by Erica Penrod
“Well, most of us,” Lily chimed in with a chipper voice.
Dr. Evans looked down at the round woman and exhaled as he crossed his arms. “What Lily means is that a few of the employees are a little hesitant about the change.” He smiled at Lily before he glanced over at Levi. “I’ve reminded them all several times that I wouldn’t leave them unless I was confident in my replacement.”
“I’m sure there’s no replacing you.” The situation wasn’t foreign to Levi. When you did what he did for a living, you picked up on the language quickly. Most rural doctors were treated and loved like an extended member of their patients’ families, and the people they’d served for decades didn’t embrace the idea of trusting someone new, especially a non-native. “But I can assure you I’m good at my job and Dr. Rockwell is a highly credited physician. Between the two of us, we’ll win over the staff,” Levi promised assuredly. Either the staff accepted the new administration or they found other employment, and people tended to want to keep their jobs.
“I’ve no worries.” Dr. Evans tucked his hands into the pockets of his slacks. “Like I said, I wouldn’t have agreed to Prometheus Rise’s proposal if I didn’t believe this was the right move.”
“You won’t be disappointed.” His family’s company had a solid reputation. Levi glanced at the time on his watch. “We’d better get the tour started before we meet with the architect and contractor.”
“Yes, of course.” Dr. Evans pivoted towards the hallway. “Right this way. And Lily …” The man paused. “Unless it’s an emergency, please hold my calls.”
“Yes, doctor.” Lily’s eyes nearly disappeared beneath the plump flesh of her smile. “It was so nice to meet you, Mr. Hernandez.” The chuckle in her voice reminded Levi of a giggling schoolgirl.
Levi raised a brow but gave a polite smile. “It was nice to meet you too, Lily.” He paused and met her gaze again. “Please, call me Levi.”
“Of course.” Lily’s cheeks blushed as she bustled around the corner of her desk. Levi followed Dr. Evans’s lead, but he swore he heard the woman giggle all over again.
“You’ll have to forgive Lily. The woman’s got a heart of gold, but she’s blind as a bat when it comes to professional boundaries and the memory of an elephant when it comes to rumors. For good or bad, if you need to know anything about anyone in this hospital or Eureka Springs for that matter, ask Lily. The woman has a PhD in gossip, and if you remember that every time you talk to her, you’ll save yourself a lot of trouble.”
“Hmm.” Levi nodded and mentally highlighted HIPAA laws as one of the first items to discuss at the staff meeting. He’d ignore the alarms sounding in his head for now. “Thank you for the advice.”
Dr. Evans laughed. “You’re welcome. You should also know Lily is a hard worker, and if you ask her to do anything, you can count on her to get the job done. She’s been known to stay hours past her shift just to keep this place running.” He led them down the hall. “I wouldn’t have been able to manage without her.” They stopped at the large set of double doors. “This is Recovery.” Dr. Evans pushed the button on the wall, and the doors swung open. “We have two nurses each shift.”
“Okay.” Levi nodded. Compiling an efficient staff was one of the biggest obstacles Levi faced when working with small-town hospitals. Too many or too few workers fractured the infrastructure. Expertise was critical with such small numbers, and skilled personnel weren’t always easy to come by in less populated areas. After several years at his job, Levi understood the value of driven medical professionals, especially ones who wanted to be part of a small-town hospital. The trials and triumphs these rural organizations offered wasn’t for everyone, but he had utmost respect for the ones who embraced the challenge. “First on my agenda for tomorrow, I’d like to meet with all of the staff. First we’ll meet as a group, and then I’d like to interview each employee individually over the next couple days.”
“You’re not letting anyone go, are you?” Trepidation filled the old man’s voice. “I assured everyone they would keep their jobs under the new management.”
