The tour guide walked through the middle of the group and they all turned around to see where she was pointing. “This door leads to the electrophysiology lab. Our echocardiography lab is down at that end, through the double doors. That’s where we do our stress treadmills, echos, and stress echos. Dr. Mansfield, I believe you’ll be spending most of your time in there. Dobutamine stress testing is on the right, just before the treadmill area. And down there,” she said, pointing to the end where Kyle stood eavesdropping, “is the cath lab, which will be your home for the next year, Dr. Carson.”
Kyle watched Ascott’s gaze follow the woman’s hand and then settle on him. Instant recognition registered on Ascott’s face when he locked eyes with Kyle. A loathsome snark crossed his lips and his perfectly shaped teeth showed, not a friendly smile but more like the grin of a wolf who’d spotted his prey. Kyle returned the look with a glare of his own.
“That’s pretty much it for here in the department. We’ll go down to the OR and up to the cardiac care unit later, but for now, Nancy from HR has a stack of paperwork for each of you to fill out, everything from patient confidentiality covenants to your dental insurance info. This is my least favorite part of bringing new fellows on board, but it is what it is, right? She’ll be assigning your passwords too. I want you to play around on the electronic medical records and get familiar with the basics of how it works. Follow me, please.”
So there it was. Ascott had thrown down the gauntlet, or maybe slapped his face with the white glove, challenging him for the fair maiden’s hand. Kyle felt like he was outclassed in brains and looks and no doubt in riches, but he also felt like none of those were what P. J. was looking for in a man. It wasn’t time to surrender yet.
Kyle watched the group disappear through a door halfway down the hall. He decided not to go find P. J. after all, turning instead to continue toward the parking garage. He passed the staff elevators, and the doors on one of them opened just as he walked by. “Kyle! Hi. What are you doing here?”
His breath caught in his throat. It was P. J. in all her red-haired, emerald-eyed beauty. She wasn’t in scrubs this morning, but instead wore a navy suit that gave her a business sexy look. “Hey. No, I, uh, the accountants said they won’t need me today, so I’m headed back to the office.”
She walked coyly up to him. “There’s a shorter path from Admin to the parking garage,” she teased.
The air held the heat of dizzying currents that zinged between them as a grin stole over his lips. “I wasn’t interested in the shortest path. I was going to try and find your desk and say hi.” He liked the way their eyes caught and held.
“Mmm hmm. That’s what I was hoping you’d say.” She twirled the toe of her high heel shoe on the floor. “Are you just saying hi?”
“Well, no. I was actually hoping you’d go to a movie with me.”
“Are we still taking your mom out to dinner on Wednesday?”
“No. She’s going to the women’s group at our church that evening. I think she’d rather you and I spent some time together without her anyway. Does that sound okay?”
“Sure. I’m on call today through Wednesday.” Her eyes sparkled. “For some strange reason, they don’t like it when my phone rings in the theatre. How about Thursday?”
Kyle grinned. “Cool. I’ll pick you up at six and we can go get a sandwich first.”
“See you then.” She gave him a wink and then was off, her characteristic brisk gait making her skirt swish back and forth.
He walked on air toward the garage, but gradually came down to earth again. A movie? How lame! Ascott would probably have rented a yacht and taken her out on a moonlight cruise. Oh well. Maybe Kyle could save that for their third date.
Thursday couldn’t arrive fast enough. Asher and Dunforth’s hospital project ended. The accountants were back at the corporate office typing up their reports. Kyle disassembled the computer network in the hospital’s board room and returned everything to the office. It took all day, but by five he was done.
He got to P. J.’s door a few minutes before six. She was ready and waiting. “What movie are we going to see?” she asked.
“I’ve got a few in mind. Do you like scary, or romantic, or what?”
“I don’t like scary movies when I’m by myself, but let’s watch one today.”
“You’ve got it.” The film didn’t have much romance at all, but the heroine managed to extricate herself from the kidnapper’s lair, evade his henchmen on the jungle island, and ambush them one by one before she broke into his office, tied him up, and called the police from his own phone.
