Page 57 of The Candle Palace (Jamison Valley 6)
The truth was, I’d wanted to tell Milo about the kiss all week. I’d been so close, but I wasn’t sure how he’d react over the phone. I pictured the burn unit torn to shreds, papers flying, linens strewn as he hunted for Dr. Vernon.
Yet here he was, surprising me again. He was calm and gentle with me in his arms. Though his jaw was still clenched in fury.
“You have to report him,” he said.
“I can’t.”
“What?” He let me go, his eyebrows furrowed. “Why not? That bastard can’t get away with this. He assaulted you.”
“Milo, he’s a doctor with an impeccable record. The burn unit is more successful than they’d ever dreamed and it’s because of him. I’m just the nurse having an inappropriate relationship with a patient. It’s not a stretch to assume that if I’d lust after a patient, I’d do the same for a doctor.”
“That’s bullshit.”
That’s real life.
I hung my head. “I’m trying to let it go and pretend it didn’t happen. I’ll be okay.”
“You will.” He kissed my hair. “You’re the strongest woman I know.”
I melted into his side, no lon
ger caring what I was wearing or what my hair looked like, simply happy he was here. “I felt guilty. Like . . . I cheated on you.”
“You didn’t cheat on me, and you have nothing to feel guilty about.”
I nodded.
“Sara, look at me.”
I leaned away to meet his gaze.
“This is not your fault. This is on him.”
“I know, you’re right. I’ve been telling myself that all week.” But it was easier to believe Milo’s firm tone than the shaky voice in my head. “I wish I had pushed him away.”
Milo took a hand from my lap and brought it to his lips, kissing my knuckles. “You didn’t do anything wrong.”
“Thank you. I needed to hear that.”
“Will you report him?”
My stomach rolled. “I don’t want to.”
Milo’s eyes met mine. “It’s your choice and I’ll support you no matter what.”
But . . .
His unspoken word hung in the air.
My silence could have consequences. We both knew that. If Dr. Vernon got away with this now, what would happen to the next nurse? Or the one after that? I didn’t know Milo’s friend Maisy, but her ex had been a doctor too. Arrogant, like Vernon, from how Milo had described him. If Vernon didn’t get punished for kissing me, would his next victim suffer a worse fate?
“I have to report him. If I have a black mark on my record, he deserves one on his.”
Milo was off the couch in a flash, hauling me up with him. “Get dressed.”
“Right now?”
“Yes. Right now.”
