Page 18 of Graced
Something about the man was…off.Maybe she felt that way because he wasn’t the person she’d hoped he’d be.Despite her irritation, she pasted her professional smile back onto her face.
“How can I help you, Mister…”
“Roebuck.Welsh Roebuck.But I’d prefer you call me Welsh.”He held out a hand.Grace glanced at it but declined the offer.
“Mr.Roebuck, are you needing to check in?Are you needing medical attention?”She hoped that was the case, and the reason he’d requested her by name was because he wanted her personal attention.
“No, I’m not needing any medical attention.”
“Then why are you here?”Another thought hit her.One that sent a small chill through her.“Mr.Roebuck, if you’re here to demand I pay you some kind of monetary recompense because of that incident at the grocery store, I beg you to reconsider.I’m not wealthy, and I can’t afford an attorney.”Yes, her voice quivered slightly, damn her, but it couldn’t be helped.This man was beginning to frighten her.
Mr.Roebuck slowly shook his head.“I’m not here to threaten legal action, Miss Lockhart.Itis MissLockhart, right?Not Mrs.?”
His reassurance was somewhat heartening, but that still didn’t explain why he was at the hospital.
She ignored his question.“What can I help you with, Mr.Roebuck?”
A middle-aged woman with two teenage girls came up behind the man to wait.Grace directed them to the Turn-o-Matic at the end of the aisle.
“Please take a number and have a seat.Someone will be with you shortly.Thank you.”Looking back at the man, she realized their conversation needed to be taken somewhere more private.Yet, at the same time, offer her a way out…just in case.
She waved in the direction of the check-in booths.“Let’s take this to a more private location.My office is the second door to the left.”
Roebuck nodded and went to find the cubicle.
Stepping into the inner office, Grace snagged Susan’s sleeve.“That guy is someone whom I had a small accident with at the grocery store yesterday.I don’t know why he’s here, but I have a bad feeling about this.”
Susan eyed her coworker.“Want me to call security?”
“No, no.But I’m leaving the inner door open.If you hear me yell…”
Her friend patted her hand.“Don’t worry.I got your back.”
Bracing herself, Grace left for her cubicle as Susan went to check in the woman with the two kids.
The man was already sitting inside when she entered.Making sure to leave the door open behind her, she took her seat behind the desk.
“All right, Mr.Roebuck, if you’re not here to threaten legal action, or to check yourself in for medical care, why are you here?”
“I wanted to see you again,” he bluntly told her.
Well, duh!But there had to be more.
“Why?”She persisted, forcing a grin on her face as she recalled his parting words from yesterday.“Because I smell good?”
He responded by leaning forward and taking a deep, loud sniff.Although his actions didn’t surprise her, it certainly creeped her out.
“And you still do,” he answered, then thankfully leaned back in his chair.
It was time to end this little interrogation.Placing her hands on her desk, she slid away from him.“Mr.Roebuck, if you’re not going to be honest with me and tell me the real reason why you came here?—”
“I want to ask you out.”
That was the last thing she expected to hear.
“Excuse me?”
Like a man removing a mask, his entire demeanor changed.“Miss Lockhart… First off, tell me if you’re already taken and I’ll escort myself off these premises.But after I tended to my bruised ego, I realized what a remarkable person you were.That’s when I decided I wanted to get to know you better.”