Levi appreciated the concern. Obviously, Dr. Evans cared about the people he worked with, but in the end, the hospital was a business. “No.” Levi and Dr. Evans paused at the empty nurse’s station. “That’s not my initial plan. I’ll present Prometheus Rise’s vision for moving forward, and if the new administration and policies are something they want to be part of, I’ll do everything in my power to keep them on.” Levi looked at Dr. Evans, who still had reservation written on his face. “That’s why I want to meet with each employee personally. I’d like to hear their input and discuss what they’d like to see happen in the workplace. I value their opinion and experiences. They know what works and what doesn’t for this community.”
Dr. Evans relaxed his shoulders as he nodded.
Levi continued, “If Eureka Springs Healthcare doesn’t move forward as a team, then I’m not doing my job. First and foremost, I have to make sure I’ve got team players on my staff.” He offered an easy smile. “Trust me, I hope we’re all in this together.”
“You’ve got good people here.” Dr. Evans leaned into the counter. “But like I said earlier, a few of them are set in their ways.”
“It’s nothing I haven’t handled before.” Levi couldn’t promise what he knew Dr. Evans wanted to hear. Rarely did Levi have to let anyone go. The situation gave employees who’d considered seeking employment elsewhere the chance to make a clean break without any mess. The people who wanted to stay or needed their job were most often willing to adjust and educate themselves in whatever area Levi felt needed a boost. “I’m sure this place won’t be an exception.”
Somewhere down the hallway, a door closed, and a boisterous female voice echoed in the distance.
“I hope you’re right.” Dr. Evans glanced up towards the footsteps approaching. “If you can handle our head nurse, Susie Bean …” The doctor gave Levi a slanted look. A light flashed in his eyes, and the corners of his mouth twitched. “I think you’ll manage the rest of the staff without any problem.”
Susie Bean? The name belonged in one of the children’s picture books his nanny used to read to him as a kid. Illustrations of a little girl with bows in her hair and flowers in her hands while skipping rope popped into his mind. How bad could the woman with a name like “Susie Bean” be? Levi stood tall and straightened his shoulders. First impressions were often the key to a good start, and if the woman respected him, he didn’t foresee a problem—until he got a look at her and he began to sweat. Levi choked on the knot in his throat.
There was nothing childlike or innocent about the appearance of the nearly six-foot-tall woman, with cropped, coal-black hair parted around her face like a curtain and eyes narrowed in on him, like a predator hunting its prey. Miss Susie Bean looked like she was about to swallow him whole.
Chapter Nine
Monica didn’t know what had happened to her fellow carpenter, but she loved the change. For the last month, she and Alex had worked side by side, with music playing in the background as they tackled the next project, but rarely had they held a conversation. However, today had been different. Alex hadn’t talked her ear off, but he’d said more than three words and she’d full-on belly laughed a few times. She’d had no idea the man was so funny.
“Are you sure you’ll be able to attach the showerhead without me once the grout dries?” Alex dipped the sponge in the bucket and wrung out the excess water. He wiped over the newly installed subway tile with gentle passes. “I can come back tomorrow.”
“No.” Monica stacked the extra tile pieces and piled them in the box. “I’ll be fine. I feel bad enough you’ve spent your entire day off here.”
“I told you. I’d rather be busy.” Alex soaked the sponge again but didn’t look at her. Monica regretted the distance in his voice after the miles of progress they’d made today. She needed a good friend in Eureka Springs, and Alex was the closest person she had—unless you counted D
oris, which she couldn’t. Her next-door neighbor was wonderful in an overbearing, protective sort of way, but Monica wouldn’t feel comfortable sharing anything she didn’t want all over town.
“I’m sorry.” The last thing she wanted to do was make Alex feel uncomfortable. She leaned over and tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ears before she scooped up a trowel. “I guess it’s hard for me to believe you’d want to be here when you could be out doing something fun on your day off.”
Alex paused and glanced at her. “I like being useful.” His lip hitched on one side, in an almost smile.
Monica sighed in relief. “You are useful.” She collected as many odds and ends as she could in her arms. The project had taken so much longer than she’d anticipated, and she needed to clean up the kitchen before Levi got back from work. “Would you like to stay for dinner tonight?” Monica blurted out the question without thinking about the consequences. She wanted to make something special for Alex to thank him for all his hard work, yet she wanted to prove to Levi Hernandez she was capable of running a successful B&B, and him tripping over the mess again wouldn’t help to prove her point. There wouldn’t be time to clean up and cook.
