Total pages in book: 89
Estimated words: 82955 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 415(@200wpm)___ 332(@250wpm)___ 277(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 82955 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 415(@200wpm)___ 332(@250wpm)___ 277(@300wpm)
Tony cheers, saying, “It’s about time our boy became a man.”
Brandon shakes his head but takes the good-natured ribbing in stride. Waving them off, he looks back at me and takes my hand. “What are you doing this afternoon?”
“This is it. This was the plan.”
As the others disperse and Chantilly tags along with Tucker, chatting his ear off, Brandon leans down and kisses me again. “I want to go somewhere with you.”
We start walking. “Unless it involves a hazardous dirt road and views for miles, I’m not interested.”
“You’re in luck.” He chuckles. “I know just the place.”
Seven days later . . .
Clasping her hands together on top of the table between us, the short-haired attorney taps twice. “We’ve done an extensive rereview of your case, Nurse Season.” She glances at the file in front of her and back to me. I wasn’t feeling confident in the second report I filed with HR, given that the first report had been ignored. The sigh says so much, so I brace myself for the same result. “We feel an initial error in judgment was made, resulting in a negative outcome not only affecting your duties but missed opportunities for a pay raise as well.”
Missed opportunities . . .
Grave error . . .
Negative outcome . . .
“We will be putting Dr. Ludlow on leave while we continue our investigation.”
“I don’t understand. What changed?”
“Another employee filed a report that matched yours, but more specifically, I was hired. And I can’t stand when doctors take advantage of their staff.”
“I hate that it took someone else being threatened to get to this conclusion, but I appreciate the decision.” I stand to shake her hand. Although I should shake the hand of the HR supervisor, who is sitting in, I’m not ready to let them off the hook. They knew and did nothing to protect their employees. It makes me glad I took a stand. “When you say missed opportunities for a pay raise…?”
“That means you’ll be receiving two raises that you would have earned in that time period.”
“And the shifts and files?”
“You have your seniority back. You make the schedule.”
“If I make the schedule, I want an office assistant hired. I can’t spare anyone on the nursing team to do busywork.”
When the HR lady looks at me, I say, “Make sure to let Mrs. Carson know I won in the end, and I got Brandon. Gossip about that.”
I spin the lucky bluebird between my fingers in my pocket, walking out knowing exactly who I want to tell first.
CHAPTER 28
AUTUMN
Two weeks later . . .
On my knees in front of him, I try again. “I need a better angle.”
Running his hands through my hair, Brandon says, “Just do the best you can.”
I hop off the bed and get to my feet. Tightening his tie, I pat his chest. “There. You’re good to go.” I take a step back to appreciate how straight the tie is, but I admire him more. “I’m proud of you.”
Stretching across the divide, he pulls me to him by the waist. “All in a day’s work.”
“Let’s not make it a habit. I love you too much to lose you. Before though, man, I hated you—”
His eyebrows hit the ceiling. “You hated me?”
“Fine,” I waffle. “Hate is a strong word. Strongly disliked fits better.”
He turns toward the full-length mirror hanging on the open door of the closet and fusses with his tie again. I eye the top of the dresser covered with my stuff that has slowly migrated to his place. He’s never said a thing and carries on like it’s supposed to be there. Little does he know I’m taking over two drawers in the closet this weekend. He did tell me to make myself at home. So I am, but the best part is that I really love this home.
“Carrying all those big feelings for so long must have been quite the burden.”
“Not really.” I shrug. “It just meant giving you a wide berth at parties, and waiting for you to finish chatting with friends and leave so I could join in. Swearing under my breath if you talked to another girl, and—oh wow. Yeah, you’re right. It was a burden, but lucky for me, it’s one I don’t carry anymore.”
Tapping my nose once, he says, “Luck had nothing to do with it. Fate definitely played her part when it came to us. You said it yourself. You strongly disliked me. But here we are, beating the odds and changing the script.” Disappearing into the closet, he says, “I have something for you.”
“More gifts?” I fluff my hair, wiggling my hips. I don’t need gifts to be happy with him, but I won’t deny that I do love how thoughtful he is. I sit on the edge of the bed covered in white sheets and a down comforter that he changed from brown, just for me. I’m slowly working on him to paint the walls in here, but baby steps. Brandon’s been a bachelor for a long time. He has welcomed me in and made space without even asking, but that doesn’t mean I want to flip his world upside down. I want to fit into it instead, and one day have our home feel like us. “And here I thought that third orgasm last night was all the gift I needed.”