Tailwind (Love By Design 4)

“Already back from the dry cleaners. Now can you leave? I’m kind of busy.” The phone’s intercom buzzed. “Sharon?”

“Dr. Calloway, Winnie Gray is here to see you.”

“Thanks.” I clicked the button off, silencing my nosey receptionist.

“Oooh…it’s that girl.”

I hated my sister sometimes and couldn’t believe we were delivered from the same womb. It was like my parents forgot they had a perfectly fine child when they tried for her and now look at where we were, drama central.

“Yes, and you need to leave, right now.” I stood up, and Kristen popped herself out of the chair, taking a stack of alphabetized files next to her to the floor.

“Oops.”

Waving my arms, I sent her off. “Ugh, get out, Kristen.”

“Make sure you’re having safe sex and not danger sex!” If my sister didn’t scram I was going to chase her out.

“Oh hey, if this is a bad idea I can come back another time.” Winnie stood in the doorway wearing a short sundress that clung in several places. The orange-pink color of the dress made her eyes look bigger in her beautiful face and gave her skin a honey glow if you hadn’t missed the rosy blush from Kristen’s rude comment a moment earlier. I wanted to lick her bare shoulder to see if she would taste as sweet. Corny, I know.

“No.”

“Nope, but if you’re looking for something to do, come to the auction.” Kristen handed Winnie a flyer and raced out of the office faster than her trying to impress the boys’ track team with her laps around the track.

“Auction?” Winnie read the flyer, and I plucked it out of her hands, dropping it on my desk.

“It’s not important.”

Winnie rolled her eyes and turned the flyer over, pointing to the schedule of events. “Oh, but I think it is, Dr. Calloway.

It says here you’re going to be auctioned off for a date.”

The whole idea made me grumpy because I didn’t want to do it, but it was for a good cause, and I couldn’t turn it down given the limited community resources. “My sister talked me into it.”

“Oh, I’m sure she did. I bet you have quite the following here.” Winnie’s compliment made me embarrassed to be up on stage for some reason.

“True, but I’d never make you pay.”

“Pfft. Who said I was planning on paying? Besides, I’m busy that day.”

“You are?” My chest deflated, wondering what she had going on that was better than me in a tux with a dozen barking dogs vying for my attention.

“Yeah, my parents are venturing north to visit, so I need to shuffle them around town.”

“Oh, so you’re busy then.”

“A little, but mostly I came by because I’m wondering if you know of anyone who needs a dog walker.”

“Branching out?”

She shrugged. “I guess you could say I’ve had some recent experience I can put on my resume.”

Kristen popped her head back in the office, giggling. “I know a great animal shelter that needs volunteers!”

“Get out!” I yelled.

“Gone!” Kristen slammed the door behind her, leaving me alone with Winnie. Before I could utter a single word a small knock on the door drew our attention away from each other again.

“Doctor…” Sharon peered around the corner with another chart. I took it from her and smiled before speaking. My family had a way of capsizing my boat on the calmest of days.