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weekend there were plenty of people out. Some families having picnics, others playing Frisbee or baseball. Many children were on the playground
swinging, sliding, running, and laughing.
Come to think of it, maybe it was a flaw in his character. He never remembered playing with his parents at the park, or at all. Maybe that s why he
was so bitter and so damn & empty. Fighting to hold on to that armor around his heart, he drove away from the park and turned on the radio to
drown out his own thoughts. He grimaced when Bob Segar s voice came out of the speakers. In less than a month Sam had burrowed her way into
his mind. He just hoped to hell that s as far as it went.
Chapter Six
 What are you doing? Zach leaned over Sam s shoulder as she sat at the reception desk going over something on the computer. He tried to ignore
the scent of her raspberry perfume and the fact that she wore her hair in a ponytail today. Her neck was long and she wore a V-neck T-shirt that
showed off her cleavage as he glanced down. Now that they were partners they afforded themselves the luxury of taking two days off each week,
though still remained open on weekends when parents had the most time off.
 Going over the books, she said absently.
Zach looked closer. The spreadsheet program was divided into names, dates, payment paid, payment owed, service rendered, and a few others
that seemed completely normal. The odd thing was, some of the payments weren t written down in currency.
 Apple pie? He pointed at the screen then skimmed down until he hit another odd one.  Lasagna? He leaned against the desk and rubbed his
temples.  Sam, tell me this isn t so.
She looked up at him, completely baffled.  Tell you what isn t so?
 That you re accepting food as payment! He looked at her and shook his head when she nodded.
 Where d you think all the food came from that we eat?
 I thought they were gifts, kind gestures from the parents.
 Uhh& yeah, I d say that s true.
 But we can t accept food as payment. How are we supposed to make money? He felt his blood pressure rising.
She saved her work then swiveled around in the chair to face him.  I thought things were going along pretty well. All the bills are paid, we have food
in the house, what else do we need? With the price of medical insurance some parents simply don t have the money. They work hard, but shelling
out hundreds of dollars every time your kid has the sniffles is a bit excessive.
 Don t you want a better life for yourself? What if I hadn t signed the lease and paid you a year s worth of rent up front? Where would you be?
One brow shot up and she stood directly in front of him.  I do believe I was taking care of myself just fine before you came along to rescue me,
Prince Charming. Sure, things were tight every now and then, but I made it.
 Look, while I commend your heartfelt gestures, you didn t spend all that time and money going to medical school just to be paid in shells and
beads. Zach looked at the computer screen and did a quick mental calculation.  The payments we received this week will barely cover utilities, yet
alone our salary.
Her face grew pink and Zach thought she was going to slug him. Instead, she plopped down in the chair and stared up at him with a pleading look in
her soft brown eyes. God, how he wanted to make love to her again, though he d tried to avoid it for nearly a week now. Either he was a fool or a
masochist.
 I m not going to change my policy. She lifted her chin in that stubborn way of hers.  If people can t pay with cash, check, money order, or credit
card, then I take what they can give me. I also get handmade items such as gloves, sweaters, hats, slippers, I even have a really cool purse that s
made of out license plates.
Zach pinched the bridge of his nose with his thumb and forefinger. There was no way she could continue doing things this way, but he was the
interloper. She had been running the show for two years on her own since the previous doctor passed away. It wouldn t be fair for him to force her to
change things, but maybe they could compromise.
 Okay, I totally get you on the whole charity thing, and I have to admit that I m damn glad we get to take a couple days off each week, but we need to
have some balance here between customers who pay in money and those who pay with gifts.
 So what s your plan? She leaned forward and Zach felt his mouth go dry as her breasts swelled over the top of her shirt.
Clearing is throat he stuffed his hands in the back pockets of his slacks since all he wanted to do was take her in his arms, go upstairs to his
bedroom, and forget about the world for a few hours. His resolve was slipping fast. Then he wondered why the hell he was avoiding her. After all,
they lived together, ate together, worked together, even closer than most married couples. With that last thought his heart spiraled out of control.
He d been down that road before and didn t intend to do it again.
 You do have a plan, right? she asked when he had remained quiet for too long.
Blinking back to reality he said,  The state has plenty of programs--
 It s a pain in the ass jumping through those hoops, she interrupted.
 True, but at least these people may get insurance and we d at least get some sort of payment. Also, I had two majors while I was in college,
medicine and accounting, with a minor in business.
 How surprising, she drawled.
 Yeah, I know, with my personality you d think I was in interpretive dance or cheerleading. She laughed and Zach enjoyed the warmth he felt pouring
over him at the sound.  Anyway, why not let me take over the books?
She heaved a sigh, as if the very thought was a relief.  I d love that. I m more the creative type, unless you haven t noticed.
 Creative is an understatement. But, seriously, I need more to do around here. A lot of the patients already know you so they re reluctant to come to
me.
 Hey, you won over that little girl the other day with the clown nose. She waggled her eyebrows and Zach felt himself flush.
 Well, a doctor without patients is like a ship without an ocean. In time I m hoping to win more of them over, though I refuse to resort to wearing a
giant sponge costume, or the fairy getup.
She laughed, leaning back in her chair, looking more relaxed than he d seen her since he arrived. Usually she was so busy with work, cleaning,
cooking, or pissing him off that her undivided attention gave him incentive to keep moving forward with his idea.
 As I said, I don t have much work to do around here at the moment. I can take care of the books and look into the medical assistance forms. I d
also like to do a bit of advertising--my treat--and try to get some other patients coming in here. Though you have a hefty load for yourself, we can
balance it out with some new ones I can take.
 I m assuming these will be paying customers? [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]