Frontline

by Alexandra Richland

  I bite my lip. “Um, no.”

  Trenton’s scowl returns. “Well, now you do. So leave the lock alone.”

  His eyes linger on mine and then sweep down my body. My skin ignites.

  “I’m changing it,” I say, somehow finding the courage to disobey him. “It’s the principle of the matter.”

  With a vicious growl, Trenton slams his palm down onto the bedside table. I jump back. “Goddamn it, Sara. If anything ever happened to you . . .”

  I feel my anger dissipate, though I’m still confused as to how I can mean so much to him in such a short amount of time. “If your concerns are sincere, you should’ve told me about them prior to taking action. You should’ve explained why you wanted to change my lock, and then involved me in your decision. That would’ve been the normal way to go about things.”

  Trenton shoves his hands in the pockets of his dress pants. His eyes soften, yet the tension in his posture remains. “All of my adult life I’ve had to think differently than everyone else to get to where I am today. I’ve never followed a normal pattern of thinking. My tactics may seem strange to you, but as long as you’re safe, I refuse to believe I followed the wrong methodology in getting your lock changed.”

  His explanation sounds too endearing to dispute, even if his logic is really fucked up.

  I take a moment to settle on my next words. “I appreciate the gesture, but—”

  Trenton focuses behind me and narrows his eyes.

  I hear the door slide open and turn around as Dr. Shore pulls back the curtain and enters the room.

  “Hello, Mr. Merrick! I’m not surprised you’ve come back to see me. My reputation precedes me and I can tell you’re a man of good taste.”

  “Miss Peters and I are not finished. I’ll summon you when you’re needed.” Trenton speaks the reply through gritted teeth.

  “Mr. Merrick, I’m much better suited to your financial and social stature than Miss Peters. Not to mention I’m a physician and she’s only a nurse.” Dr. Shore slides the door shut, pulls the curtain, and then approaches me, flashing a toothy grin. “I can take it from here, toots.” He places his hands low on my hips and eases me out of the way, his thumbs grazing my butt.

  In a flash, Trenton launches at Dr. Shore and pins him against the wall, gripping the lapels of his lab coat so tightly that his knuckles turn white.

  My hand flies to my mouth to stifle a scream.

  “Who the fuck do you think you are?” Trenton growls the words. “Your grandparents blew all the family money on bad investments and your father resorted to bribery to get you into medical school. You’re in no position to look down on others.”

  Dr. Shore’s eyes are wide; perspiration beads on his brow.

  “How do you know about . . .?” He stammers through the question.

  “If you ever touch Miss Peters again, in any capacity, I will withdraw my donation from the hospital and explain it’s all because of you.” Trenton leans in to his face. “And trust me, that’s only a fraction of what I’m capable of.”

  I gulp. Sean alluded to the same thing last night.

  Trenton releases his hold and points to the door. “Get out.”

  Dr. Shore scrambles to the exit as if he’s received a death row pardon. The door slams shut behind him and the curtain falls back into place.

  I lower my hand from my mouth. “You’re determined to get me fired, aren’t you?”

  “You won’t get fired,” Trenton says, glaring at the door.

  “Were you going to hurt him?” My voice sounds tiny, my earlier assertiveness long gone.

  “He needed to know what he did was unacceptable.”

  I hear no remorse in Trenton’s reply.

  “How did you know all that stuff about his family?” I rearrange my stethoscope around my neck and breathe evenly, trying to slow my heart rate back to normal.

  Trenton stalks toward me. “Has he touched you that way before?”

  Despite the hostility rolling off of him, I’m strangely unafraid. “What do you mean?”

  “Were you ever involved with him sexually?”

  I crinkle my nose. “Ew, no. He flirts with me all the time, but I just ignore him. Like I told you during your last visit, he’s harmless.”

  “If he touches you again, you tell me.”

  “Why, will you get Sean to shoot him?”

  Trenton’s nostrils flare with his deep intake of breath.

  I giggle. “Okay, okay, bad joke.”

