She didn’t call for him or anything. Instead, he heard her huff. He shouldn’t have been so rude, but at that moment, he needed to get away. When he went into his office he shut the door, this time locking it. He slumped in his chair and closed his eyes, taking deep breaths.
Kendrick didn’t like how he felt. She got a rise out of him that he hadn’t felt before, and he wasn’t sure what to do about it. But it was only the first day, and she’d caught him in the middle of something very private. That was the problem. She’d seen him butt naked, and she didn’t stare. Instead, she covered her face and ran away. It might have been a burst to his ego. He worked hard to keep his body in tip-top condition and every woman loved it.
After composing himself, he did his normal routine. He checked each of the rooms to make sure they were set up how he liked them. Peyton moved fast. By the time he got to the last room she was already up front cleaning the waiting area. She moved furiously, and he could see the tension in how she stood with a rigid back.
“You did well.”
She spun and glared. “Yippee for me.” Then she went back to work, dismissing him. He knew he’d pissed her off and he didn’t apologize easily.
So instead he ran a hand through his styled blond hair, messing it up. “It’s time to open. Jazzy should be here soon to man the desk.”
“Okay, where do I need to be?”
He shrugged. “In your office.”
“I have an office? Why?”
“Everyone needs their own space. It’s small, but it’s yours. It’s the room next to mine.”
“Okay, well I’ll excuse myself now until it’s time for the first appointment. I’m a nurse. I know what to do.”
“Jazzy can show you the set-up for charts.”
“Fine,” she replied and then stalked past him.
Her shoulder brushed against his arm and the scent of her perfume lingered in the air. He took in a breath and let it out. It was faint. He liked how she didn’t douse herself like a lot of women chose to do. He liked the natural scent of a woman.
Chapter 3
The day went smoothly. I met so many people, was told so many names, that my head literally spun. There weren’t any more uncomfortable encounters, and Kendrick and I were cordial to one another. No one would ever guess that I already hated their golden boy. He was an ass. I didn’t deserve to be treated so poorly, and I was starting to second-guess my move. I’d moved specifically to Salexis because of the job offer. There was nothing else tying me to the town.
As horrible as it sounded, I’d be taking Thursdays to explore and see what other options were there for me. I wouldn’t stay at a place where I wasn’t welcome. He’d made it perfectly clear that I probably wouldn’t be. So far everyone had been nice, but that didn’t mean anything. I’d learned long ago, not to trust the first meeting. It’s why I hoped things between the doctor and I would smooth out. He was probably embarrassed I’d caught him in such an… intimate position.
At five, when the last patient left, I went back to each room and cleaned them, much like I had in the morning. I was in my own little world until I felt his stare. I didn’t even bother giving him my attention. I had a job to do and I’d finish it. When he cleared his throat, I sighed but still kept cleaning. I’d just finished up the room and grabbed the cleaning bucket. When I went to leave, he blocked my path. Glaring at his chest, I licked my lips and tried to squeeze around him, but I was no bean pole. I had curves at every turn, and he was not a small man. He was nearly a foot taller than me and built like a fucking linebacker. Okay, so I was exaggerating, he was built though.
“Excuse me,” I said and moved over to the other side, hoping he would let me go. I was tired, hungry, and a little put off by him. I also hated how hard it was not to watch him when he was nearby. He was sexy, and I couldn’t get the lines of his abs out of my head. His body was lickable. It had been far too long since I’d actually wanted sex, but he made me think dirty things, which only pissed me off.
“You should acknowledge when I’m trying to talk to you.”
I laughed. “You didn’t talk you cleared your throat and expected me to talk. It’s been a long day and I’m tired, so just let me finish the cleaning so I can go home.”
“Okay, well I’ll see you tomorrow then.”
He seemed to want to say something more, but instead he moved to the side, just enough for me to squeeze by. My body brushed against his and I gasped. All I felt was rock-hard muscle as he tensed next to me. “Good night, Boss.”