protect?”
“I’m not. I’m giving her the freedom she deserves.”
“Is that how she sees it too?”
“I’m not sure.”
“Then I hope you’ll consider asking her.” He walked around his desk, foraged in a drawer and returned with a card. “For you. These are my contact details, and should you ever need anything, for any reason, then call me. The safety and wellbeing of every patient who walks through my door is my responsibility.”
“You’re good, Doc, very good. You should be a shrink.” He pocketed it, stood and extended his hand. “Thanks for the conversation.”
“You’re welcome, and anytime.”
He left the doctor, closed the door then perched on the corner of Saria’s new desk.
Reading papers in a folder, she stood before a three-drawer metal filing cabinet, her studious frown so endearing.
“Do you think I’m punishing you, Saria?”
“Punishing me for what?” She slid the folder away and closed the drawer.
“For saying no to a relationship with you.”
“We both agreed there’d be no commitment and I can handle that, but do you think you’re punishing me?” She walked toward him, wrapped her arms around his neck and hugged him. “Or is it more important for you to right the wrongs of your past, which I might add, were never your fault in the first place.”
“Clearly you and the doctor have an understanding. You speak the same language.”
“No, I only have an understanding with you, and yes, I’d like more, but I’d never ask you for it. Not when I know you’d turn me down.”
“Is that how you truly feel?”
“Yes, but I’m not condemning you for that decision.” She breathed warm air against his neck as she popped a kiss there. “I’m just stating the facts. After my sister gets married, you’re leaving. You’ve made your position very clear.”
“So where do we go from here?”
“You hold all the cards, so we go nowhere.” She stepped back, picked up her purse, and strode out of the room.
“Hey, where are you going? We haven’t finished talking.”
“To check out my new room. Dr. Hika gave me the key code.”
He followed her. Inspecting where she’d soon be living was high on his list of priorities. He needed to ensure the area was completely secure.
* * * *
Saria walked upstairs to room 410, punched the code into the lock then stepped inside. Sunshine streamed into the room through the sheer white nets and played its lacy pattern over the cream and gold striped wallpaper. The open window next to the ranch slider blew the nets inward and circulated the sweet aroma from the pink bougainvillea trailing along the deck’s handrail. She crossed to the bed, sat and patted the brown and golden leafed bedcovers. “This is nice. What’d ya think?”
“The bed looks comfy.” Ben shoved one hand in the pocket of his black denim shorts as he strolled around the room. “The window is security latched. You’ll be able to leave it open as you please.”
“What about the balcony? Can trespassers get in?”
He stepped outside, peered over the balustrade then returned. “It’s all good. No one can swing in here uninvited. Thanks for giving the doctor my card by the way. Did you sort out what you needed to with him?”
“I tried. I wanted to get another injection. You have to have them every three months to maintain protection.” She really didn’t want to have to explain all this girl stuff to him, but he deserved to know what she’d found out. “Apparently my timing is a little out, but not by much. Now I have to wait until my next cycle starts before I can get it done.”
“Which means what?” He paled.
“Nothing major.” She poked her head into the bathroom. Lovely soothing colors of peach and cream greeted her, as well as a massive mirror along one wall, which reflected the bedroom and Ben towering behind her. “The chances of me falling pregnant are incredibly slim. The protection I was on usually has an overlapping period of a
“I’m not. I’m giving her the freedom she deserves.”
“Is that how she sees it too?”
“I’m not sure.”
“Then I hope you’ll consider asking her.” He walked around his desk, foraged in a drawer and returned with a card. “For you. These are my contact details, and should you ever need anything, for any reason, then call me. The safety and wellbeing of every patient who walks through my door is my responsibility.”
“You’re good, Doc, very good. You should be a shrink.” He pocketed it, stood and extended his hand. “Thanks for the conversation.”
“You’re welcome, and anytime.”
He left the doctor, closed the door then perched on the corner of Saria’s new desk.
Reading papers in a folder, she stood before a three-drawer metal filing cabinet, her studious frown so endearing.
“Do you think I’m punishing you, Saria?”
“Punishing me for what?” She slid the folder away and closed the drawer.
“For saying no to a relationship with you.”
“We both agreed there’d be no commitment and I can handle that, but do you think you’re punishing me?” She walked toward him, wrapped her arms around his neck and hugged him. “Or is it more important for you to right the wrongs of your past, which I might add, were never your fault in the first place.”
“Clearly you and the doctor have an understanding. You speak the same language.”
“No, I only have an understanding with you, and yes, I’d like more, but I’d never ask you for it. Not when I know you’d turn me down.”
“Is that how you truly feel?”
“Yes, but I’m not condemning you for that decision.” She breathed warm air against his neck as she popped a kiss there. “I’m just stating the facts. After my sister gets married, you’re leaving. You’ve made your position very clear.”
“So where do we go from here?”
“You hold all the cards, so we go nowhere.” She stepped back, picked up her purse, and strode out of the room.
“Hey, where are you going? We haven’t finished talking.”
“To check out my new room. Dr. Hika gave me the key code.”
He followed her. Inspecting where she’d soon be living was high on his list of priorities. He needed to ensure the area was completely secure.
* * * *
Saria walked upstairs to room 410, punched the code into the lock then stepped inside. Sunshine streamed into the room through the sheer white nets and played its lacy pattern over the cream and gold striped wallpaper. The open window next to the ranch slider blew the nets inward and circulated the sweet aroma from the pink bougainvillea trailing along the deck’s handrail. She crossed to the bed, sat and patted the brown and golden leafed bedcovers. “This is nice. What’d ya think?”
“The bed looks comfy.” Ben shoved one hand in the pocket of his black denim shorts as he strolled around the room. “The window is security latched. You’ll be able to leave it open as you please.”
“What about the balcony? Can trespassers get in?”
He stepped outside, peered over the balustrade then returned. “It’s all good. No one can swing in here uninvited. Thanks for giving the doctor my card by the way. Did you sort out what you needed to with him?”
“I tried. I wanted to get another injection. You have to have them every three months to maintain protection.” She really didn’t want to have to explain all this girl stuff to him, but he deserved to know what she’d found out. “Apparently my timing is a little out, but not by much. Now I have to wait until my next cycle starts before I can get it done.”
“Which means what?” He paled.
“Nothing major.” She poked her head into the bathroom. Lovely soothing colors of peach and cream greeted her, as well as a massive mirror along one wall, which reflected the bedroom and Ben towering behind her. “The chances of me falling pregnant are incredibly slim. The protection I was on usually has an overlapping period of a
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