Page 20 of Storm Bound
Adam
It couldn’t be. No, no, it simply couldn’t.
“Is this a prank?” I asked, turning to Ava, then back to Charlie. “Didja follow me yesterday and decide to play a prank on me?”
I mean, it was funny, I guess, but I couldn’t see it now. Maybe I could laugh at it later.
“Nope, no pranks here. I thought you were working in New Harlow,” Charlie said with a shake of his head, biting his lower lip.
“I didn’t think you’d know where Cedarwood Beach is,” I said.
“Do you two know each other?” Ava asked.
“Uhm…” I said.
“Kind of,” Charlie said.
I glanced from him to her, back and forth, until the realization sunk in.
“So... this isn’t a prank?” I said, completely deflating.
“Afraid not, Dr. Adam,” Charlie said and made an attempt at a smile, but he looked equally awkward about this.
I knew everything about him was too good to be true. I knew there had to be a catch. And boy, what a catch it was.
He was my employee. In a small town. My new home. Surrounded by people who didn’t know me or anything about my life. People whose trust I needed to earn.
Uncle warned me about this only yesterday. To be careful of the rumor mill. Well, that rumor mill was going to have a hell of a time if I started hooking up with my nurse. And working in a hospital all my life, I knew how rumors spread. First, it started with whispers. Then it grew to glares, and then next thing I knew, I was being vilified for taking advantage of my young protégé.
And that was without taking homophobia into account. It was all well and good when I thought Charlie would be in New Harlow. The city had a reputation for its acceptance of all colors of the rainbow. But a small town in the middle of nowhere in Virginia? I was sure it wasn’t as open-minded.
As much as I liked the guy, Charlie was off-limits, that was what he was. He was too precious to hide in the shadows, and I couldn’t screw things up before I’d even settled in the place that was supposed to be my new home for the next few years, if not the rest of my life.
“So… we get to work together,” Charlie said. “Is that going to be okay with you?”
I nodded and turned my back to him to find something, anything, to keep myself busy.
“Yes, of course. Why wouldn’t it be?” I said, spotting a coat hanger and approaching it to hang up my coat.
Doing so gave me the opportunity to recompose myself and take a few deep breaths before turning around to face the two people in the room.
“I’m so sorry. I’ve been so rude. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Ava. How many appointments do I have today?” I asked, starting with the easiest thing to control.
Because facing Charlie or having a conversation with him was way too intimidating right now.
Ava didn’t look away from me when she told me I had a full schedule. Hopefully that meant she was good at her job and wasn’t just an airhead Uncle Noah hired for the view.
“And what time is the first one?”
“Half an hour,” she said, again not needing to advise her computer or any of the paperwork in front of her.
“Perfect,” I said, clapping my hands together. “That gives us half an hour to get ready. Do you think you can give us a tour of the place so that we know where the basic stuff is?”
I quickly glanced at Charlie, who just nodded in agreement of my plan, and Ava shot up from her chair.
“Of course. Follow me. I still can’t believe Dr. Becker left without a proper handover,” she said as she walked around her desk. “I was shocked when I came into the office this morning and found his note.”
“Yeah, well, that’s my uncle for you. He’s always been very… self-centered. He doesn’t mean to be, but still...”
