by RJ Nolan
Jess’s heart overflowed with love for this incredible woman, who had given her a life and a future she had never dared dream possible. “With all my heart.” She gazed deeply into Kim’s loving blue eyes, willing her to believe it.
Kim’s smile could have lit a city. “I love you.”
“I love you too.” Jess grinned. “And think of how much fun it’ll be to torture Sam by telling her I got you pregnant in her bed. Or better yet, that Frank donated in the guest bedroom.”
Kim gasped. “You wouldn’t.”
Squeezing her tightly, Jess said, “You know I wouldn’t. But you have to admit it’s fun to imagine the outrage on her face.”
Their laughter rang through the kitchen.
Chapter 11
Visiting hours long over, the surgical progressive care unit had settled into the subdued rhythm of the night shift. Nurses were going about their duties with quiet efficiency.
The ridged soles of Riley’s shoes squeaked on the freshly waxed floor as she walked toward the nurses’ station. She nodded a greeting to the maintenance woman.
A lone nurse staffed the desk.
Riley leaned against the counter and stretched her aching back. Her call to the ER had resulted in a two-hour surgery.
“Good evening, Susan.”
“Hey, Dr. Connolly. Long night?”
“The usual. Has Mr. Robinson arrived yet?”
“Sure did. We got him all settled. He’s in four-oh-two. Anything else I can do for you?” Susan smiled brightly and winked. “Anything at all.”
Susan loved to make Riley blush and she didn’t disappoint her.
Riley scowled, but there was no real heat to it. Although she liked the spunky nurse, she never responded to her flirting. “Could I get one of the tablets, please?” she asked, willing her blush to fade. It was one of the banes of having a fair complexion—even a slight blush was impossible to hide.
Susan laughed as she handed over the tablet. “You’re too easy, Doc.”
Shaking her head, Riley accepted the tablet. She had only taken a few steps away from the counter when Susan called out to her.
“Wait. I almost forgot.”
Riley turned around.
“I know she’s not your patient, but Officer McKenna asked to see you.”
She does want to talk to me. Regardless of Denny’s take on the matter, Riley hadn’t really believed that Samantha would want anything to do with her. Her sister probably hadn’t wasted any time informing her of Riley’s prior involvement with Keith. Then again, maybe she wants to tell you off for getting her shot. Even as the thought crossed her mind, Riley realized she didn’t actually believe it. The mental image of Samantha deliberately stepping into the line of fire came far too easily to mind.
“Dr. Connolly?”
Her eyes blinked open. She hadn’t even been aware of closing them. Get it together.
Susan was staring at her.
“Okay.” Riley nodded as if nothing had happened. “Thanks for letting me know.” She turned and, making sure to keep her pace measured, went down the hallway to check in on Mr. Robinson.
* * *
After checking on her patient, Riley went back toward the nurses’ station, thoughts of Samantha dominating her mind. It was late, so she was probably sleeping. Maybe it would be better to wait until the next day. Riley stopped and looked around in confusion. While she had been busy trying to convince herself she shouldn’t see Samantha, her wayward feet had delivered her right to her door.
The door was propped open.
Unable to resist, Riley stepped into the doorway and peered inside. The room’s overhead lights were off. Faint light from outside the window bathed the room in mottled shadows. The only other illumination came from the light strip above the bed. Samantha’s head was turned toward the window, so all Riley could see was the back of her head.
Leave her be. She needs her rest. It’s late. Letting out a soft sigh, Riley turned to go.
“I’m awake.”
Riley jumped and turned back but hesitated to enter the room. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to disturb you.”
“You didn’t.” Samantha used the bedside control to raise the head of the bed into an upright position. She winced when she tried to pull her pillow into a more comfortable spot.
Riley was beside the bed before she was even cognizant of making the decision to enter the room. “Here. Let me.”
Samantha tried to wave her help off.
Riley ignored her. She could see that she was hurting. She adjusted the pillow behind Samantha’s back. “Better?”
“Yes.” Samantha smiled. “Thank you.”
