David pinched the skin between his eyes and wished he could open up to him like he could to his own father. “Tommy, aren’t you supposed to be trying to encourage me to sell? That’s your job.”
Tommy laughed. “You know I’ve never been a hard sell kind of man. Listen, David. It isn’t always about money with me. I’ve been so close to losing my life that I’ve had time to think seriously about life and what it means. You know that. What I’m trying to say is this – sometimes life has a funny way of working out. It might not be what we expect but that isn’t always a bad thing. You’ve settled yourself in quite well here. People trust you to take care of them. What happens if you sell? What are you going to do?”
“I’d thought of going back to Seattle and applying to the clinic I worked at before Dad got sick. My plan was to go back there if they’ll take me.”
“Can you say with certainty that you want to go back?” There was a pause on the phone as he let his words settle in. “You seemed so at ease here that I guess I hoped you’d want to stay. It’s hard getting a doctor out here with your skills and personality, David. And I’m not trying to guilt trip you or anything. I just want you to understand how much you mean to the people of Cherry Lake.”
“I appreciate it, Tommy.”
“I’ll email that contract offer over to you this afternoon. Let me know what you want to do about it. And if you need anyone to bounce ideas off, I’m always here for you.” The agent hung up.
David sat there for the longest time thinking about what he’d said. Did the city really hold more appeal than general practice in a small town anymore? It wasn’t as though he needed the money or the prestige that went with the position in Seattle. Nor did he relish the idea of trying to find his niche after being away from it for so long. So what was it that was drawing him back to the city? When he put his mind to it, he couldn’t think of a damned thing.
Arriving home to find his ex standing at his door didn’t do much for his mood. “Why are you here, Elise?”
“Darling, I missed you.” She walked over to him, raised a hand to stroke his chin.
David backed away, the thought of her touch making his skin crawl. What did he ever see in her? “I don’t want you here.”
“You don’t mean that, David. It’s pain making you say that and I’m so sorry for making you wait for so long. I know you still love me.” She licked her lips in what could only be described as a sexy move. Once it would have made him quiver, but not anymore. “I made a mistake, I’ll admit it. I never should have let you go, taken the job over you. It was a silly thing to do and now I’m here to make it better.” She advanced on him again, a predatory smile on her perfectly painted lips.
“You’re wasting your time. I got over you ages ago.” He walked over to the couch and pulled off his tie, for the first time believing it was true. “Please leave.”
“You can’t push me out, David. I have nowhere to go tonight and I won’t risk driving back to Seattle until after I have a rest. That’d be asking for an accident to happen.”
“I’m sure there’s a room available somewhere in town.”
“Apparently not. Something to do with a quaint festival or some such rot.” She sank down onto a chair and watched him. “I admit I made a mistake just when you needed me most. I’m very sorry about your father.”
“Thank you, but that’s in the past, as is our relationship. I’ve moved on, Elise. I’m not the same person anymore.”
She bounced to her feet, a hopeful smile on her face and came toward him. “Oh, David. I’m so pleased to hear that. Neither am I. I’ve had time to think about my life and the future I want. I bet we both want the same things now. We were always so in tune with each other.”
“Hardly. You wanted to be the one counting the dollars, owning the business. I wanted to be the one helping people, something you couldn’t understand. We’re nothing alike and I can see that now.” He walked into the kitchen, brushing past her as she hovered ready to pounce on him. “I want you to leave, there’s nothing for you here.” A vaguely familiar bag sat on the kitchen counter. “What’s this?”
“Oh, some hippie-looking girl dropped it off. It was so nice of you to order dinner. When I called and left a voice mail I knew you’d hear the exhaustion in my voice.” She walked up behind him, wrapped her arms around his shoulder and breathed into his neck, her cloying perfume almost too much to bear. “We can have a romantic dinner and get to know each other again. It’ll be so much fun, David. Just like old times.”
He brushed her off. “You don’t get it do you? I don’t want you here, I don’t want you back, and I didn’t order a romantic dinner for two.” It would seem that April had that idea though, and now she was probably running into Pierce’s arms to be consoled. What a monumental mess. How on earth was he going to fix this?
“But who would bring us dinner if you didn’t order it?” She stared at him, her face blank. For someone so bright, she couldn’t imagine he would have a life after she’d dumped him.
“Never mind. Stay in the spare room then, but you leave in the morning, Elise. I don’t want you here, understood?”
“But, darling…”
“If you don’t leave, I’ll throw you out.” He
