“Maybe it was my imagination.”
But it wasn’t. The limp had been pronounced on Monday. However, Nancy had been off that day. By Tuesday, A.J. was managing to hide it pretty well. Today it was hardly discernible. Most people wouldn’t notice. But he could see it. As well as the fine lines of strain around her mouth that told him she was in pain. And that bothered him. A lot.
By Friday, A.J. not only still looked tired, she had a doozy of a cold. Her nose was red and running, her cheeks were flushed and she had a hacking cough. Twice he urged her to go home. Both times she refused.
“I’ll be fine,” she said. “I’m not going to let a little thing like a cold slow me down.”
And she didn’t. She made it until closing, through sheer grit and determination. Blake admired her spunk—but not her stubbornness—and told her so. And for the first time in their acquaintance, he saw evidence of her Irish temper.
“Just leave me alone, Blake, okay?” she said angrily. “I’ve taken care of myself for years. I know what I’m capable of. I don’t need any advice.”
He was so taken aback by her abrupt tone that for a moment he was speechless. Then he felt his own temper begin to simmer. “Fine. Suit yourself.” He turned on his heel and left.
A.J. was immediately sorry for her rudeness. And she was even sorrier when she woke up on Saturday morning. It was her weekend to work, but she didn’t even have the energy to get out of bed. Calling Nancy wasn’t an option because she was throwing a birthday party for Eileen. Which left Blake.
A.J. groaned. She doubted whether he would be very receptive to her request after her curt behavior yesterday. But when her temperature registered a hundred and one, she knew she had to try.
He startled her by answering on the first ring. At his clipped greeting, she hesitated.
“Hello?” he repeated, this time with an edge of impatience.
“Blake, it’s A.J. Have I caught you at a bad time?”
He frowned. If she hadn’t identified herself, he would never have recognized the thin, raspy voice on the other end of the line. “I was just heading out the door. What’s wrong?”
She took a deep breath. “You were right yesterday, and I apologize for my short temper. I should have gone home. Because now I’m worse. Listen, I know this is really short notice, and it sounds like you already have other plans, but is there any way you can fill in for me at the shop today? Or part of the day? I’d call Nancy, but she’s busy with Eileen’s birthday party.”
Blake glanced at his watch. He was due at a finance meeting for the homeless shelter in half an hour, and he had a Big Brothers board meeting at one o’clock. There was no way he could get out of those commitments. Both groups were counting on him.
“I’m sorry, A.J. I can’t. I’m already running late for one meeting, and I have another one after that.”
Her heart sank. But what did she expect? Blake lived a structured life. Flexibility wasn’t in his vocabulary. Last-minute changes would wreak havoc with his carefully made plans.
“Okay. I understand. I wouldn’t want to disrupt your schedule. Thanks anyway.”
“I’d help you out if I could.”
“Like I said, I understand. Have a good day.”
Before he could respond, she hung up. A muscle in his jaw twitched, and he put his own phone back in its base with more force than necessary. Her implication had been clear. He was too rigid to adjust his schedule to accommodate an emergency. She’d judged him without even asking the details of his refusal, which made him mad. So, fine. Let her deal with this predicament on her own. She’d brought it on herself, anyway, with her impromptu trip to Washington. She’d told him yesterday she could take care of herself. Well, today she’d have to.
Except that he couldn’t get her out of his mind. Twice at the finance meeting he’d had to ask someone to repeat a question. And at the Big Brothers meeting he
But it wasn’t. The limp had been pronounced on Monday. However, Nancy had been off that day. By Tuesday, A.J. was managing to hide it pretty well. Today it was hardly discernible. Most people wouldn’t notice. But he could see it. As well as the fine lines of strain around her mouth that told him she was in pain. And that bothered him. A lot.
By Friday, A.J. not only still looked tired, she had a doozy of a cold. Her nose was red and running, her cheeks were flushed and she had a hacking cough. Twice he urged her to go home. Both times she refused.
“I’ll be fine,” she said. “I’m not going to let a little thing like a cold slow me down.”
And she didn’t. She made it until closing, through sheer grit and determination. Blake admired her spunk—but not her stubbornness—and told her so. And for the first time in their acquaintance, he saw evidence of her Irish temper.
“Just leave me alone, Blake, okay?” she said angrily. “I’ve taken care of myself for years. I know what I’m capable of. I don’t need any advice.”
He was so taken aback by her abrupt tone that for a moment he was speechless. Then he felt his own temper begin to simmer. “Fine. Suit yourself.” He turned on his heel and left.
A.J. was immediately sorry for her rudeness. And she was even sorrier when she woke up on Saturday morning. It was her weekend to work, but she didn’t even have the energy to get out of bed. Calling Nancy wasn’t an option because she was throwing a birthday party for Eileen. Which left Blake.
A.J. groaned. She doubted whether he would be very receptive to her request after her curt behavior yesterday. But when her temperature registered a hundred and one, she knew she had to try.
He startled her by answering on the first ring. At his clipped greeting, she hesitated.
“Hello?” he repeated, this time with an edge of impatience.
“Blake, it’s A.J. Have I caught you at a bad time?”
He frowned. If she hadn’t identified herself, he would never have recognized the thin, raspy voice on the other end of the line. “I was just heading out the door. What’s wrong?”
She took a deep breath. “You were right yesterday, and I apologize for my short temper. I should have gone home. Because now I’m worse. Listen, I know this is really short notice, and it sounds like you already have other plans, but is there any way you can fill in for me at the shop today? Or part of the day? I’d call Nancy, but she’s busy with Eileen’s birthday party.”
Blake glanced at his watch. He was due at a finance meeting for the homeless shelter in half an hour, and he had a Big Brothers board meeting at one o’clock. There was no way he could get out of those commitments. Both groups were counting on him.
“I’m sorry, A.J. I can’t. I’m already running late for one meeting, and I have another one after that.”
Her heart sank. But what did she expect? Blake lived a structured life. Flexibility wasn’t in his vocabulary. Last-minute changes would wreak havoc with his carefully made plans.
“Okay. I understand. I wouldn’t want to disrupt your schedule. Thanks anyway.”
“I’d help you out if I could.”
“Like I said, I understand. Have a good day.”
Before he could respond, she hung up. A muscle in his jaw twitched, and he put his own phone back in its base with more force than necessary. Her implication had been clear. He was too rigid to adjust his schedule to accommodate an emergency. She’d judged him without even asking the details of his refusal, which made him mad. So, fine. Let her deal with this predicament on her own. She’d brought it on herself, anyway, with her impromptu trip to Washington. She’d told him yesterday she could take care of herself. Well, today she’d have to.
Except that he couldn’t get her out of his mind. Twice at the finance meeting he’d had to ask someone to repeat a question. And at the Big Brothers meeting he
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