Even in the muted light, Riley was struck by the silvery-blue color of her eyes. The bruises and bare patch of scalp over her ear did little to diminish her striking good looks. When Riley realized she was staring, her cheeks went hot. She brushed a hand over her face, willing the blush to fade.
“I appreciate you granting my request to see you,” Samantha said. “I know we haven’t been formally introduced.” She held out her hand. “Sam McKenna.”
Sam, not Samantha. Being given the privilege of using Samantha’s nickname lessened some of Riley’s unease. Her hand was engulfed in Sam’s much larger one. She caught herself before she used her title, reminding herself that she wasn’t Sam’s doctor. “Riley Connolly.”
Sam fidgeted with her blanket. “Thanks again for seeing me. I…umm… I just needed to see for myself that you’re really okay. You are okay?”
“I’m fine. I didn’t get hurt.” Unlike you. Now that she was face to face with Sam, Riley struggled with what to say. I’m sorry didn’t even begin to cover it.
An awkward silence descended.
Riley’s eyes lit on Sam’s bedmate, and she smiled. The teddy bear was outfitted as a police officer, complete with uniform, hat, and utility belt. “Who’s your friend?”
“This is Izzy.” Smiling, Sam pulled the teddy bear into her lap and stroked the silky-looking brown fur on its face. “A friend gave her to me to keep me company.”
Riley had noticed all the flowers, balloons, and cards scattered throughout the room, glad that Sam had so many people who cared for her. For her part, Denny and Carol had been very supportive. Unlike the single call from her uncle that had consisted of: You weren’t hurt. Good. Don’t talk to the press. This isn’t about you. It’s about Sam.
Guilt flooded Riley. Tell her what you came here to say, and then leave her alone. Her sister was right about one thing. You’ve already done more than enough to her. “It will never make up for what happened, but…” Tears prickled at the corners of her eyes. “I just… I wanted you to know how sorry I am that you got hurt.” She wrung her hands. “If it wasn’t for me, you wouldn’t be in that bed.”
“Hey. No.” Sam reached out and touched the sleeve of her lab coat. “It was Talbert’s doing, not yours. Drugs do terrible things to people.”
What! Shock rendered Riley momentarily speechless. Drugs? “I don’t understand. What do drugs have to do with this?”
“My captain brought me up to speed on the details of the case. Cocaine was found in Talbert’s system. And at his condo.”
My God. Drugs. How could I not have known that? Riley’s hip pressed against the mattress as she leaned in and rested her hand on Sam’s arm. “I swear to you. I didn’t know.”
“I believe you. Apparently no one suspected. Happens more often than people realize. On the outside, everything looks normal. It’s frequently someone in a high-pressure job. Starts out as an occasional thing, and before they know it, things spiral out of control.”
“Maybe if I’d done things differently.” Riley sighed. “Let him down easier or…something.” Like being more careful that he didn’t see a woman kissing me. Even though she knew Sam’s sister was gay, she didn’t feel comfortable sharing that tidbit of information.
Sam covered Riley’s hand where it rested on her arm. “You can’t think like that. If there is one thin
g I know for sure, it’s that you can’t be the sole source of other people’s happiness. Don’t do that to yourself.”
Riley stared at her, surprised by the passion in her voice. Maybe she’s right. She was reminded of the vow she’d made to herself. Remember Patrice. But it was hard to let go of the guilt. Sam had suffered because of her.
A yawn caught Riley by surprise.
As if it were contagious, Sam stifled a yawn.
“I’m sorry. I should go.” Riley realized she still had hold of Sam’s arm. She flushed and withdrew her hand. “It’s late. You need your rest.”
Sam caught her sleeve and took Riley’s hand in hers. “Please. Don’t go.”
Mesmerizing blue eyes held her captive, and she found herself nodding.
Silence reigned for several moments.
Riley looked down at their joined hands. A soothing warmth permeated her palm. She knew she should pull away but couldn’t bring herself to do it. There was something she wanted to ask Sam, yet she still hesitated. She would never admit this, not even to Denny, but if anyone could understand without judgment, it would be Sam. She gazed into Sam’s warm blue eyes, and the decision was easy. “Can I ask you something?”
