Smolder (4 page)

“Make sure their attending knows what they did.” I was pissed, but I had no authority over residents to discipline them directly.

Lee was furious. “Inconvenience? Inconvenience? They scared me! Those idiots must have gone through the chart because they knew things that they shouldn't have about that family.”

I didn't want to alarm Lee but that last bit from her stopped me cold. “What did they know?”

“We need to get out of this hallway, Doctor. Now.”

Dr. K pushed Lee and me down the hallway to our offices. He made sure we were both tucked in and then closed and locked us inside. We walked to my office and sat down.

“What the bloody hell was that about?” Lee asked in a frightened, low voice. “If this is what it’s going to be like to work for you, I'm sorry, Doctor, but I'll quit today.”

“I'll turn my notice in with yours.” Day Two at work and the sexy doctor locked me in? It didn’t bode well. “You said the residents knew too much. I doubt they read the chart, Lee. And I'm beginning to doubt they were residents.”

I watched her face as we both followed that trail. I went back over everything I saw in the hallway a moment ago. Two men in scrubs had entered the other end of the hallway and walked to us. They were ten yards from our office door when Dr. K got us inside. They had neck tattoos that didn't register with me right away, and they both wore surgical gloves. No one wore surgical gloves beyond a patient's room, too much chance of contamination.

“My perception is excellent, Lee. But sometimes, it takes a minute to register. Those two guys in the hallway right now weren't residents or doctors.” My stomach turned. Travis was in jail, but that didn't mean he couldn’t find ways to get to me. Either that or I was paranoid and spent too much time watching crime dramas on television.

“I can't hide here not knowing anything.” I was determined to get into the hallway. My mother told me repeatedly I was too stubborn for my own good, and today, it looked like I was going to prove it. I walked around my desk and started toward the hall door. The small reception area just off the hallway with Lee's office to my right was empty, leaving just a couple of feet of hallway to my door. As I entered the reception area, the door flew open and I jumped back, managing to trip over a footstool. I fell backward and landed with a thud on the ground as I realized it was the security chief.

Lee greeted him while stifling a laugh at my predicament. “Afternoon, Chief Mata. May we help you?”

I love a smartass. I really love a smartass assistant. Lee bent down and grabbed me under my arms helping me up.

He stood there not quite sure what to say.

Once I was upright again, I helped him out. “Did you catch the two guys pretending to be doctors?”

“Yes,” he answered, and looked sheepish. “I'm so sorry, Dr. Quinn. We should have investigated further after the phone call. We probably wouldn't have noticed at all if Lee here hadn’t insisted on it.”

“Some of Travis's friends, I assume,” I asked. I wanted him to say no, because otherwise, I would have to consider resigning.

“No. This was simply a prank by a couple of residents. Those two work out at a local gym with the residents who placed the call. When I explained you had been threatened, they were embarrassed and apologetic,” he answered and glared at me. “I will not let them hurt you.”

Something in his tone made me take a step backward. “I know you will do your best.”

“Please call me Owen, most of the staff here refers to me as Mata, but I would like if you used my first name. I'm going to go check on your doctor friend. He tackled one of them before my guards got to him.” He walked away.

“Nice arse on that one, very nice,” Lee said as she walked into her office to get the ringing phone.

“Dr. K fought them?” I walked back to my desk to sit for a minute.

“You only have one more appointment today; you could swing by his office afterwards to make sure he is okay.” Lee handed me the consult request.

An adult woman was admitted for a slight cough that wouldn't go away. She’d thought she needed an antibiotic; instead, she’d been diagnosed with lung cancer. Her attending physician was Dr. K.

“Seems I have to talk to him. This is his patient.”

She smiled and winked at me. “You are going to keep me busy, aren't you?”

It was a rhetorical question, of course I was. Although after the last two days some peace and quiet would be nice. I went upstairs and talked to his patient. She was beautiful, in her thirties, and devastated by the news. She thought smoking didn't kill you until you were at least sixty so she had another decade or so before she had to quit. She was wrong. Her family gathered around her in the room all looking devastated and sad.

