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The four of us make do for the rest of the morning until it comes time for lunch. Belle has been manning the phones to the best of her abilities, which thankfully leaves her little time to ask me those “getting to know you” questions.

Kayla and I pull double duty, escorting patients into the exam rooms and running preliminary examinations before working with Tase.

Doctor Walton, I mean.Keep it professional.

At least everyone is friendly. Kayla and Belle are bothabout my age, although Belle is a year younger. Kayla is going prematurely gray at the temples and has the rest of her raven-wing hair pulled back into a long swinging ponytail.

She claps me on the shoulder and squeezes briefly on her way by. “I never thought it would be this busy on my first day. Serves me right for thinking this would be an easy gig,” she says.

I won’t be here long enough to make friends. I just have to endure it until I figure out a way to survive and then I’ll be back in Baltimore. We’re like ships passing in the night.

But whenever I’m in a room alone with Tase, I lose my mind. His nearness is doing strange things to me. It’s easy to see now that he is the kind of man who values competency, but he values a pretty face almost as much.

What does that say about him as a person? That he prefers to surround himself with beautiful young women as helpers? Is that just the pool he taps into locally, or were each of them chosen for a reason?

What does that say about me? I don’t fit into the formula at all.

I shrug. I’m not being paid for this. I’m happy to help out. Why am I worried about what he likes, anyway? It doesn’t matter.

None of this matters.

I remind myself of the life I left behind. I’d completely forgotten to call my sisters, too. Damn.

Our last client of the day is the owner of the pug, coming to pick the dog up after a long weekend of boarding. The pug offers a final screeched song before he’s carried out.

The odd quiet rings in my ears. I’d gotten used to the constant melody of noises throughout the day.

I pull the borrowed scrub top off, shaking it out before tossing it in a bag of laundry. My stomach gives a loud painful snarl and I push my palm against the sudden cramp.

“What’s the matter?”

Well, shit.

Of course Tase is still around.

I shake my head. “It’s nothing. Just hunger pangs.”

Silence greets me and when I turn around, he’s staring at me. My stomach gives another growl and I try to laugh off the embarrassment.

“Sorry about that. I haven’t eaten all day.”

“What do you mean, you haven’t eaten all day?”

I shrug. “No time.”

“There were ample opportunities to grab a snack throughout the day,” Tase reminds me.

“I had coffee.”

He frowns and goes to one of the cabinets in the break room. He grabs a granola bar and practically throws it at me. “You don’t take good care of yourself, do you?”

My mind automatically goes to my ample ass and the curves I’m unable to get rid of no matter how hard I work out or diet.

“I’ve seen the way you cook for Soren and Aiden, but you can’t be bothered to stop for a snack for yourself? Or to even ask if something can be delivered?”

No one had time for lunch today. Did he pull this concerned act with Belle? With Kayla?

“I’m used to working long hours without food. It’s fine,” I assure him. “This is nothing new. I’ll eat when I get home.”