Lightning Strikes

by Mary Lynn Baxter

  “So do you want to know what else I heard?” Jerry asked, biting into a Milky Way candy bar. “Or don’t you?”

  Amanda wanted to tell him it wasn’t nice to talk with his mouth full, but she didn’t. It appeared that everyone and everything was wearing on her nerves. She should tread more carefully.

  “Yes, yes, tell us,” Doris said. “We’re waiting with bated breath.”

  “Yeah, right,” Jerry responded in a sullen tone.

  Doris beckoned with her free hand; the other one was still in the bag of chips. “No, really, I’m listening. Spill your guts.”

  “Actually, it’s no big deal,” Jerry said. “Anyone know Paige Summers?”

  “I do,” Liz said, “though not personally. A friend of mine works with her. Don’t tell me something bad’s happened to her.”

  “I heard she got stuck in an elevator last night.”

  Doris shuddered. “Better her than me. Man, I’d have freaked out.”

  “Me, too,” Amanda said, turning and moving away from the window. “Was she alone?”

  Jerry took another bite of the candy and chomped on it. “Nope, or at least that’s what the announcer led me to believe.”

  Amanda watched him, thinking he looked a bit like a cow chewing its cud.

  “All I know,” Liz said on a sigh, “is that terrible things are happening to good people. What gets me is there doesn’t seem to be an end in sight, unless the rain does wash us away.”

  “Heaven forbid, don’t even think like that,” Doris said.

  “I wish that’s all we had to worry about,” Jerry muttered darkly. “My family’s stumbling around in the dark. They got caught without candles.”

  “I’m sure yours is not the only one who’s in the same dire straits.”

  Following Amanda’s words, the room fell silent. She stared at the clock and noticed that time seemed to be limping along. If only she could sneak home for a while, maybe she could get a better perspective on things, on what was happening inside her. Right now, her thoughts, her body, were obsessed with Noah.

  And to think, he might be married to someone else as Dora had suggested earlier. Her heart rebelled. Surely, if that were the case, he wouldn’t have initiated that fiasco in the closet, touched her like he had.

  When it came to Noah, what did she know? At one time, she would have sworn that she knew him better than he knew himself.

  She almost laughed out loud. Boy, had she been fooled. Like Jerry had said about Randi, Noah had also “cut out.” Where he’d gone and what he’d done remained top secret.

  Well, forget him.

  She wouldn’t be used again. Unfortunately, she already had been. If he hadn’t pulled back, she would have let him make love to her in that closet—on the floor, against the wall, anywhere. It wouldn’t have mattered.

  Thank God she’d come to her senses, because it mattered now.

  “Are you okay?” Doris asked.

  Everyone was looking at her. “Who, me?”

  “Yes, you,” Doris said in a droll tone. “You were making a sound like you were in pain.”

  “Don’t pay any attention to me,” Amanda said. “I’m just pooped.”

  “Aren’t we all,” Liz said, pinching the bridge of her nose. “By the way, where’s Bethany? She’s been rather scarce lately.”

  Doris raised her hand. “I know.”

  “So, spit it out,” Jerry said. “If there’s some secret to getting out of this hellhole, Lord, do I wanna know it.”

  “What would you do that’s so important?” Doris asked.

  Jerry threw her a wicked grin. “Find me a willing woman and do some serious fornicating.”

  “You’re sick, Jerry,” Doris said.

  This time Jerry glared at her. “Thanks, sweetie. I’ll say something nice about you sometime.”

  “If you two are going to behave like children,” Amanda remarked in a weary tone, “I’ll have to treat you as such.”

  “Sorry,” Doris said.

  But she wasn’t, Amanda knew, noticing the mischievous twinkle in Doris’s eye. She loved giving Jerry a hard time. And he gave it back, tit for tat.

  “So where is Bethany?” Liz asked.

  “With that preemie, the one the teenager had.” Doris wadded up the chip bag and tossed it in the garbage. “She’s smitten with that infant.”

