The Doctor Who Has No Ambition (Soulless Book 9) - Victoria Quinn Page 0,14
“Or are you going to run for the hills?”
“Like I said, I don’t scare easily.”
He gave me a thumbs-up. “Great. I’m glad you’re going to stick it out.”
“Do people quit often?”
“The turnover rate is pretty low, but sometimes a new person will start, and once they realize how extensive the hours really are, they’ll leave. It’s usually working mothers who think they can juggle both, but then realize they can’t with this job. And we don’t hire part-time employees because that’s just too unrealistic for the profession. I don’t have much of a personal life, so it’s perfect for me.”
“Yeah, me neither.” Not anymore, at least.
“Have a good night.” He gave me a final smile before he turned around and headed up the sidewalk, his hands slipping into his pockets as he walked off. He carried himself with perfect posture, like he lifted weights and worked out often. He was smart, chivalrous, easy to talk to…really unique.
One of a kind.
5
Dex
I sat beside Derek on the couch in the living room of his penthouse. The game was on, and we drank our beers as we screamed at the TV every time a ridiculous call was made. There was a bowl of chips and salsa, and since we were brothers, we just dunked our chips in the same salsa and abandoned our manners.
“So, the entire floor flooded?” he asked.
“Not the entire floor, but it was pretty bad. The client has a $100,000 rug that got soaked in E. coli. We got the carpet cleaners out to try to save it, but the guy insisted we toss it. He’ll just buy a new one, apparently.”
“What was the problem?”
“Still not sure. But that plumbing has always been bad. Mom is talking about redoing everything, even though the clients will be pissed. But the problem is only getting worse, and at some point, it’s going to have to happen anyway.”
“Yeah.” He took a drink of his beer and kept watching the TV.
“Where’s the wife?”
“Lizzie had soccer practice. Emerson’s picking up the boys afterward.”
“Good. I want to see those rascals.”
A moment later, the front door flew open. “Dad! Dad, it came! Oh my god, I’m gonna pass out.” Lizzie sprinted to my brother, still in her soccer shorts and t-shirt, her hair in a messy ponytail, with dirt on her face because she must have slipped in the mud on the field.
Derek set down his beer and stood up. “What came, Liz?”
She held up the envelope in his face. “Harvard. It’s freaking Harvard.”
Derek turned off the TV because this was more important than the game. “I already know what it says.”
Lizzie pressed it into her face and tilted her head back. “Oh god, I can’t look at it…”
“Lizzie, a little help.” Emerson emerged in the doorway, holding Little Deacon by the hand while Cam was in her arms. She had a bag over her shoulder with baby supplies, and she did all of this in heels.
I jumped off the couch and got to her before Derek could. “Hey, kid.” I took Cam from her arms and held him against me. “Wow, you’re bigger every time I see you. You’re looking good.”
He made a giggle before he said, “Hi.”
“Hi.” I held him with one arm and saw my brother’s distinct features in his face. “Damn, you’re one cute kid, you know that?”
“Language,” Emerson warned.
“Whoops,” I said quickly. “Sorry. But come on, look at this kid.”
Cam giggled again.
Derek bent down and picked up Little Deacon then lifted him over his head, playing with him and making him giggle.
Now that Emerson had her hands free, she set the baby bag on the table.
“Uh, guys!” Lizzie kept waving the envelope around. “My future is inside this envelope. This is a life-or-death situation.”
“Not life or death.” Derek brought Little Deacon into his arms and turned to her. “It doesn’t matter what that letter says because you’re destined for greatness whether Harvard sees it or not.”
“Exactly.” Emerson came to her side and wrapped her arm around her daughter’s shoulders. “Ready?”
Lizzie glanced at the envelope again before she lifted her gaze and looked at my brother. “I’m scared.”
“There’s nothing to be scared of,” Derek said. “You’ve applied to a lot of great colleges. If this doesn’t work out, there’s another. But I don’t think that envelope contains a rejection, Liz. I have complete confidence in you.”
“If it says no, will you be disappointed in me?” she asked quietly.
His eyes softened. “Never.” He moved to me and handed Little Deacon over.