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had only been stretched over that time. And it had sprung back so easily.
    Had she chosen a different area of law, perhaps returning to her roots would have been a joyous homecoming.
    Instead, it was pierced with confusion and disappointment.
    ****
    “Charley?”
    His familiar voice rained over her like fairy dust and her skin tingled as she turned away from the hospital elevator.
    “Clay. I was wondering if I would see you here today. I stopped by to visit with Dr. Collins.” She inwardly held her breath, tamping down the niggling uneasiness she predicted over this chance encounter. Guiltily she made the snap decision to leave it at that and not disclose the true reason for her visit.
    Clay’s smile quieted some of the sting still smarting from Matt’s caustic comments on her career choice and his kiss on her cheek definitely made it all better. Clay sure had the power to heal.
    “I bet Collins was thrilled to see you. He brought your name up over the years with such pride in what you were accomplishing.”
    “Really?” Strange since she barely kept in touch with him after she had gone to college, despite his attempts. It just showed what a genuine, caring person he was.
    “Did Collins tell you about all the renovations that were made since you left? Especially to the children’s wing. You wouldn’t recognize it.”
    “No. We didn’t talk much about the hospital. Maybe you can give me a tour sometime when you’re free.” Charlotte hoped her tone held just the right amount of interest without sounding like she was desperate to spend more time with Clay. Although she had thought about him nonstop since running into him at the gala. And every time she replayed his invitation to dinner in her head, she pummeled herself for not accepting.
    “I just got off and was heading to talk to Collins about some administrative issues, but that can wait.”
    “Matt Branson was just in there to meet with him as well, but Dr. Collins said he didn’t have time right now.”
    “Then I’ll catch up with him later. Let’s go.”
    Clay put his hand on her back to guide her in the right direction, an insignificant gesture that burned through her suit jacket and sent crazy atoms zinging through her body.
    As they moved along the hall, he explained some of the changes made to other areas of the hospital as well. His enthusiasm was catchy and Charlotte found herself an engrossed and captive audience. Or perhaps she was just caught up in Clay, the man who, once again, starred in her fantasies.
    Approaching the children’s wing, Charlotte gasped. The colors burst from the walls; blue, green, purple, yellow, orange. No longer that sanitary eggshell paint she helped decorate with the children’s drawings when she visited them. “This is amazing. I love it.” She turned in every direction to take in the wonderful changes. “This doesn’t look like a hospital wing.”
    “That was the goal.” Clay grabbed her hand and took her over to a little girl maneuvering on crutches toward a play area. “Hi, Tessie. How’s it going?”
    “Good, Dr. M. I’m really getting the hang of these things.” She smiled at him with a missing-tooth smile that warmed Charlotte’s heart.
    “This is my friend, Charley. She used to be a patient in this hospital after a car accident, just like you.”
    Tessie looked Charley up and down. “You got better?”
    Charlotte smiled. “I sure did. This is a great place to heal. And Dr. Montgomery helped me a lot.”
    While Tessie was substantially younger than Charlotte had been when she was a patient, Charlotte saw the infatuation on Tessie’s face when she looked at Clay. God, I hope I wasn’t that transparent.
    Clay introduced her to a few more children and explained their conditions, just as he had done when she’d been a patient here. She had loved coming to the children’s wing, not just to spend more time with Clay when it had been part of his rotation. Although that had been a bonus. But to take