by Donna Hill
The idea reminded her of the first day that she stepped into the surgical theater to lead the team on an open-heart procedure. Giving out commands, making split-second decisions, recalling everything you’d learned and witnessed all came into play. The reality that you had the power of life and death in your hands eclipsed finery any day. The real power was in the hands of surgeons.
That’s why she and Franklin melded so well together. Beyond the physical and emotional attraction it was their passion, their often tunnel-vision drive when it came to their work and their patients, their desire to do whatever was necessary to do what was right, even at their own expense. Dina glanced up at a photograph of Freeman shaking hands with President Obama and the photo captured her thoughts completely.
“Dr. Hamilton.”
She blinked the space back into focus. “Yes.”
“Dr. Freeman will see you now.”
Dina stood. “Thank you.”
Just as she started toward the door it opened and Lindsay Gray stepped out with Freeman. He stood in the doorway.
“As I said, Richard, this is the best and only way. You’ll see.” She extended her hand, which he heartily shook with both of his.
Freeman glanced over and saw Dina. “Dr. Hamilton. Please come in.”
Lindsay approached. “Dr. Hamilton.” She put out her hand.
“Ms. Gray.” Dina shook her hand.
“How are you managing in your new role?”
“Fine. Thank you.”
“Exactly what I thought.” She smiled in a long line. She tipped her head to the side.
“What is that scent you’re wearing? I meant to ask you once before. I love it.” She smiled sweetly.
“It’s an oil actually.”
“Hmm, very nice. Well, have a good meeting. Enjoy your day, Doctor.”
“Thank you.”
Lindsay sashayed off with a wave to Freeman’s assistant.
Dina drew in a steady breath and walked toward the open door. Freeman stepped to the side to let her in.
“Dr. Hamilton, please have a seat.”
Dina stepped around the chair in front of his desk and sat. She linked her fingers together on her lap.
Freeman flattened his hands on the desktop, pinched his lips together, then looked solemnly at Dina.
“Have you come to a decision?”
“Actually, I have. As much as I’m honored by the offer, I couldn’t in good conscience take someone’s job by default.”
Freeman huffed. “We thought you would feel that way.” He pursed his lips. “Here is what we are willing to offer. Once the inquiry is concluded—and if Grant is cleared—he would be the one to sign off on the completion of your fellowship.” He rocked his head from side to side. “If things don’t work out in Grant’s favor, I would have to make the decision on your future here at Jameson.”
Dina leaned in to interject.
Freeman held up his hand. “Hear me out. I’m willing to offer you an attending position in thoracic surgery and full use of our facilities to continue your robotic research.”
Dina’s eyes moved slowly across his face, watched his thin pink lips weave his tale. Was this the kind of environment she could work in, let alone flourish in? Did she want to be part of an organization where people were pawns, despite their value, skills and talents? Where all that mattered was the bottom line? She lifted her chin, her gaze level with his. “Why?”
“What do you mean?”
“Why the offer? Why me? Is it really because you value me as a surgeon or because you want to cover up the underhanded offer that was made to me in the first place—with the intention of pushing Dr. Grant out?” She gripped the arms of the chair and pushed to her feet.
Freeman’s gaze followed her ascent. His cheeks flushed as if he’d been sitting in the sun too long. His jaw tightened. “I’d be very careful, Doctor. Your insinuations aren’t taken lightly.”
“I don’t want them to be.”
“I see.”
Freeman stood, as well. He came from around the desk to stand in front of her, expanded his chest in his attempt to intimidate with his height and body.
Dina fought not to roll her eyes.
“I want you to understand that the offer back in California can disappear,” he said in a monotone. “Chairman Phillip Holloway is very good friends with the chair at your former place of employment.”
Dina’s nostrils flared. She licked her bottom lip. She sputtered a derisive chuckle. “So that’s how it is? I stay here, build up the hospital with my research, or tell you to go to hell with your ‘offer’ and lose everything I’ve spent my career building because you will see to it that there’s nothing for me back home. Did I get that right, Doctor Freeman?”
He put on a benevolent smile. “As I said, Jameson Memorial would love to have you stay here, build your career, develop your research.” He gave a slight shrug. “But if you don’t want what we can offer you here... I totally understand.”
Dina felt her heart bang so hard and fast in her chest she thought she would pass out. She wanted to snatch that smug look off his face, but she really wasn’t up for being dragged out of the building by security. She needed a clearheaded minute to think.
“It was good talking with you, Dr. Freeman. Thank you for your time.” Without another word she turned and walked out.
She fumed, so angry that she could feel the heat wafting around her. “The freaking nerve!” she spat and stabbed the button for the elevator. Her eyes burned with hot tears of fury that she dared not shed. What was she going to do? If she stayed, she would have compromised all her values. If she left—she had nothing to go back to. Freeman and Holloway would make sure of that.
Chapter 39
“We’ll be back to see you later, Mom,” Montgomery said, then leaned over and kissed her cheek.
