Page 91 of Angel In Armani

“Sara, it’s okay,” Liza said. “We can wait a few more days.”

“No,” Sara said, temper snapping. “Dad’s leg is important.”

“Sara—” Lucas started.

“I want you to fix his leg,” she said, feeling tears pricking in her eyes. Damn it. Her dad was important, not some lesser being to be shunted around just because some rich athlete had stubbed a big toe or something.

“I will fix his leg,” Lucas said. “Just not today.”

“Why not today?”

“Sara.” Lucas came across to her. “Why don’t we go talk about this outside?” He turned back to her dad. “One of the residents will be in to see you and work out the rescheduling. I’m sorry about this, Mr. Charles.”

Sean grunted and Lucas took Sara’s hand and led her out of the room. She shook him off, but he took it again and opened the door to an office a little way down the hallway, shutting it behind them.

“What’s going on? Dad needs that surgery.”

“There was an accident in Vero Beach,” Lucas said. His voice had gone flat. “Some of the guys were fooling around—they were goofing off. Tico climbed up on the roof above the announcer’s box. Sam climbed up after him, to get him to come down. But somehow Sam fell off. He’s fractured his shoulder. His right shoulder.”

Sam was right-handed. Fuck. But still Lucas was here, not there. And her dad was here, too.

“They have surgeons in Florida, don’t they?”

“I’m the team surgeon now,” Lucas said. “He’s being airlifted here.”

“So do my dad’s surgery now and then Sam’s when he gets here.”

“I can’t. I wouldn’t be finished in time. And I have to look at the scans the ER sent across, work out my plan of attack.”

“So Sam’s shoulder is more important than my dad’s leg?” Sara asked.

“His shoulder is his livelihood,” Lucas snapped. “He’s just starting out.”

“My dad’s leg is his livelihood,” she retorted. “He needs two good legs to fly. And he’s been waiting for nearly a year.”

“Which means he can wait a little longer.”

“No. What it means is potentially rich baseball star trumps boring old average helicopter pilot,” Sara snarled.

“Don’t be ridiculous,” Lucas said.

“I’m not being ridiculous. I’m right.”

“It wouldn’t matter who it was if their case was more urgent,” Lucas said. “I’m a surgeon, I have to prioritize.”

“And I’m not high on that list,” Sara said, realizing with a crack of her heart that it was true. For Lucas baseball and his medical practice trumped her. Trumped what they had.

He shook his head. “You’re being unreasonable.”

“Am I? Well, that’s too bad. I don’t think it’s unreasonable for the man who’s in my bed every night to want to put me first.”

“Sam’s injury is new,” Lucas snapped. “Every minute counts at this stage. Your dad is stable. A few days won’t make a difference to his outcome.”

“They make a difference to me,” Sara said.

“I’m sorry, then,” Lucas said. “But there’s nothing I can do about it. I promise I’ll operate on Sean as soon as I can.”

“I’ll find another doctor,” she said.

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