Ross did his best not to glance at the clock again. Normally he loved his job and had to be reminded to go home, but something had been off about Sharon that morning. He wanted to get back to her and make sure that she was okay.

“Dr. Hardwick?”

He glanced up from his paperwork. Ah, paperwork. The part of the job that everyone hated. “Yes?”

Nurse Rosa smiled apologetically. “Sorry to bother you, but there’s someone here to see you. She says she’s a friend?”

Could Sharon have come to the office? No, she wouldn’t have, not after the tabloid that morning. It could be Leticia or Melanie or even Debbie. “Tell them to come on in.”

Nurse Rosa disappeared and a moment later someone else entered—but they were far from a friend.

Ross stood up, his shoulders pulling back as if he was preparing for a fight. “Amanda.”

Amanda Sorrens stood in the doorway, looking barely a day older than when he’d last seen her. She had pulled back her thick, dark hair rather than allowing it to curl around her face, but everything else looked the same, down to her favoring bright red heels. “Ross. It’s been so long. How are you?”

Once, he had been captivated by her deep, rich voice, as had everyone else who met her. Now, it just grated on his nerves. It was hard to believe that he’d once been in love with her. “What do you want?”

“Goodness, aren’t we defensive?” Amanda replied. She helped herself to one of his chairs and sat down. “But I suppose you have a reason to be.”

“And that reason is?”

“Why, Sharon Talcott, of course.”

Ross tried but couldn’t stop himself from freezing momentarily before he forced himself to relax. “Who?”

A slow smile spread across Amanda’s face. He hated that smile. It always came right before she told him about one of her latest schemes to get information. At first, he’d thought she was clever, but over time he’d started to find her techniques invasive and underhanded. Amanda was good with people, and that meant she was good at manipulating them into doing what she wanted. “Don’t play dumb with me, Ross, it never suited you. Your new girlfriend is Sharon Talcott who, unless I’m greatly mistaken—and I never am—was also your patient. You operated on her to save her leg after she was in a car crash.”

“If you say so,” Ross responded. He wasn’t going to give Amanda an inch.

“How did that car crash occur?” Amanda asked, curling one leg underneath her. “I hear her family has a history of alcohol abuse. Was that a factor?”

Ross realized that he was grinding his teeth together and, with great effort, unclenched them. “There was no trace of alcohol in Miss Talcott’s system. Both she and her friend attested to her being distracted while using a hands-free device.”

“Oh, so she is your patient. Interesting.”

He could have smacked himself. He’d played right into her hands. “Yes, Miss Talcott was a patient of mine, although she hasn’t officially been in my care since the first couple weeks after her operation. Her physical therapist took over from there. It’s nice to know that you’re showing such concern for someone else’s recovery, Amanda.”

Amanda gave him one long, slow blink, like a Siamese cat. “You’re having an affair with a patient, Ross. I saw the photos this morning.”

This was it. Ross could feel the cold fear settling in the pit of his stomach. This was what he’d feared at the beginning—that someone would find out about Sharon and use it against him. He could lose everything that he had worked for. All his mother’s sacrifices would be for nothing. All his years of work, the money for school, the nights spent studying instead of going out with friends, all of it would be gone.

He took a deep breath. He was never going to let Amanda know that she had gotten to him. Never.

“You really think that you can get a story out of that from just one blurry photograph and some conjecture? That’s pretty low, even for you.”

Amanda shrugged one shoulder and then stood up. “I know what you’re doing, Ross, and it won’t work. I’m going to run this story. It will be the scandal of the year. Well-respected doctor has illicit affair with patient. What will the hospital board say?” She tutted.

“If you’re going to run this ludicrous story no matter what, then why even come here?” To gloat?”

“Maybe I thought that my old boyfriend would like to explain his side of the story.”

That was the last straw. “So, you can spin my words, like you always did when we were arguing? I think I’ll pass. Get out of my office.”

“Ouch,” Amanda said playfully. “That one really hurt, Ross, I had no idea that you were still bitter. Tell me, does she know how to do that thing with her—”

“Out.”

“Because if you’ll recall, I was very good at—”

“Out,” Ross repeated, crossing the room and opening the door. “Now.”

With a huff, Amanda strolled out the door.

Ross made sure to slam it after her.