“Do what the doctor says.” Alonzo wagged a finger at his mother. “And I don’t mean this doc,” he added, lifting his chin in the direction of his brother.
Franklin’s eyes tightened at the corners. “I’ll see about getting you and Dad a face-to-face later today.” He smiled at his mother, ignored Alonzo’s comment.
She reached out her hand to Franklin. He came to the side of the bed. “She’s good for you,” she said only for him to hear. “And she cares about you, deeply. Don’t let that big ego of yours run her off.”
He started to respond but held his tongue. He leaned down and kissed her on the forehead. “I’ll see you later.” He walked out with his brothers.
“She’s right, you know,” Monty said.
“Right about what?”
“Dina,” Alonzo filled in.
Franklin grumbled under his breath.
“Yeah, I saw how you were at the elevator,” Monty said. “Ego.”
“Whatever,” he groused. “My first responsibility is to make sure that Mom gets the best care and the right decisions are made. Just because I’ve been sidelined on some BS doesn’t negate the fact that I’m a damned good doctor,” he snapped, burning them both with his gaze.
“Easy, man,” Alonzo said, placing a calming hand on Franklin’s shoulder. “We’re all on the same page.”
Franklin pushed out a breath. “I have a couple of stops to make, then I’m going over to check on Dad. Guess I’ll see you there.” He walked away.
“Hey, Frank—”
Alonzo clasped Monty’s arm. “Let him go. He’ll be okay. You know how Frank can get when his expertise is put into question. Can’t be easy for him to have to be sidelined.”
“Yeah,” Monty conceded. “True. Anyway, he’ll work it out. Always does. In the meantime, I’m starved. Let’s grab something, then head over to see Dad.”
* * *
Franklin sat behind the wheel of his car in the visitors’ parking lot. He studied the facad
e of the hospital—the name emblazoned in ten-foot letters above the shiny glass doors. He’d devoted the last fifteen years of his life to Jameson, to his patients. He’d racked up way more successes than failures and put Jameson on the map for innovative heart surgery techniques. None of that mattered. His future was in the hands of others. Something he couldn’t abide. Maybe it was finally time for a change. He looked at the email message on his phone. The opportunity presented itself and he was going to step out on faith and take it.
* * *
Dina made the last of her rounds for the day. It had taken all of her focus to stay on task and not dwell on the shakedown of a meeting with Freeman. The question now was what was she going to do? How could she make this right? Not to mention that the inquiry was fast approaching and there was no telling how that would turn out based on what she’d experienced so far.
She entered the last of her notes in the system, packed up and headed home. Some wine and a sudsy bath were definitely in order. What she really wanted, she realized as she pulled into her driveway, was Franklin.
She put her key in the door. They’d confessed their love for each other. They promised to be there for each other. She tossed down her bag, stepped out of her shoes and dragged herself inside, suddenly bone weary, and went straight for the wine.
She filled a glass, put her feet up and took a long, quenching swallow. Those declarations of love and commitment—were they up to the challenge that she and Franklin were faced with? Never before did she have to choose between her happiness and her career. For her, career was everything. It filled all the empty spaces left by the deaths of her parents. Falling in love with Franklin shifted that. But did it shift it enough? Was she actually willing to give up everything for love and commitment?
Saying yes to Freeman would secure her future. Period. But end her future with Franklin. She took another swallow of wine, closed her eyes and rested her head back against the cushion of the couch.
* * *
His parents were in great spirits after being able to finally see each other, albeit through technology. That lifted some of the weight and anxiety from his shoulders as he eased his car to a stop on the street. While he’d watched his parents’ joy at simply seeing each other’s faces, and that even in their own illness and injury they only thought of each other and how soon they could be reunited, they reinforced for him what it meant to truly love someone else, to live your life to bring joy to another.
So much of his life had been about being the older brother role model, the scholar, the scientist, the renowned doctor, that he hadn’t left time or space for much else. True, the relationship with Lindsay had shaken him, but more than that it gave him an excuse not to turn himself over to anyone else. He, for the most part, could control what happened in the operating room. He couldn’t control his emotions, his heart. Good sense told him to fight for his job, his reputation. But his heart wanted more. For the first time in his life, he wanted more than what his career could ever provide. He wanted Dina.
The first drops of rain splashed against the windshield, blurring the outline of Dina’s front door. A light came on in the second floor. Her bedroom. He could almost see her moving in that slow but deliberate way of hers, picking up and putting down. Was she going to take a bath or a shower? The image of her naked beneath the pulse of her shower bloomed in front of him. The rain intensified.
Franklin turned off the engine. After what happened between them earlier, he wouldn’t blame her if she didn’t want to see him. But he needed to see her, tell her what was on his heart and his plan.
Chapter 40
Dina paused, frowned in concentration. She turned off the water in the tub. Listened. It was the bell. She dried her hands and pushed up from the side of the tub. She didn’t have a clique of friends so it was probably for next door.
