Page 133 of The Blessings of Christmas
“Want to come back to my office?” Victoria threw out the question in desperation.
“Sure.” Dr. D. actually looked pleased.
As they walked down the hall, she smelled his soap and heard his boots behind her. There was something so steadying about this guy. Also something wildly exciting. But she wouldn’t think about that now.
Wishing she’d cleaned up her desk, she pushed open the door. Derek followed her inside. Dwarfing the room, he studied the art on her walls. Most of the pieces were from local artists.
Not knowing what to say, she circled her desk. “Want to sit down? How about a cup of coffee?”
“Thanks, but I've had my morning quota. Just on my way to the urgent care center. Thought I’d drop by.” Folding himself into one of her chairs, he propped up a knee and laced his hands around it.
“The article’s supposed to run this Sunday.”Hopefully.
His brows rose. “No kidding? That's great.” Was he surprised that she’d actually pulled this off? Newsflash. So was she.
“I just wanted to make sure everything was all right. That we hadn’t scared you off.” When he turned that warm gray gaze her way, she felt as if he saw into her soul.
“Hey, what do you take me for? You really think I’m going to wimp out on you?” Of course, that had crossed her mind at one time.
He lifted a shoulder. “You didn't show up this morning. Usually you come on Mondays.”
So he noticed? “Something came up. I, ah, got busy here.”
His eyes swung toward the door. “So I saw. Busy place.”
“I told you that I had a shop in Sweetwater Creek Square.”
His eyes circled the room. “Yeah, sure. But I didn't picture all this.”
“You mean, you didn't think I could run a business?”
He held up both hands. “Hey, I didn't say that, Victoria. You just surprised me. That’s all.”
“Why is that? Did you take me for just another pretty face?” That was a hoot because she was wearing almost zero makeup and her hair was caught up in a careless claw clip in the back. Her navy slacks didn’t even match her top.
Pressing his lips together, he stared up at the overhead light. When he brought his eyes back to her, they were moody and troubled. “I think I've underestimated you. And I'm sorry.”
The words soothed her. “Apology accepted.”
“Good.” His cautious smile touched her heart.
“I was talking with my father about the clinic. He asked if you had some sort of a sheet with numbers.”
“What kind of numbers?”
“You know...” She searched her mind for words from her business course.
“Expenses?” He lifted a brow.
“That sounds right.
“Number of people served?”
“That too.”Keep filling in the blanks because my mind left town when you walked in.He was making concentration difficult.
“I can come up with something.” He hesitated, biting that full bottom lip. “Could I ask what prompted your father’s request?”
She held her hands out palms up. “He knows I’m spending time there.”
