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Winifred suddenly realized a full week had passed since Humbert had postponed their discussion about the dog.
Earlier that week, Winifred had discussed getting a puppy with Ruby, who immediately approved of the idea.
The attic’s outdoor patio would provide perfect space for the dog to play, and Winifred intended to train it properly to prevent excessive barking that might disturb the neighbors. The dog would also keep Rosalind company during Winifred’s busy periods.
She had spent considerable time thinking things through this past week. The fact that Humbert now had a girlfriend made their situation clear, but even without that complication, their relationship had no future.
She decided she would simply schedule her daughter’s medical check–ups around his shifts at the hospital. After all, Sonisburg was a big city–the chances of them accidentally running into each other again were practically zero.
Seeing Winifred’s concerned expression, Linda asked gently, “Is everything all right?”
“Are you available tomorrow? I was thinking of going to the pet market to find a puppy for Rose,” Winifred replied.
“Of course. I’ll come by tomorrow morning.”
*****
The following morning, Linda drove them to the lively pet market.
A round, fluffy mixed–breed puppy with beige fur licked her fingers, its bright eyes full of intelligence, and Winifred knew she had found the perfect one,
When she brought the puppy home, Rosalind was overjoyed and held it tenderly in her arms.
But Winifred also noticed a faint shadow of disappointment in Rosalind’s eyes beneath the excitement–this puppy wasn’t the stray she had rescued, a gentle reminder that some things could never truly be replaced.
“Let’s give him a name, Rose,” Winifred said softly, smoothing her daughter’s hair.
Rosalind thought for a moment, and after considering many options, they finally agreed on
the name “Butter.”
Butter settled into his new home right away, behaving like a perfect little angel from the very
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first day. As he got more comfortable, Winifred bought some more supplies for him.
The adorable puppy had developed a sweet habit of sleeping in her slippers at night. It made Winifred so cautious that she always checked carefully before getting out of bed to avoid accidentally stepping on him.
She didn’t hear from Humbert again all week, except for that one call she had missed while she was busy.
Between her hectic schedule and new responsibilities, she had almost completely put the matter out of her mind. All of that changed on Wednesday when Linda approached her, looking pale and clutching her stomach.
“Winifred, are you free around lunch?” Linda asked, her voice strained. “My cramps are awful —could you please help me? Ms. Linton needs this lunch delivered to her boyfriend. He’s in Exam Room 2, Cardiac Surgery, at Sonisburg General Hospital.”
Seeing how pale and miserable Linda looked, Winifred agreed without hesitation.
As Sylvia’s assistant, Linda frequently handled various errands and tasks for her.
*****
Winifred arrived at the Sonisburg General Hospital outpatient clinic at 11:50 AM, finding the door to Exam Room 02 open with several patients still inside.
She approached the doorway, lunch in hand, ready to leave it and go–until she realized Sylvia’s boyfriend was none other than Humbert.
Golden light from the window fell across his white coat as he typed prescriptions, his focused, cool demeanor unwavering while he instructed a patient.
Clutching the lunch container and biting her lip, she started to back away, her movements feeling unbearably loud until his gaze snapped up and froze her in place,
He frowned, tapping a finger on the desk. “Come in.”
The last patient filed out, closing the door and leaving the two of them alone.
She took a steadying breath and walked over to his desk, setting the insulated container down.
“Your girlfriend Sylvia asked me to bring this over. Her housekeeper made it. She said you should drink it while it’s still warm,” Winifred said in a flat, mechanical tone before turning to leave.
His low, cool voice stopped her. “My girlfriend? That’s interesting. I wasn’t aware I had one.”
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“Ms. Linton is my boss. Everyone at work knows she’s been seeing someone lately,” Winifred replied, suddenly remembering the woman’s voice she’d heard on Humbert’s call a few nights earlier. ‘Could it have been Sylvia?‘ she wondered.
“And whether you have a girlfriend is your personal business. I’ve delivered the lunch, so if there’s nothing else, I should be going.” She had no intention of getting into an argument with
him.
As she turned to leave, he suddenly grabbed her wrist, pulling her off balance and sending her stumbling forward into his chest.
Before she could recover, his arm wrapped firmly around her waist while his other hand came up to tilt her chin, his thumb resting against her soft lips.
His lips brushed her ear as he whispered, “I need a favor, Ms. Nelson.”
The slightly rough texture of his fingertips against her skin made her eyelashes flutter involuntarily.
Humbert noticed movement at the door, and his eyes narrowed. In one smooth motion, his arm wrapped around Winifred’s surprisingly slender waist, pulling her down onto his lap.
He lowered his head as if to kiss her, though his lips met his own thumb rather than making contact with her mouth.
Their faces remained just inches apart, leaving Winifred frozen in place. Her wide eyes were fixed on his handsome features as his nose brushed against hers.
Their breaths tangled in the scant space between them. She was engulfed by his intense presence, a tingling sensation spreading across her skin.
Her mind blanked, and she pushed instinctively against his chest, but the arm banded around her waist only tightened, leaving her utterly bewildered.
A woman’s sharp cry shattered the moment from the doorway. “What do you think you’re doing?”
The sharp gasp brought Winifred back to reality.
Humbert shifted his grip from her waist to cradle the back of her head, tucking her face against his chest as he addressed the doorway. “Ms. Yates, my office hours are over. What I do in my private time is my business.”
“Humbert, you chose her over me? What could she possibly offer you? Our families go back generations–everyone knows we’re the perfect match,” Susan Yates shouted.
Humbert’s elegant fingers absently traced circles on Winifred’s back while his eyes remained
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fixed on the intruder. His voice carried a chill as he dismissed her. “See yourself out and close the door.”
Susan stared intensely at Winifred’s back, her teeth clenched so tightly that it seemed she might bore a hole through Winifred’s spine with her gaze alone.
Winifred finally met Humbert’s intense gaze, recognizing the clear mockery shining in his handsome, narrow eyes.
She suddenly understood that his entire performance had been for Susan’s benefit–an elaborate act to rid himself of an unwanted admirer.
From Susan’s perspective, they must have appeared to be kissing passionately. Though his lips never actually touched hers, their bodies remained pressed so closely together that the difference was barely noticeable.
Humbert’s voice was low and rough when he finally spoke. “Did you plan on sitting there all day, Ms. Nelson?” He watched her with an unreadable smile, taking in her wide, dazed eyes.
Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.
