“I’ve seen killers look less guilty. What have you been up to?” Before I have to answer, Spring comes out and groans.
“I’m so sorry I got you in trouble, Poppy. I’m sure he’ll get over it.”
Forcing a smile, I push the papers into a stack and pretend to file them. “It’s fine. He’s not that bad. His bark is worse than his bite.”
Clay eyes the two of us sharply. “Should I even ask?”
“Nope,” Spring chirps.
“Gotcha. See ya later, Poppy.”
Sighing deeply, I gather my things up, hoping to sneak out before the doc gets done and comes out here.
But before I can, he calls from the back. “Poppy. Before you leave, I need to see you for a few minutes.”
I close my eyes and then go face the music.
CHAPTER2
Frederick
“Yeah, we’ll be out soon. Everything seems alright so I don’t expect to see any issues and she should be good to go. Right, right. No, it’s no problem. See you later.”
I hang up the phone just as Poppy walks in the door. Her sweet scent hits my nose and I clench my teeth so tight I can feel my jaw crack.
“Nurse Jones. Perhaps you could tell me why you were out there gossiping when you should be working?”
“Spring just mentioned it. I didn’t ask anything.” She scowls at me and I can’t stop thinking about the few times I’ve seen her smile. It lights up her green eyes and makes everything about her sparkle. Since I started, I haven’t seen it very often. But then again, I don’t want to.
I don’t want to get close to anyone. I just want to do my job and go home. Nothing more, nothing less.
And women? No, thank you. I’ve already had so many dropping in to try and find out my intentions or drop off a casserole or invite me to a scintillating night of Bingo at the town hall.
I don’t need or want any of it. I just want to be left alone. But Poppy stirs something else deep inside me that I hoped I’d never feel again and it fucking pisses me off. I just want to stay dead inside and instead she keeps sticking her perfect little nose into my life.
Just like the little gossip session with Mrs. Castle. I know they’re friends and it might have been the patient that brought it up but she didn’t put a stop to it.
“Maybe you could have acted a little less interested. I didn’t see you shutting it down.”
She hangs her head low, so I can’t see in her pretty jade eyes surrounded by dark lashes. “I’m sorry about that,” she grunts. “I guess I was surprised.”
My lip curls. “Yes, I could see that. Not sure how anybody could marry me and deal with my issues and temper.”
A brick-red flush paints her ivory cheeks and hides the freckles on her nose. “Not my finest moment for sure. But still. I’d like to just forget about it if we can.”
“Perhaps. But I’d appreciate it if you could keep the gossip about me to a minimum. I know that a bunch of women in town have been talking, but I’d really like it if my workplace was a woman-free zone.”
She lifts her head and tilts her head. “Half your patients and your nurse are women. How is that going to work?”
“I don’t think of you as a woman. Just my employee.”
Her pouty pink lips tighten. “Right. Well, if that’s all…I’ll see you on Monday.”
“Wait!” I hold up a hand to stop her. “That isn’t all. Liam wants us to come out and take a last look at Candy. I think she’s fine but he wants to make sure she’s alright and get a release on her.”
“So?” Her hand stays on the door and her eyes are focused outside on the hallway.
“I need you to come with me.”