attractive hand with long blunt fingers at the end of a muscled forearm. She pressed her lips together. She was more stressed than she thought. The man was smiling again.
“Dottie will be here shortly. She knows everything there is to know about Kitty’s patients. Except the private stuff, of course.”
Nina managed a stiff smile and pushed on the door again. Finally the man left, and she leaned against the door, taking a few deep breaths to calm her nerves. Silence. Alone. Now she could think and process.
As she turned around, she caught sight of him entering his office, and he lifted his hand in a wave. To her dismay, she could see a great deal of his offices through the row of glass windows. Great. The man was a serious threat to her powers of concentration. Reaching up, she closed the blinds, restoring her sense of security.
Her gaze took in the tastefully decorated area, which was furnished with a reception desk, a half dozen comfortable chairs and a coffee table piled with magazines. To the right of the desk was a door, which she guessed led to her friend’s office. Given Kathryn’s bubbly personality, she’d expected frilly, feminine decor, but the room had been decorated in calm and soothing tones of green and eggshell—perfect for helping patients relax.
An assortment of upholstered furniture in a muted fabric filled the space. Kathryn’s desk sat at one end of the room, in front of a wall of shelves holding countless books. A tall file cabinet stood nearby.
A quick check of the other doors revealed a small bathroom and a tiny lunch room. The arrangement suited her. She could come to work and never have to leave the office until the end of the day. Perfect.
A folder with her name on it rested in the middle of the desk. She sat down and opened the cover and read the letter inside. Kathryn started off by apologizing for not being there to help her get settled. The job overseas had opened up sooner than expected, and they’d had to leave. She explained that she had transferred the most critical patients to other qualified professionals. The rest, she had assured her, were mainly in need of weekly talk time and reassurance.
In addition, Kathryn had given her a schedule, a patient list and all the information she’d need to do her job. She’d also encouraged her to take on new patients if she wanted. But the last item on the list sent her heart into her throat. Once a week, she would be counseling a group of widows who were working through the changes in their lives as they started to move beyond the initial grieving period and transition into a normal life.
Nina touched her trembling fingertips to her lips. No. She couldn’t possibly counsel widows. She was a widow, and she’d avoided dealing with her loss for the last several years. It was why she’d closed her private practice and gone to work for Duncan. Her job consisted of interviewing potential employees and assigning them to the best positions. It was all superficial and didn’t require her to become emotionally involved.
But it was the P.S. at the end of Kitty’s letter that sent a cold rush along her veins. “I left my car parked behind the building, and the keys are in the drawer. I know you probably won’t use them, but just in case you do.” Nina’s throat closed up. Why would Kathryn think for one moment she would use those keys? The thought of getting behind the wheel of a car turned her blood to ice. At least, that was one area she didn’t have to worry about. But how was she going to deal with a group of widows needing guidance and direction when she had nothing whatsoever to offer them?
* * *
Bret retreated into his office, taking a seat in his worn leather chair and swinging it around to stare out the window. He could see the historic Saint John’s church steeple from here, and the sight normally grounded him. But at the moment, his mind was churning with confusion. Nina Johnson wasn’t what he’d expected. Kitty had described her friend as sweet and compassionate, a born nurturer with a heart for others. Kitty had mentioned that Nina had experienced great sadness in her life, but she hadn’t elaborated. Kitty would never reveal personal information about her patients or her friends.
But the woman in her office now was cool, distant and might as well have worn a sign warning everyone to stay away. Yet Bret had seen her true emotions reflected in her blue eyes. They’d been filled with anxiety as she’d stared at the building, but then she’d quickly masked that anxiety behind a cool demeanor. Later he’d seen regret and anger dart through her eyes when he’d explained about his company. Her comment about soldiers didn’t sit well.
Kitty’s depiction of Nina Johnson didn’t match the exterior of the woman either. Her five-foot-five frame was slender with rigid posture, and the gray suit and white blouse she wore did little to accentuate her bright blue eyes or her rich chestnut hair, which she wore clipped back behind her ears.
He suspected her prim image was a shield for her deep vulnerability. He’d seen similar behavior in the veterans he worked with. Many of them chose to hide their feelings and fears instead of dealing with them. He and Kitty used to tease each other that he provided the external tools with his job placement and training programs, and she provided the internal tools by showing soldiers how to confront their fears and overcome them. She was also a strong supporter of his goal to provide help and assistance for the soldiers.
He spun in his chair and opened his computer. Nina’s comment about soldiers left him uneasy. If Nina had issues with veterans, she might have a hard time fitting in with the others. Everyone in the building helped with the Military Appreciation Day event, and many of Kitty’s patients were veterans. Would Kitty’s replacement be able to connect with them in the same way Kitty had? He hoped so. He knew how hard Kitty worked to help those in her care. He hoped Nina wouldn’t inadvertently set them back.
Rapid tapping on his door broke into his thoughts. His friend and business partner, Alan McKay, strolled in and perched himself on the edge of the desk.
“So, I hear the new lady is here. Is she pretty? Single? Looking for a handsome guy to show her around?”
If Alan was half as attractive as he thought he was, he’d be dangerous. “She’s attractive in a business kind of way.” He wasn’t about to give his friend any ammunition by telling him about the odd attraction he’d felt when he saw her standing in front of the building. She’d looked like a little girl who’d lost her way. When he’d looked into her eyes, he’d realized she was a woman fighting to get through the next moment without losing it. The same way he was. The realization rocked him. Was that how people saw him, keeping a tight rein on his emotions, afraid to set his heart free? He put on a good show. He was friendly and jovial, but inside, he was battling to hold it together. So what was Nina Johnson’s story?
“Meaning what?”
“She’s reserved and a bit closed off.” He rested his arms on the desk. “She reminds me of Olivia.”
“Your eight-year-old? How so?”
“She’s smart and funny most of the time, but away from the family, she is painfully shy. It takes time for her to assess the situation before she’ll step into the action. Maybe all Miss Nina needs is a little time to adjust to her environment.”
Alan crossed his arm over his chest. “Or maybe she’s like your five-year-old. Outgoing and ready for fun, but she just didn’t warm to you.” He stood. “I’m going to go over there and say welcome.”
Bret’s protective instincts kicked in. “Alan, I don’t think that’s such a good idea. It’s her first day, and she seemed really nervous. Give her some time to settle in before you go throwing your charm around.”
“Yeah, I suppose you’re right. But be sure and invite her to the
