Page 17 of Heartbeat Harmony (Hearts in Hawthorne #2)

Chapter

Nine

A utumn got out of the shower. She wrapped her wet hair in a towel and dressed before doing her makeup. Her hand trembled slightly, so she gripped her wrist with her fingers so that her smoky eye wouldn’t turn into a mess.

Tonight was the party Eli was throwing for the department heads and their spouses or significant others, which would include about fifteen employees.

She was eager to get to know this upper management staff better, especially because she was working on assigning all her nurses to their different departments.

But more importantly, she was eager to be in Eli’s company again.

Foolishly, she had dashed out of his house last Saturday after spending a wonderful day with him.

He had a dry sense of humor and an array of experiences well beyond what she had gone through.

Just listening to his stories about patients who had come into his ER in Houston had been eye-opening.

Autumn had never worked in the emergency room, so she was glad she hadn’t after hearing about some of his more unusual patients.

They had shared a nice early dinner, and she found herself relaxed in his company. Eli wasn’t a man who wanted her to impress him. Autumn had already done so, which was why he had hired her. Instead, it was pleasant spending time with him.

Not to mention how easy he was on the eye.

When he had almost wrecked his car a second time just to keep from hitting a stray dog, she began to understand him even more.

It was easy to see how Eli related to a thin pup who had been thrown away.

No one had wanted the dog, and no one had wanted Eli.

Even if his mother had, her addiction had cost her a life of watching her son grow up.

Autumn was glad Eli had found Atticus. It had endeared him to her.

And that could be a dangerous thing.

The more she was around Eli, the more she admired him.

Respected him. And was attracted to him.

She hoped she had hidden her feelings. With him not being able to read social cues well, most likely he had no idea of her growing feelings for him.

They were why she had left so abruptly last week.

Suddenly, Autumn had thought if she didn’t kiss Eli Carson, she would go crazy.

Since kissing your boss was a recipe for disaster, much less becoming involved with him, she had hightailed it out of his house without an explanation, hurting his feelings in the process.

He had just told her how he valued her friendship, and she had been ready to lock lips with him.

Putting distance between them was the only thing she could think to do.

At least she hadn’t left him totally alone. He’d had Atticus.

Trying to keep things as normal as possible between them, she had stopped by his office late Monday afternoon, asking if Dr. Bridges had seen Atticus. The vet had, telling Eli that his dog was most likely a mix of a golden retriever and cocker spaniel.

That’s when Atticus had popped out from behind Eli’s desk, loping toward her. Autumn had bent, ruffling the dog’s fur, giving her attention to the dog instead of hot doc.

Eli explained that Dr. Bridges had told him that Atticus was a hybrid which was intelligent, good as a family dog because he could be calm, and yet energetic and playful.

He would need lots of attention and exercise.

Eli had decided to bring Atticus to work with him this first week.

His crate was in the corner of Eli’s office, but for the most part, the dog would accompany his owner on a leash as he made his way about the hospital and have free rein within Eli’s office.

It surprised her how quickly he had taken to Atticus, seeing that he had never had a dog or any kind of pet before, but it pleased Autumn. She saw the pair was happy with one another.

Of course, Atticus would be at tonight’s party.

She figured the dog would be the ultimate icebreaker.

Already, he was proving popular with the staff because she had several people mention Atticus to her.

He would likely be popular with patients, too, if Eli continued bringing the dog to work with him.

She turned her focus back to her appearance, blowing her hair dry.

It fell past her shoulders and was board straight, unlike Summer’s which always dried in soft waves.

She spritzed on some perfume and then found a pair of sandals.

Her sundress was new, a pale tangerine which went well with her auburn hair.

She had even FaceTimed with Summer in the Target dressing room, trying on this dress and another one before her twin had encouraged her to go with the tangerine.

She liked that it had pockets, always a plus to her.

Going downstairs, she found her parents sitting on the sofa, an open bottle of wine in front of them, along with a platter of cheese, crackers, and grapes.

“What are you up to this evening?” Dad asked, pausing the program they were watching. “We’re bingeing ...” His voice trailed off as he looked at his wife. “What’s this girl’s name again?”

