Releasing Kate (2 page)

“Give,” Kate said.

“I’m sorry. I was under strict orders not to tell anyone about him and I sincerely forgot he was in that room.”

Kate raised an eyebrow.

“Girl, he’s your new boss,” Janet stated with a smile.

The previous chief executive officer of the hospital had been arrested on Medicare-fraud charges. The staff was elated. The guy punished offenses but never rewarded good work. He’d starved the departments of funds. He had refused to buy desperately needed equipment. Working conditions had been appalling under his administration. No one mourned his leaving.

Yet the staff worried about who’d come in to fix the mess and just how it would be fixed. Everyone knew the board was looking for a hard-nosed replacement with a sterling reputation. The hospital needed government funds. Whoever came in had to be acceptable to the feds, to the state and to the insurance companies who insured the survival of the institution if not the survival of the patients. After a couple of weeks, rumors floated across the grapevine. The board had hired a new guy. Some big deal who made a career of rescuing hospitals in trouble. He typically fired eighty percent of the department heads. All the managers were concerned, including Kate.

“It is not a good time to make jokes like that,” Kate said.

“No joke, girl.” Janet shook her head. “It’s fact.”

Kate waved a hand, encouraging Janet to continue.

“He was apparently roaming the hospital hallways when he heard about the crash. He came down, and
get
this—he introduced himself and asked what he could do to help. He didn’t take command. He didn’t make our lives rough. He asked.” Janet paused then said, “I was really impressed.”

Kate looked at her with a stunned expression. The boss men never got their hands dirty on the front lines. It was unheard of, especially at night. Typically the night shift was invisible to administration.

“Of course, you know how Nora is, especially with such a double whammy—he’s gorgeous and he’s her boss. Well Nora was all over him, ignoring the patients.”

Janet and Nora had tangled plenty in the past. Janet had moved to nights so she rarely saw Nora anymore. Like most department heads, Nora worked days and only showed up on nights when she had no other choice. Nora felt that her master’s degree meant she didn’t have to touch a patient. Actually, that feeling was probably a good thing since not only was she a bad administrator, she was a lousy nurse too.

Janet continued, “He gave Nora a look that chilled me though it wasn’t even aimed at me. He gave her this look, and
get
this—he said, ‘I don’t need butt kissing right now and you have a department to run. I suggest you run it. Where can I help?’”

Janet fanned herself with a napkin. “Whoa,
girl,
is he hot—about six-two, great body, rumpled black hair, expensive clothes and those eyes. They’re like topaz lasers penetrating deep into your soul. Wow! I had trouble talking around him, he’s so devastating. If I weren’t happily married I would have dragged him off to a broom closet. Those
muscles, that
face, that voice…” She shook her head and went back to her story.

“Anyway, Nora was speechless. I thought she was going to have a heart attack but then she spotted me and told me to give Mr. Kyle anything he needed. Oh I wish I could.” Janet paused to sip her coffee and cool down. “Girl, I had him doing all kinds of nasty stuff. He never once complained or declined. He really was helpful,” she stated, sounding surprised. “That’s why I sent him to help you. Sorry I couldn’t warn you ahead of time.” She stopped as she saw the expression on Kate’s face. “What happened in there? You didn’t do anything that would get you in trouble, did you?”

Kate smiled. Janet knew Kate could be extremely blunt and that she was quite capable of defending herself in ways an administrator might not understand. “Everything went fine. He was very helpful.” She reassured Janet, knowing she hadn’t meant to set up Kate. Sometimes Janet’s hormones overruled her head. Of course, Kate’s own hormones hadn’t been too stable since the incident. She was glad to know she wasn’t the only female affected by the man. “I didn’t have a chance to do anything. He kind of took over,” Kate said as she explained what had happened. She left out the part about her feeling of being feminine and helpless.

“Wow! Do you think there’s a chance we actually have an administrator who understands front-line work?”

