Page 24 of Hold Me Instead (Elmwood Falls #1)

Her voice was scratchy, and Zachary almost reached for her hand, as though the comfort would help. As though his comfort would help the woman who would take over the practice.

The one spiraling beyond both their control, she just had no clue.

“Well, that’s good for me to know. Best to have the heads-up that we might be looking for a more long-term replacement, then.”

The thought of someone like Dr. Fletcher stepping in to do a job he could do better grated. “I don’t think that’s necessary right now. Let’s give it a little time. We’ll see what the word is when he goes home and go from there.”

“We have to prepare for when you’ll be leaving us too.”

Leaving us .

“I won’t leave you in a lurch, Harris. ”

“What about your job in Chicago, Lee ?”

“Like I said, I had a sabbatical planned.”

The waitress appeared with their food, setting down plates piled with fries next to giant burgers. Perfect for a distraction from Charlie’s prying gaze.

He took a large bite of the burger, the flavor of the meat mixing perfectly with the onions and sauce. “ Damn .” He shoved another bite into his mouth, glancing up to see Charlie pushing fries around her plate. “Definitely better than Al’s. I would’ve regretted going there.”

Charlie allowed a small nod. “You’ll have plenty of time to fit in a visit there, I guess.”

Zachary grabbed a couple fries and popped them in, watching her as she picked at her food. “That bother you? That I’ll be in town longer?”

“No.” Her answer was immediate.

“Trying to drive me out of here, Harris?” He struggled to keep his tone light, despite the tension coiling in his chest. Business politics aside, he wanted her to want him here .

“Your family is thrilled you’re home. Not to mention the clients.”

“Not you, though.” He set his burger down and pressed close, lowering his voice, the aged pain resurfacing. “You just want me out of the way. Get the practice to yourself. A little sooner than you were expecting, sure, but why waste time? Right?”

“What are you even talking about? I’m not the one sitting around making lists of things to fix as soon as Daniel’s gone.”

He narrowed his eyes. “You should be. Sign of someone who knows how to run things.”

She gasped .

He swallowed hard, but continued. “What made you look through my things? Didn’t trust me to not make more mistakes?”

Her face flushed as she appeared to calculate his words.

“Charlotte, I thought that was you! Goodness it’s been a while. How are you, dear?” A woman swarmed their table and wrapped Charlie in an uninvited hug, stepping back to barely leave a foot of space.

Charlie’s eyes widened, her cheeks still burned red, and her fingertips were white against the table. She stared at the woman in front of her, most likely in her late fifties, with her chic coat and tight bob of gray hair.

It took an extra moment, but Charlie softened her eyes slightly and forced a tight smile. “Hi, Mrs. Hampshire. Now isn’t the b—”

“Oh, you know you can call me Loretta, Charlotte. We’re long past the Mrs. Hampshire days.

I’m doing very well. Here for a little night out with my sister, you remember Gloria?

We are so excited for the holidays. You know Bobby’s little one is two this year?

What a sweetheart she is, my word. Let me show you.

” She whipped out her phone as quickly as the words were out, swiping the screen until she was satisfied enough to shove it in Charlie’s face.

“Adorable,” Charlie said with barely a glance, her voice quiet. “Lore—”

“Isn’t she? She is the absolute cutest , but I’m biased, I suppose. She went as a little cupcake for Halloween, I just died when I saw the costume. Here, you have to see it. We joined them for their little trick or treat this year, what a delight.”

“Sounds wonderful. Loretta, if you don’t mind…”

“Oh! I hope I’m not interrupting a date?

” She placed her hand on her chest, various rings sparkling in the dim light of the restaurant as she turned her body toward Zachary.

Even without knowing her, he knew she’d been aware of his presence.

“Though I suppose you wouldn’t be in your work scrubs for a date now, would you?

” Her laughter singed the air as she tapped a hand to Charlie’s shoulder.

Charlie clenched her jaw. “Loretta Hampshire, this is Zachary Lee.”

“Hello, what a pleasure. Of the Lee family, from Charlotte’s clinic?”

“Yes.” It was all Zachary felt was necessary, since this woman knew everything anyway.

“I see. I’m so sorry to interrupt your work meeting . What a lovely place you have, Dr. Lee. I remember the stories Charlotte shared when she and my son were dating.”

Ah, that’s why the name Bobby stood out.

He remembered hearing about him when they worked together, a layer to the guy that sounded exactly the opposite of what he pictured for Charlie.

He’d even met Bobby briefly when he came by to pick her up after a shift, and one handshake was all it took to solidify that gut feeling.

He saw a bit of where he got it from.

“Have a good rest of your night, Loretta,” Charlie managed.

“We will! I’ll make sure to tell Bobby you say hello.”

“No need,” Charlie said, voice firm.

Loretta blinked rapidly, mouth falling open with a silent gasp. With a nod his way and a final glance at Charlie, Loretta Hampshire zipped toward the front of the restaurant.

Zachary waited, watching Charlie’s face as she looked everywhere but at him. Her pinched expression didn’t lessen, despite the distance between her and Loretta.

“Could I get a to-go box? Thanks.” Charlie caught the waitress on her way by, then busied herself with scooting her fries together, as if that’d help save time when the box arrived.

“I need to go. It’s been a hectic…God, only a couple weeks, but it sure feels like a month.

Anyway, lots of prep to do yet for the cookout. ”

“Charlie—”

“We’ll talk more about the practice later.” She nodded a thanks to the waitress, then dumped her plateful of food into the container. Standing, Charlie rifled through her purse and pulled out her wallet, throwing a twenty on the table. “Um, let me know what else I owe.”

“Wait—”

“I really do need to go. Oh, but Zachary?” Her eyes focused hard on his, face determined.

He swallowed. “Yeah?”

“The thought of your dad retiring makes me sad, for many reasons. I love working with him, and for him. Honestly, I know I still have a lot to learn. I’m not ready for him to hand over the reins.

The fact that you’re jumping to that conclusion is really painful, you know?

” Her voice cracked. She shook her head.

“Regarding you staying in town longer? What I’m struggling with the most is working with you . ”

Zachary stared at the space where she’d stood long after she left, kicking himself for not prying more about what had just happened with Loretta.

No . Kicking himself for accusing her of waiting with bated breath to take over the vet hospital.

As though she’d been clamoring for it, or forcing it to happen somehow.

She didn’t conjure his dad’s heart attack.

She hadn’t made Zachary leave town in the first place and abandon the one thing his dad had been so proud to pass along to him.

She didn’t make him come back, dead set on improving everything to try to make up for where he’d failed .

He owed her an explanation.

He glanced at the table and saw her box of leftovers.

Looked like he owed her dinner too.