  “Well, it’s time she came back to her bailiwick,” Amanda said. “When you return to the desk, Jerry, call Beth.”

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  “Speaking of calling, I can’t believe you guys haven’t been screamed for.” Doris stared up at the clock. “How long’s it been?”

  “Fifteen minutes on the dot,” Jerry said. “That’s a mother of a miracle.”

  “What’s a mother of a miracle?”

  They all swung around and stared as Noah walked through the door. Instantly, Amanda stiffened, then averted her gaze. But that quick motion hadn’t stopped her from first soaking up his image. He looked hard, so disgustingly male that every cell in her body responded, rendering her weak all over.

  “That we haven’t been called back to the salt mines,” Jerry said.

  “I’m surprised about that, too,” Noah said, walking to the coffeepot and helping himself to a large cupful.

  “How’re things in OR, Noah?” Liz asked, filling the short silence that ensued.

  It was as though everyone sensed the strain between her and Noah. If they only knew the half of it. But that wasn’t going to happen, Amanda reminded herself fiercely. The main reason being, she wasn’t going to let Noah take advantage of her again. If it was the last thing she did, she would stay out of his way.

  Her insurance was to tell Gordon she’d take him up on his offer to back her in private practice. She had begun making plans. That should keep her busy and out of trouble.

  Gordon’s proposal of marriage, however, was another matter.

  “Holding its own,” Noah said, his tone grim.

  Amanda forced herself back to the moment, though she had lost the gist of the ongoing conversation.

  “I’m sorry about the Collier girl,” Doris put in. “Kids nowadays think they’re going to live forever. That’s why they don’t think they need health insurance.”

  Ignoring Doris’s prattle, Amanda found herself unintentionally watching Noah, admitting that it was hard to keep her eyes off him. She saw immediately that the Collier girl’s death was still working on his psyche. He seemed coiled and ready to pounce, making him appear bigger, rougher and more dangerous.

  “Amanda?” Jerry whistled. “You on another planet, or what?”

  “Sorry,” she said, not having realized she’d been spoken to. “What did you say?”

  “We’re headed back.”

  “I’m coming with you.”

  “Amanda.”

  Noah’s voice stopped her. Reluctantly, she twisted around. “What?”

  “Could you hang around a minute?” His eyes gleamed with stubbornness. “I’d like to talk to you.”

  Dammit, he knew exactly what he was doing. He knew she would be less likely to turn him down in front of the others than if they had been alone. He was right. She didn’t want to give the gossip mill any more fodder.

  She nodded, but she wasn’t happy. Her blood felt icy in her veins, telling her that she couldn’t afford to be alone with him again.

  “I really should get back.”

  “It won’t take but a minute, I promise.”

  “All right.” Her tone was anything but gracious, which drew raised eyebrows from the staff.

  Then, as if realizing they were unwanted participants, they scurried out the door. Amanda knew she’d get grilled later by Doris. Too bad. She’d take the Fifth in a heartbeat. Not even her best friend must know that Noah had touched her, much less anything else.

  “Thanks for staying.”

  His voice was gruff, and his eyes were teeming with an emotion she couldn’t identify. Nonetheless, it forced her breath
out in an uneven spurt. “What do you want?”

  “I knew this wasn’t going to be easy.”

  Her eyes flashed. “Let’s cut to the chase, shall we?”

  “Why the hell are you so uptight?”

  “I’m not uptight.”

  “You sure could’ve fooled me. And stop making me the bad guy here. You wanted me as much as I wanted you.”

  Amanda’s face flamed with unexpected color.

  “Dammit, Amanda, I don’t want to fight with you. That’s not what this is all about.”

  She wished he wouldn’t look at her with such intense thoroughness, especially since she still couldn’t read what lurked behind those gorgeous eyes.

  “Just what is it about, then?” she asked in a dull tone.

  “Us.”

  “I told you, there is no us.”

  “I know better, and so do you.”

  “God, I have to hand it to you. You’ve got more nerve than the federal government.”

  He went on as if she hadn’t said a word. “I know you still care about me, and I damn sure care about you.”

