Marsha dropped her head and shook it. "I wish I could get that woman far from here. " She sighed heavy. "I 'll go out and talk to her. "

Cynthia lifted her hand in a wave and they headed back through the clinic.

She showed her where she 'd be working. It was another office, cramped much like Marsha 's was, toward the back of the building. There were two desks there, but at least there was a window.

The pride that had filled Simone earlier was quickly turning into fear. The only work she 'd ever really done was to look pretty for her father 's investors. She was trained quite well in the art of small talk and smiling pretty. Yes, she could type well, and she knew her alphabet well enough to file, but what was she really doing? There was a fine line between successfully landing your first job and failing miserably at keeping it.

Oh, who was she kidding? This job was no different than the rest of her life. Only the name dropping had changed. But she had to admit, the names being dropped now weren 't because of big money or power, it was because of influence. The names that she 'd associated with to help her into her new position in life were the names of family, people who took care of others. Yes, there was in fact some pride that went with knowing the Keller family, and even more pride in knowing, no matter what the outcome, she 'd be in charge of bringing another Keller into the world.

Chapter Five

Curtis had wrapped and bandaged nearly thirty people on his day off. One little boy had thrown up on him. And a baby girl had peed on him. All in all it had been a fine day, especially since he hadn 't been forced to sit with Simone at lunch.

But now his stomach growled and he 'd remembered only taking a few bites of his sandwich before throwing it into the trash because he 'd lost his appetite. The way he saw it Cynthia owed him a meal, especially since she was the one who made Simone sit at their table.

He 'd dropped by home for a quick shower and a change of clothes before rapping on her door.

She was laughing when she opened the door with a glass of wine in her hand. She had her hair curled and his favorite pair of tight jeans on. Obviously, she 'd been expecting him.

"Oh, Curtis! " Her eyes widen1ed when she said it and the laugh she 'd been enjoying died down. "What are you doing here? "

"Not something you 've ever asked before, doll. But I 'm guessing by your expression you have company. "

Cynthia bit down on her lip and stepped back to open the door further. He stepped in just as Simone walked out of Cynthia 's bedroom wearing a pair of her scrubs.

Without looking up she walked down the hall looking over her ensemble. "Why do they think these are appealing to patients? I mean " She looked up and her eyes locked on Curtis 's. "I 'm sorry. I did not hear you come in. " He watched her chest rise and fall as she took in a deep, uncomfortable breath. "Hello, Curtis. How are you this evening? "

"How am I? Confused. That 's how I am. " He shifted his glance toward Cynthia. "What 's going on? "

Her lips turned into the smile he 'd seen many times before. It was the kind of smile that said she was up to something. "Simone got a new job today. She 's trying on her new wardrobe. "

"She what? " He spun his head back toward the French beauty in the hall. "You what? "

"Oh, settle down, Curtis. " Cynthia shoved the glass of wine toward him. "We got her a job at the clinic. I thought it would be fun to get some new scrubs and told her she could have a few of my others. "

The thought should have caught him as funny. Simone Pierpont not only had an hourly, minimum wage job, but she was excepting hand-me-downs from someone she just met. Something was seriously wrong with the situation. But before he could protest the situation there was another knock at the door.

Cynthia quickly moved past him and opened the door. Standing on the other side was Sam, and Curtis did in fact remember the tall, blond nurse Cynthia had mentioned she had a date with.

The moment he looked past her his face became uncomfortable, but he smiled and gave Curtis a nod.

"Curtis, you remember Sam? " Cynthia stepped back and Sam walked into the house and extended his hand toward him.

"Nice to meet you. " His deep voice resonated and his large hand enveloped Curtis 's hand.

"Likewise. "

Cynthia stepped between them. "And this is our friend Simone. "

Curtis watched as the well trained Simone pushed back her shoulders and with a natural shift of her head, her long black hair moved over her shoulder as she smiled and slid her dainty hand toward the giant of a man.

"Sam, it is my pleasure to meet you. "

"You too. French? "

"Yes. Born and raised just outside of Paris. "

"Cool. "

Curtis took a long sip of the wine which had been handed to him. Yeah, Cynthia had picked a winner with this one.

"Well, " Cynthia looked at Curtis as she retrieved her purse from the couch. "Now that you 're here you can give Simone a ride home. "

He heard Simone gasp from the hallway, but before he could look up she 'd composed herself in her debutant way. How 'd he walk into such a set up?

"It would be awesome if neither of you were here when I got back, " Cynthia whispered as she reached for Sam 's hand and walked out of the house.

As soon as the door closed he finished the wine in his hand. Simone stood watching him and that made him as angry as the situation he 'd walked into.

"You got a job at the clinic? "

Simone only nodded. Cat must have gotten her tongue. That was funny. She always had something to say.

He took a step toward her, and that was when her head snapped into its defensive tilt. Oh he was ready for a fight. Maybe it was time to let her know just how pissed he was over being left in the middle of the ocean with nothing but a swim suit.

"How is it you could land a job it one afternoon? "

"Cynthia was very gracious to vouch for me with her supervisor. "

He chuckled. "You have skills an employer would want? "

Her hands came to her hips and she balled her fists. "How dare you speak to me like that. "

"How dare I? Oh, I think I have every right. "

She dropped her hands. "I am trying to make a new life for myself. I would think you would appreciate that. "

"Oh, sure. I 'd appreciate it if it were in Paris and not right under my nose. "