Page 27 of In Too Deep
Before she could go on, there was a quick rap on the door—confident, familiar—just before it opened.Noah’s head poked in.
He froze at the sight of Meg.“Oh, I didn’t know you were here.Sorry for interrupting.”
Meg’s breath slowed.Stupid heart,skipping and racing at just the sight of him.
The last thing she needed was for him to find out she was leaving this way, accidentally, overhearing something not meant for him.But he didn’t ask, just blinked at Virgil.
“Let me know when you’re free.”
Virgil nodded at him.The moment the door clicked shut, Virgil tilted his head at Meg.“Did you guys break up or something?”
Meg choked on—well, nothing, and drew a quick breath.“We were never dating.”
“Oh.”The guy’s bushy gray brows pinched together.“I just saw you two—never mind.Not my business.”
Warmth filled her face.Awesome.
Virgil must have seen Noah nearly kiss her at the lodge almost three weeks ago.This was so embarrassing.“This isn’t because of Noah.”
Liar.
“It’s everything.And the ridiculousness that the gold has added.Another knife fight, not even counting Noah’s.Two cases of embedded cactus spines.A few alcohol poisonings.I didn’t sign up to work a mining town.”
“I get that.”Virgil pulled off his glasses and rubbed his eyes.“I hate to lose you.But if you’re certain, I’ll post an ad.I just ask that you not leave until I can find a replacement.But Yellowstone just replaced one of their docs in under a week, so it shouldn’t take long.”
A week?
Why did that not make her feel better?Why did the thought of leaving in seven days make her stomach drop?
He lifted her letter and started to file it in his desk.“If you see Noah out there, send him in.”
And just like that, she was dismissed.
She wanted this new job.It was offered to her on a silver platter.So why did she feel like she was going to throw up?
She slipped out of the office and nearly collided with Noah’s solid chest.She stared at him for a moment.“He’s ready for you.”
She started to walk past him, but his hand landed gently on her arm.“Everything okay?”
Okay?No.Nothing was okay.This wasn’t how life was supposed to go—full of almost moments and what-ifs.
But if she said all that, she’d end up in tears.He’d hold her again.And when the push away inevitably happened once again, when he pulled back and erected those walls, she would shatter.
She couldn’t keep doing this.
So instead she just nodded, not trusting her voice.She needed to redirect or she’d fall apart right here.
“Lydia’s report came back.”Not what the meeting had been about.But it was true.“It showed I wasn’t at fault.The damage was beyond what we could treat in the cave.”
“I told you.”He lifted his hand toward the wisp of her hair that had broken free again.But instead of touching her, he let it drop back to his side.
Always so close.Never close enough.
“Are you here to check out his arm, Doc?”Teague appeared next to Noah and leaned casually against the wall.
Then she saw it.Noah’s bandage was brown with dirt.A fresh spot of blood in the center.
She held out her hand and waited for him.Finally he lifted his arm and extended it toward her.She peeled back the bandage with careful fingers.He didn’t even twitch his muscle.So it wasn’t painful.Or the guy had quite the poker face.