  Trenton doesn’t echo my laughter. Instead, he rakes his hand through his hair and paces the room again. I struggle to recall what we were talking about before Dr. Shore’s intrusion. My goal is to calm Trenton down because his He-Man routine is a major turn-on when it really should scare me off. I deserve what’s coming to me if I keep this up.

  “Are the two keys Sean gave me for my new lock the only ones in existence?”

  Trenton stops mid-stride. “Yes.”

  “Mr. Merrick, if you’re lying to me . . .”

  “I do not have a key, Sara. Nor do any of my employees. You are the only one with legal access to that apartment.” Trenton checks his watch. “Now, tell me you’ll see me again.”

  “Ha! I don’t think so. You just attacked my co-worker. Quite frankly, it’s very disconcerting.”

  And sexy as hell.

  Trenton’s expression remains firm. “He put his hands on you. He deserved it.”

  “It was a bit excessive,” I say under my breath.

  “So if I wasn’t here, you would’ve let it go?”

  “No, I would’ve said something. The issue is that your outburst startled me, especially after all of that charming, sweet mumbo jumbo prior to Dr. Shore’s arrival. Once again, your actions don’t reflect your words.”

  “Let me make it up to you. Go out with me again.”

  I scoff. “No way.”

  “I won’t give up until you give me another chance.”

  I eye him suspiciously.

  Last time he asked me out, good reasoning told me no, yet with a new carpe diem approach to my new life here in New York, I said yes. On the drive home from Connecticut, I regretted it, but not because I didn’t have a good time. If the date had ended differently, with Trenton acting more respectfully, I would’ve agreed to see him again.

  Sean’s kind words about his boss lead me to my decision, but not just an easy yes again. This date will follow my own terms and conditions. I will be in control this time.

  Kelly is going to kill me for this.

  I place my hand on my hip because at this point I’ve run out of ideas for assertive gestures. “There will be no more whisking me off to your out-of-state manors. We will have a date on mutual territory, in a crowded place.”

  Trenton’s eyes light up, brightening his mood.

  “There will be no going back to your Manhattan apartment or having a quickie in your office afterhours, either. I need to feel safe, and going to your Connecticut castle yesterday wasn’t a safe move at all, not when I barely know you. I’m smarter than that and I need to start acting like it.”

  Although if I was as smart as I say, I would not be agreeing to a second date.

  Once again, my emotions trump reason.

  What is happening to me?

  “When?”

  “I’m free for breakfast tomorrow.”

  “I’ll pick you up here at eight o’clock.”

  I suppress a smile. “Make it eight thirty. I need to chart after my shift and give report.”

  Trenton nods. “Fine. I’ll make reservations at Le Bistro for nine. They serve French cuisine—best in the city.”

  “Actually, I already have a place in mind near the hospital.”

  “Sara, I can take you anywhere, you don’t have to settle for a place in the area.”

  “I’m not settling. I like this diner and I eat there often after my night shifts. Their breakfast specials are the best.”

  Now it’s Trenton’s turn to crinkle his
nose. “Breakfast specials?”

  “Yeah, you know—a sale, discount, more bang for your buck.” I bite my bottom lip to stop from giggling.

  “Sara—”

  “I’ll see you at eight thirty, Trenton.”

  He grins. “You called me by my first name.”

  I smile. “Yes, I did.”

  He leans in to kiss my cheek, but I step back.

  “Wait a minute. I’m agreeing to another date, but we’re going to keep our hands to ourselves. We can’t get to know each other properly if we keep giving in to our physical attraction.”

  I hear a beep. Trenton pulls out his phone and scans the screen. It reminds me of the end of his last visit to the hospital.

  He frowns. “I have to go, Sara.”

  I roll my eyes.

  Figures.

  “Don’t you want a doctor to look at you? People may get suspicious about your visit.”

  Trenton smirks. “Your healing powers are enough. I don’t need to see anyone else.”

  I inhale sharply as he moves closer.

  “I may have to leave abruptly, Sara, but this time I will give you a proper good-bye.”

  I stick my hand out for him to shake. He regards my offer curiously.

