Always(Time for Love Book 4)(14)

“I will. Later. I have a consult starting in a few minutes.”

“Then why don’t I go with you—”

He pressed her lips together with his fingers. “If you don’t sit here and enjoy your breakfast for at least an hour, you’re fired.”

She frowned at him, huffing and pulling his hand from her lips. “Ash Payne, you’re such a pain in the ass,” she said with a pout.

He grinned. That line was a Brenna special he hadn’t heard in a long time. She used to say it a lot when she was in her teens—when he’d intimidated boys who hung around her.

“I can and want to start work early,” she said, her eyes flashing in annoyance. “Why is it so hard for you to understand that I want to help you? Your clinic is super busy and you have temps who can’t handle it. You can’t afford to have your patients stuffed around or their records stuffed up.”

“Step inside the clinic earlier than one hour from now and you’ll find yourself fired, Brenna. I mean it.” He put on a serious look, but he was thoroughly enjoying her irritated expression. If there was anything Brenna didn’t have much patience with, it was disorganisation.

“I can’t see why—”

“Bren,” he interrupted, holding his hand up to halt her speech. “Nothing you say could take away my guilt over agreeing for you to take your annual leave to work at the clinic. That’s a huge sacrifice you’ve made. I’m very grateful for your help, but I don’t want you working full days. You might not mind it, but I do. I’m trying to compromise with you here.”

They stared at each other, a battle of wills ensuing.

“Fine,” she said grudgingly after a long moment.

“Good,” he said, stifling his grin. “Now what would you like to eat?”

Brenna checked the menu on the table and told him, then he went to the counter and ordered it for her.

When he came back, he found Brenna watching him in a way she’d never done before. His heart pounded, and the hope that he’d been trying to shackle pulled on its restraints—getting stronger and making it difficult for him to hold it back.

“Thanks,” she murmured.

“My pleasure,” he answered. “But I should be the one thanking you.”

“Well, Ash, if you think buying me breakfast is enough, think again. I’m free for dinner tonight.”

His lungs filled involuntarily. “Dinner then. Tonight.”

“I’m looking forward to it,” she said softly with a sweet, sweet smile.

He could have stood there and gaped at Brenna all morning. But duty called. He had patients waiting. “Remember, one hour before you turn up to work,” he warned as he walked to the exit.

“One hour from five minutes ago,” she called out.

He strutted to the clinic, grinning like an idiot. He’d be too busy to have a chit-chat with Brenna during the day, but at least he’d see her. And he was having dinner with her tonight. Oh, he knew damn well it wasn’t a date, but it didn’t stop him from getting all excited.

*****

Ash came back to the clinic after performing surgery on a patient at the nearby Sydney Eye Hospital. As usual, it had been a busy day, and he hadn’t had a chance to speak with Brenna at all since leaving her at the café that morning. Hopefully, she’d had a good day.

“Hi,” he said as he approached the reception desk. The waiting room was empty of patients, since it was closing time.

“Hey, Ash,” Brenna said with a grin. “How was the operation?”

“Went well, thanks. How’s your day been?”

“It’s been good. I’ve had lots of help from everyone.”

“She’s done so well that I want to keep her,” Dora said from behind him.

“That’s great. The important question is, did you enjoy today?” he asked Brenna.

“Yeah, I did.”

“Don’t lie,” he said, narrowing his eyes.

She laughed. “I did! It’s not as exciting as my regular job, but I still enjoyed it.”

“If only all receptionists were like you,” Dora said with a sigh as she walked back to her office.

Ash leaned on the counter and stared at Brenna. “Still keen to do it again tomorrow?”

“Yes.”

“I really appreciate this, Bren. Thank you,” he said quietly.

“It’s my pleasure, Doc. Anyway, I was talking to Dora about the fact that you hardly had a break today, and that I didn’t think you had lunch. She said you’re like this most days. So did you even get to eat?”

“Yeah,” he said a tad defensively. “I had a ham and egg sandwich.”

“When?”

“When I was walking to the eye hospital.”

“You ate on the run?” she asked incredulously. “That’s not good, Ash.”

“I was just really busy,” he said.

“You should get at least half an hour blocked on your schedule each day so you can have a decent lunch.”

“Yeah, but...” Truth was, it had become the norm for him to work like this every day. When he’d set up the clinic three years ago, it had been imperative to work hard and get the cash flow coming in. His mother’s house had been a guarantee for the business loan he took, and he couldn’t let himself rest until he was absolutely sure that there was no chance of his mum losing the roof above her head.