contents of several files to her. Even if she had to be outof the office while her father was ill, there were still matters that required her attention. She’d spent much of the afternoon answering e-mails. Working out of the hospital waiting room wasn’t ideal, but she’d managed.
She was at a table in the cafeteria, reading over some notes on her laptop, when Colby arrived. As he pulled out a chair, she straightened, shut down the computer and closed it.
After a somewhat perfunctory greeting, Colby reached for the sugar canister in the middle of the table and methodically poured out a teaspoon, briskly stirring it into his coffee. “I wanted to apologize,” he began.
His words took her by surprise. “For what?”
“I was out of line, coming down on you the way I did about the marriage business. I should’ve realized your father was stretching whatever you said out of proportion. I took my irritation out on you.”
She dismissed his apology with a shake of her head. “It was understandable. As far as I’m concerned, it’s forgotten.”
His eyes met hers as though he couldn’t quite believe her. “You spoke to him?” he asked abruptly.
Valerie nodded, trying to conceal her amusement. “My poor father was distraught, or at least he tried to persuade me he was. But—” she sighed expressively “—he’ll get over it just as I will.” She fluttered her eyelashes melodramatically, teasing Colby just a little.
His eyes shot to hers, and a slow grin moved across his face, relaxing his features. “Disappointed, were you?”
“Oh, yes. I’ve always dreamed of a traditional white wedding gown—one that matches the sheets on my father’s hospital bed.” She smiled and relaxed, too, feeling at ease with him now. She’d been angry, but that was over, and she had to admit she actually liked this man. She certainly admired him.
Colby sipped his coffee, and once again she noted the lines of fatigue that marked his eyes and mouth.
“Rough day?”
He nodded. “I lost a patient. Joanne Murphy. She died this afternoon in surgery. We knew there was a risk, but…” He shrugged heavily. “No matter how often it happens, I never get used to it.”
“I’m so sorry, Colby.” Her hand slid over to his in a gesture of friendship and support.
His fingers gripped hers as if to absorb the comfort and consolation she offered. At the feel of his hand closing over hers, Valerie felt a thrill of happiness, and even more inexplicably, a sense of rightness. She didn’t know how else to describe it. Yet almost immediately, the doubts and uncertainties flowed into her mind.
They were friends, nothing more, she reminded herself. And very recent friends at that. Neither of them was looking for anything else. Neither of them wanted anything else. But if that was really the case, why would she experience this deep ache of longing? For one impulsive moment she yearned to throw herself into his arms, rest her head against his shoulder and immerse herself in his strength. Lend him hers.
Valerie decided she had to ignore these uncharacteristic sensations. She withdrew her hand, hoping he wouldn’t notice its trembling.
“I’d better get back before Norah wonders where I am,” she said firmly. Valerie knew she was a woman who needed to be in control, who looked at a problem from all angles and worked toward the most favorable solution. But Colby Winston wasn’t a problem to be solved. He was a man who left her feeling vulnerable and confused.
She was already on her feet, briefcase in one hand, laptop in the other, when Colby spoke. “Don’t leave…not yet.” His voice was low, hesitant.
Valerie stared at him, unsure whether to stay or go.
“Oh, never mind.” Colby shook his head, eyes suddenly guarded. “Actually, I should be leaving myself,” he said quickly, bounding to his feet. He drank down several gulps of coffee, then strode out of the cafeteria, with Valerie close behind.
“Colby.” She stopped
She was at a table in the cafeteria, reading over some notes on her laptop, when Colby arrived. As he pulled out a chair, she straightened, shut down the computer and closed it.
After a somewhat perfunctory greeting, Colby reached for the sugar canister in the middle of the table and methodically poured out a teaspoon, briskly stirring it into his coffee. “I wanted to apologize,” he began.
His words took her by surprise. “For what?”
“I was out of line, coming down on you the way I did about the marriage business. I should’ve realized your father was stretching whatever you said out of proportion. I took my irritation out on you.”
She dismissed his apology with a shake of her head. “It was understandable. As far as I’m concerned, it’s forgotten.”
His eyes met hers as though he couldn’t quite believe her. “You spoke to him?” he asked abruptly.
Valerie nodded, trying to conceal her amusement. “My poor father was distraught, or at least he tried to persuade me he was. But—” she sighed expressively “—he’ll get over it just as I will.” She fluttered her eyelashes melodramatically, teasing Colby just a little.
His eyes shot to hers, and a slow grin moved across his face, relaxing his features. “Disappointed, were you?”
“Oh, yes. I’ve always dreamed of a traditional white wedding gown—one that matches the sheets on my father’s hospital bed.” She smiled and relaxed, too, feeling at ease with him now. She’d been angry, but that was over, and she had to admit she actually liked this man. She certainly admired him.
Colby sipped his coffee, and once again she noted the lines of fatigue that marked his eyes and mouth.
“Rough day?”
He nodded. “I lost a patient. Joanne Murphy. She died this afternoon in surgery. We knew there was a risk, but…” He shrugged heavily. “No matter how often it happens, I never get used to it.”
“I’m so sorry, Colby.” Her hand slid over to his in a gesture of friendship and support.
His fingers gripped hers as if to absorb the comfort and consolation she offered. At the feel of his hand closing over hers, Valerie felt a thrill of happiness, and even more inexplicably, a sense of rightness. She didn’t know how else to describe it. Yet almost immediately, the doubts and uncertainties flowed into her mind.
They were friends, nothing more, she reminded herself. And very recent friends at that. Neither of them was looking for anything else. Neither of them wanted anything else. But if that was really the case, why would she experience this deep ache of longing? For one impulsive moment she yearned to throw herself into his arms, rest her head against his shoulder and immerse herself in his strength. Lend him hers.
Valerie decided she had to ignore these uncharacteristic sensations. She withdrew her hand, hoping he wouldn’t notice its trembling.
“I’d better get back before Norah wonders where I am,” she said firmly. Valerie knew she was a woman who needed to be in control, who looked at a problem from all angles and worked toward the most favorable solution. But Colby Winston wasn’t a problem to be solved. He was a man who left her feeling vulnerable and confused.
She was already on her feet, briefcase in one hand, laptop in the other, when Colby spoke. “Don’t leave…not yet.” His voice was low, hesitant.
Valerie stared at him, unsure whether to stay or go.
“Oh, never mind.” Colby shook his head, eyes suddenly guarded. “Actually, I should be leaving myself,” he said quickly, bounding to his feet. He drank down several gulps of coffee, then strode out of the cafeteria, with Valerie close behind.
“Colby.” She stopped
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