  “I meant it when I said we need to cool our physical contact. We need to start fresh—a proper courtship with boundaries that get removed gradually as we get to know each other better. That’s the only way I’ll agree to see you again.”

  Trenton looks amused as he shakes my hand. “Courtship?”

  I giggle. “Okay, so it’s a little old-school. The bottom line is I’d like to get back to basics.”

  Trenton cocks an eyebrow. “No touching at all?”

  “No inappropriate groping, how about that?”

  “So you want me to court you?” His blue eyes blaze.

  I blush.

  Trenton brushes his lips to my ear. “In that case, wait here.”

  He darts out of the room and returns a few moments later. My heart melts when I see what he holds: one of the long-stemmed roses from the bouquet at the nurses’ station.

  “This is my proper and honorable good-bye, Sara. And please accept my sincerest apologies for leaving so abruptly last night.” Trenton extends the rose to me.

  With just one look, he makes me feel as though I’m the center of his world.

  I accept the flower with a gracious smile.

  Trenton takes my other hand and bows his head to place a soft kiss on my knuckles—a gesture far sweeter and meaningful than anything we’ve shared thus far. He peers up at me with those bedroom eyes, his lips brushing my skin.

  “I look forward to courting you, Sara. Thank you for giving me another chance.”

  His eyes linger on mine for a few heart-stopping moments. Then he drops my hand, sweeps past me, and exits the room.

  I exhale a big gust of air as he slides the door shut and the curtain falls back into place. My heart feels empty and I’m left craving our next encounter. I just hope I didn’t make a mistake by trusting him again.

  With a sigh, I walk toward the middle of the room. I’ll wait here until I’m sure he’s left the hospital so I don’t embarrass myself.

  As the minutes tick on, I stand by the bed, holding my flower with both hands. The red petals catch the fluorescent lights and I smile. The end to my encounter with Trenton today was a vast departure from my Bachelor-style rejection last night.

  It looks like I did receive the final rose after all.

  Chapter Twelve

  After I’m certain the coast is clear, I dart over to my locker and hang my rose upside down in the back with a rubber band to dry it. Then I leave a message for Kelly, telling her I’m all right and that Trenton left the hospital. I leave out that I’m having breakfast with him in the morning; that news must be broken in person and in private, away from scalpels and needles, and preferably at a much later date . . . if ever.

  Back out on the floor, Valerie approaches me and asks how Trenton’s follow-up appointment went. She doesn’t bring up his attack on Dr. Shore, which I hope means she doesn’t know and never will. Perhaps Dr. Shore doesn’t want to bring it up because he hopes to keep his family’s financial status a secret and his social and professional reputation intact.

  I tell Valerie that Trenton left abruptly because an urgent business matter arose that required his immediate attention, but he assured me before his departure that his donation on Tuesday would be substantial. The story appeases her. She leaves me alone the rest of my shift.

  Dr. Shore avoids me the entire night. He even lowers his eyes when our paths cross, either plotting his revenge or wishing the matter forgotten altogether. The onslaught of people in the ER doesn’t afford me the opportunity to dwell on it. Even my break is cut short by an unexpected swarm of emergencies at two in the morning.

  Finally, seven thirty arrives. After charting and giving my report to the day nurse taking over my patients, I head into the employee lounge and change into my street clothes—jeans and a white blouse. I only have one pair of footwear with me, so running shoes it is. If I’d known earlier I’d be seeing Trenton, I would’ve dressed a bit nicer.

  Oh well. At least I’m not wearing Crocs.

  I shove my scrubs and stethoscope inside my locker and admire the rose before grabbing my purse and locking up. Usually, I’m tired after a night shift, especially when I don’t sleep well the day before, but this morning is an exception. I’m excited to introduce Trenton to vinyl seats and blue-plate specials. I figure there’s no point in putting on airs. He ushered me into his world, so it’s time he gets a glimpse into mine.

  After waving good-bye to my co-workers at the nurses’ station, I stop by the bathroom and give my hair a fluff under the hand dryer. On my way to the exit, I glance at my watch.

