should be done.”
“Yes. I’ve not been in that situation, but I think I would report it. They obviously need help. And a cocaine-using doctor is a very scary combo, any way you look at it.
“When you’re applying to medicine, they love to throw these ethical dilemmas at you. And often there’s no right or wrong. They want to see how you think, how you approach the problem. They want to see that you can be nonjudgmental and empathetic.”
“Right. So consider what it’s like to be in the other person’s skin. Show them I get it. Ideally they should leave feeling better. And keep everything confidential,” he said.
“Exactly.”
“I should be good at this.” He grinned. “Sounds a lot like foreplay.”
Chapter 10
Margo folded the last of the drop sheets and packed them neatly in her tote bag. She threw the rollers, tray liners, and two empty cans of paint in a plastic trash bag.
Trace had a weekend tutorial to run for some of the first-year students and had left after lunch, which turned out well. Without him to distract her, she powered through the rest of the job and finished it. Even the baseboards got a touch-up and it was only four o’clock. She wouldn’t say she rushed it at the end, exactly. But if she could get cleaned up and out the door before he returned, she would call it a good day.
Foreplay indeed. She suppressed a shiver. He definitely thought outside the box. And it was a very sexy box.
But it was also Pandora’s Box to her, and the sooner she was out of there, the better.
She wrapped the brushes to take home to clean and stuffed them in a side pocket of the tote. She swept the floors and put the stool back in the closet where it belonged. All done. It would take a couple of trips to load her car. She shrugged on her coat and found the keys in her pocket just as the door to the condo opened.
Her heart skipped a beat when Trace walked in.
He stopped when he saw her all packed up. “Leaving so soon?”
“All done.”
He came closer and she smelled the fresh outdoor air on his jacket.
“Beautiful.”
She looked around at the smooth blue of the walls. For a pale color, it exuded strength and calm. She’d have to agree. She’d done a good job. “Thanks. I think it looks good, too.”
“I didn’t mean the walls,” he said.
She raised startled eyes to his but looked away at the intensity of his gaze. “It’ll . . . It’ll just take a couple of trips to clear this stuff out,” she stammered.
“I can help you,” he said.
She passed him the totes, and when his hand lingered on hers, felt a flutter of panic. Can’t go there. Shouldn’t go there, her mind raced. It was a guaranteed one-way street to heartache.
With her head down, she pulled back and then picked up the half-empty paint can and the rest of her gear. Trace held the door open, and they walked down the hallway to the elevator.
They stepped in silently when the doors opened.
18
17
“So tomorrow you start another job?” Trace asked.
She nodded. “Another residential, on Savior.”
16
15
“Thanks again for getting it done this weekend. How much do I owe you?”
A lifetime of forgiveness. “Don’t worry about it. I’ll send you a bill.”
He nodded.
She watched the numbers count down. The elevator was slower than the average green van.
14
13
12
“So, how often are you at the soup kitchen? What did you call it? The Breakfast Table?”
She smiled. “Breaking Bread. I usually try to go twice a week, on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Depends on my schedule, though. They’re pretty flexible and can always use a hand.”
He nodded. “Right. Breaking Bread.” He nodded again.
11
10
9
8
“I’ll be working on my application to medical school this week. Can I get in touch if, you know, I need advice?”
7
6
“Sure.”
5
4
“I’m on Facebook,” she said reluctantly. “Send me a friend request.”
“You know, they say you shouldn’t accept a friend request unless you’d be
“Yes. I’ve not been in that situation, but I think I would report it. They obviously need help. And a cocaine-using doctor is a very scary combo, any way you look at it.
“When you’re applying to medicine, they love to throw these ethical dilemmas at you. And often there’s no right or wrong. They want to see how you think, how you approach the problem. They want to see that you can be nonjudgmental and empathetic.”
“Right. So consider what it’s like to be in the other person’s skin. Show them I get it. Ideally they should leave feeling better. And keep everything confidential,” he said.
“Exactly.”
“I should be good at this.” He grinned. “Sounds a lot like foreplay.”
Chapter 10
Margo folded the last of the drop sheets and packed them neatly in her tote bag. She threw the rollers, tray liners, and two empty cans of paint in a plastic trash bag.
Trace had a weekend tutorial to run for some of the first-year students and had left after lunch, which turned out well. Without him to distract her, she powered through the rest of the job and finished it. Even the baseboards got a touch-up and it was only four o’clock. She wouldn’t say she rushed it at the end, exactly. But if she could get cleaned up and out the door before he returned, she would call it a good day.
Foreplay indeed. She suppressed a shiver. He definitely thought outside the box. And it was a very sexy box.
But it was also Pandora’s Box to her, and the sooner she was out of there, the better.
She wrapped the brushes to take home to clean and stuffed them in a side pocket of the tote. She swept the floors and put the stool back in the closet where it belonged. All done. It would take a couple of trips to load her car. She shrugged on her coat and found the keys in her pocket just as the door to the condo opened.
Her heart skipped a beat when Trace walked in.
He stopped when he saw her all packed up. “Leaving so soon?”
“All done.”
He came closer and she smelled the fresh outdoor air on his jacket.
“Beautiful.”
She looked around at the smooth blue of the walls. For a pale color, it exuded strength and calm. She’d have to agree. She’d done a good job. “Thanks. I think it looks good, too.”
“I didn’t mean the walls,” he said.
She raised startled eyes to his but looked away at the intensity of his gaze. “It’ll . . . It’ll just take a couple of trips to clear this stuff out,” she stammered.
“I can help you,” he said.
She passed him the totes, and when his hand lingered on hers, felt a flutter of panic. Can’t go there. Shouldn’t go there, her mind raced. It was a guaranteed one-way street to heartache.
With her head down, she pulled back and then picked up the half-empty paint can and the rest of her gear. Trace held the door open, and they walked down the hallway to the elevator.
They stepped in silently when the doors opened.
18
17
“So tomorrow you start another job?” Trace asked.
She nodded. “Another residential, on Savior.”
16
15
“Thanks again for getting it done this weekend. How much do I owe you?”
A lifetime of forgiveness. “Don’t worry about it. I’ll send you a bill.”
He nodded.
She watched the numbers count down. The elevator was slower than the average green van.
14
13
12
“So, how often are you at the soup kitchen? What did you call it? The Breakfast Table?”
She smiled. “Breaking Bread. I usually try to go twice a week, on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Depends on my schedule, though. They’re pretty flexible and can always use a hand.”
He nodded. “Right. Breaking Bread.” He nodded again.
11
10
9
8
“I’ll be working on my application to medical school this week. Can I get in touch if, you know, I need advice?”
7
6
“Sure.”
5
4
“I’m on Facebook,” she said reluctantly. “Send me a friend request.”
“You know, they say you shouldn’t accept a friend request unless you’d be
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