“That movie wasn’t really too scary. It was more of an adventure,” she said.
“You’re an adventure.” He checked his watch. “It’s a quarter after nine. Do you need to get home?”
“Not yet. Let’s head over to Avondale Park and see if the ducks are still awake.” She held up her bucket of popcorn. “They might be hungry.”
“I imagine ducks like popcorn.”
“Of course. I mean, who doesn’t?”
They drove to the park and after running out of popcorn, walked around the lake. There was no moon, and in the cool evening not too much humidity. In between the lights, the sky was dark, and they could see hundreds of stars.
“Beautiful, isn’t it?” he asked.
“Mm hmm. I love it.”
She slipped her hand through his elbow and lay her head against his arm. The sensation of her pressure on his deltoid spread in a tsunami of warmth across his chest and back and filled his whole being with excitement. The gentle night breeze blew some of her red curls against his nose. He smelled gardenias and made a mental note that she liked flower-scented perfume.
They walked the rest of the way around the lake and started across the lawn toward the car. “I’m on call tomorrow, but I’m free the next night.”
Kyle’s heart skipped a beat. “Really?”
“Really. Why don’t you come over for dinner?”
“Deal.” He held open her door and she climbed into the car.
When they got to her townhouse, he walked her up to the door as he’d done previously. She again stepped up on the porch and turned toward him.
“I guess this is it,” she said wistfully.
“Yes,” he uttered. She searched his face, her expression saying everything her voice wouldn’t. This was it! The critical juncture that would either make or break their budding relationship. Kyle’s heart began a mad sprint as he swallowed the tightness in his throat. Could he do this? His eyes caught and locked with P. J.’s as he got swept up in a sea of vivid green. She was so exquisitely beautiful, inside and out. So accomplished. So brilliant. And for some strange reason, she wanted him. He could see it in her eyes, could feel her longing as it kindled his. His trepidation was fast replaced by a dizzying current that throttled through him as he leaned closer.
Instinctively, his hand went to her face, his thumb stroking a gentle pattern over her soft, radiant skin. Her lips parted in acceptance as she tipped her head back, stepping closer to him. All of Kyle’s reservations vanished that instant as his arm encircled her waist and pulled her to him with a quick, forceful movement. His mouth covered hers. Shivers of desire licked flames through his veins. He felt her body tremble as he deepened the kiss. Her lips were soft, yet insistently beckoning. His hand ran up her back and into her glorious curls as he lost himself in her.
When they finally came up for air, Kyle’s head was spinning. He didn’t dare let go of her for fear he might fall over backwards. She rested her head on his chest for a moment, then looked up at him. Her eyes were sparkling bits of polished jade as a playful grin curved her lips. “Not bad for a computer geek.”
Surprised laughter gurgled in his throat. “Oh, yeah. If you think that was good, then wait until you see this.” With deliberate lightness, he brushed his lips against her forehead. Next, was the tip of her nose. He moved to her mouth. He kissed a corner. Then the other side.
&nb
sp; “Is that the best you can do?” she taunted in a throaty voice that circled spirals of desire down his spine. Her hands moved over his chest before sliding around his neck. Desire took over, burning a hot trail through his veins as his mouth claimed hers once more.
10
Kyle sat at his desk gazing out the window. He watched drops of rain drizzle crooked paths down the glass. On the sixth floor, he was high enough that the low clouds obscured his view of the city. The fog was solid. Sure, he couldn’t see the sun. Sure, it was cold and wet. And yet, the sun beamed warm and bright inside his heart. A more spectacular day had never been.
He sighed deeply and glanced up at the glass, startling out of his stupor when he saw the tall reflection of his boss on the window. He snapped upright in his chair and spun around. “Steve! You scared me.”
Steve chuckled. “Got something on your mind, Kyle? Or maybe someone?”
Kyle felt his face go hot. “Come on, man. You know me better than that. Computers are my life.”