She went down the stairs. “Who?” she called out.
“It’s Franklin.”
Her heart lurched. She ran her hands through the riot of twisting curls on her head, then pulled open the door. Even standing there in the rain, water dripping off his shoulders, he’d brought the sunshine.
“Franklin...”
“I should have called.”
“No worries. Come in out of the rain.” She quickly glanced up and down the street. “When did it start raining,” she said as much to herself as to Franklin as she followed him inside.
“I don’t want to drip all over your floor.” He ran his hand across his hair and wiped his wet palm on his pants.
She laughed. “I’ll get you a towel. As a matter of fact, why don’t you come with me upstairs? I was running a bath. You can strip out of those wet things.”
Franklin’s full lips quirked into a grin. “Not a problem.”
* * *
Franklin tugged his T-shirt over his head. Dina stepped to him and unfastened his pants, then turned on the tub water full blast. He slid out of his pants and kicked them to the side. The room filled with scented steam. Dina shrugged out of her robe and let it fall to the floor.
A slow, desirous smile lifted Franklin’s mouth. “I could never get tired of looking at you.”
“That’s a good thing,” she said, her voice growing husky. Her eyes roved over his muscular frame. “And I definitely feel the same way about you.” She stepped into his arms, lifted her face to his.
Franklin covered her mouth with his lips.
Their unified sighs mixed with the steam and running water.
“I’m sorry,” he murmured against her lips, kneading them tenderly with his teeth. “About earlier.”
“Shh, I know. It’s okay.” She stroked his cheek.
He scooped her up in his arms, walked over to the tub and lowered her into the water before stepping out of his shorts and joining her.
The heat of the water and their need for each other consumed them. Dina positioned herself between his outstretched legs and leaned back against his hard chest. Her eyes drifted closed as he used the soap to cleanse as well as entice, sliding it across her breasts and down her fluttering stomach.
Dina moaned, caressed his thighs.
Franklin’s hand drifted down between her legs and stroked the slick space. Dina trembled, grabbed his hand and pressed it harder against her. “Right there,” she groaned.
He was happy to oblige. He kissed the back of her neck. “There’s not enough room in here for me to do what I want to do to you.”
Dina glanced over her shoulder. Her eyes darkened. “Then let’s fix that.” She levered out of the tub, snatched a towel from the rack and hooked her finger for him to follow.
Franklin chuckled, grabbed a towel and followed her into her bedroom.
Dina laid her towel on the bed and scooted on top of it. “Waiting on you,” she teased, her thighs spread with invitation.
Franklin crawled onto the bed, starting at her ankles, placing hot kisses along her scented skin, up the inside of her legs, her thighs until he reached the soft down. Her body flexed. She gripped the sheets in her fists when his tongue circled and his lips suckled her.
“Ohhh...” Her hips rose.
Franklin slid his hands beneath her and pulled her tight against his hungry mouth.
Dina writhed and whimpered as the thrills rose and set her body on fire. She dug her fingertips into his shoulders; her eyes squeezed shut as she was consumed with sensations she could never name. Her thoughts grew cloudy.
“Yesss, yesss,” she cried as the first wave slammed into her. “Oh God!”
Franklin had no desire to let her recover. He wanted her this way, open, willing, shivering with need for him. He entered her, hard, fast and deep, stopping her breath in her throat.
Her eyes flew open. Her lips parted to cry out, but no words formed.
Franklin moaned from deep in his center when her wet walls wrapped around him and tightened. He lifted her legs o
ver the bend of his arms until they were at his shoulders. Dina sucked in air, thrashing her head from side to side while he moved within her in long, deep thrusts, until they were both on the cusp of release.
“Look at me,” Franklin rasped.
Dina’s lids fluttered open, focused on his face.
“I love you, Dina.”
“I love you,” she said, her voice rough and shaky.
Franklin covered her mouth with his, dipped his tongue into her mouth and pushed them over the edge.
* * *
Still shaken, Dina curled tightly against him. Her heart was pounding. She felt giddy, deliriously happy. This was what she’d longed for, dreamed of. To have someone like Franklin love her was more than she’d ever imagined.
“There’s something I need to tell you,” she said into the darkness.
“Me, too. But you first.”
She drew in a breath and slowly explained to him what transpired in her meeting with Freeman and his veiled ultimatum.
Franklin spewed a string of expletives.
Dina gripped his hand that cupped her breast. “I decided that I’m not going to take his offer. I couldn’t.”
“He could ruin you!”
“The work I’ve done with robotics is too valuable. If I can’t stay at Jameson—and I don’t want to after this...”
“And Saint Vincent will be screwed anyway?”
She turned around so that she could face him. “Too far from you, anyway,” she said softly. “I’ll find another hospital—maybe Johns Hopkins. I can always do research. It’ll be okay. I’ll be fine.”