Page 105 of Just One Night Together

“I don’t know that I’m coming back to this hospital,” she said. “I haven’t been offered a job yet, and even if I am, I’m not sure it will be right for me.”

Garrett laughed. “Of course, it will be right for you. It’s tailor-made for you.”

Haley stared at him. “What does that mean?”

“Oh, don’t look so surprised,” Garrett said with a smile. “I told you years ago that you have to make your own luck.”

“But how?”

“I’m on the advisory council. Your mom has mentioned your interest over the years, so when the idea was proposed, I was behind it. It’ll be a great addition to our services. All it will take now is a quiet word or two in the right ears, because you are the ideal candidate, and you’ll be back in town.” He sipped his coffee, completely convinced that everything would fall into place as he intended. Haley stared at him in surprise. “You must want to be close to your family again. Your mom will be glad to have you nearby, especially when you have family.”

“Family?”

“Sure. I don’t mind having more kids.”

Haley was suddenly very glad that she hadn’t married Garrett. He was confident that she would do what he wanted, just because he wanted it. He didn’t even realize that she might want something else.

Or if he did, he didn’t think her opinion was relevant.

Damon was right. She should never have held this man up as an ideal of masculinity.

Brad didn’t like him. Haley would bet that her dad wouldn’t have liked him either. She already knew that Damon didn’t think much of him.

Garrett smiled at her, but this time, his charm missed the mark. “Want to go for dinner tonight? We can catch up, lay some new groundwork for the future.”

Haley put down her coffee hard. “No, but thanks for asking.”

“You think it’s too soon.” He frowned a little then leaned closer, intent on persuading her. “People are going to talk anyway. That’s how it is.”

“No, my answer has nothing to do with your divorce, or even, with you.”

Garrett was startled to silence.

“I’m going to spend tonight with my family, before I go back to New York.”

“But...”

“Would you do me one favor, Garrett?”

“Sure, anything!”

“Please save yourself the trouble of making those suggestions in the right ears.”

He was startled. “But why?”

“If I’m offered the job here, I want it to be because I earned it, not because someone fixed it for me and certainly not so that I owe someone something for it.”

Garrett bristled, insulted and a little put out. He tried to cover it with a smile. “Haley! Your idealism means that you do things the hard way.”

“It’s my way. I like it.”

He shook his head, amused. “That’s not how the world works, Haley. That’s not how successful people achieve their goals.”

“It’s how I achieve mine.” She let her voice drop as she insisted. “Promise me.”

Garrett met her gaze, disappointment in his eyes. “I won’t say a word.”

“I mean it, Garrett.”

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