Page 125 of It's a Wonderful Knife
“I wanted to get you something you really needed.”
I sighed. “Thank you, Royce. Honestly, this is the nicest gift I’ve ever received.” I turned the key over in my fingers. “I actually have a car.”
“Yep.” He grinned. “I even had it detailed. It looks like a new car.”
“Maybe we should take it for a spin?” I raised my brows.
He grimaced. “Uh, probably not tonight. We’ve both had a lot to drink.”
“Oh, yeah. True.”
“Tomorrow.”
“Okay,” I said softly. “Can I see it?”
“Of course.”
We went outside and, sure enough, there was a strange car in the driveway. I ran my fingers along the smooth paint and shook my head. “I can’t believe you bought me a car.”
“I hope you don’t feel like I overstepped?”
“What? No. Not at all. I’m just struggling with my old habit of keeping things even.”
“Max,” his voice rumbled. “You know we don’t operate like that.”
“I know.” I smiled.
He moved closer and kissed me. I returned the kiss, feeling happier than I’d ever felt before.
“Did you have a good Christmas, Max?” he asked softly, watching me closely as if he actually thought my response might be negative.
“I can honestly say I’ve never had a better Christmas.” I touched his cheek. “I can see now why people look forward to the holidays. I’m already looking forward to next Christmas.”
“Yeah?” He smiled. “You know what I’m looking forward to?” I shook my head. “Spraying that cologne on to all sorts of inventive places.”
I gave a giddy laugh and leaned in to kiss him.
****
Two days later, it was time to think about going back to work. I really didn’t want to go. I hadn’t been able to get hold of Mrs. Numi because of the holidays, so I still wasn’t a hundred percent sure if what Susan had told me was true.
Royce had already gone to work, and I was sitting in the kitchen drinking coffee. I was considering just taking the bull by the horns and confronting River. When we’d been at Giggly Elves Farm, he’d said he wanted us to be friends. He’d tried to discourage me from rebuilding. Why? Had all of that been because he’d bought the land where my clinic was? Or was Susan’s information wrong, and he truly had just been extending an olive branch?
If River really was scheming against me, why would Lucas go along with any of that? He didn’t seem like the same kind of person as River. Ialmostliked him. But if he was besties with a man like River, he couldn’t be a great person.
The doorbell rang, and I scowled. Grumpy was barking, his little huff rising. I didn’t want to talk to a salesperson right now. I decided to ignore it, but when they rang again, only more insistently, I got up. Maybe it was an emergency or something. Everyone in Rainy Dale knew I was staying with Royce.
When I opened the door, the mailman stood there. “I’m looking for a Dr. Maxwell Thornton?”
“That’s me.” I frowned.
“I have a certified letter for you to sign, if you’ll be so kind.” He smiled politely.
“Uh, sure.” I signed on the line he pointed to.
He handed me the letter. “You have a nice day now.” He turned and headed back to his mail truck.
I closed the door and stared at the letter. It had my name and Royce’s address, but there was no indication of who it was from. Frowning, I tore the envelope open, and my mouth fell open at what I saw. The words “Three-day notice to pay rent or quit” jumped out at me.
“What the hell is this?” I rasped. I’d been paying rent to River and to the landlords where my clinic was located, faithfully.
I scanned the document and saw that the tenant address was for my old clinic. But my heart dropped when I saw that instead of the usual address in Florida for my landlord, the name River Martin LLC was in that spot. With hands shaking, I gaped with fury and disbelief at the documents.
That SOB River was threatening to evict me.
