Conflicts of the Heart (23 page)

“They have. She's worked the floors and bribed the night shift. All
thanks to you, according to her.”

“She told me that it was now or never, but I didn't think she’d break any rules.”
Why hadn’t Ann called her when something atypical was going on during her absence.

“Then you did know what Teal planned to do?” He stiffened and clenched his teeth.

His accusatory tone jarred her. “Yes. I knew. She told me that she wanted in. What of it? She's told you many times--if the opportunity arose, she was going for it. Why are you surprised?”

“Were you her opportunity?”

His disarming presence took a different feel, the same way she felt when they first met, and when he tested how far he could go with her. “I think Teal's opportunity was my being out of town for a week, your expired contract, and our being deadlocked.” Dana headed for the kitchen, her heart pounding. Their personal feelings had intertwined with their work, and she didn’t like it. Under normal circumstances, he would never have confronted her like that; he would have fought back. Not in her home. Not with her child sleeping in the next room. Not with her heart in that vulnerable state. “Isn't that enough opportunity, without me?”

“She's never done this before.” He followed Dana.

“Her job wasn't on the line before.”

“You knew about that too?”

“Of course. Friends. Remember? She and I discussed it.”

“Did you tell her about the contract being expired and our deadlock?”

“Yes.” Dana added hot water to her tea, avoiding eye contact with Patrick. “Want some?”

“Have any beer?”

“Sorry. I never drink the stuff.”

“Nothing then.
Don't skirt the issue.”

“I'm not skirting anything.”

His probing and distrust annoyed her. He acted as though she was the one responsible for Teal’s inappropriate behavior. The warm feelings she had for him when he arrived were rapidly dissipating. “You're the one who didn't want a confidentiality clause during negotiations.” Her voice rose. “I wasn't divulging any secrets.”

Under the arch between her dining room and living room, he seized her shoulders. “I need to know everything you told her.”

Dana's teacup rattled. “May I put this down?” She freed herself and walked back to her chair. Patrick had never been that angry before in her presence. “If you'll calm down and sit, I'll tell you everything I said.”

“I can't believe you encouraged Teal to come in and pull off a raid when we're so close to a contract.” He shook his head, resting his elbows on his knees, twining his fingers under his chin.

“We’re not close to a contract. I wish you'd give me a little credit. All I did was tell her the contract status. She has every right to come into the hospital. If she gets enough support, she can have an election.”

“Did you tell her that she could work the floors and send food to the employees on work time?”

“No, I did not, and it bothers me that you think I did.” Her ire was up now. “She was merely doing what you used to do so well.”

“She's got a lot of support. That puts our talks in jeopardy.”

“They already are. I have no idea where we're going from here. Now the board won’t make any movement. You want too much. They've given all they're going to give.”

He got up in a huff. “If Teal gets an election, I'm calling a strike.”

“Wonderful. That's just what we need.” Her voice rose an octave. “If you want to call a strike, call it. I'm ready.” She stormed to the door and opened it. “You've brought your message. I think you should leave. Don't push me, or I'll actually start shouting.”

Patrick power-walked toward the door, stopped short and turned, stared down at her.

She felt her stomach quiver. He reached out, and pulled her into his arms and crushed his lips against hers. How many times had she envisioned this kiss? He forced her lips apart with his tongue. The warmth of his kiss and his hands caressing her shattered her defenses. His strong thighs pushing against hers overcame any resistance she might have had.

He released his grip on her and pulled her head to his chest. His heart thundered in her ear. Her body tingled from the contact.

“I've missed you so much,” he murmured, his voice cracking. Dana reached up, running her fingers across his stubbled cheek

“Me too.”

He took her hand, led her to the couch, and sat next to her. “Forget the hospital. We need to talk about us.” He pushed strands of hair away from her eyes.

She turned away from him. No matter how much she cared for him, she couldn’t forget Teal’s words: “He’s using you.” She rose, standing with her back to him. “Teal said you were telling your friends you were working me for a quick contract.”

“What? That's a lie!”

She spun around. “Maybe you can explain what she meant, then.”

He laughed. “You mean to tell me that you believed her? Why didn't you ask me?”

“Had you seen your face or heard the tone of voice the day after Teal dropped by, you wouldn't have asked either.”

“Ditto, my dear.”

She started to speak. He raised a hand to stop her. “I thought you cooled because Teal caught us.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “God, I can't believe this--”
He stopped abruptly. “She's working us against each other.”

“That may be true, but what about your daughter?”

“What about her?”

“How could you just up and leave New York without taking her life into consideration?”

“That’s rich.” He stared down at Dana. “Her life is my life. My leaving was temporary. My deal was two years. Then I’m back in New York. Elaine and I had an agreement on visitation rights. She’s reneged.” He grabbed Dana and pulled her to him.

She drew back. “I have good reason to misjudge you when it comes to kids. As far as Teal is concerned, she was adamant you talked about us publicly. It would be easy to check.”

“The only thing I've ever said about you was when you first came to town I mistakenly bragged how easy it would be to get a contract with a woman on the opposite side of the table. I did overdo it, I guess, and Teal was present a couple of times. Hell, Dana, that was just shop talk. I didn't even know you. Since we've become friends, I haven't mentioned your name once.”

He ran his fingers through her hair, lifted her chin, and kissed her softly on the mouth, running his moist tongue under her lips. His sweet breath and natural scent made her body ache for him. The attraction was perilous, but she didn’t care. She wanted to feel his body touching hers, his lips exploring every inch of her.

When the kiss ended, dazed, she drew back. When she focused, she studied him, his thick blond eyebrows, the slight bump on his nose, the devilish twinkle in his eyes.