“Time will tell,” Kate replied cautiously, suddenly feeling far more vulnerable than normal. She wished Janet had mentioned the sitter’s identity before Kate’s encounter. The rumors had mentioned his reputation. They hadn’t mentioned his physicality. He wore power like a cloak. Strength and intensity flowed around him like the undertone of aftershave. He was the dark knight riding to the hospital’s rescue.

Kate went back to emergency to complete her paperwork. By the time she finished, it was nine. She thought about going home for a short nap, but knowing the new boss was in residence, she opted to work on the budget instead.

By three, Kate readied to leave. The day had been one crisis after another and she had administrative call tonight. She groaned as she stretched. She dreamed of getting a nap. She had just turned off her computer when the phone rang.

“There’s a mandatory meeting for all department heads scheduled for four o’clock,” Eileen stated.

“You’ve got to be kidding,” Kate said.

“In case you haven’t heard, the new boss is here. He wants to meet everyone at four, in the boardroom.” Her carefully controlled tone made Kate nervous. It sounded as though Eileen were sending a signal. She usually didn’t use that tone with Kate.

Eileen had been an executive assistant for years. She’d survived many changes in regime. Her political instincts were honed. Eileen had once told Kate she liked her because they never discussed work. Instead, they’d talk about Eileen’s new grandbaby or Kate’s latest relationship at their once-a-week lunches.

“What’s up? Is he making your life difficult?”

“I really can’t say,” she stated.

Kate thought of a reason for Eileen’s strange tone. “Is he there with you?”

“Yes,” she replied.

“I’ll be there,” Kate said, knowing that the only other option was to turn in her resignation. She sighed and restarted her computer. She worked on estimates and projections for an hour then she printed them out and headed to the boardroom.

Kate walked into the conference room at two minutes to four. Most of the other department heads were already there. They all looked nervous. Rumors of last night’s actions had spread. Only a couple of the other department heads ever got their hands dirty or even remembered what front-line actions were so there were a lot of uncomfortable people.

Kate grabbed her umpteenth coffee of the day. Without a caffeine boost, she’d never make it through the meeting. She sat next to Susan
Bringly
, the laboratory head. Susan and Kate weren’t close but as two of only three female department heads, they did have some issues in common.

Susan’s second in command was trying to get her job too. Unfortunately for Susan, he had a good chance of succeeding. Susan was not a great administrator. She rode her people too hard. She rarely stood up for them. She never drew blood and had little idea of the problems in her department.

Janet had told Kate that last night’s tech was incompetent. He’d hidden himself in the laboratory because he couldn’t hit a vein. Janet said the nurses ended up drawing all the lab work. Nurses were very expensive substitutes for phlebotomists.

Suddenly a hush came over the room as the boss entered at precisely four o’clock.

Administrators were usually late.
Probably to impress everyone with their importance.
Maybe this guy wasn’t that disorganized or that insecure.

Kate watched him walk to the head of the table. He’d changed suits, she noticed, wishing she’d had an opportunity to shower and change. A nap would have helped too. Two in the morning was a long time ago. Kate used to do thirty-six-hour shifts so she knew she was still okay on sleep but she was out of practice. Thoughts of her bed were getting harder to keep out of her head. Then an especially strong image of Kate in bed with the new boss startled her back to awareness.

Where the hell had that thought come from? Looking up, Kate met his eyes. They glowed like amber jewels and if she didn’t know better, she’d think he had planted the suggestive image in her head. What was it with the images of sex?
Specifically sex with this man?
She’d never fantasized like that before.

Normally she didn’t go for the primitive, chest-beating alpha males—no matter how good looking or how seductive their voices and eyes. Yet this man effortlessly raised her pulse rate and caused her cunt to clench with need. Kate shook off her arousal and chalked it up to tiredness. She’d explore it later. She was confident in her ability to rationalize any emotion. In the meantime, she’d need her wits about her for this meeting.

