hadn’t wanted to let her out of his sight. For years she’d had to beg to walk the two blocks to school. Even when he’d let her she’d caught him or her brother following her. It had taken going off to college to break away. She loved her father dearly but she would never return to that way of life. Having this doctor ride to the rescue wasn’t what she needed or wanted. She could take care of Marko and herself.
Dr. Bradford said sarcastically, “So, if I understand correctly, I should have just stood by while they scared you into doing whatever they wanted you to do, which, by the way, was what?”
“Marko doesn’t want the clinic to open. He believes it’s only here to keep tabs on him and his gang. You know, big brother watching and all that. What it amounts to is he’s afraid that if the people in Southriver have something positive, they’ll want more and stop letting him intimidate them. Push thugs like him out.”
“That’s what you want too, isn’t it?”
“Yes. I want to make this a good place to live.”
“Admirable. But if you’re not careful you won’t be around to see it happen.”
That might be true, but she’d spent so many years feeling cloistered and controlled, as if she couldn’t take care of herself, that as an adult she fought against it whenever it happened to her now. She wasn’t that brave in her personal life, always questioning her ability to judge if she was seeing the real person. Fighting to truly trust. Her being fooled before had destroyed someone’s life. She couldn’t let that happen again to her or anyone she cared about.
“Look around you.” She reached out an arm and directed it toward the buildings across the street. “Those were all businesses when I was growing up. Criminals like Marko slowly drove them away. I won’t be driven out. This clinic is the first step in bringing people back.”
“You have grand plans, Ms. Marsh.”
“I believe in dreaming big.”
“You have your work cut out for you.”
“Maybe so, but when I ran for the city council I promised that I’d help make this area a better place to live and I intend to keep that promise.”
“Even if it kills you?”
She shrugged. “It won’t come to that. Let’s go in and I’ll show you around. Then we’ll get to work.” She turned toward the building. “By the way, don’t ever step between me and anyone again.”
* * *
Kiefer blinked. He’d just been put in his place by a woman who had been wearing a leprechaun outfit when he’d first met her. She didn’t recognize him. He was a bit disappointed. Then again, why would she? Their kiss had got to him but that didn’t mean she had felt anything.
And what was this about working? He’d been told this was a meet and greet. He’d made plans for dinner tonight. Something about Ashley’s demeanor warned him that wouldn’t be a good enough excuse for leaving early.
She walked toward the redbrick structure with large window frames painted white. It had a heavy-looking natural wood door that had obviously been refinished with care. On either side of it were pots full of bright yellow flowers. She looked back as if she expected him to follow her. When he did she pushed the door wider. After he entered she closed and locked it. Despite what he believed was her earlier recklessness, at least she was showing some caution.
“The building used to be a hardware store,” she informed him. “This large area will be used as the waiting room.” All makes and models of wooden chairs were stationed around the room. “I have someone, Maria, coming in tomorrow morning to act as receptionist. She’s a good girl. Let’s go back here and I’ll show you what I have planned.”
Kiefer didn’t say anything, just trailed after her down a long hallway that had obviously had new walls built to create smaller rooms on one side.
“These are the examination rooms. I couldn’t make too many permanent changes because I had this building declared a historical one so it wouldn’t be torn down.”
Was she a crusader about everything? Even buildings? He’d seen sound bites of her talking about revitalizing the area but he hadn’t known that included defending old buildings. In his mind, constructing more modern ones would have been more effective and energy efficient.
“This is the supply room, where we’ll need to concentrate our efforts tonight.”
Kiefer stepped into the room. It was piled high with boxes. More than a night’s worth of work faced them.
“What’s all of this?”
“Donated supplies. You’ll find they aren’t hard to come by. Manpower is. People are more than happy to give as long as it doesn’t require any real investment of time.” She stepped forward and opened a box.
“Ms. Marsh, I’m sorry but I have another appointment at eight. I’ll get started on this first thing in the morning.” He had to stop looking at her mouth. Thinking of their kiss.
She made a disgusted sound. “I don’t think you’ll have time for that tomorrow and I have scheduled meetings so I’ll be in and out.”
“I doubt there’ll be so many patients that I can’t see to it over the next few days.”
“You might be surprised. Were you told that this job would require long hours?”
“I understand those. I am an ER doctor. The issue is that I wasn’t prepared to work tonight. I understood I was to come and see the clinic. Not set it up.”
“Dr. Bradford, around here we all do what has to be done. Were you told you would have only one nurse?”
“No. I was just asked to start work here the day after tomorrow.”
“You have the date wrong. Tomorrow is opening day.”
He’d be there ready to go in the morning. She seemed to set high expectations for herself and others. Kiefer didn’t need her reporting back that he’d not given his all to this project. He had to ensure this clinic ran smoothly.
Shrugging out of his lightweight jacket, he conceded, “I can stay for a couple of hours now. We won’t get it all done tonight but maybe we can have at least one exam room operational. But first I have to make a quick phone call.”
“Sounds like a plan, Dr. Bradford.”
“Please call me Kiefer. After all, we have met before.”
She tilted her head in question. “I don’t remember that.”
“Now my feelings are hurt. It was at a St. Patrick’s Day party.”
A look of concern came over her face. She studied him for a moment. “Really?”
“You invited me to dance.”
Ashley sucked in a breath. Her eyes widened. “You grabbed me in the hall.”
“I’m sorry about that. Heat of the moment and all that.” Kiefer wasn’t going into why he’d kissed her.