“Emily, dear. We’re watching Emily in Paris .”

“Well, she wears a lot of crazy clothes, but she’s pretty charming,” Dad said. “And she seems to fall in love with every good-looking guy that crosses her path. There’s been a French chef. An English businessman. Now, she looks like she’ll hook up with this Italian fellow.”

“Don’t say hook up, Dad,” Autumn said.

“Well, that’s what she’s doing,” he insisted.

“You do need to try this show, Autumn,” Mom urged. “It’s really cute.”

“When I have time,” she said. “I’m heading out now. Dr. Carson is holding a barbeque for department heads and admin staff at his house, hoping that everyone will click.”

“Hawthorne can’t wait for this hospital to open,” Mom said.

“You’ll get your wish next Wednesday. I hope you’re both coming to the launch party for Triple H.”

“You bet we’ll be there,” Dad said. “Everyone in the community can’t wait to see it.”

“Six o’clock, right, dear?” Mom asked.

“Yes. There’s a reception in the lobby starting at six, then tours of the facility will be offered by various staff members. We officially open our doors at seven the next morning.”

“We’re getting old,” her father said. “It’ll be nice to have specialists closer to home instead of having to go up to Gainesville or down to Decatur.”

“Besides the medical office building which has already opened, Hogan Health has broken ground on a second medical office,” she told her parents. “I imagine there’ll be every kind of doctor you would need to see in those two buildings.”

“Glad to know just as we’re falling apart, we have good medical care nearby,” Mom said cheerfully.

Autumn went and kissed her mother’s cheek. “You’re not falling apart, Mom. You just had plantar fasciitis in your foot. I know it’s painful, but it’s not the end of the world.”

“Your father’s shoulder has been bothering him. His right knee, as well. I’m hoping to get him in to see someone now that school has let out. If he needs surgery, it can be done right here in Hawthorne.”

“Don’t rush me, woman. I’ll go get things checked out when I want to.”

Mom’s brows shot up. “You’ll go when I make the appointment, Joe. Because I know you won’t make one.”

“Dad, you’ll never win this argument. Just go the yes, dear route.”

“Good advice, Autumn. Enjoy your barbeque.”

He hit play, and the TV show began again. Looking at the screen at the young woman, her dad was right. Emily did dress outlandishly. She had a kind face, though, and she was glad her parents still enjoyed watching programs together after over forty years of marriage.

That was what she wanted. A man like her dad, one who would be steady as a rock.

Love her and their children. Enjoy doing simple things together, from sharing a glass of wine to reading in the same room.

Flint had never made time for her, much less prioritized their marriage.

Though it hurt to admit it, he hadn’t loved her and had only used her.

Eli would never use anyone that way. He would never hurt anyone because he had been hurt so badly himself.

As she went out to her car and unlocked it, she tried to push thoughts of her boss away. The more she was around him, though, the more she wanted to know about him.

And the more she wanted more than the friendship he had offered to her.

Autumn arrived at Eli’s house. She had stopped by once this week to deliver the purchases she had made for him, including bedding and linens for his en suite bathroom and the powder room. She had also picked up a few kitchen towels and even a mat for Atticus’ food and water bowls.

She had not volunteered to be present when the two furniture deliveries had been scheduled.

Eli had the printed diagrams of where his new furniture should be placed, and she hadn’t wanted to insert herself into his personal life more than she already had.

She saw Shorty’s catering truck sitting in the driveway.

The thought of brisket caused her mouth to water.

No other vehicles had arrived yet although it was a few minutes past seven.

She hoped all the department heads had RSVP’d and would be here soon, wanting Eli’s first time hosting a party to be successful.

Autumn rang the doorbell, and it was quickly answered by Eli himself, who gave her a big smile.

“Come in,” he said enthusiastically. “I just had my first bite of brisket. It’s amazing!”

He sounded like a schoolboy as she entered the foyer, and she asked, “You’ve never had brisket before?”

“Barbeque is expensive. It’s not something you feed a foster kid. Most of my meals from college until now have been eaten in cafeterias, either at school or a hospital, and they don’t serve barbeque either.”