Chapter Two

“As you might already know, my name is Michael Kyle and I was hired to clean up this mess,” he stated bluntly, taking control of the meeting. He looked around the table as if considering his first target.

Kate couldn’t help noticing that he didn’t look as if he had missed a night of sleep. He looked fresh and vigorous and gorgeous.

“Before we get started, let’s go around the table. Introduce yourself, tell me your department and give me one statement about the biggest problem your department faces and the greatest strength of your department.” He looked at Susan. “Why don’t you start,” he commanded.

“
Uhh
, I’m Susan
Bringly
…laboratory…” she stammered, obviously flustered by his attention. “
Uhh
what else…” she tapered off, already forgetting what else he wanted.

“Strength,” he prompted.

“I’m good with the paperwork,” she replied.

Michael smiled. “That’s good to know. Do you believe that the paperwork is the most important thing you do?”

Kate cringed, sensing the trap he was laying down for Susan.

“Well yes,” she smiled brightly, “that’s how we get paid.”

“I see,” he said softly. “What about weaknesses?”

She proudly proclaimed, “We don’t have any weaknesses.”

Michael nodded and continued around the table. He had a great poker face, never once letting on whether he was getting the kind of information he expected or wanted. Kate thought the strengths and weaknesses given were poor. They reflected personal interests rather than departmental or institutional interests.

When he reached Kate, she decided to take a chance. Given that he’d been on the front lines last night and that he seemed to understand, she decided not to give him the fluff all the other department heads had shared. It was a risk, but what the hell, he couldn’t do any more than fire her.

Kate met his eyes and stated, “Kathleen Logan…Kate. I run the radiology department. Our greatest strength is our people. They are dedicated and committed to the patients, which benefits our institutional reputation. Our greatest weakness has been the lack of administrative support. Our equipment is old. At least four percent of our machines are broken at any given time. Our CT scanner is slow and needs upgrading. Equipment problems affect our productivity and our morale. We bring twenty percent of funding into the institution but it could be more.”

Michael nodded. Kate couldn’t tell if he was pleased with her analysis.

After the introductions came the inquisition. Question after question, he grilled everyone. Cutting commentary followed painful answers. Kate watched his technique. He proceeded to slash then bandage and soothe egos. How could he have made her feel so safe last night and so fearful now? He hadn’t really done anything to warrant either emotion. But now, in this meeting, watching him work, Kate feared this man without quite knowing why. She believed that the worst he could do was fire her so she wondered at her roiling stomach and achy head. She chalked it up to exhaustion and waited her turn.

When his gaze turned to Kate, she tilted her chin and sat a little straighter. She listened to him detail her section’s accomplishments and failures. Other managers had squirmed uncomfortably during their recital. Kate forced herself to sit still. She calmly returned his stare, reflecting his emotionless state.

Kate expected questions on areas of weakness. He smiled at her as he broke the pattern. Instead of asking about failures, he asked about her plans for the department. He had shaken everyone else, now it was her turn.

“Kate, how are you going to handle the network problem?”

The network issue was an old one. The department desperately needed a network to connect all of the digital output. It was not a trivial problem. It defied a simple explanation.

Kate hesitated for a moment and then said, “My solution depends upon your actions.”

His eyes glittered as he focused all his attention on her. “Explain,” he said softly.

“How technical do you want me to get?” Kate questioned, thankful that her voice didn’t reflect her inner trembling.

He quirked an eyebrow.
“As technical as it takes to explain.”

Kate took a deep calming breath, knowing the action wouldn’t escape him, but she needed it. It was a heady feeling, knowing his sole attention was on her. He listened—really listened. She felt as if they were the only two people in the room.

Kate finished her analysis. He didn’t say anything. He merely stared. Kate returned his gaze and forced herself to be quiet. The silence was unnerving—something good teachers have always known. Since he hadn’t asked a question, Kate refused to break the silence. She waited.

He smiled and nodded then turned his gaze to the next person.