I left her room, wrote the note in the chart. The clock said it was four in the afternoon. My stomach told me lunch had been gobbled up by fear and anger so I headed to the lounge to pick up a diet coke and a snack. It was deserted this late in the afternoon with only a few pieces of fruit, sodas, and some sweets lying about. I sat down at one of the tables to catch my breath before seeing Dr. K.

I had succeeded in pushing aside my fears about my own safety before. I'd been threatened before by people with schizophrenia whose medications weren’t working, condemned to hell by half a dozen or so whose meds were definitely working, and I'd had items thrown at me by patients on the general medical floors. This was the first time someone not only threatened me, but frightened me. Something about this guy unsettled me, and even though he was in jail, it would be weeks before I stopped looking over my shoulder. The residents’ jackass joke didn't help that at all.

I stood up and headed for the door.

Behind me, I heard Owen's voice.

“Are you okay?”

I turned to see him leaning against the far wall.

“I will get him. I promise you I will save you from him and his entire family, if that is what's necessary.”

He meant it. Every word was spoken with the precision and conviction of a sacred vow.

“Thank you,” I replied, and felt responsibility overwhelm me for a moment.

He took his job seriously and if that meant protecting me from patient’s family members then he would do so. I would have to step very carefully around people whose mental state was fragile, or I would feel very guilty for taking up Owen’s time.

Even in my state of slight shock, I found myself appreciating his body. Each time he took a breath the polo shirt he wore strained to cover his muscles, his arms threatened to shred the sleeves whenever he bent his elbows. The blue slacks he wore looked like standard issue, but they sat on his hips and accentuated his thighs with each step he took. Why did the bad boys always look so good?

Chapter Three

The walk through the halls was quiet, and I took my time. Dr. K was laughing when I got to his door. I raised my hand to knock, but he saw me over the heads of his concerned colleagues and waved me inside.

“I'm so sorry,” I said and took his outstretched hand.

He laughed and kissed my forehead. “I grew up in Russia with the KGB leering over everything we said and did. Those fools do not scare me. They are amateurs. Scaring women is for little children, not for grown men.”

His buttoned-down shirt and dress slacks didn’t have a wrinkle that I could see. His tie clip and cufflinks looked like they were a matched pair, and he smiled as he saw me looking over him. His shoes were polished to a mirror shine. He kept a firm grip on my hand.

“Do not let the clothing fool you, Doctor. I am perfectly capable of protecting you from anyone who comes down that hallway, maybe even better at it than the security guards. I will make sure you are not harmed, and my residents here will let me know if any other patients here may threaten you. If you ever need anything from me all you have to do is ask.”

It appeared the sexy Russian doctor was more arrogant than I had seen before. Then again, he won his fight with the two men, and his offer of help and protection seemed genuine. It was the most passionate I had seen him, and my ability to think straight hid anytime I was around him. After all, I would much rather trust my body to a surgeon with too much confidence than with too little. That thought had me imagining him taking charge of my body and me in the romantic sense.

"I don't need a damaged doctor on my conscience," I replied.

"I was damaged long before I met you," he said and winked at me. “It is my honor to protect you and keep you safe. All you have to do is ask, and I will be by your side.”

All I could do was thank him and walk away before my legs gave out. There was something about this doctor that made me feel like a schoolgirl. I knew then I already had the start of a good-sized crush on him. I stumbled back to my office, and Lee caught my amused expression.

“Threats give your cheeks great color. You should get frightened and saved more often.”

Her pleasant words and smile didn't reach her eyes. She was scared, and for the first time in my life, I realized someone else's safety depended on me. I had no problems pissing people off when I was the only target. At least we had two men offering to keep me safe, the odds were better that way.

Lee walked behind me as I walked back to my office and collapsed in the overstuffed chair. She sat opposite me in a perfect poised position. I wondered if she ever let herself relax.

I rubbed my hands over my eyes. “I'm new to town, Lee. Is this normal?”

“Not that I know of. Everywhere I've lived has crazy people. You just have a knack for attracting them.” She tried to make it sound like a good thing. “Maybe you should get the nice cop to follow you home today.”

“It's not a bad idea. But it will stop at the door. I’ve fallen for the bad boy before and as hot as this one is, he has that quality I vowed to avoid.”