“Well, they do have their advantages. Computers are mostly predictable. They don’t fight you for the TV remote, and if you ignore one, it’ll still be there waiting for you in the morning.”
Kyle’s eyebrow slid up as he chuckled. “You mean women aren’t like that?”
Steve laughed more loudly. “If they are, then I married the wrong one.”
Kyle sat back in his seat, grinning. “Never let me hear you say that again, boss. We both know you married way above yourself.”
Steve’s hand went up in a gesture of surrender. “And I expect you to do the same. Now we just have to find you a flesh and blood woman instead of a bunch of wires and circuits.” A corner of his lip quivered. “You know I’d set you up with Consuela from business analytics anytime.”
“I’d forgotten about that offer. That’s okay, though. I’m kind of working on a relationship with someone right now.”
“I should’ve guessed from the way you were trying to memorize the cloud bank when I came in here just now. What’s her name?”
“Priscilla. I met her up at the hospital when Mom was getting her new heart.”
“Oh yeah? Did she have family in there too?”
“No. She works there.” Kyle didn’t feel the need to go into the bit about P. J. being his mom’s doctor. If he had, Steve was sure to make a wisecrack or two about it. “We’ve been out three times now. It’s just getting started, but I have to admit, she’s got me wrapped around her finger.” He thought of those kisses. Her soft, supple lips. P. J. was incredible, definitely way out of his league, but he wasn’t about to look a gift horse in the mouth.
Steve gestured toward Kyle’s phone on his desk. “Show me a picture.”
Kyle paused. “I, uh, I don’t have one.”
He pulled a face. “What? You’ve been out on three dates and don’t even have a picture for old Steve-O? What kind of a boyfriend are you?”
“I’m not a boyfriend yet. We’re still in the infatuation stage.”
“All the more reason to be snapping selfies. What does she look like?”
“She’s around five-feet-four, lots of curly red hair.“ He grinned. “Cute as a bug’s bum. Maybe a tad too skinny, but even with that, she’s just about perfect.”
“Sounds like a dream.” A wicked glint touched his eyes. “Sounds like she’s way above your station.”
Kyle grunted. You have no idea, his mind inserted.
“Okay killer, I expect a picture. Oh, by the way, I came in here to tell you that the forensic guys will be wrapping up their reports in the next few days. Our local network is all put back together, right? So what am I paying you to do right now?”
Kyle rubbed his neck. “Not much, I guess. I brought all the hardware back from the hospital. With that server back in place, you’ve got a whole duplicate system. Redundancy’s good in our business. You’re in good shape.”
“Why don’t you take off for the next three weeks? Get your mother home and settled back in. It’s what, three hours away? If anything comes up, I’ll call you.”
His eyebrows shot up. “Seriously? Three weeks?”
In several long strides, Steve crossed the room and sat down in one of the chairs facing Kyle’s desk. He crossed his ankle over his thigh in a side stance. “I told the hospital it would take us a month to get through their books. Thanks to you setting up the computer network so fast, we were done in a week. We showed them where they’d lost fourteen million dollars. They were able to recover twelve million of it. They wrote me a check for two million and kept ten for themselves, and they were glad to do it. Everybody came out winners. All for a week’s work that you made possible.” He held up a finger. “On top of that, their timing couldn’t have been worse. We have thirty accountants in our firm and taking six of them away at the height of tax season could have killed us. If our other clients missed their tax deadlines because we were understaffed, we’d have had lawsuits up the wazoo. By getting those forensics guys back here to do taxes for some of our major clients, we’ll make a boatload more money in the next few weeks. You really saved my butt, kiddo” He gave Kyle an appraising look. “So yeah, take three weeks of vacation. You’ve earned it. If you need four, that’s okay too.”
Kyle frowned. “I would’ve thought only the regular tax guys would be busy this time of year.”