“I'm going. I want you to sleep on this. I'll call you tomorrow.” For a brief moment, after he'd gone, she felt bereft, empty. How
could he let her go the moment she needed him most? Again, thoughts of his leaving permanently crossed her mind. When would she put two and two together and realize their relationship was temporary. She had to stop thinking he might stay and all would end well. She allowed the tears to flow down her cheeks. Oh God, she loved him and there wasn’t a damn thing she could do about it.

Saturday morning Dana dressed, straightened her apartment, and made four telephone calls. First, she called her neighbor to take care of Michael for a few hours, and then she called Teal to tell her that she’d like to come over and discuss her activities in Templeton. Then she told her mother she’d come by and fill her in about her trip to San Jose. Last, but not least, she called Patrick to tell him that she'd like to see him later that afternoon.

The temperature in Ashton soared, as it always did just before the coastal cold front moved in, bringing the onslaught of bone chilling cold and tulle fog. Dana pulled up in front of Teal's condominium and cut the ignition. Following a few moments of organizing her thoughts, she got out into the heat.

On her stroll up the winding cobblestone walkway, she planned her meeting with Teal. Taking a few moments to marshal her courage, Dana observed her friend's extravagant digs. No wonder she was so
desperate to keep her job. The roof had rust-colored tiles like Dana's old home in Palo Alto and an off-white stucco exterior framed in dark bucolic wood. Lush red and pink bougainvillea clung to the walls over two-thirds of the building.

The wrought-iron gate creaked open. She strolled through the courtyard, in awe of the array of roses in full bloom, painted ladies feeding on blossoms. An agitated blue jay screeched from a dogwood next to her porch.

Teal waited in the open doorway with a cup of coffee in her hand. After four months, Dana still hadn’t gotten used to Teal’s new look. She remembered a girl with mousy black hair, pale skin, no makeup, and clothes from the thrift shop. Not this artfully made-up, knockout of a blonde, with her hair curled and piled loosely on her head, wearing vermilion silk lounging pajamas that clung to her tall, slim figure.

“Good morning, cookie,” Teal warbled as if nothing were wrong.
“Coffee?”

“No thanks.” The beauty and coolness struck her immediately as she entered the dark, elegant apartment.

“No hug?” Teal acknowledged the snub with a slight toss of her head.

Dana let out a long exasperated breath, reached out and with a light embrace gave Teal an air kiss. Compared to her place, Teal had ensconced herself in the lap of luxury.

“Like it?”

“I see why you don't want to leave.”

“I've worked damn hard for this.” She set her cup on the heavy wood coffee table.

“I did it all myself.” She puffed up her chest as a gesture of pride. “Neither of my loser ex-husbands had anything to do with it. I have no intentions of giving any of it up.”

Dana turned to face Teal. “I can see why you love it so much.”

“I'd do anything…anything to keep it.”

Dana guarded her tone, not wanting to sound accusatory. “Even come into the hospital and hold meetings on the units?”

“You've heard?”

“The minute I got home. Why? Don't you know what this means to us? To our friendship?” Her anger rose. Her resolve to handle Teal diplomatically washed away like the ocean in an estuary at low tide.

“You're coming on strong over such a little thing.”

“Little thing? You've turned the whole hospital upside down. Patrick and I are starting mediation Monday, and now this is hanging over our heads.”

“This'll bring your mediation to a head.” Teal grabbed Dana's hand and led her to the couch. “Sit! Listen to me.”

Dana pulled herself free and defiantly folded her arms across her chest.

“You would have been so proud of Annie, your little assistant. She hustled right up to the Operating Room with a guard in tow and trucked me right outta there with not so much as a thank you, how are you, or
kiss my ass.” Teal roared and slapped her thigh as if this whole mess were a big joke.

Dana broke into a smile, picturing Ann and the guard hauling the fiery DeLuca out of a meeting with the nurses gaping.

“You’ve trained Ann well. From what Patrick used to tell me, she practically hid from him

when
he went to the units without permission.”

Teal got up and prowled her spacious living room without a trace of guilt or a need for recompense. She made light of going where she didn’t belong, as if she believed that what she did was
funnier than outright wrong.

“You know if Gil or Patrick presses me, it could ruin your chance for an election. You could even put your career on hold for a while.” She unfolded her arms, glancing around. “Then what would you do about all this and your job? I said you could use the cafeteria. That was all. The units are off limits and you know it.”

“How do you know I wasn't just visiting a patient? Maybe I should explain a few things before you pop anymore blood vessels.”

“You know, I thought we were friends. I trusted you. You're taking advantage of our friendship a
nd you don't even give a damn.”

“Oh, give me a break. You're as much a survivor as I am. If you were in my shoes, you'd have done the same damn thing.” Teal came to Dana’s side, taking her hands. “Look, girlfriend. I’m desperate.”
She glanced around her apartment. “This is my life. I can't lose it. Don't you understand?” Tears rose in her eyes. “I'm so damned scared I’d do just about anything to hang onto what I've got.”

“Including lying about Patrick spreading rumors about us? Or playing on my fear of losing a man again? Honestly, you disgust me.
” She pulled her hands from Teal’s.

“I couldn’t help myself. I thought you two were in cahoots, going to settle things outside the hospital. Happens, you know.” She wiped under her eyes with her fingers. “I knew I was wrong going up on the floors, but I took the chance. I thought you understood how desperate I was, that you'd forgive me for one little indiscretion.” She leaned closer to Dana. “I must get PNA out and two eighty-one in. If I pull it off, I keep my job and my home. Don't you see? If I were in Templeton, negotiations would be a breeze for both of us. We could work together.”