Seduced by a Lycan - Chapter Ten

As they pulled out of the parking lot, Von dug in her purse for her phone. There was a patient whose progress she was extremely interested in—a young child. Her coworker Sharon promised to contact her if there’d been any changes.

She turned it on and saw that while she hadn’t missed any calls, two text messages had come through. One was Marketta wanting to know how her evening had gone. The other was from Sharon. Little Philip was progressing well and the doctors were hopeful he’d be moved from ICU in the morning. Von briefed a sigh of relief and gave a silent prayer of thanks for prayers answered.

“He seemed mighty interested in you.” Inside the dark interior of the car, Derrick’s voice broke the silence.

“Who?” she asked absently, her mind at work and on what needed to be done when she started rotation again.

“Sean.”

“He was being polite,” she said dismissively as she tucked her phone back into the side pocket of her purse and then turned to watch the streetlights flash by.

“Hmm…”

Quiet descended between them once more. The radio played softly in the background. A song came and went before Derrick said, “You certainly were talkative. I don’t think I’ve ever seen you so animated. You two were so into each other, I might as well not have been at the table.”

That caught her attention. She turned and stared at his profile in disbelief. “You’re kidding, right? Sean is your friend. He came in town specifically to see you.”

“I know that,” he said, a frown marring his handsome face.

“You invited me along to meet him. I didn’t ask to come—”

“I’m aware of how you came to be there,” he said shortly.

“…and now you’re upset because I was friendly? What did you expect me to do when he started asking questions, sit there and say nothing?” she finished doggedly.

“No,” he denied. “I just didn’t expect you two to hit it off so well.”

“Why wouldn’t we?” she asked, honestly confused. “We may never have met in person before, but we spent almost four years exchanging letters. I feel like he’s a friend. Maybe as much mine as yours. I mean, that’s the whole reason you asked me to be there tonight, isn’t it? So we could finally meet face-to-face?”

“You’re being friendly isn’t the problem.” His tone was annoyed.

At a lost, she asked, “Then what is?”

“It’s just, you never told me half the stuff about your job that you did Sean,” he complained.

Von sorted through the various responses she could give to his statement. “He asked. You never have other than to see what my schedule is.”

“That’s because I didn’t think this job was all that important to you. I mean, it is only temporary. Once we’re married, the hospital will no longer be an issue.”

Incredulous, she asked, “Says who?”

Derrick tapped an impatient tattoo on the steering wheel with his fingers. “Von, after we’re married, you won’t have time to work. You’ll be busy helping me with the ministry.”

She took a deep breath. “I’m not quitting my job.”

“Of course you are,” he said confidently.

“No, I’m not.”

The tapping stopped. He cast a glance in her direction, probably to determine how serious she was. “Von, baby, you work twelve hour shifts. With your current schedule, when do you expect us to spend any time together? You’re so tired when you get home all you want to do is sleep. You spend your days off catching up on all the things you couldn’t do while working.”

While she was considering what he said, he continued in a soft voice, “Is it so strange that I would want my wife by my side? You know how single women target ministers. If they see a ring but no wife they’ll think I’m fair game. They won’t care that you’re working.”

She’d never thought about it like that. But still…

“Derrick, I understand what you’re saying, but I love my job. When we have a family, maybe I can see myself staying home full-time to raise them, if we can afford for me to do so.”

He tossed her a glance. “You’ll give up your job for our children, but I don’t mean enough to you for you to quit for me?”

“That’s not what I said!”

“Von, that’s exactly what you’re saying. Your position at Mercy Hospital is more important than our relationship,” he concluded, sounding hurt.

Is it? Suddenly she wasn’t as sure of herself as she’d been.

Von sat in deep thought as their changing surroundings showed she was close to home. In no time at all, Derrick had the car parked and was escorting her to her door. Out of habit, while she fumbled around the bottom of her purse for her keys, Von asked, “Are you coming in?”

“Yes, I think I will.”