Page 51 of The Ghost and the Graveyard (Knight Games 1)
"Then eight it is." The corner of his mouth lifted, and for just a moment, I sensed something. Call it premonition. I'd known this man. I would know him again. The feeling passed as quickly as it had come, and I realized I'd unconsciously leaned through the window and kissed him.
I removed my lips from his and smoothed my scrubs. "Sorry," I said. "I don't know what came over me."
"Never apologize, mi cielo. Not for that."
I nodded, but I wasn't at all sure I agreed. I had a nasty habit of losing control with Rick. Visions of calling in sick so that I could show him exactly what I'd dreamed about played out in my head. My heart picked up its pace. All of my girl parts petitioned for amnesty from my brain as I silently repeated: I need my job, I need my job.
As if he could hear my thoughts, he raised an eyebrow and smiled wickedly. He stepped back from my Jeep. "See you Friday, Grateful," he said.
I regained my composure and waved goodbye, then accelerated for work, hoping I'd make it on time.
Gary
St. John's is a modern hospital with windows that take up the entire wall and big, airy spaces that defy the claustrophobic feel of older buildings. But the fact that you could see the parking lot from the hallway to the ICU did not bode well for concealing my lateness, the result of my late night knife throwing session with Logan and subsequent hangover. Luckily, Michelle raced to meet me at the doublewide, automatic doors to my unit.
"I've been covering for you. You're ten minutes late." She grabbed my purse from me and tossed it into the break room where our lockers were without regard for the contents. "You have three-oh-three and three-oh-four, cardiac arrest and pneumonia. Vitals are normal. You've been at the blood bank for three-oh-three."
The last word was barely out of her mouth when my boss, Kathleen, rounded the corner and met my eyes.
"Where've you been, Grateful?" she asked. Her lips pulled into a stern line.
"At the blood bank for three-oh-three. I forgot the type and match and had to come back up."
"I must have missed you when you came in," she said. Her voice held a hint of skepticism.
"I got report from uh..." I cleared my throat. I had no idea who had my rooms before me.
"Megan. Wasn't it Megan I saw you with this morning?" Michelle filled in.
"Yes, Megan," I followed. "Had to get started right away. Sorry I missed you."
Kathleen nodded curtly and rushed off to her next victim.
"I owe you one, Michelle."
We walked side by side toward our rooms.
"You can pay me back after work today by coming with me to check out a patient on neuro. Maureen asked me to stop over."
"Sorry, hon. Can't today. I have plans."
"With who?"
I stopped myself. I didn't actually have plans. But I hoped to corner Logan and try to find out more about the scrapbook. Not only would Michelle not believe me if I told her the truth, but she might go all mental-health-nurse on me. If I didn't want to end up on Haldol, I figured Logan needed to stay my little secret. "With me."
"What?"
"Listen, I've been totally stressed lately. I just want to paint my toes and go to bed early, you know?"
"Totally. Totally get it. Tomorrow's Euchre night with Manny." She sighed. "You wanna go to Valentine's for drinks Friday?"
I adjusted a box of latex gloves on the counter, unable to look Michelle in the eye. "I have a date."
"Another date with your toes?"
"No, a real date."
"With who?"
