Romantic Promises (Alluring Promises Series, #2) by Janice Baker Read Free Book Online Page B

Williams gave me a questioning look. “Yeah, of course. Everyone here goes by first names. I just met Tanner and Elaina awhile ago and they told me that.”
    I swallowed hard. No one had told me to call them by their first names and all of a sudden I felt like an outsider. I nodded and turned back toward my office, pretending to review the file again. My heart sank because this seemed to be the same type of thing that happened at my last job. I’ve always had trouble making friends and I thought choosing this profession would be an easy way to be the go-to person I always wanted to become. Instead I was feeling like an outsider.
    After returning to my office, I took it upon myself to make a few phone calls to verify references, previous and current employers for Ms. Leonard. Normally, I would have Renee handle this, but I wanted to make these inquiries myself. It wasn’t much of a surprise when I finally dragged out of Mr. Eddie Markum that she is in the ‘entertainment’ business. A stripper. Well, I must say she tried to hide that pretty well. Her college or previous internship must have assisted her with her résumé. I would have never known had I not interrogated Mr. Markum.
    I sent a quick text to Charles, my fiancé, asking if he would like to have lunch today. Although I had known him through my parent’s country club, we didn’t really date until my last year of college and have been together ever since. Charles finally asked me to marry him several months ago. We still haven’t set a date since we both keep hectic schedules.
    Well, his more so than mine. He is extremely busy since he is currently doing his residency in the emergency room. Charles is going to be the best cardiac surgeon in the country and will join my father’s practice after his residency. I’m very proud of him, as are my parents. They absolutely adore Charles.
    I received a text back saying he would have only about twenty minutes to grab a quick bite and to meet him at the café, just down the street from the hospital where he works. I normally don’t mind driving the fifteen minutes to get there just to see him. The traffic I encountered today tells a different story and I tried my best to keep calm as I maneuvered my car through it.
    I finally arrived five minutes late, but glad I would be able to see Charles. Sometimes there are weeks we don’t get to see each other because of his hectic schedule. I walked in and spotted his chestnut wavy hair and dazzling smile. He was already eating lunch… next to Amanda. Amanda, the amazingly skinny doctor who is also doing her residency with Charles.
    Amanda is sort of a hot button in our relationship. She started the same time as Charles and he spoke very highly of her. A lot. So much that jealousy got the better of me and I started several fights about how he works with her all the time and eats with her all the time. I continually felt foolish as he reminded me that they have a lot in common and so much to talk about since they are both interns and both have their specialty in the same field. Charles made sure to try to tell me that just because they are together all the time doesn’t mean anything beyond a professional relationship.
    He also tries to tell me that he prefers my curvy womanly body instead of her stick thin boyish body. Being a woman, that didn’t really make me feel any better since I know she doesn’t have to work out to fit into cute clothes, whereas I feel like I gain ten pounds, just by looking at ice cream.
    I took a deep breath and smiled in an attempt to fight my jealous thoughts and at least appear confident. I walked over and gave him a kiss and said a friendly hello to Amanda before going up to the counter to order my sandwich. I came back to the table and sat as close as I could next to Charles. They had already ordered their food and were eating. Side by side. My stomach dropped with that dreaded jealous feeling. I pushed it aside, not wanting another fight