“Sure,” Sam said.
“Do you have bad dreams?”
Sam looked away, then tugged Izzy closer with her free hand.
For a moment, Riley didn’t think she was going to answer.
“Sometimes,” Sam finally said. She ran her thumb over the back of Riley’s hand. “What about you?”
Riley swallowed heavily and nodded. “Yes. I—”
The buzzing of her phone interrupted.
“Sorry.” Riley glanced at the screen. She didn’t want to, but she had no choice. “I’ve got to go.”
Sam tightened her grip on Riley’s hand. “Will you come back tomorrow? We can talk about…things.”
After being on-call all night, the last thing Riley would want to do was hang around tomorrow. She started to tell Sam that, but one look at her hopeful expression made the words catch in her throat. “I’ll come by in the morning, after I get done with morning rounds.”
Sam smiled and released her hand. “Okay.”
With a quick wave, Riley made her exit. Feeling surprisingly lighthearted, she headed for the ER.
Chapter 12
Pain shot down Sam’s leg. Her hands tightened on the handles of her crutches. Sweat dampened the back of her T-shirt after just one lap down the hall. That’s pathetic.
A large hand tightened around her bicep, steadying her. “You don’t be pushing too hard now.”
“Too hard?” Sam stopped for a moment to catch her breath and looked over at her nurse. “I feel like an old lady with a walker.”
“That was yesterday. Today you’re only middle-aged. You’re coming up in the world.”
Sam growled.
Rasheed laughed, making the beads in his dreadlocks click. “Slow and steady, that’s the ticket.”
Footsteps sounded behind them.
“Sounds like good advice to me.”
Sam smiled at the sound of Riley’s voice. She turned and got her first good look at Riley in the light of day. Wow. She’s short. The night before, she had noticed that Riley was very petite, but now, standing next to her, Sam realized just how small she was. She had to be all of five-feet-nothing and couldn’t weight more than a hundred pounds—soaking wet. Coppery red hair fringed her heart-shaped face. Vibrant green eyes and a clear, creamy complexion with a healthy smattering of freckles completed the package.
“Good morning,” Riley said.
“Hi. I…” Sam gazed down into Riley’s eyes and lost her train of thought.
Rasheed cleared his throat. “Are we still walking here?”
A blush colored Riley’s face, making her freckles stand out.
She’s cute. Realizing she was staring and had an audience, Sam felt her own face heat. “I’m ready to go back to my room.”
Riley followed along as Sam made her slow, painful way back to her room.
Sam tried not to think about how weak she looked with Rasheed hovering close to her side.
He helped her settle back into bed and then left.
She beckoned to Riley, who had stopped outside the door. “Come on in.”
Riley approached the bed. “You’re up and about early this morning.”
“I’m hoping to convince Dr. Warren that I’m ready to get out of here. I figured getting up and walking was the best way to do that.”
A smile lit Riley’s face. “I’m glad you’re doing so well.” Her gazed darted away. “I…umm,” she shuffled her feet, “I’ve been following your progress.”
Why would she…? Oh. Of course she would. Riley’s demeanor and apology the night before now made perfect sense. Sam wished that she could convince her there was nothing to feel guilty about. She tugged on Riley’s sleeve until she looked up and their gazes met. “I meant what I said last night. You have no reason to feel guilty. I—”
“Hey, Sam. Ready to face the folks?” Jess asked as she stepped into the room.
Damn. Sam had totally forgotten about the video chat set for this morning. After their interrupted conversation last night, she wanted a chance to talk more in-depth with Riley about the experience they had shared. No help for it now.
Jess moved to stand on the opposite side of the bed.
Sam smiled. “Jess, I want you to meet—”
“We’ve met.” Jess’s eyes narrowed at Riley. “What are you doing here?”
Riley ducked her head and took a step away from the bed. “I’ll go,” she said in a subdued tone.