Alex must’ve sensed the mental struggle in her mind. “Let’s plan for another night. Maybe when you don’t have a guest. He should be your number one priority.” Alex took a step back and inspected his work. “I can hurry and help you clean up before he gets here. You need to get a good review, right?”
She exhaled, still clutching the tools against her chest. “Yeah, I do.” Monica shook her head softly. “Like I said before, I don’t know what I’d do without you.” Her voice choked on the emotion. “Thank you for the offer, but you don’t need to stay.” She smiled. “I can get this place cleaned up in no time.” Monica took a step back, unaware of the extra bucket behind her until she was knocked off-balance and thudded to the floor. Embarrassment flooded over her, and the tools banged and clanged as they scattered all around her. Wide-eyed, she gazed up at Alex, who offered her a hand. “I’m okay,” she said before he could ask.
“Like I said, you need my help.” His strong fingers clasped around hers, and he pulled her up as they both burst out laughing.
* * *
Levi leaned against the wall and fought to keep his temper intact. “I appreciate your concern.” He inhaled and exhaled. “I understand you’ve worked the same shift for the past five years, but I cannot guarantee you will once the new system is in place.”
Humph. Nurse Wilson planted her hands on her hips. “I don’t mean any disrespect, Mr. Hernandez.” The glare in her eyes said otherwise. “But I think it would be best for everyone if you left things as they are.”
It was that mentality that had the hospital barely staying afloat. “I assure you, I want nothing more than for Eureka Springs Healthcare to succeed.”
“Mr. Hernandez, Mr. Hernandez.” Lily rushed down the hallway. “The inspector is in the lobby, and he doesn’t look too happy.”
“Okay.” Levi feigned a smile. “Thank you, Lily.” He turned to Nurse Wilson. “If you’ll excuse me.” Levi didn’t wait for the woman’s reply and hurried towards the lobby. His frustration mounted with every step. Half of today’s disasters could’ve been avoided if everyone had read his email he’d sent out this morning. How difficult was it to follow a schedule?
* * *
Levi grabbed the laptop bag and closed the door behind him. He stared up at The Red Pearl as he leaned against the car and exhaled. Restlessness rolled through his body, and he needed a minute to collect himself. He’d never expected to be back here until the sun settled for the evening, and he didn’t know what to think. He was a man of decision and schedule, but since he’d arrived in Eureka Springs, so many things hadn’t gone as planned.
The meeting with the architect and contractor had gone on much longer than he’d ever imagined, and there was the issue with the inspector. Discussion about how and when each phase of the remodel would begin was critical to the entire process. Like a delicate surgery, every movement had to be carefully thought out. The idea was to keep the hospital functioning in one part of the building while the other was under construction, which was stressful, and with the addition of a new administration, the risk of complication was high.
Levi’s confidence for a smooth transition with Eureka Springs Healthcare had waned after he’d met Susie Bean and had been cornered by Nurse Wilson. Two disgruntled employees he could handle, but if the rest of the staff wanted to take him out and string him up to the flagpole, like Nurse Bean and Nurse Wilson silently indicated with their piercing stares and split-tongued undertones, then he might have a problem. He prayed the staff meeting would go well tomorrow. Levi preferred to keep as many employees as possible, but in the end, the decision wasn’t his to make; either they agreed to the new management, or they looked for another job.
The presentation was imperative, which was why he’d decided to come back to the B&B, where he could spend the night in more preparation. For the time being, his office was a desk in the corner of the reception area, and Levi didn’t want to be interrupted. A picture of Monica popped into his mind, and his pulse quickened. He’d have to go straight to his room if he wanted to get any work done. Whatever that girl had that he’d found so attractive was definitely an interruption.
