don’t want to talk about it.” She mumbled a word that sounded a lot like mature. After fidgeting with the collar of her green dress, she let loose a frustrated exhalation. “Why do you want to know?”
“If you’re going to be working here, and I’m going to trust you, I need to know.”
“But I’m not—” Her sigh scattered across the parking lot. “Fine. It’s not like I did anything bad there. I worked at the same school for years and loved it, but when they sold to new owners, we couldn’t get along.”
“Why not?”
A man could spend years deciphering the emotions that flickered through her gorgeous blue eyes. Graham focused on her mouth instead, but that didn’t help. Her lips pressed together, broadcasting frustration with his questions.
“They were so into the correct dance positions, they were cruel. I mean, I get that they wanted to win competitions. What school doesn’t? But they pushed too far. They were way too strict on all of the age groups, but especially the beginner’s classes. Those little girls are there to learn to love dance, not to do a perfect plié at age four.”
“That’s it?”
“Um, kind of.”
“Lucy.”
“I confronted them about it, asking them to change the way they were treating the students. It didn’t go over well. They said I didn’t have the right attitude to be one of their teachers. That’s when I knew I couldn’t continue working there, so I packed up and moved.”
Huh. Graham had thought there might be a skeleton in her closet. Instead, she’d been a defender for the young girls in her classes. Wouldn’t he want someone to do the same for Mattie if she were in a class like that? He’d definitely had Lucy pegged as something she wasn’t.
This woman surprised him. And Graham wanted her to stay working for him. In one morning, she’d accomplished more than any of the temps. His patients even liked her, and they reacted to change as though he was trying to personally offend them.
“Lucy, will you consider coming back to work?”
She rubbed her arms. “I’m not a huge fan of yours right now.”
“I’m not a huge fan of myself right now.”
Those lips curved ever so slightly. “You know, I wasn’t doing anything inappropriate with Hunter. I’d been standing on the chair—”
“I know. He told me. I overreacted.” And seeing his hands on you...hadn’t bothered Graham in the least. Lucy was too young for him to be thinking about her in that way. Plus, besides his other list of reasons, she was his employee. Possibly his employee.
“I’ll get a stool.”
Her head tilted, loose curls cascading over her right shoulder as she studied him. “Why do you want me to stay, anyway?”
“You dealt with this morning’s chaos better than the temps I’ve had in, and they had experience. All I’ve heard today is how delighted everyone is with you.”
Lucy’s eyes narrowed. “But I didn’t get anything done this morning but handling the phone.”
“But you did handle it.”
She didn’t look convinced, but at least she wasn’t running for her car. “I’m not exactly qualified for this position.” Her hand flew through her hair with agitation, sending the locks bouncing. One finger pointed at him. “You can’t just throw me into a medical office and expect me to have a clue what I’m doing. You have to give me some time to adjust and figure things out.”
“I—”
“And you have to at least try to like me. I’m not asking you to fall in love with me—” Good to know since that definitely wasn’t on Graham’s to-do list. “But you could at least make an attempt to get along. People don’t usually have such a hard time with me.”
That was exactly what he was afraid of. Lucy had this energy, this essence that just attracted people to her. Graham felt the tug, too, though he didn’t plan to pursue anything more than a work relationship. A friendly work relationship. That he could handle.
“I accept your terms.”
“Really? You’re not just saying that?”
He raised his right hand. “I pledge to not be a jerk.” He winced. “I’ll do my best. And I really mean what I’m saying.”
Lucy’s eyes began to twinkle. “Do you think we can get one purse a month thrown into my salary?”
“No.”
“How about one for the whole of Hollie’s maternity leave?”
“No.” His lips twitched.
“We could call it a briefcase, make it a business expense.”
“Lucy.” He groaned. What was he going to do with this woman? He wasn’t sure whether to laugh or run in the other direction.
Her shoulders inched up. “I would try to keep bargaining for more, but we both know I’m not that valuable of a commodity. I don’t want to ruin my chances.”
He had a feeling she would be more valuable—to his office—than she realized. Now that he was over his misconceptions, Graham felt relieved he’d found a fill-in for Hollie that his patients liked.
“I think we should shake on it. Graham Redmond, you promise to be patient with me as I figure out this job—and give me a real chance this time—and I’ll do my best to be professional.”
Lucy offered her hand.
“I already pledged an oath.”
She raised one eyebrow, waiting.
Fine. Graham would shake on it. He cupped her hand in his. It was warm and soft and definitely didn’t make him think about a business deal.
He pulled his hand back. Scrubbed it against his pants.
She was right. He hadn’t really given her a chance. He’d been expecting her to fail. But Graham should know by now he was the one who excelled in the failure department.
He’d definitely made mistakes with Brooke. He’d loved her. That much he’d got right. But he hadn’t been able to save her. He’d known when he married Brooke there were risks. She’d had cystic fibrosis, but she’d been on medication and always done well. Until her lungs had got worse and worse. Even then, Graham had assumed he could help her, that she’d get better.
They’d married young—just out of college. She’d worked, putting him through medical school. And then they’d found out Brooke was unexpectedly pregnant. At first, Graham had been shocked. He’d been a wreck. Would Brooke’s body handle the pregnancy okay? How would they make it? How would he provide? He’d planned to quit medical school until Brooke had given him a verbal slap, knocking him back to reality. She’d told him it would be fine.
And she’d been right.
At least for a while. They’d welcomed Mattie into the world, and Graham had fallen for her just as he had her mother. The years of residency had begun. Brooke had been a rock. Working, taking care of Mattie and shining like never before. Motherhood had fit her. Both of their parents had helped out as much as they could while living over an hour away. Things had settled in again. He’d been months from finishing his residency when Brooke got sick.
Graham should have been able to save her. He should have had the knowledge. He’d pushed her doctors for every detail, searched for answers himself—any treatment options they might be missing. But in the end, it hadn’t been enough. He hadn’t been enough. She’d faded quickly, no matter what he’d done. No matter what he’d prayed.
He still didn’t know how he’d made it through those last months of residency without her.