Callie,” the elderly woman greeted, a smile beaming across her surgically smooth face. “Someone looks very happy today.”
Callie couldn’t hide her excitement. “I got the part,” she all but yelled. “I can’t believe it. I got it.”
Marie jumped up from her chair, came around the desk and threw her arms around Callie.
“I’m so excited for you,” Marie said as she squeezed her.
“You may not be excited when I have to quit once filming starts.” Callie eased back. “You’ll be swamped with extra hours.”
Marie laughed. “I’ll make sure he hires someone else, though no one could replace you.”
The compliment warmed Callie. “Is Noah wrapping up back there?”
Marie nodded. “Mrs. McDowell is getting her stitches out and then he’ll be all done. Go on back to his office, and I’ll make sure he knows you’re here.”
“Don’t tell him the news.” Callie shifted her bag higher on her shoulder. “I want it to be a surprise. Actually, don’t even tell him I’m here. You can just let him know someone is in his office.”
Marie giggled. “I like how you think. I’ll make sure he goes straight there.”
Callie turned to the right, toward Noah’s office and away from the patient rooms. She couldn’t wait to tell him, to share her excitement and accomplishment.
She went in and took a seat behind his desk in the big, oversize leather chair. Maybe it was not professional to get cozy at his desk, but she honestly didn’t think he’d mind. Easing her bag to the floor beside her, she crossed her legs and waited.
She’d tried to call her parents on her way here, but the phone had been disconnected…again. She couldn’t get that fifty thousand fast enough. She’d buy the new roof, a reliable new car and prepay some of their utilities for a few months.
With her father still laid off from the chemical plant and his unemployment long since run out, Callie’s mother was pulling double shifts at the local grocery store to make ends meet…and they weren’t meeting very well.
Guilt ate at Callie. How could she spend all the money she made on herself when her parents were facing such desperate times? She knew families all across the country were struggling, but it was hard to see the ones she loved fall on hard times.
Besides, she’d do something for herself with the money she made from the movie. God knew she could use a new car, as well. Her poor Honda needed to be laid to rest years ago. She couldn’t wait to go car shopping. To find something that really said I’ve arrived.
Before her thoughts turned too shallow and she could imagine the color of the car she’d look best in, Noah stood in his doorway. She didn’t give him an opportunity to speak before she jumped from the chair and screamed, “I got the part!”
Noah froze for a moment as if to process her words, then he crossed the room and she suddenly found herself coming out from behind the desk, meeting him halfway and being enveloped in a strong, masculine hold.
Oh. My. God.
Had she known he felt this good, this…hard all over, she would’ve insisted on good-morning hugs every day he came into the office—a much better pick-me-up than coffee. When you could feel a man’s rippled muscles beneath his clothing, you knew there was some mighty fine workmanship beneath that cotton.
Noah eased back, keeping a firm grip on her bare biceps. “You seem really happy.”
“I’ve never been happier,” she told him, the thrill of her phone call still running through her.
“Then I’m excited for you,” he said, letting his hands fall away.
“I feel like celebrating.”
He laughed. “Don’t celebrate too much and forget the photo shoot in the morning.”
Callie smiled. “I know when it is. I’ll be there.”
Noah studied her face, and Callie refused to look away. When a man like Noah Foster held your gaze, you didn’t want to focus your attention on anything else.
“What do you say to dinner to celebrate?” he asked suddenly.
“Dinner?”
Noah’s rich laughter washed over her…and she was still tingling from his touch. “Callie, I understand what it’s like not to have your family here. Someone needs to share this time with you.”
Callie recalled him saying some time back that his family lived in Northern California. Other than that, the topic had been off the table, so she’d assumed that meant for her not to ask any questions about them. But that didn’t stop the questions from whirling around in her mind.
“When should we go?” Callie asked, knowing there was no way she would turn down personal time with Noah.
“How about after work?” he suggested, sliding out of his white lab jacket and hanging it on the back of his office door. “Our afternoon is light. We may even get out early.”
Callie glanced down at her clothes. While she might look fine, she’d want to freshen up.
“You could leave your car here,” he continued. “I’ll drive.”
Callie wasn’t going to turn that offer down. This might not be a date, but it was as close as she would get to dating her hunky boss—though she wasn’t under any delusions that Noah would fall for her type. Though so far, from what she could tell, he didn’t have any particular type. So why hadn’t he ever asked her out?
Oh, yeah. She worked for him.
So what? This was L.A. Did a code of ethics really matter in a land full of sin and silicone? Either something else held him back or he simply wasn’t attracted to her. Either way, she had her work cut out for her if she wanted to pursue anything beyond a professional relationship with him. Granted, she had her sights set on her career, but she could so carve some time out of her day for scenery like Noah Foster. And she knew he wasn’t a long-term type of guy, so really, what could the harm be in getting to know each other on a personal level?
“Where will we go?” she asked, following him out of his office and down the hall toward the break room.
He threw a killer smile over his shoulder. “You pick. It’s your night, Callie.”
She mulled it over, thinking of where she’d always wanted to go but never could justify going alone or paying such high prices. This milestone really deserved to be done up right.
Then she remembered the one place she’d always wanted to go but never got a chance.
She offered a wide grin. “Oh, I have the perfect place in mind.”
Of all the restaurants Callie could’ve picked in L.A., Noah couldn’t believe she’d chosen this one. A pizza place with games that spit out tickets so you could pick out prizes at the end. On a Friday night this place was crazy with kids running amok, screaming, laughing