Two hours later, his voice soft, he said, “Thank you all.” Then he went for the kill. “I’m beginning to see why this institution is in so much trouble. From now on, you will think of the institution before you think of personal or departmental motivations. You will not give me silly answers such as there are no weaknesses,” he said, looking at Susan. “You will think in institutional terms. You will, before midnight, give me a report demonstrating how your unit benefits the institution.
Benefits in dollars, not just words.
This report will include a list of departmental needs, a cost-benefit analysis and recommendations for a ten percent cut in funding,” he said.

Ignoring the shockwave that went around the room as the managers realized what his words meant, his eyes found Kate’s and he said, “Kate, make sure you put in the rest of the explanations, the ones you left out because you thought I wouldn’t understand.”

Before anyone could protest, he continued. “If you don’t feel you are able or willing to give me such a report in that time frame, I will accept your resignation instead. That’s all.” He strode from the silent room.

“Oh shit,” said the manager from facilities management. “I can’t put together a report like that in that time frame.”

“Me neither,” stated the head of dietary.

Kate stood up and gathered her notes.

“What about you, Kate, don’t you think this is ridiculous? Maybe if we all stand together he’ll back down,” Susan said.

“I’ll do it. What choice do I have? Besides, I don’t think he’ll back down. I think he meant every word.”

“Well, he can’t fire us all!” she said.

“Why not?”

Susan just looked at Kate helplessly.

“I’m going to start on my report,” Kate said. The deadline meant that she couldn’t go home and get the sleep she so desperately craved.

Michael entered his office knowing he had done the mental equivalent of throwing a bomb into the managers’ midst. Neat little worlds left him cold. He enjoyed shaking up self-important people. Most of the managers he’d just met would not be here long. He felt a brief flare of remorse then dismissed it and turned his thoughts to Kate.

She seemed to have no idea how their genetics connected them. How could that be? How could she not know? He’d felt her arousal in response to his mental suggestions. He knew she was annoyed by his confident attitude. He’d felt her defiance as she’d responded to his questions. Her every word and action made it clear she’d never been subservient to anyone. If she knew anything about the clan or their ancestry, she wouldn’t bait him. Resistance only made his predatory instincts stronger. Defiance didn’t deter him. It aroused him.

Once his instincts awakened, nothing but a woman’s total submission would quiet them. Kate didn’t realize she already belonged to him. He smiled as he thought of the challenge he faced. If she truly didn’t know, he would teach her about herself and he looked forward to every minute of Kate’s education.

Kate returned to the department around seven to find it in turmoil. “Oh, this day just keeps getting better and better,” she said to one of her techs.

Two car accidents meant that three trauma patients lined the hallway. Kate grabbed her lab coat and pitched in to help clear the backlog of work. The three techs on the evening shift would have cleaned up the mess eventually but patients in pain shouldn’t have to wait and her people needed help. The report could wait. That’s the way she worked and if Mr. Kyle didn’t like it, he could fire her.

Kate authorized overtime for two of the day techs who were still there and willing to stay longer then she went to work. By nine, the mess had cleared. Kate was spraying a bleach solution on an X-ray table in an empty room when she felt herself bent over the table, a large male hand held her motionless while her clothes were ripped off. As Kate opened her mouth to scream she found herself standing at the edge of the table with all of her clothes firmly in place.

She whirled around, bottle and towel in hand. Michael lounged in the door. What the hell was happening? Why did she keep having these visions when he was around? Kate wondered how long he’d been there and how he’d sneaked up on her. She was usually very sensitive. It had become a departmental game to try to sneak up on her. No one else ever managed that feat, yet he’d managed to startle her. Kate blamed it on exhaustion and turned back to finish the table. “May I help you?” she asked as she wiped blood off the table.

“You shouldn’t be doing janitorial work.”

Kate couldn’t help herself. She looked over her shoulder at him and started laughing. She typically used humor as a stress reliever, no matter how inappropriate it might be. After the highly stressful day she’d had, she needed the relief. She finished cleaning the table while she got herself under control. When she spoke, it was in bullet points. She was too tired to be polite.