“I was thinking more of your safety. You may need a cop to keep you safe and a doctor to sew you back together if you get hurt.” Her shoulders released some of the tension holding her ramrod still. She was tired and talking in circles.

“You have great faith in my ability to survive this job,” I said. “I'll call Owen and ask for that escort.”

The cop poked his head into my door. “You want something?”

Startled by his sudden appearance I replied, “Lee suggested I ask for an escort home.”

“It's not a bad idea,” he replied, falling immediately into his professional persona. “I can have someone follow you home and will ask the local police department if they can drive by a few times tonight.”

I didn't want to be a pest or to come across as a hysterical woman. I also couldn't get my heart to stop pounding when I thought about driving home knowing that every horn that honked would make me jump.

“Just this one night, Owen. I trust you that I'm safe with that jackass in jail,” I replied.

“Jackass? Is that a professional diagnosis?” He smiled.

“Yes, yes it is.” I smiled back, and he pulled his cell phone from his pocket and stepped into the waiting room to make the call.

I gathered my purse and took a moment to check the email account I had been assigned. It appeared a few nurses wanted me to test their children. The local school system was slow to test the kids, as most were due to being overwhelmed, and they wanted to get results as soon as possible. Two of the kids were already on ADHD medications and their parents were concerned because the problems at school continued.

“Lee?” I called to see if she was still in the office.

“Yes?”

I heard her reply down the hallway. “Did they order the testing materials I asked for?”

I was asked what materials I would need when I agreed to the position. I asked for the full test batteries because I loved to do testing. There was something fascinating to me about sitting one on one with a child or an adult and asking those questions they didn't usually hear. The answers and how they added up to indicate the strengths and weaknesses for learning and coping were like watching a puzzle fit together.

“There are four boxes in the closet back there. I think they are in there.” She came down the hall as she spoke.

I opened the closet. All of the materials were present, and they even bought the Rorschach and Thematic Apperception Tests. I liked that.

“Yes, they are all here and someone added a few I didn't have on the list,” I said.

She had her purse and keys in her hand. “Is there anything else I can do before I leave?”

I shook my head and thanked her for her help. Lee left as I began to unpack the testing materials from the boxes. Each set came with a bag to hold the materials. Well, most of the materials. I had to wonder if the manufacturer ever tried to put a full IQ test into the provided bag before they mass-produced them.

Owen coughed behind me and began to pick up the empty boxes.

“It seems you are stuck with me as your escort. The police chief expressed his frustration at the situation, but with the only person who actually threatened you in jail, he cannot offer any protection. He did say he would suggest to his officers they drive by your house if they are in that area overnight.”

“Thank you.” I was grateful for the offer.

“You just moved in, so I'm assuming you don't need these boxes?” he asked.

“No, in fact if you know anyone who is moving, I have a lot of boxes they could use. I'm unpacked, but I still have all of the boxes to break down.”

The tests were arranged in the storage closet, and Owen had the boxes in hand. We walked down the short hallway, and I opened the door to the main hospital walkway. It was empty as we left. A few stray family members asked for directions to the cafeteria as we made our way to the exit.

“Doctor's parking lot?” he asked.

“Yes, it's over here.” I gestured to the parking deck where my car was parked.

He gestured for me to follow him. “I would feel better if you walked with me to my truck, and I'll drive you back to the deck. That way, I can at least see you.”

“You are going to make me paranoid,” I complained as we walked to the parking lot by the emergency room. “I thought I was safe now.”

“You are as safe as anyone else is now.” He smiled. “But that doesn't mean I'm okay with you being in the parking deck alone tonight.”

“Hollywood should follow you around for a few days. You sound like their heroes.” I took one of the boxes out of his hands as we got to his GMC Yukon, and he opened the back.

“I try.” He winked at me, put the boxes inside, and closed the hatch.

He walked to the passenger side of the truck and opened the door for me. I climbed in using the step up and carefully avoided his grin when I used the handle to pull myself up. One disadvantage to being short was the need for a stepstool to get into most large vehicles.

He walked around the front and waved at one of the security guards as they arrived for their shift. It seemed he knew everyone who worked for him. I wasn't sure if that was him being nice or a need to make sure he knew everything so he wouldn't be surprised or caught off-guard.

