Page 15 of Winter Frost

I cut him off. “You don’t have to say anything else. We are on different pages. It was fun and different.” I shake my head. “Take care, Evan. Remember, don’t rush anything.” I kiss his cheek and slide into my car before I lose my nerve. I was only there to help him get better, not because he sees me as anything special. He proved that right now.

Leaving had been the hardest thing I had to do in my life. I never realized how much I could love someone and still be able to walk away, but I had no choice. I had an obligation in another town. Someone was waiting for me, and they required my attention. I couldn’t just up and leave that person stranded just because my heart wanted something else. I wasn’t that kind of person no matter what.

I barely made it home because my eyes were clouded; tears spilled down my cheeks. As I walked into my place, I dropped my purse and coat and then climbed straight into my bed, stopping long enough to kick off my shoes.

****

When I woke up my eyes were crusted closed with from the crying I’d done the night before. I felt like total shit, but what could I do. At least it was still early enough to prepare for work. Brewing my coffee, I hopped in the shower and washed away Evan’s scent. As I did, it hurt; it was a must because there was no way I could handle the heartache while breathing himin. Besides, my asshole boss would be back today, and he might have something dickish to say.

With everything prepared and my makeup on, I resemble something close to a human again. I got to work on time, but when I arrived, my boss was waiting, and he was scowling at me. There goes any hopes for a semblance of a mediocre day. “We need to have a discussion, Ms. Frost.”

I put my palm up and stopped him from adding to his diatribe. “Unless you have someone to replace me today, you might want to wait until the end of the day for this discussion.” That was the only warning he was getting. Another shitty comment out of his mouth and I’d walk out. My heart was in tatters and this man only added to the problem.

“Very well. We’ll speak after work today. Don’t try to get away before the day is through.” He was tiptoeing that line.

“Trust me when I say I won’t.”

I walked away from him without trying to snap on the bastard. Had he forgotten the way he treated Evan or that he called my mother? There was no way that she called him and what made him believe that Evan and I had a thing. Sure, we had a fling, but he wouldn’t have known it because we kept our relationship inside his house, and it had ended just as fast as it began.

When the day ended, I packed up all of my things because I had a feeling that it was a matter of minutes before I walked out of here for good.

“You’re trying to cut out before meeting me?”

I whipped around and glared at him, causing him to take a step back. “No, I was gathering my things. I’m not trying to stay here all night. I might not have a family to go home to, butI’d like to go home and get some sleep. Now, what would you like to discuss?”

“It’s come to my attention that you’ve been a bad girl.” The lecherous tone in his voice matches the way he’s staring at me from head to toe. His eyes linger inappropriately too long at my chest.

“Excuse me? First, I’m a grown woman. Second, when you speak to me, please address me without ogling me.” I slid on my coat to keep his eyes off chest.

“Forgive me, but I was doing no such thing. Although I’m surprised you are bothered by it considering you like older men. We have proof that you are having an affair with Mr. Sager.”

It takes every inch of self-control to hold back the urge to slap his smug face, but he’s the type to react and I’m not sure I can handle the consequences. “What? You are out of line, and you don’t have any said evidence.”

“I witnessed you two the other day. He couldn’t take his eyes off you.”

“What does that have to do with anything? He was my patient. I think you’re being irrational. You were gone so I couldn’t confront you about your actions, but Evan did, and my mother called me. How did you get in contact with her since I haven’t spoken to her?”

“She was on your list of emergency contacts.” If I didn’t already feel violated. My skin crawls at the way he’s gone into digging into my personnel file.

“Are you out of your mind?”

“Jackie, you are crossing a line and you better decide if you want to be working here.”

“You crossed a line. You violated my private records and I’m not sure why.”

“Because you’re seeing one of your clients.”

“I’m not sure what gave you that idea in the first place.”

“I saw you at the restaurant with him,” Dr. Stewart growled. Goodness, he sounded jealous. He steps closer to me as if he’s losing patience with me.

Shaking my head, I’ve come too close to danger. Moving into the direct path of the camera, I look up into it and then he does the same thing. When I face him again, recognition hits him. Everything has been recorded. “I quit. You are sick. You’re not my boss and if you dare try to report me, I’ll contact the medical board.” I grab my things and walk out.

I’m quick to run to my vehicle. Luckily, my next assignment isn’t tied to the clinic like Evan was. He can’t get involved in this one and he won’t know where I am. My suitcase is already packed and I’m traveling before I know it. All I want to do is call Evan and beg him to protect me, but it’s stupid because we were just a casual fling. A dumb move on my part that landed me running from my perverted boss.

Chapter Seven

Evan