Page 20 of Night Shift

Sam regarded me skeptically. “I…I don’t know about it being an overnight thing either. Plus, I’ve never really been one for hiking. I’m not sure it’s a good idea… I don’t think mixing my work life and my personal life is the best thing to do. And honestly, I’m not sure I’m ready for any conversations about what happened with my father.”

“If it’s the outdoor activities that are worrying you, I’ll make you a promise that if we encounter any bears, I’ll protect you. Or at least run slower than you.”

She gave me a genuine laugh. “You’d sacrifice yourself to the bears for me? How gallant.”

Leaning forward and resting my elbows on the table, I gave her a mock-serious look. “Of course. It’s the least I could do. And after our hike, I’ll cook us dinner. My culinary skills are almost as impressive as my surgical ones.”

Sam bit her lip. “You cooking? That I have to see.”

“Think of it as a friendly outing then. Besides, who wouldn’t want to spend a day away from this chaos?” I gestured at the hectic emergency department beyond the break room door. “And if you want me to take you home after dinner, I’ll be happy to do it. No big deal.”

“All right, fine. How bad can it be to go hiking and have a man make me a home-cooked meal?” she asked. “But if we run into any mountain lions, I’m shoving you at them.”

Was that a trace of flirtation in her voice?

“I’ll have you know I’m quite the negotiator with wildlife. They find me charming.”

Sam shook her head in amusement. “Okay, I’ll take you up on this little excursion. I must admit, you’ve piqued my curiosity in more ways than one. But remember, it’s not a date.”

“Absolutely, not a date,” I agreed. A surprising jolt of excitement ran through me. “I’ll pick you up Thursday afternoon at, let’s say, one.”

“Good, it’s a date—uh, I mean, not a date. You know what I mean.”

I chuckled, standing up as a couple of people entered the break room. “Not a date. Got it. Sounds like a plan, Sammich.”

“Wow,” she teased, raising an eyebrow. “Are you always this persistent, Dr. Thorin?”

“Only when it’s worth it.”

Just then, the intercom blared, calling for immediate assistance in the ED.

Sam stood up, slapping her professional demeanor back into place. “Looks like break time’s over. Duty calls.”

“Right.”

As she hurried out the door, I smiled, not believing that had actually worked out. I would finally be getting to spend some time with her.

For the first time in a long while, I was excited about doing something beyond the confines of the hospital. Sam had fascinated me in an unexpected way, and the prospect of being with her outside of work gave me an adrenaline charge.

I had been with lots of women before, but they had all been casual encounters—sex for gratification and nothing more. In all honesty, that was what I’d thought I wanted with Sam too.

I threw my coffee cup in the trash and made my way out of the break room. As I replayed our conversation in my head, I wondered why I was drawn to her so strongly. Perhaps it was my protective instincts, triggered by her vulnerability in the confrontation with her father. Whatever the reason, I couldn’t deny the pull I felt toward her, and it nagged at me.

“Dammit,” I muttered under my breath, running a hand through my hair. Was I really interested in this girl?

The next few shifts were going to be a struggle. I wanted nothing more than to get past them and take Sam on our not-a-date hike. I was hoping that spending time together outside of the hospital would shed some light on what was going on inside my head.

While I made my way down the hallway, I weighed the possible outcomes of our outing. If we didn’t feel a spark, then perhaps it would be for the best. I could move on, chalk up my infatuation to an odd fluke, and return to my solitary existence. But if we did have chemistry… I shuddered at the thought. Would I be able to keep things purely physical, as I had always done in the past?

For now, patients were waiting, and the familiar call of duty pulled me back into the fray of the ED. The hike, and whatever it might bring, would have to wait.

Chapter six

It was finally our day off together.

Sliding into the Mercedes, I had to admit that the prospect of what could happen this weekend was unnerving. I often applied the same philosophies of structure and routine I used at work to my relationships with women.

Observation. Assessment. Application. Outcome. And the efficacy of my practice was solely determined by one thing: a positive outcome.

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