The rest of the day was a mayhem as usual. On top of the usual workload, we had a stream of patients from the ER: two car accidents and one construction site mishap. I barely had any time to draw in a breath. Most days were like this, and I was used to them. The funny thing was, when it was just me and the patient, I didn’t feel any tiredness or sore feet or even hunger. Adrenaline kicked in, keeping me focused. The patient was all that mattered.
In the afternoon, they called me down to ER to tend to a young woman who’d been hit by a car. Luckily, it was far less serious than the previous two cases—the car drove off while the light was still red and hit her waist with the side mirror. She lost her balance, hitting the side of her head on the pavement. Her X-rays were clear, but she had an ugly wound at the side of her head that required sutures.
“We’re almost done, I promise.” I kept my voice steady and gentle, but it wasn’t until I paused, squeezing one of her hands reassuringly, that some of the tension in her body melted away.
“You’ll be just fine,” I whispered, squeezing her hand again before focusing on the sutures.
“There, you’re good as new,” I said once I was done, taking a step back.
I smiled, happy that the fear in her eyes had subsided considerably. Unfortunately, a new patient was rushed in the next second, so I couldn’t linger. The nurses were taking it over from there.
It was after I was done with my shift that every emotion I’d suppressed slammed into me.
In the short walk from the ER to the changing rooms, I stumbled twice, and a bout of nausea hit me. I leaned against the wall, fixing my eyes on the ceiling. Hmm... when was the last time I took a swig of water or had a snack? I couldn’t remember, which was a clear sign that it had been far too long. No wonder I was light-headed. Unhitching myself from the wall, I walked with measured steps. I couldn’t wait to get home and shower, get rid of the smell of disinfectant. It was one of the things I couldn’t get used to, even though it was part of my daily life. Some of my colleagues swore they couldn’t even smell it anymore, but unfortunately I did.
I left as soon as I changed, throwing my bag over my shoulder without even looking in the mirror.
Bed, here I come.
Once outside the building, I took a deep breath, basking in the cool evening air. The hospital’s back entrance was exclusively for personnel. Ambulances pulled in around the corner, but this patch was entirely ours. It was like a miniature park with a huge oak tree, a bench underneath it, both surrounded by grass and roses.
“Good evening, doc.”
Holy shit! Oh, no!
“Cole, I’m so sorry. I completely forgot we were meeting.”
He stood a few feet away from the entrance, under the massive oak tree, and completely took my breath away. He was wearing a dark blue suit and a white shirt. I pressed my palm to my belly, and this time I had no doubt. Those were definitely butterflies, and Cole Winchester had brought them on.
I’d only seen him in jeans and a shirt in Rome, and he’d been a damn fine sight then too. But something about him in a suit was extra mouthwatering. The outfit highlighted his lean but toned body. He walked over with large, determined strides. His eyes were trained on me. They were blazing hot. In an instant, my body went from exhausted to on edge. Every cell lit up. Holy shit, Cole was doing unspeakable things to my senses.
“You look exhausted, doc,” he said with a smile, stopping in front of me.
I narrowed my eyes, placing a hand on my hip. “These are supposed to be your famous charmer skills?”
“Nah, I’m waiting until we’re alone to put those to use.” He dropped his gaze down my body slowly, then back up even slower. I was on fire. How could he light me up just with one look? I caught myself biting my lip. Oh, wow. This man.
“I’m really terribly sorry for forgetting. It was an i
nsane day. What time is it?”
“Seven.”
I dropped my chin to my chest. “Awww, man.”
I’d been so excited this morning, and then the day had completely gotten away from me.
“Doesn’t matter, Laney. You’re here now.” He lifted my chin with two fingers. The contact singed me. His gaze was so damn intense. My heartbeat accelerated. His touch felt so familiar that it startled me. I was a little scared, but I wanted to spend time with him. I wasn’t even sure what I feared: getting close to someone, loving again, or losing? I remembered his swoon-worthy words on the phone, and I wanted to follow the impulse that had led me to agree to meet him tonight instead of hiding in my shell.
“What’s the plan?” I asked.
“I was going to suggest we head over to a restaurant. I remember you having quite an appetite.”
I laughed. God, I’d forgotten how it felt to be around him. He just had this inner light that made him addictive.
“I’m a bit too tired for a restaurant,” I said. I probably looked like something the cat dragged in. My hair was a mess for sure. I’d worn a plastic cap for a few hours in surgery.
“How about we just take something to go and head over to your place?”