Second First Kiss
Page 49
Chapter 16
Sage
“Iset up the tests for Mr. Barlow." Sage had nearly crashed into Jasher in the hallway on her way back from the nurse’s station. She needed to clock out of her shift, as her twelve hours in the ER were up. They’d flown by today. But here was Dr. Hotchkiss barreling down it like a semi-truck with a load of bricks. “Are you all right, doctor?”
“Yes.” He looked at her with a face full of conflict and anguish. “No.”
“What’s wrong?” Had someone died? “It’s not Powell Barlow, is it?”
“I have no idea what’s wrong with him.” It looked like that bothered Jasher to the moon and back.
“Once the tests come back, we’ll know more.”
“But will that be soon enough?”
“We could have him flown out. Lots of patients get life-flighted.” Except that as a farmer, Mr. Barlow likely didn’t have health insurance. A helicopter flight cost in the five-figure range. “If possible, it would be better to keep him here for diagnosis.”
“I’m going to solve it. As soon as the tests come in.”
“Does that mean you’ll be working tomorrow?”
“As long as it takes.”
Sage held her clipboard to her chest. This was a new Jasher Hotchkiss. Not that he hadn’t cared about his patients before, but this time it was different. For some reason this time it was personal.
And it was attractive as all get-out.
“I’m not scheduled, but if you’d like someone familiar with the patient’s case, I could come in. Just to bounce ideas off.”
“Sage.”
“What? What is it?”
“This.” Jasher took Sage by the arm, and tugged hard, pulling her down the hallway. She had to double-step in her work shoes to keep up with him, and the grip on the bottom nearly tripped her.
“Where are we going?”
“I can’t anymore. Not another day.”
They rounded the corner into the main hallway, which glowed golden with early summer evening sunlight. A beam shone directly on the plaque above the door: Linens.
But they hadn’t been on their third date yet!