restaurant in Mystery Valleyârespectable but hardly formidable, appropriate for a safe first date.
She had hung up the phone feeling better than she usually did after making a blind date. Well, not actually a totally blind date, she reminded herself while she washed and rinsed a few dirty plates and set them in the drainer. After all, she finally remembered who the guy was. Sheâd gotten a good look at Rick once a few months ago from Hazelâs kitchen window.
She recalled his collar-length blond hair and the gorgeous, sexy smile heâd flashed at her when he caught her scoping him out from the window. But Rick had been at least four or five years ahead of her in school, so sheâd never met him and knew little about him except that he was still single and worked for a manufacturing company located about fifteen miles from Mystery.
She was perhaps a little bothered by his by-the-book manner. She liked to flirt a little, but he had passed up the opportunities she had given him over the phone.
God forbid that heâd turn out to be another John Savilleâjust a good-looking vinyl boy who reserved his charm for debutantes and Vassar grads.
Something else bothered her about the brief conversation. Hazel had implied that she knew Rick well. Yet he admitted on the phone he hardly knew her. But so what if Hazel was being a little pushy. The old girl had always seen herself as a crusader in the cause of romance. Had some notable successes at it, too.
Romance⦠Rebecca rinsed her hands, then used her wet fingers to comb back a few rebellious strands of chestnut hair that had escaped the barrettes. Suddenly the old rumination came to her again: for too long now sheâd been wondering what âdoing itâ was really like. Sheâd been close a few times with Brian, but something had always stopped herâsome inner sense that the time just wasnât right. In Brianâs case, it was the commitment that wasnât right; she saw that now. She only hoped that the next time she had the opportunity to take the plunge, her instincts would go away. So far theyâd only prevailed in keeping her from making any move. And she was tired of her virginity, and getting cynical.
If she couldnât find love, then she at least wanted to pretend she knew about it.
Unbidden, an image of John Savilleâs intense cobalt eyes, raking over her like fingers, filled the screen of her mind, and a restless yearning stirred low in her stomach, quickening her pulse.
Thatâs just great, she chided herselfâa cute guy just asked you out, and here you are fantasizing about some self-loving, elitist snob who wouldnât be caught dead with you in public.
Another doctor in her life might send her screaming for the nunnery. So she erased the unwanted image of John Saville from her mind and returned to drying the dishes.
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Surprisingly, the rest of the week went by smoothly at the clinic, as if John Saville were on his best behavior. Late on Friday afternoon he came up front from his private office.
âLadies,â he announced in his stilted, formal manner, âIâve finished reviewing Dr. Winthropâs financial books. I see that neither of you has received a raise in almost two years now.â
His fiercely blue eyes lingered on Rebecca, seeming to dwell on the spots where a snug cashmere pullover, despite her bra, clearly marked her nipples. He cleared his throat.
âSo Iâve informed our bookkeeper,â he continued, âthat retroactive from the day I took over, you both are to receive a 10 percent raise. Also three more paid personal-leave days.â
Rebecca was too pleasantly surprised to speak.
Lois, however, quickly thanked him on behalf of them both. They received a second shock when John Saville actually flashed a quick and very charming smileânothing imperious about it.
âNonsense, both of you earn your salaries,â he insisted.
He left,
Elizabeth Amelia Barrington