Levi moved towards the front door. The air got heavy, and tiny drops fell from the clouds. He drew in a deep breath, taking in the scent of rain, and hustled to the porch. His stomach rumbled and reminded him he’d skipped out on lunch. Maybe Monica had fixings for a sandwich he could take to his room with him. He didn’t expect her to prepare him a meal after he’d told her not to worry about making something. Levi turned the handle and stepped into the house.
He stood inside the entryway and closed the door behind him. A cornucopia of smells welcomed him, including paint, something lemon like a cleaning product and old house, but no Monica. His chest deflated as he peered into the empty office on his right and noticed the lonely sitting room to his left. Levi grumbled beneath his breath in reprimand. Staying at The Red Pearl wasn’t going to work for him if he didn’t get a grip on his wandering thoughts about the owner. After his trip to the hospital today, his mind whirled as if details and information were caught in the wind and he was trying to grab on to anything he could. Levi rubbed his temples and took a deep breath. This wasn’t like him.
Schedule and organization kept his mind and body running at full capacity, but ever since he’d arrived in Eureka Springs, he’d been off. Nothing had gone as he’d forecast, and whether it was something in the air or in the “healing water,” Levi had to get a grip if he was going to turn this assignment into a success. He marched towards the kitchen for some fuel. A quick bite to eat and he’d be ready to tackle the night ahead. As for Monica, he wasn’t a puberty-driven sixteen-year-old kid, but a master of his own thoughts. He smiled to himself—until he heard her laugh. His heart jumped as Monica’s face appeared in his mind and any other thoughts scattered. Ahhhhh. Frustrated by his reaction, he determined to forge ahead—then a man laughed along with her, and all Levi saw was green.
Levi tried to talk himself out of going upstairs. Whatever or whoever Monica was laughing with was none of his business, but he didn’t stop. At the top of the stairway, he followed the laughter to one of the other bedrooms at the end of the hallway, opposite of where his was located—opposite of where he should be headed to—and looked inside. The room was empty, other than a couple pieces of furniture covered in sheets, dressed appropriately for The Red Pearl’s unofficial ghost theme. Levi stepped in, as Monica walked out of what he assumed was the bathroom.
“Ohhhh.” She clutched her hand to her chest. “Levi, you scared the crap out of me.”
“Sorry,” he managed as his eyes drank in the sight of her. Her red T-shirt was spackled with something white, and she had a lightning bolt of the same paint-like substance on her forehead, like a Harry Potter fan.
“I thou
ght you were going to be late.” She pulled the phone from her pocket and checked the time.
“Yeah, I decided I needed to do some work from home.” The knot in his throat made it hard to push the words out. His gaze wandered to her denim cutoff shorts and sculpted tan legs.
“Oh.” Color flooded her cheeks as a man, holding a tool bag in one hand and a bucket in the other, came out of the bathroom and stood beside her.
Levi blinked twice as recognition cast a web over his jealousy, and he grinned. “Alex?”
“Levi?”
Monica glanced between the two men. “You two know each other?”
Levi nodded as memories surfaced, and he shook his head and laughed. “Man, it’s been years.” He stepped forward and embraced his childhood friend.
Chapter Ten
Monica found herself in the kitchen, busily preparing a simple meal for two hot guys—two hot guys who happened to have grown up together and hadn’t seen each other in years. Aunt Gwen had to be doing somersaults somewhere in heaven at the sight. The situation was the making of a romantic comedy, only Monica’s feelings for Alex were purely platonic, and she was old enough to know her attraction to Levi was just that: physical attraction.
Sorry, Aunt Gwen, no love story here.
The happily ever after part, she discovered, was having people to cook for. When she’d learned of her inheritance, Monica had considered selling. Her life had been in Florida, and her parents were there. She hadn’t known anything about managing a bed and breakfast, and the idea had frightened her, but that was before she’d seen the place. The chance to be head chef in her own kitchen and put her culinary skills to use, making delicious food—her own recipes—was why she’d invested every penny she had and most of the money in the account Aunt Gwen left for her. Remodeling and hotel management hadn’t been as easy as MyHeartChannel university led her to believe, but the difficulties didn’t detract from the moment; people gathered around her table.