  “I don’t want to hear any more.”

  “It’s not that easy. You can’t just ignore what’s going on between us.”

  “Oh, really?”

  He seemed to take her sarcasm in stride, even going so far as to slightly mock her. “Really.”

  “Give it up, Noah. So, I admit you still turn me on. But that’s all it is.”

  “You wish.”

  She wanted to slug him.

  As if he realized that, his tone became less tart and more conciliatory. “Look, I’m ready to set the record straight, to confess, if you will.”

  “I suggest you go to a priest, then,” she bit out. “He’s into hearing confessions, not me.” There was a ton of bitterness in the tone that she didn’t bother to hide. “Besides, as far as I’m concerned, there’s no record to set straight.”

  “You’re—”

  “No! Just who do you think you are, anyway? How dare you play with my emotions. Despite what you think, you can’t just stroll out of my life without provocation, then waltz back in and expect to take up where we left off.”

  “You want me, Amanda,” he said in a soft but terse voice. “And—”

  “That’s enough. I’ve got a new life, Noah, and it no longer includes you. My suggestion is that—”

  A knock chopped off her words. Though neither one said a word, the door opened and a young man, whom Amanda didn’t know, stuck his head through the crack. “Uh, sorry, Dr. Howell, but there’s someone to see you.”

  “Who is it, Larry?”

  “Your mother, sir. She’s waiting in your office, and not very patiently, I might add.”

  Amanda raised her eyebrows, smiled, then walked to the door. “Have fun,” she flung over her back.

  “We’re still going to have that talk. I promise you that.”

  “You mustn’t keep Mother waiting.”

  “Dammit!”

  Amanda took delight in slamming the door in his face.

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Noah barreled around the corner.

  “What the hell—”

  Somehow he barely avoided butting heads with Malcom Riley. Way to go, Howell, he told himself, feeling his blood pressure rise into the danger zone.

  “You ought to watch where the hell you’re going,” Malcom spat out, his face pale.

  “Sorry, I didn’t see you.”

  “You might not have seen me, but you’re sure not sorry.”

  “Hey, don’t you think it’s time you grew up and stopped acting like a kid whose toys were stolen?”

  A bright red replaced the paleness on Malcom’s face. “It really is a pity you came back, Howell.”

  “I won’t argue with you about that.”

  Malcom seemed completely taken aback by Noah’s admission. “Well, you can always leave.”

  “That I can.”

  “Only you won’t,” Malcom said, a sneer stretching his lips into a thin line.

  “That’s actually none of your business, Riley.”

  “The hell it’s not. With you out of the way, I’m a shoe-in for the chief of surgery position.”

  “Seems to me, this is the second verse of the same old boring song.”

  “Cute,” Riley said with another sneer.

  Suddenly tired of everyone taking a bite out of his hide, especially this egotistical jerk, Noah narrowed his eyes and lowered his voice. “You know, Riley, if I thought you could handle the job, I’d say it’s yours, go for it. But you can’t. Hell, most of the time, you couldn’t find your head even if you had a road map. So, may the best man win.”

  “Go ahead, Howell, keep talking like that and you’ll cut your own throat.”

  “Get out of my way, Riley.”

  “So you’ll know, I haven’t forgotten how you treated me earlier.”

  “If you don’t want a repeat performance, then you’d better do as I say.” Noah knew he was deliberately antagonizing him. Again. But the man got on his nerves. Even without Amanda yanking his chain, Riley still would’ve had the power to set him off.

  Besides, he meant what he said. Riley wasn’t qualified to be chief dogcatcher, much less chief surgeon. It wasn’t skill, but rather family money and influence that had gotten him where he was today.

  “Go to hell, Howell.”

  “No problem,” Noah quipped, following his reply with a cynical smile and a wave as he strode in the direction of his office.

  Riley. Now his mother. For sure, he’d ticked someone off who counted.

