Page 9 of The Doctor's Simple Life

Then I turn back to our patient, who’s clutching the paper in her hand with the most baffled look I’ve ever seen. “Mrs. Oakton, let me show you out. Do you need to take my arm?”

“No, hon,” she says with a weak smile. “I’m sure I can manage today.”

I guide her out of the room, offering her my arm anyway, knowing she’ll take it if it’s there.

“How long is Dr. Westbrook staying?” Mrs. Oakton asks.

“Just a month,” I say, swallowing a breath of relief. It’s hard not to be happy that his time here has a hard limit.

“And you have to look after him that whole time?”

I nod unhappily. I probably shouldn’t be letting on to a patient, but Mrs. Oakton is basically a friend at this point.

“Just you take care of yourself,” she says. “Don’t let him get the best of you.”

“I won’t,” I say, trying to smile.

She pats my hand. “I know you won’t. You’re a good girl, Sienna Hale.”

“I’ll see you soon,” I say as I deposit her in the reception area.

We have more people to get through, but I quickly dart over to the receptionist and ask her if she’ll give us a few minutes.

I need to speak to Reece. Alone.

I rush back down the corridor, and when I get back to the room, I shut the door behind me. “What the hell was that about?” I snap.

“What was what?” he says. If I didn’t know better, I would think he was being contrary on purpose. But no, his ignorance of his rudeness is true. I don’t know if that makes this better or worse.

“You’ve got to be kinder to people here. This isn’t the city. I know none of this matters to you, but it matters to me. It matters to us. So all I’m asking is that you just show the people here the most basic iota of respect. Can you do that?”

“I am,” he says, his eyebrows furrowing like he’s genuinely confused. “Didn’t I just help her?”

“It wouldn’t hurt you to smile.”

He glares at me. “Last time I said that I got a verbal warning.”

It takes all I have not to groan in frustration. “I’m not saying it because you’re a man or anything else. I’m saying it because the people here expect a slightly more personal level of care. That’s all. Obviously, you can treat people however you want. I’m not the boss of you. I would just like it if my client base would still talk to me once you’re gone. That’s all.”

He does an awful mock salute. “You got it, ma’am,” he says, mimicking my accent, making fun of it. I shake my head and turn away.

Yes. If Reece was a kind man, he would be an absolute dreamboat. But he’s not. He’s intolerable.

Four more weeks.

We’re both doing the same countdown.

I just hope it’ll be over before we know it.

CHAPTER 5

REECE

On day one, I thought Sienna was pranking me with the paper charts and the pagers and the genuine friendliness that she was showing to everyone.

On day two. I thought they were really committing to the bit.

Today. I’m starting to realize it is one hundred percent real.

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