“Don’t do that,” Sara warned. “You might regret it later.”
Hurt chased through every inch of her, choking off her breath, pounding in her head, and sending a vicious searing pain into her stomach. “I’m never having sex with him again, so it doesn’t matter. Certainly not on a surfboard.”
Sara’s mouth dropped. “You had sex on a surfboard? Holy moly, did that work? I’ve got to find me a surfer.”
It had worked, and then some. “Why? So they can coax you out of your clothes, feed you lies, then ruin your life with cold calculation?” Damn it, tears were in her eyes and her voice warbled like a drunken parrot.
Josie squeezed her eyes shut briefly and fought for control. “I’m going to see him, and I will be calm and rational.”
Even if it killed her.
Picking up her half-eaten salad, she tossed it in the garbage.
“Good luck,” Sara said. “And no throwing things or leaping over the desk and throttling him.”
“I would never dream of doing such a thing.” The bit aboutstrangling him had really only been a momentary fantasy. She had never intended toacton it. Though a slap wouldn’t be out of line.
Grabbing the offending printout, she left the cafeteria with a wave to Sara. With each step she reminded herself to be reasonable, calm, and intelligent.
Sailing into his office shrieking like a fishwife would not aid her cause. Which was to insist Houston revoke that stupid, prickish, self-serving statement about her and cancel the transfer.
By the time she stood outside his door, she was almost in control and looking mostly professional. Except for the salad dressing stain on the elbow of her blouse and the hideous scowl she was sure was on her face.
The waiting area had three elderly patients waiting to be seen and the receptionist looked tired. When Josie approached her, the girl sighed. “I’ll give you every cent I have if you take over my job for the rest of the day.”
“That bad?” Josie asked in sympathy, feeling for the girl, who barely looked eighteen. At least Josie was adequately paid for bearing the annoyances of her job. This girl was likely just making enough to pay her bills.
“I’ve been on hold with an insurance company for twenty minutes about a patient’s bill. Dr. Hayes is running a half-hour behind, and I broke a nail.” She held the offending finger up. “I just had these done yesterday and it cost forty-five bucks.”
“Then neither of us is having a good day. I have a bone to pick with your boss.”
The receptionist grimaced. “Don’t leave him in too bad of a mood, I’m begging you. Once you leave I’m stuck with him for the rest of the day.”
Josie forced a laugh that almost had her gagging. “I’ll do my best.”
The chart was out of the holder to the examining room on the left, which meant Houston was inside with the patient. She propped herself against the wall and prepared to wait. The clockon the wall read one-twelve. She had thirty-eight minutes left on her lunch. She could wait him out for thirty-seven if she had to.
It was a mere five minutes later when the door opened and Houston came striding out, the file in his hand to slide into the slot on the wall. He came close to colliding with her, but stopped himself just in time.
“Josie! I’m glad you came by. You want to go to lunch?” He reached towards her, like he was going to kiss her right there in the hall, and she jerked away.
“I need a minute of your time.”
His eyebrows rose. “What’s the matter?”
Everything. “I need to talk to you in private.”
He shuffled the folder, looking puzzled and remarkably innocent. “I’m almost finished. Can it wait until over lunch?”
Shaking her head, she held up the transfer paper. “No, it can’t wait. I want an explanation for this.”
“What is it?” He peered at it without recognition, then glanced at his watch.
“My marching orders. Transfer to St. John’s, effective October one. A week from now.”
That got a slight reaction. His jaw clenched. “I see. What about it?”
Despite the growing anger in her, she forced herself to remain calm. She was an adult. She would handle this like one. “Clearly you knew about it. Now I would like to know why you found it necessary to undermine my skills.”