card and held it up, written in his surprisingly legible hand writing once again.
Didn’t your mother teach you any manners? When someone gives you a gift, you say thank you, you don’t send it back. I can see you doubt my words about being persistent. I have all the time in the world to wait for you to say yes. Remember, I’m a very patient man.
Seriously? I’d always figured being a doctor required some higher level of intelligence, but I was beginning to wonder. What part of “not interested” did this guy not comprehend?
BRITTNEY SEEMED TO DANCE AROUND the library after she returned from Grant’s office. It didn’t hurt that one of the guys helping to install the new bookcases was from Charleston and had asked for her number. I had a feeling Brittney would toss her too-short and too-tight skirts for the more appropriate clothing she was wearing today and I was right. Poor Grant didn’t even know he’d lost one of his groupies. As sad as it might seem, I was happy she was moving on, since watching that kind of abject worship had been a bit disturbing.
It was nearly time for everyone to head home when Ashley appeared with a devastatingly handsome man beside her. I could tell by his tailored suit he was a professional. I had not been expecting anyone and silently prayed he wasn’t from the Board.
“Natalie, this is Dr. Martin Crain. He insisted on speaking with you.” I looked to Ashley who silently mouthed, “Oh, my God!” before turning and leaving, shutting my office door gently.
I rose from my chair as I extended my hand to him. “Dr. Crain, I’m Natalie Reid. How can I help you today?”
His handshake was firm, his hand smooth and warm. The smile that decorated his lips was genuine. Too many people today plastered on a fake smile to make you feel comfortable. I, for one, was cautious when that happened. It always made me to wonder what they had to hide?
“Well, Natalie, first, you can call me Martin and second, you can tell me how my nurses were rude and unprofessional.”
I nodded and motioned for him to have a seat. With my hands crossed on my desk, I relayed the entire story. Martin listened intently and nothing I had to report seemed to faze him.
“Natalie, I do need to apologize to you for the actions of my employees. I can assure you this incident will not go unpunished. I have to admit that unfortunately, it has more to do with my son than you.”
I looked at him with a puzzled expression.
“It’s no secret that all of my children are, how do the kids say it these days...easy on the eyes.”
I smiled at his candor; I had no doubt what he said was true.
“For Grant, especially, it’s been difficult to keep his focus at times. Don’t misunderstand me, Natalie, Grant hasn’t returned interest in the majority of the offers he’s had over the years. He’s no saint, I can assure you, but he isn’t sowing his oats either.” Martin spoke candidly about his son, the glint in his eye, however, never left. Like his son, Martin was also pleasant to look at. His ice blue eyes and dark hair, with a scattering of silver marring the edges near his temple. Tiny age lines stayed long after the smile had faded. It was easy to see what Grant would look like in about twenty years.
“I’m sorry, Martin, what does that have to do with your nurses being rude? I wasn’t at the hospital to ask him out or to flirt with him. I had a purpose for going there.”
Martin’s face turned slightly red and his cavalier grin stood out. Another trait I had noticed on Grant. “Even a blind man could see Grant has taken an interest in you. The nurses you encountered today are among those he hasn’t returned their affection.”
“Hmm, I see. So because I was simply taking a breath today, they don’t care for me.”
Martin leaned his forearm to rest on his things; his deep, soulful eyes still captivating mine. “Sadly, yes, that pretty much sums it up.”
I thought briefly as I began my reply.
Didn’t your mother teach you any manners? When someone gives you a gift, you say thank you, you don’t send it back. I can see you doubt my words about being persistent. I have all the time in the world to wait for you to say yes. Remember, I’m a very patient man.
Seriously? I’d always figured being a doctor required some higher level of intelligence, but I was beginning to wonder. What part of “not interested” did this guy not comprehend?
BRITTNEY SEEMED TO DANCE AROUND the library after she returned from Grant’s office. It didn’t hurt that one of the guys helping to install the new bookcases was from Charleston and had asked for her number. I had a feeling Brittney would toss her too-short and too-tight skirts for the more appropriate clothing she was wearing today and I was right. Poor Grant didn’t even know he’d lost one of his groupies. As sad as it might seem, I was happy she was moving on, since watching that kind of abject worship had been a bit disturbing.
It was nearly time for everyone to head home when Ashley appeared with a devastatingly handsome man beside her. I could tell by his tailored suit he was a professional. I had not been expecting anyone and silently prayed he wasn’t from the Board.
“Natalie, this is Dr. Martin Crain. He insisted on speaking with you.” I looked to Ashley who silently mouthed, “Oh, my God!” before turning and leaving, shutting my office door gently.
I rose from my chair as I extended my hand to him. “Dr. Crain, I’m Natalie Reid. How can I help you today?”
His handshake was firm, his hand smooth and warm. The smile that decorated his lips was genuine. Too many people today plastered on a fake smile to make you feel comfortable. I, for one, was cautious when that happened. It always made me to wonder what they had to hide?
“Well, Natalie, first, you can call me Martin and second, you can tell me how my nurses were rude and unprofessional.”
I nodded and motioned for him to have a seat. With my hands crossed on my desk, I relayed the entire story. Martin listened intently and nothing I had to report seemed to faze him.
“Natalie, I do need to apologize to you for the actions of my employees. I can assure you this incident will not go unpunished. I have to admit that unfortunately, it has more to do with my son than you.”
I looked at him with a puzzled expression.
“It’s no secret that all of my children are, how do the kids say it these days...easy on the eyes.”
I smiled at his candor; I had no doubt what he said was true.
“For Grant, especially, it’s been difficult to keep his focus at times. Don’t misunderstand me, Natalie, Grant hasn’t returned interest in the majority of the offers he’s had over the years. He’s no saint, I can assure you, but he isn’t sowing his oats either.” Martin spoke candidly about his son, the glint in his eye, however, never left. Like his son, Martin was also pleasant to look at. His ice blue eyes and dark hair, with a scattering of silver marring the edges near his temple. Tiny age lines stayed long after the smile had faded. It was easy to see what Grant would look like in about twenty years.
“I’m sorry, Martin, what does that have to do with your nurses being rude? I wasn’t at the hospital to ask him out or to flirt with him. I had a purpose for going there.”
Martin’s face turned slightly red and his cavalier grin stood out. Another trait I had noticed on Grant. “Even a blind man could see Grant has taken an interest in you. The nurses you encountered today are among those he hasn’t returned their affection.”
“Hmm, I see. So because I was simply taking a breath today, they don’t care for me.”
Martin leaned his forearm to rest on his things; his deep, soulful eyes still captivating mine. “Sadly, yes, that pretty much sums it up.”
I thought briefly as I began my reply.
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