“During tax season, there are no forensics guys. Everybody’s a tax accountant, no matter what they do the rest of the year.” Steve continued, “I’m going to be splitting up the two million with you and the accountants who worked the case.” His lips tipped up in a surly grin. “Don’t get your hopes up. I’m keeping most of it for myself. But you can expect a really nice Easter basket from me, one that comes in an envelope and ends in a few zeroes.”
A grin crossed Kyle’s face. “Well, all right. Next time you need some laptops spread around, please call me.”
“You’ve got it, bud.” With a wink, Steve stood and left the room.
Kyle turned toward his computer screen. Fortunately, Steve hadn’t noticed it. He had the med school’s Doctor Finder page pulled up, and Dr. Priscilla June Bandy’s face filled the screen. He gazed at her perfect smile, her brilliant green eyes, confidence and intelligence oozing out of her expression. Well, what do you know, Steve, I have a picture of her, after all. Steve was right about one thing. Kyle was definitely courting above his station in life.
To keep from getting distracted, P. J. had to force herself to concentrate on the patient in front of her. She could only see a four-by-eight-inch segment of the woman’s chest. The rest of her was hidden beneath sterile blue drapes. Dr. Stone stood next to P. J., scrubbed in and gowned, but was letting her run the show. Across the table, her assistant was a vascular surgery fellow. He was in the same year she was. They’d both be in the job market soon. Recruiters were already calling almost daily.
She leaned forward and pulled one end of a pale fleshy thick string from the incision. “This internal thoracic artery looks good. Let’s free it up a little more to reach the other end of her LAD.”
The vascular surgeon picked up his instruments. “Let me clip this intercostal and tie it off to get you a little more length. You should be able to reach it pretty easily after that.”
“Perfect,” P. J. answered. “Do that.” The vascular fellow quickly freed up another inch of the artery, and P. J. pulled out the catheter that was feeding blood into the heart’s left anterior descending artery past the point where it was obstructed. She secured the free end of the internal thoracic artery to the opening where the catheter had been. When that was done, P. J. looked up, first at the vascular surgery fellow and then at Dr. Stone. “Ready?”
The vascular fellow nodded. Stone answered for them both. “I’d say so.”
“Releasing the cross-clamps.” She opened the clamps that prevented blood flow through the woman’s internal thoracic artery. It immediately inflated and turned pink, and the coronary artery it was feeding, the LAD, swelled as blood f
illed it up. With its muscle finally nourished and oxygenated by the freely flowing blood, the patient’s throbbing heart seemed to beat more strongly. The surgeons and the nurses held their breaths as they watched several beats. No blood leaked from the anastomosis. P. J. grinned at the vascular fellow. “Would you like to close, or shall I?”
“You’re the thoracic surgeon. I just do arteries and veins.”
“Fair enough.” She began the complicated process of fastening together the halves of the sternum, the subcutaneous tissues, and the skin.
Half an hour later, P. J. was in the locker room stripping out of her scrubs and changing into fresh clothes for office hours in the afternoon. She was free to let her mind wander as she buttoned her blouse and fastened the fine gold chain behind her neck. She stepped to the mirror above the sinks to fluff up her curls.
“Bad case of surgeon’s cap hair, huh, doc?” a voice called out behind her. P. J. turned. There stood Florina, the nurse from the coronary care unit with whom she loved to banter and tease.
P. J. grimaced. “It was a long case. My hair’s been matted down for the last five hours, and it got all sweaty and gross.”
Florina stepped up next to her. “You think you’re gross? Look at these scrubs. We had to do a cut down on someone’s ankle to try and find a vein for an IV. The stupid medical student hit the artery instead and dowsed me in blood. I came down here to get a clean shirt.”
P. J. inspected Florina and scratched her own cheek. “You also got a little right there, no, more to the left, up, here, just look in the mirror.”
Florina stepped up beside P. J. and looked. Sure enough, there were half a dozen dry brown dots on her left cheek and temple. “Oh, geez!” She tore off the soiled scrub top and wet the uncontaminated back of it with soap and water, then used it as a washcloth to remove the blood spatter.
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