Feels like Rain (Lake Fisher 3)

“You know most of the hospitals in this area have a hiring freeze right now.” Which is why I have been a temporary, floating nurse for so long.

“It’s all going to be okay,” I say again, but I have a feeling deep inside that it’s not. “It’ll all work out. I don’t want to stay where I’m not wanted.”

“I want you,” she says, and her eyes fill up with tears.

I point my finger at her as mine fill up too. “If you make me cry, I’m going to kill you.”

She waves her hand in front of her face. “Sorry! Whew!” She breathes out. “That was close.” She continues to wave air into her face until she pulls herself together. “For what it’s worth, you’re a better nurse than she is.”

“That’s not hard to be,” I toss back snidely. Sandra is lazy and thinks she’s entitled. But she’s also well-liked by most of the nurses, who overlook her flaws because she ingratiates herself to them in other ways, like covering their shifts and bringing surprise lunches on hard days. “I thought we were friends.” I’d taken Sandra home with me for a backyard brunch, and after that initial bonding, we’d spent many evenings in large groups sitting around the backyard fire pit. “I guess we weren’t as close as I thought.”

The door to the lounge opens and I find two security guards standing there. Mrs. House sent security guards? “Hi, John,” I say. “Michael.” I recognize them both from the front desk and I know them by name. “Are you here for me?”

“I’m afraid so,” Michael says. He winks at me. “We’re going to give you the royal treatment and walk with you all the way to your car.”

“So much for letting the air out of her tires,” Camille murmurs with an exaggerated frown.

Michael cups a hand around his mouth and tells Camille as an aside, “You can do that later, when it’ll be more of a surprise. If you did it now, it would be expected. Catch her when she’s let her guard down.”

Even I wouldn’t strand a pregnant woman in the parking garage. Even if she did pretend to be my good friend while she fucked my husband. Even if I hated her guts.

Well, I might, but I’d be damn sure no one knew I did it. I shift the box higher under my arm and try to hold my hands out like I’m surrendering to the cops. “You ready to give me the royal treatment? I’m looking forward to that walk.”

Michael inclines his head toward the door, so I step around him and out into the hallway. They both follow me all the way down the hall.

“I’ll call you later!” Camille says from behind us. I give her a thumbs-up without even looking back.

The reception desk goes eerily quiet as I walk by. I look directly into Sandra’s eyes. She startles and takes a step back. “Congratulations on the baby,” I say. I smile at her, and I try to make it as nice as I can. “I know you’ve always wanted to be a mother.”

She nods and makes a tight swallow. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.” I turn to walk away. But at the last moment, I turn back. “One question for you, though,” I say. “Why him?” I stare at her, and she straightens her spine. I’m actually quite impressed by that.

“You know that your marriage has been failing for a long time.”

I nod at her. “So that’s the reason?”

“He was so unhappy. You had to have known that.” She gives me a pitying look, her eyes soft.

Oh, I knew it. “Well, I’m glad you solved that for him.” I tap the desk in front of her with the flat of my palm. “Best of luck to you.”

“Thank you,” she says quietly. Her gaze darts from one person around us to another, like she’s looking for backup. I turn to walk away.

But then I turn back.

“Fuck,” I hear Michael whisper on a sigh.

“When did it start?” I ask Sandra.

“You’ll have to talk to Charles about that,” she says, and then she bites her lips together. I stare at her long enough that she adds, “You guys haven’t even had sex in months!” One of the other nurses lets out a startled gasp but covers it with a cough.

I smile. “Is that what he told you?”

She squares her shoulders even more. “Yes.”

I lean close to her and whisper loudly, “We had sex yesterday. In the morning. And the night before. I remember because I was on top for the nighttime encounter.” I crook my finger and scratch my cheek, pretending to think. “And we did the lazy-dazy side booty kind of sex the next morning. You know, when you want it, but you don’t want to put a lot of work into it. That kind of sex.”

Her crestfallen face is worth the price my ego has paid today. “You’re lying,” she says.