today, he and Keela had looked at each other in a special way during lunch. Beer or no beer, he’d felt that zing down to his toes. And for an instant he’d wondered if life could be different. The mere thought of opening up to a woman again had scared the egg rolls out of him, yet he’d considered it for that single moment. Just now he’d overcompensated for both instances by hiding behind the tough-boss act.
And it sure as hell didn’t feel right.
* * *
Friday morning Daniel appeared at Keela’s office door. She’d come in a few minutes early to make sure she was up to date with all her supply orders, and also to mentally prepare for her appointments lined up for the day. He looked...regretful maybe, or was that what she’d wanted to see because he’d been tough on her yesterday? “Hi,” she said.
“Hi.” He stepped inside. “Okay if I sit?”
“Of course.” She stopped what she was doing to give him her full attention.
“I need to apologize for being a jerk. I was being unreasonable and I came down too hard on you yesterday evening.”
“You were right, though. I wasn’t assertive enough regarding the supplies. That company isn’t the only one and I should have made some waves. And I should always have a backup plan where Ron is concerned. It was just that Mrs. Jenkins had that hair appointment.” There she went, overexplaining out of insecurity. “I won’t let that happen again. Promise.” She said everything the way she’d practiced on her drive in that morning, fearing her job was at stake if she didn’t.
“I thought I was supposed to be apologizing to you.” He stared at her for a second while considering her carefully prepared explanation. “I won’t let it happen again, either. Promise.” Then he stood, turned and left.
After she’d married Ron and Anna had been born, Keela had tried hard to please him. She’d done it because she could tell his attitude toward her had changed. He’d had to marry her out of obligation, and though he’d never said it aloud, he’d always sent the subtle message: he was doing her a huge favor.
Just now, with Daniel, she’d fallen into an old and bad habit of bending over backward to please. But Ron had always managed to find fault somewhere, somehow, no matter how hard she’d tried. She was never good enough—like having a daughter instead of a son. Once she’d made a mistake, he’d never let her off the hook. Eventually, she gave up even trying to please him, feeling such a failure, and he’d used that as an excuse to seek a relationship with someone else. Like it was her fault! Once a self-assured young woman, Keela had become unconfident, always doubting and second-guessing herself.
Now, under Daniel’s scrutiny, she’d reverted to old habits. Maybe because all men were the same? But Daniel had apologized, then listened to her explanation and apologized again. In that regard, he was nothing like her ex.
* * *
Daniel finished his intake assessment of the quarterback of the 4Cs football team and arrived in his office to find the telephone light blinking.
“Your mom’s on the phone!” Abby called from the reception desk, making him wonder how long she’d been on hold.
He’d been keeping busy all morning to avoid his thoughts about how he’d come off as a boss, how he’d intentionally intimidated Keela and how lousy he felt about it, and he knew any conversation with his mother would draw him back into the realm of the thinking and feeling. He considered asking Abby to tell her he was busy, but caught himself. Mom always knew when he was avoiding her.
“Hey, Mom, what’s up?” He opted to sound rushed and on the run.
“Hope I’m not interrupting anything, but I’ve had a brainstorm and just wanted to run something by you.”
“Okay.”
“Dad and I have been discussing how to draw more visitors to the hotel this season, and I got the bright idea to add more amenities. You know, like massages and facials. My hairstylist has a part-time esthetician who would be willing to do some moonlighting, but I’m at a loss for where to find a massage therapist. You’re kind of in that biz, right? Any thoughts?”
He pulled in his chin. He wasn’t exactly in that biz. He didn’t run a spa, but he did happen to know a former massage therapist turned PT tech. “Keela.” For all the times she had to chase down her ex for child support, he figured she could use some extra money.
“Keela?”
In fact, the more he thought about it, the more he liked the idea. This would give him a reason to talk to her again, and to hopefully mend the damage he’d caused yesterday afternoon. He hated how things felt in the clinic today, all strained and quiet. Even though he’d apologized, he suspected that wasn’t nearly enough.
“Yeah, Keela. Hey, I’ve got an idea. Why don’t I bring her to Grandda’s birthday party on Sunday and you can talk to her about it then. What do you say?”
“Sounds good to me. She has a daughter, right? Tell her to bring her, too.”
“Sure thing.” Daniel hung up feeling more positive than he had all day. Problem solved?
* * *
When Keela passed Daniel in the hallway, he gave a reassuring smile, the first she’d seen from him all day. Though it did seem forced, it was better than the grim face he’d been wearing. He didn’t look like a man who wanted to fire her on the spot, which helped her breathe a bit easier. By her second-to-last appointment that day, there he was hanging out in her office doorway again. What was up?
He appeared uncomfortable, as if he might have to tell her some bad news. More bad news? A sudden chill traveled up her spine. Insecurity made her wonder, what if he was going to fire her? She was still in the probationary period, and he had the right to call the shots on her future. Now the chill turned to a cold hard lump in her stomach. What would she do if he did?
“Are you available on Sunday?”
Wait, what? “Sunday?” Did he expect her to work weekends now, too? She would if it meant keeping her job.
He stepped inside her office but remained standing, a torn expression on his face.
“Yes, Sunday, it’s my grandfather’s birthday, and we’re having a big party. I thought you and Anna might like to come. It’s my way of trying to make up for being the boss from hell yesterday.”
“Truly?” He’d just veered into completely different territory from Ron, who never even thought about apologizing, or doing something nice to make up for his actions.
“Thought maybe you two could use a day out with fresh air and good food.”
The refreshing shift from “same old story” to “second verse, better than the first” buoyed her spirits.
“A party at The Drumcliffe?” She broke into a grin that came straight from her heart. Yeah, apparently she was that easy. “We’d love to come. Did I ever tell you I stayed at your hotel around six years ago, when Ron first brought me to visit?”
“You’re kidding.”
“I loved that place right from the start. That’s why I came back here to live when
