Page 56 of Tide and Seek

“That he was.”She scowled suddenly.“The problem is he’s competing with another guy in the department, Rudy Wott, and it’s been cutthroat.”

“Cutthroat how?”

“Rudy’s a jerk.He’s been sucking up to influential board members and donors and trying to throw James under the bus.”Her eyes glittered with anger.“He even went so far as to lie to James about the times and dates of a few networking dinners and events with hospital leadership.Just so James would miss them and look bad.”

“That seems rather childish.”

“It is, but it worked.It made James look like he didn’t care about the promotion.But instead of sticking up for himself, James has been moping around and drinking way too much, among other things.”

“Have you tried talking to him?”

“Sure, but you know how he can be.He just won’t listen to reason sometimes.He thinks he’s fine and that he’s got it all under control.”

“Yes,” I murmured.“He always did tend to do that.”

Her expression changed to something more sly.“But he always listened to you, Maxwell.”

“No he didn’t.”

“Yes he did.”She smiled, inching closer.“I don’t suppose you’d talk to him?”

I recoiled.“Me?”

“Why not?He’ll listen to you.”She dug her slender fingers into the arm of my suit coat.“I’m not saying you have to do an intervention or anything.Maybe just casually talk to him at the party?”

“You want me to corner him and casually tell him he’s drinking too much?”

“Gosh, no.You’d have to use more finesse than that.”

I rubbed the back of my neck.“I don’t do finesse, C.J.Surely you know that about me.”

She grimaced.“Okay, it’s true you’re not always the most tactful or empathetic person, but I know you care about James and he listens to you.”

“Again, I think you’re wrong about that.”

She ignored me, a determined tilt to her mouth.“You could give him some advice about how to handle the stress he’s under.Help him see he has to fight if he really wants this position.He can’t just give up and become an alcoholic.”

“C.J.,” I said with exasperation.“I don’t handle stress well at all.After Lucinda Pratt died, I quit doing surgery and ran away to Texas.I wouldn’t exactly call myself a success story.”

“Of course you are.You didn’t quitmedicine.You didn’t turn to the bottle or pills.You just switched your specialty, and from what I can tell, you’re thriving.You’ve started your own private practice and you’re embarking on a whole new life with Royce.”

“You give me too much credit.I’m sure James thinks I was a coward for running away.I’m the last person he’ll want advice from.”

“You’re so wrong.”There was a hint of sadness in her eyes.“He respects you.I’m telling you, he’ll listen to you.If you encourage him to slow down on the drinking, I think he’ll do it.Tell him not to give up on that job just because Rudy is making it hard on him.He’d be perfect for that promotion, and God knows he needs a win.”

Guilt nudged me as I studied her pleading expression.She really did care about others so passionately.I didn’t understand that instinct, but I respected it.“I don’t know.I’m not very good at the whole pep-talk thing.”

“Will you at least try?”

I groaned, feeling my resolve weakening.“I’ll probably make it worse.”

She opened her mouth to respond when raised voices drifted up from the beach.We both glanced over and saw Luke and another man arguing about forty feet away.

“Is that Ethan arguing with Luke?”C.J.asked, sounding bewildered.

I squinted at the other man, recognizing the sandy hair and the red Coastal Pest Solutions ball cap.“Yes, I think it is.”

“What in the world?Why would Luke be mad at Ethan?”C.J.took a few steps toward the beach to get a better look, but she stayed in the shadow of my house so she wouldn’t be seen.“Luke looks ready to punch Ethan.Should we do something?”