“Facilities management never touches our equipment. The other techs are busy. The blood will dry before they can clean it. The room needs to be ready for more patients. The benefit of being boss is that I do whatever is necessary to keep this department running smoothly.” Being tired made her stupid because she didn’t stop there. “Besides, it is therapeutic and a lot more fun than doing your report.” Kate shrugged and finished the table before turning to face his silence.

His eyebrow was quirked again, as if Kate were a very interesting specimen under his microscope.

She’d surprised him. Didn’t anyone ever talk back to him?

“And my report?”

“Will be on your desk before midnight.”

He smiled then. Not a full-blown smile, which might have been devastating, just a lift of one side of his mouth. The smile drew attention to his lips—firm and tantalizing lips. The smile didn’t quite reach his eyes. “I look forward to reading it,” he said before he turned and left.

Kate grinned. She felt as if she’d won a small victory. She was smart enough to know it had only been a skirmish and he’d let her win. Was he feeding her a line as you would a fish? Seeing how far she’d run with it? Seeing how fast she’d tire? She really should take the paperwork aspect of her job more seriously. But remembering the nine-year-old boy she’d X-rayed earlier, she decided some things were far more important than paperwork. Maybe she should go back to being staff. Life was easier as a tech.

Kate finished cleaning the room and went to her office. She pulled up one of the reports she’d been working on earlier. Kate couldn’t help wondering if the report would be treated as a serious request for resources or as an excuse to fire her. She shrugged and opened five different documents.

Cutting and pasting pieces into a new report, her mind was busy calculating where she needed to alter and strengthen her arguments. What should be downplayed? What should be a priority? She pushed aside the regret that human life was reduced to these numbers.

By ten-thirty that night Kate had finished the first draft and needed a break. She knew the emergency department would have coffee so she wandered over there, trying to stretch out the kinks on the way. Janet was there, looking extremely harassed.

“What’s up?” Kate asked, hoping there weren’t any big emergencies.

Janet rolled her eyes as she explained. “Our new boss just took a trip through.”

“Oh,” Kate said. “That should have made your night. What’s the problem?”

“For someone who looks like a walking wet dream, he can be a real bastard! He had the nerve to say we looked overstaffed.”

“Did you remind him that you weren’t overstaffed last night?”

She gave Kate an exasperated look. “Of course I did but you know that administrators have a problem with the fact that one night you might have six patients and another night you might have sixty. Staffing is always a problem.” She paused and then said, “He reminds me of you.”

Kate startled. “Why do you say that?”

Janet shrugged. “He does the same thing you do. You get really quiet when you’re processing something, like the whole world stops while you’re thinking. He’s like that too.” Janet paused before continuing, “I told him off and argued with him. There are many nursing jobs. He can’t do any more than fire me.”

That seemed to be a common refrain. “Then what happened?”

“He didn’t reply. He just stared at me for a moment, then turned and walked out of the department,” Janet said. She suddenly stopped talking as she took a good look at Kate,
then
said, “Girl, have you been here since last night?”

“Unfortunately, yes.”

“Go home. Now! You are way too tired to be here!”

“Thanks for your concern and the unnecessary update on my appearance, but my night isn’t done,” Kate stated. She went on to explain about the midnight report deadline as she finished her coffee.

Kate thought about Janet’s encounter as she returned to her office. Janet had argued yet the response hadn’t changed. That was unusual. People typically respond differently to different actions. He was like a black hole, taking in everything and releasing nothing. She hadn’t noticed before but then she really hadn’t had time to process all her impressions. Kate put another note on her mental checklist of things to think about when she was rested.

It had been a long twenty-one hours but by eleven the report was completed. Exhaustion crept up Kate’s back and into her shoulders. The physical strain was enough to make her tired but the additional mental gymnastics had left her empty.