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We didn't go out again for the rest of the night, so the next morning I drove to the hospital before going home. I knew that Alex had worked the night shift because she'd told me that she'd volunteered to help out in exchange for additional internship hours.
"Be a good girl for ten minutes," I said to Tesla, who tipped her head and woofed softly as I grabbed the flowers from the backseat. "I'll be right back."
The ER was quiet, but I didn't see Alex anywhere. The charge nurse looked up when I walked in and smiled.
"You looking for a patient?" she asked.
"No, actually, I'm looking for Alex Pierce," I said. "She's a nursing student, an intern?"
"Oh, I know Alex." She smiled as she picked up the phone and called for Alex over the intercom. "Hold on, she's around her somewhere."
I nodded as I stepped out of the way and waited. A few moments later, Alex came striding down the hall carrying a laundry basket full of towels and linen. Her long blond hair was pulled back in a high ponytail and she looked much younger than her twenty-four years. She was singing something under her breath as she did a little dance step with the laundry, but when she saw me standing there, she stopped and blushed bright red.
"Don't stop." I smiled as I walked toward her holding out the box. "Just switch with me."
"Cam, what are you doing here?" she asked as her eyes moved from my face to the gold box I held out.
"I wanted to bring these to you last night, but just my luck we didn't have any calls," I said as she set the basket down and took the box. I grabbed the basket and followed her to the nurses’ station where she set the box down and opened it.
"Oh, Cam!" she gasped as she saw the roses. "These are beautiful!"
"I'm glad you like them." I smiled. "I was wondering if you'd have time to grab some breakfast with me or maybe dinner tonight is better?"
"I'd love to have dinner with you," she said as she ran her fingers over the soft petals, and I felt myself responding knowing all too well how her fingers felt on my skin.
”I'll pick you up at seven. Dress up, we're going somewhere fancy!" I said.
"Cam! You don't have to do that to impress me, you know," she said. "I like you just fine."
"I know, but I want to take you somewhere special tonight," I said as she tucked the tissue back into the box and put the lid on. Then quickly changing the subject before I got too carried away, I asked, "Do you need a ride home this morning?"
"No, I'm good, thanks," she said as a small frown flickered across her lips. "I've got to stay a while longer and wait for Liz."
"Everything okay?" I asked as I marveled at how fresh she looked despite the fact that she'd been on duty all night. I rubbed my chin realizing the scruff had popped up and knew I'd have to shave before our date.
Just then, three young women all dressed in matching blue scrubs walked into the ER.
"Well, if it isn't Cam Connor!" the tall brunette said. "It's so good to see you, Cam."
Alex looked back and forth between me and the brunette with a surprised look. I shrugged as I tried to figure out how this woman knew me.
"I
t's Violet," she said, lightly laughing. "Violet Metzler? You know my father, Richard."
"Oh, yes, of course," I said, suddenly feeling a wave of dread wash over me. If Violet outed me as the owner of CSC before I'd told Alex about it, there would be a lot of explaining to do. "It's good to see you, Violet."
I held out my hand and the woman took it, but instead of shaking it, she pulled herself in close and whispered, "Oh, come on, you can do better than that, certainly," as she hugged me.
I saw the dark look cross Alex's face as I was pulled into Violet's forced but polite hug. I looked back at Alex and shook my head trying to covey the fact that I had no idea who this woman was.
"Have we actually ever met?" I asked as Violet stepped back and looked up at me. She was a pretty girl, but there was something about her that felt slightly off.
"Oh, you silly guy!" She laughed a little too loudly as she swatted my shoulder. "You know my daddy, Richard Metzler! You should know me, too!"
"Ah, I see," I said without commenting further. I knew that to address this issue here and now would bring up a lot of questions that I wasn't ready to answer. "Good to see you, then."