Page 38 of A Twist of Faith
“You always covered my classes well. I’ve no doubt you’ll excel with your teaching and I’m happy you find the other faculty members equal to your standards.”
She shifted in her chair, uncomfortable with the subtle criticism to the faculty in her department, but hadn’t she shared those exact sentiments a few weeks ago? No wonder people found her difficult and controlling.
“Are you enjoying the natives?”
Visions of the Mitchells around their family table forced their way through her self-examination. “They’ve been very kind to me.”
“Have they?” His eyes grew wide. “Well, that’s a surprise, isn’t it? Even the interesting landlady you were worried about?”
Heat rose to Dee’s cheeks. Her own thoughts reflected back in vivid and arrogant detail hammering the truth of her revelation into place. She was on the fast track, all right—to becoming a person she despised.Bitter, arrogant, and alone.
She focused on her desk and blinked at the papers in front of her. No, she didn’t want to be that person. She shook her head and pushed a file toward Alex. “Here are my adjusted plans based on my new clinic opportunities.”
“Thanks. I’ll give these to Dr. Lindsay.”
He nodded, stood, and flipped open the file, pacing the floor in his infuriating way which resembled a vulture. Circling prey.
No, wait. Dee brought her criticism to a halt and reexamined Alex Murdock: designer slacks fit to perfection, green oxford with the top button left fashionably undone, and golden hair sculpted to DaVinci precision. He really wasn’t a vulture. Arrogant, condescending, fairly selfish, but three weeks ago, his lifestyle and goals would have matched hers without question.
And now? She wasn’t the same. Not inside. Or maybe, she’d finally seen herself. But who was she? Beyond the years of focused study, self-denial, isolation, and lonely memories, who was left? She almost shuddered at silence’s answer.
Perhaps, more hid beneath Alex’s behavior too.
Alex turned to her, as if he’d read her thoughts, his green gaze direct. “You shouldn’t be surprised at your progress, Dee. You’re married to your work, like me. Without family to distract us, we’ll become one of those great researchers we admire in record speed.”
The swell of pride ebbed in Dee’s chest.Then what?Her father wasn’t here to share in her success, her brother remained distant at best, and her mother? She’d barely spoken to her mother since she graduated from high school.
“And speaking of research …”
Dee looked up.
Alex returned to the seat across from her and leaned in. “I still haven’t received those remaining cases from you.”
Nope, he was a vulture.
She closed in to meet his challenge, hands flatted against her desk. “I have seven weeks.”
His lips twisted into a lopsided grin which probably proved to dissuade quite a few ladies in the past. She remained unmoved. “So you’re still going along with our little wager?”
“I thought the agreement was clear. Do you want to forfeit?”
Surprise flickered in his eyes and slowly transformed into an elfish glimmer. “Not at all. In fact, I have a gesture of goodwill.” He pulled two tickets from his pocket and tossed them on the desk. “A trial, so to speak.”
“Trial?” Dee picked up the tickets and frowned.Football?
“Dr. Lindsay’s husband is good friends with Virginia Tech’s head coach. She gave me four tickets to the UVA/Virginia Tech game in two weeks. Seats in the VIP box.”
Dee smoothed her thumb across the tickets. Her heartbeat stuttered. Trial? No one mentioned anything about a trial.
“Show up. Give him a practice run.” He shoved his hands into his pockets like a cheerful schoolboy and walked to the door. “Put him under pressure, and see how he does. Then you’ll have an idea if your treatment is really working or not.”
“I don’t need to prove anything to you.”
“Prove anything tome?” His brows shot skyward. “I could care less, but Dr. Lindsay will be right beside you in the box. Plenty of time to chat about your plans. Your research. Charlottesville?”
A knock turned both of them toward the office door. Rainey leaned in, her smile more welcome than Ma Mitchell’s cooking … at present.
“Hey, Dee, sorry to interrupt. I just wanted to see if you had lunch plans.”