  Long after he rounded the corner, Noah could still feel Riley’s eyes shooting darts in his back. He paused and took a deep breath, figuring he just might be in for another battle royal, although he hoped not. He was anxious to see his mother, and doubly anxious for word about Randi. Hopefully, that was what Melissa’s visit was all about.

  He sucked additional air into his tired lungs before opening the door. Melissa, rather than sitting, was standing at the window, facing the gray outside.

  At the noise, she swung around, her lips pursed. Uh-oh, he thought, she was also gunning for him. Well, she’d just have to get in line.

  “Hello, Mother,” he said, crossing to her and kissing her cheek. Although she didn’t forestall his gesture, she didn’t appear overly excited about it, either.

  She didn’t appear as though she’d had to weather the storm, literally, to get to the hospital. But then, Melissa, even on her limited budget, always managed to dress as if she had a million dollars in the bank.

  “You know I don’t like to be kept waiting.” Her tone had a petulant ring to it that he tried hard to ignore.

  “And you know I have a job to do,” he said in a mild tone.

  “Only you weren’t doing your job.”

  “What does that mean?”

  “It means that you were talking to Amanda Jennings.”

  Noah felt his temper flare, first at Larry for sticking his nose where it didn’t belong and second at his mother for questioning him about it. “That’s true.”

  “Why?”

  “What do you mean, why?”

  “I thought the two of you were past history.”

  “Do you mind if we change the subject?”

  “I never did think she was the right person for you.”

  “Mother, for crying out loud, I’m grown. Don’t you think I’m capable of handling my private life?”

  “No, I don’t, especially not after—”

  “Okay, Mother, you’ve made your point.” His tone turned hard as steel. “Even so, I’m not going to let you dictate who I see and who I don’t.”

  “As long as it’s not Amanda, I don’t care.”

  Noah raised his eyes, deciding he might as well be talking to a brick wall. Melissa was as stubborn and opinionated as he was. If he didn’t call a halt now, this conversation had but one way to go and that was down the tubes.

  “You can sto
p fretting,” he said in a grim tone. “Amanda hates the sight of me.”

  “As far as I’m concerned, that’s to your advantage.”

  Noah again curbed his temper and his tongue. Melissa had never liked Amanda. But then, she had never liked anyone he’d been involved with. She was jealous, wanting him at her beck and call. Since his father’s death, Melissa’s tendency to cling and to dominate had worsened. But again, he had promised his dad he’d take care of her, even if she made fulfilling that promise hard as hell.

  “So, any news on Randi?”

  “I didn’t think you cared.”

  Noah counted to ten. “Of course I care.”

  “Well, you sure have a strange way of showing it. You haven’t so much as called.”

  “Oh, that’s where you’re wrong. I wasn’t able to get through. There was too much static on the line. And I’ve been calling Randi’s cell nonstop, but it goes straight to voicemail.”

  Tears dampened Melissa’s eyes. “I…haven’t heard a word.”

  “I have.”

  Melissa opened her mouth, then slammed it shut. “You…have? And you didn’t—”

  “Hold it! Before you have a conniption fit, hear me out. She called, but the static was so bad I couldn’t hear a word she said.”

  “Oh, my Lord,” Melissa said, sinking into the chair behind his desk, placing her hand over her chest.

  “Don’t you see, that’s actually good news. At least we know she’s not—dead.”

  “You should’ve let me know.”

  “I told you, I tried.”

  “You could’ve come to the lodge.”

  “You’re not thinking logically, Mother. Just to remind you, I’m on call here at the hospital. And since this damn blackout, I’ve been up to my armpits in blood.”

  “But we’re family.”

  “I know, and I love you both. But if you’ll recall, my sister’s the one who created this mess. She’s the one who took off without telling anyone.”

  “That’s so unlike her,” Melissa responded with a slight catch in her voice.

  “I don’t think she wanted to marry Hal.”

  “That’s not true,” Melissa snapped. “She loved…loves him.”

  “Okay, whatever you say. But if we don’t hear something again soon, Hal or I should call the police.”

  “I haven’t even seen him. All I can assume is that he’s looking for Randi.”