What? “No. Wait. You don’t have to leave.” Sam’s gaze darted back and forth between Riley and Jess, then settled on her sister. “I asked Riley to come. Now, what’s going on, Jess?” And why are you acting like a jerk? “What do you mean, you’ve already met her? When?”
Jess shot a glare Riley’s way. “After she did your surgery.”
Sam whipped her head around to stare at Riley. “You did my surgery?”
Riley straightened and met Sam’s gaze directly. “Yes. I did.”
Shaking her head, Sam tried to wrap her mind around the surprising revelation. After everything she’d been through, she saved me. She reached for Riley’s hand and captured it between both of hers. “Thank you. You saved my life.”
“It was the least she could do after she almost got you killed,” Jess muttered.
Sam glared at her. “What the hell’s the matter with you? It’s not like Riley had any control over what happened.”
Jess crossed her arms over her chest.
A glance at Riley’s guilt-stricken face made Sam’s anger flare white-hot. She rounded on her sister. “So I guess I should’ve just stood back and watched him rape her while I waited for backup to arrive—just in case he had a weapon. Is that what you would’ve wanted me to do?”
The air left Jess’s lungs in an audible huff as if someone had sucker-punched her. “No. I… Oh, God. I didn’t know.” She turned remorse-filled eyes on Riley. “I’m so sorry. All I’ve been able to think about was how badly Sam was hurt.” She raked her fingers through her hair. “Every time I looked at you, I was reminded that I almost lost my sister. I didn’t let myself think about what you’d been through.”
Anger drained from Sam. She realized she still had Riley’s hand clasped firmly between hers. “It wasn’t your fault. Okay?”
Riley nodded, tugged her hand free, and faced Jess. “I understand your anger. My fault or not, I’m connected to you almost losing someone you love. I’m sure you wish you’d never met me.” She held up a hand to keep Sam from interrupting. “Believe me when I tell you, I will never forget what your sister did for me. I think it would be best if we all moved on with our separate lives and put this behind us.” Tears glimmered in her eyes as she gently touched Sam’s cheek. “Thank you for saving me. I wish you all the best in the world. Good-bye.”
Sam could onl
y stare in shock as Riley Connolly walked out of her room and her life.
Chapter 13
Sunlight filtered through the plethora of plants and created dappled shadows on the flagstone beneath Sam’s feet. The sound of water gurgling over nearby rocks added to the tranquility of the setting. It was hard to believe there was a bustling hospital complex right outside these walls. She had stumbled across the hidden courtyard earlier in the week. Her gaze wandered over her surroundings. Orchids, in full bloom, filled the area where she was sitting. Stag horn ferns hung from the wall behind her. A giant bird of paradise provided the shade. The centerpiece of the space was a life-size bronze statue of a little girl, with a butterfly perched on the palm of her outstretched hand.
Sam leaned back against the bench and stretched out her legs. An hour of physical therapy had left her thigh throbbing like a bad tooth. She sighed and closed her eyes, allowing the earthy scents and sound of the water to wash away the pain.
The sound of a door clanking shut disturbed her reprieve. This was the first time anyone had come into the courtyard while she was there. She opened her eyes and straightened from her slumped position on the bench. Peering through the nearby foliage, she tried to spot the newcomer, but didn’t see anyone. I was sure I heard the door close. Oh well, time to head home anyway.
Sam grabbed her cane and used it to lever herself off the bench. Her leg always felt weakest right after her sessions. As she made her way toward the door, a bright spot of white off to her left caught her attention. There was someone here.
A woman in a white lab coat sat with her back to Sam on a bench beneath a towering banana plant.
A glimpse of the woman’s red hair stopped Sam in her tracks. It couldn’t be. She had thought often of Riley Connolly in the weeks since her discharge, wishing she had gotten a chance to talk to her again. On her way to and from her rehab appointments, she had found herself scanning the corridors in hopes of spotting Riley. Forget it. It’s not her. She probably doesn’t even come to this part of the hospital complex.