We rode the short distance to the parking deck in silence, and I pointed out my car on the first floor near a walkway. He stopped the SUV and made a move to get out and let me out. I leaned over and grabbed his arm to stop him, then jumped out before he could protest and made my way to my car. I liked the gentleman hero act, but I could walk a few yards on my own. I was afraid if I let him keep walking me places, both he and I would forget that I was perfectly capable of taking care of myself.

I got into my car, and my heart pounded as I turned the key. All of those movie and television moments where the key turns and the car explodes raced through my head. It didn't make any logical sense, but logic didn't hang around psychopathic on a regular basis. The car started, and I let out the breath I'd been holding. I waved to Owen, and he looked relieved as well, before I drove to the exit and started my drive home.

On the way, my last relationship came rushing back to me. Triggered by my hope for something new in Savannah, the memories stomped through my mind with the dull pain of lost happiness.

Bruno was beautiful, tanned, and Mexican. He barely spoke English, but I didn't mind. I spoke Spanish. Long black hair to his waist matched the brown-black of his eyes. He decided I was the perfect woman for him on our first date. He never wavered in his devotion and kept buying me gifts and taking me out every weekend.

My heart opened up over time, and when I let him in there was a comfort there that sparked even greater passion in the bedroom. I would wake up after him every weekend and open my eyes to see him by the window in our apartment in nothing but his jeans. His lean, chiseled body shone in the sunlight. He took my breath away, and when he asked me to marry him, I agreed without hesitation.

I turned down the street into my new neighborhood and checked to see Owen a few yards behind me.

Bruno changed after we became engaged. He demanded more of me while simultaneously spending less time together. It was like he got what he wanted and stopped trying. And then, on New Year's Eve, I couldn't find him. He didn't come home from work, and I sat and waited for him until ten o'clock. Furious, I went back to the bar where we met and there he stood, dressed up and looking handsome, with his arm around another woman. He didn't even blink as I walked up to them. She asked who I was, and when I said I was his fiancée, he smiled at me and kissed her cheek. I shook as I left and cried until the next morning. His clothes were packed in boxes in the front room when he came in the next day. While he moved them into his car, I took the key off his keychain and replaced it with my ring. We didn't speak a word, and I never heard from him again.

I pulled into my driveway as the memories ceased. But the numbness I’d felt on that day dampened my current mood, so when Owen opened my car door, I didn't realize I'd been sitting there for a few minutes without moving.

“Are you okay?” Owen looked worried.

“Memories. They can creep up on you." I forced a smile as he helped me from the car.

My thoughts still foggy from the drive, I thanked him unlocking the front door. He came in with me and started to laugh.

“What?” I was a little irritated.

“You are more anal than I am.” He pointed at the label on one of the boxes.

My mood began to lighten. “If I don't write down what is in the box and which room it came from, how can I tell the movers where to put the box in the new place?”

“Organization is the key to success.” He snapped his heels together and saluted me military style with a grin stretched across his face.

I laughed. “Yes, it is. The boxes are back this way.”

I started to walk but he gestured for me to stay still as he walked back toward my bedroom.

“Son of a bitch.”

I recognized that voice and took off. “Owen, it's my brother!” I yelled as I rounded the corner.

The sight of Officer Owen Mata in a headlock of the wrestling variety, courtesy of my brother Josh, greeted me there. It made me very happy.

The look of pure shock on Owen's face made me laugh harder. As I crumbled to the floor with laughter, I waved Josh off Owen. “He's cool, Josh. He's here to protect me.”

Josh's laughter joined mine and then filled the room. My brother had the best laugh, the kind that filled every empty space driving sadness away. Owen’s cheeks flushed red as Josh released him. Josh stood to his full height, and Owen backed up to the wall.

“Where did you learn to move that fast for such a large guy?” Owen asked.

“Let me introduce myself properly. I'm known on the wrestling circuit as the Masked Avenger, so rapid movement gets my attention. Then, I have this sister who believes in all the hippy-dippy stuff and got me hooked on yoga a few years back to recover from an injury, and voila'.” He took a bow.

The confused look on Owen's face had to be him trying to picture my six-foot-four, two–hundred-fifty-pound brother doing yoga. This only made me laugh harder.