Thankfully, that trial basis turned into the best thing that’s ever happened to me.
A job that keeps me close to my dad, keeps me intrigued, and keeps me close to . . . well, Ford.
“Thank you. I was just going to get up and jog back to the bed-and-breakfast.”
“You’re going to ditch me like that, just as I arrive? Brutal, Larkin.” He takes a seat on the wall with me. “Can’t you hang out with your boss a little bit more?”
I chuckle. “It will be a hardship, but I guess so.”
He dangles his feet over the edge like me, but his scrape the ground. “So, Palmer stopped by,” he says in a conspiratorial tone.
“Oh, I like where this is heading.”
Ford turns toward me and props one of his legs up on the wall. He’s always been one to make eye contact—it’s one of the things that I think makes him a great boss, not just with me, but with everyone who works for him. He doesn’t try to listen to you while he works on his computer. Instead, he gives you his undivided attention.
“You will. She came barreling into my room, realization and humiliation written all over her face. She asked me if I knew that Dr. Beau was the Beau.”
I chuckle. “That’s too funny. I mean, he does look older, but I don’t think he looks that different.”
“You see him often—it’s been a while for Palmer.”
“True.”
“But she said something that made me want to talk with you.”
“Oh? Are you here to gossip, Ford Chance?”
He chuckles and nods. “I am. Not very boss-like of me, but when it comes to my siblings, they’re so closed off that I’m always prying for information.”
“I’m not judging, just delighting in you loosening the tie every once in a while.”
He holds his arms out, and I keep my eyes straight ahead, refusing to take in his rock-hard biceps or the way his shirt pulls across his sculpted chest. “No tie in sight—I’m completely loose.”
I laugh. “Okay, let’s not get crazy. I don’t think I’ve ever seen you truly let loose.”
“Not sure I know how to.” He shrugs. “So, she said there was history between her and Beau.”
“You mean the whole fire thing?”
“That’s what I asked, but she said that was barely a blip in their history. I know Palmer had a crush on him back in high school, and she never admitted it, but I wasn’t sure if . . . you know, anything happened between them. Has Beau said anything to you?”
“No!” I grab my phone. “He’s never mentioned anything.”
“What are you doing?”
“Texting him. I want to know what kind of history she’s talking about.” I reach out and touch Ford’s hand as a thought comes to mind. “Oh my God, what if they were intimate? Urgh, I would be so mad if he never told me.”
Ford’s eyes land on my hand, and I realize I’m touching my boss in a way I probably shouldn’t be touching my boss. I quickly snatch my hand away and pull up my text thread with Beau, ignoring the obvious loss of my mind.
“What are you asking him?” Ford says, completely ignoring my slip as well.
“When he’s at the office, I have to be straight to the point because he usually texts me back in between patients.” I type out the message and hit send. “I just asked if he ever got intimate with Palmer.”
“Wow.” He chuckles. “You’re right, you do get straight to the point.”
My phone beeps in my hand, and I read the text out loud. “‘Where is this coming from . . . is Ford asking you to ask me?’” I laugh as Ford frowns. “Caught red handed.”
“Hey, you want to know too.”
“I do, desperately. Don’t worry, I’ll play it cool.” As I type back, I read my text out loud. “‘No, he would never do that. But he did say that Palmer mentioned there was history. I was just curious.’”
“Perfect,” Ford says with a smile. “Do you think he’d tell you?”
“Not sure.” My phone dings, and we both look at each other with giddy expressions before I open the text and read it out loud. “‘Palmer mentioned history, huh? Interesting.’”
“He’s being coy.” Ford leans in closer, and the feel of him entering my personal space sends a wave of goose bumps down my leg.
“He is, but not for long.” I type, trying not to show how shaky my hands feel from his proximity. “‘Sooo . . . is that a yes? Were you intimate?’”