  Eight thirty. Perfect.

  Thankfully, Trenton and his Tin Men aren’t waiting for me in Triage. I should’ve asked him to meet me around the corner so no one from work spots me, but there’s nothing I can do about that now. It’s not the end of the world. Most of the night staff have left already anyway.

  I step outside and scan the street. Three luxury black cars sit parked illegally along the curb outside the hospital.

  Only three? How modest of him.

  Upon my arrival, the driver’s side doors of the vehicles open, and Trenton, Sean, and Christopher get out at the same time. Christopher and Sean exit the first and third car, respectively. Trenton emerges from the middle car, a Ferrari. Add in some slow motion, a gust of wind, and an emo rock tune, and it’s like a scene out of a show on the CW.

  My heart races at the sight of Trenton. He’s the epitome of masculine grace in his navy blue suit, white dress shirt, and light gray tie as he saunters around the front of the car with his typical uncapped erotic prowess.

  Christopher and Sean join him on the curb, standing tall and alert in light gray suits and dark sunglasses, their ever-present earpieces loaning them an extra allure of importance. Pedestrians crane their necks as they pass the handsome trio.

  Trenton charms me with his intense blue eyes. I realize I’ve never seen him in natural daylight before. His fair skin and the rich caramel highlights in his windswept brown locks gleam in the brilliance of this May Manhattan morning. I breathe in deeply. His spicy aroma is subtle, yet still overpowers the stench of the dirty, crowded street.

  The three cars of the mini convoy beep in unison as their alarms engage. Trenton steps toward me and kisses my cheek. I can’t help but smile.

  “Good morning, Sara. How was your shift?” He pulls back and inspects my breakfast attire thoroughly. My body hums; a lingering effect of his once-over.

  “It was good.”

  His expression flickers with possessive darkness. “And the doctor?”

  I shrug. “I barely saw him the rest of my shift.”

  Trenton nods.

  I look to Sean on his right. “Hey.”

  Sean grins. “Hey, Sara.”
/>   Trenton lifts his eyebrows. “Sara? What happened to Miss Peters?”

  I flash a sly smile and turn to Christopher on Trenton’s left.

  “Hello.” I greet him more formally, given I don’t know him as well as Sean.

  Christopher nods. “Ma’am.”

  His reply sounds stiff, as usual, and with his dark sunglasses on, I can’t even tell if he’s looking at me.

  Sean chuckles. “Ma’am?”

  Christopher grins. I’m surprised his facial muscles have the ability to form that expression. He removes his sunglasses, revealing a brilliant set of baby blues, though they aren’t as vibrant as Trenton’s. “Good morning, Sara.”

  “Good morning, Christopher.” I extend my hand to him. “It’s nice to officially meet you.”

  His grip is as firm as his gaze. “You, too.”

  “Will you both be eating with us? You’re more than welcome.”

  “Thank you, Sara, but we can’t.” Christopher puts his sunglasses back on. “We’re on the job.”

  I look at Trenton. “Come on, can’t you give them a break?”

  He regards me in amusement. “Do you really think I’d deny them the opportunity to eat when they please?”

  I smirk. “Given your track record, do you really want me to answer that?”

  Sean and Christopher bow their heads, trying to conceal their broad grins.

  “We ate before we left,” Sean says once he’s regained his composure. “Thank you, though.”

  “Okay, suit yourself.”

  “Where is this establishment located?” Trenton’s eyes dance warily down the one-way street.

  I point across the road. “Just one block from here.”

  Trenton follows my finger and nods.

  “All right, get in the car.” He turns to his sidekicks. “I’ll drive Sara. You two follow.”

  I scoff. “We’re not driving there, especially not in three separate cars. It’s, like, a one-minute walk.”

  “You’ve been on your feet for most of the past twelve hours,” Trenton says.

  I wave him off. “Don’t be ridiculous. I have excellent stamina.”

  Trenton’s stern expression is unyielding, but so is my tenacity.

  “Come on,” I say. “You told me you take walks all the time.”