt.”

So maybe she doesn’t think I’m stupid. She just wants to protect me. But that doesn’t mean I can’t look after myself. “He’s not going to hurt me.”

Giselle hums, her eyebrows twitching up in disbelief. I purse my lips, trying not to get angry. This isn’t her being nasty. This is my friend disapproving of my taste in men. Somehow, that feels worse.

I double down on my point. “I think he has changed,” I say. “A guy like Reece — he doesn’t pretend to be something he’s not. Guys like that don’t tend to have the brain cells.”

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