Page 14 of Silver Fox's Twin Surprise

"That's awful," I mumbled, and Pam picked up where Ginny left off.

"Yeah, and the first ones hired are the first to go. So, lucky me, since I’ve been here twenty-two years, I get to do all your work."Pam was projecting her anger about the hospital's policy onto me because I was the new girl, and I didn't like that at all. But some people were just rude like that.

I turned and walked away with my new knowledge, but it made my footsteps heavy.

After Cole's grumpiness, I felt even more weighted now. I knew I couldn’t control the future and that there was no point in worrying about things, but I needed this job. Hearing that things higher up the food chain were happening to put my job at risk made me feel uneasy as I filed the charts away and turned toward my first patient.

Her name was Bethany, a sixteen-year-old girl who came in with a broken femur after a soccer match. She was bright and full of life, and I loved stopping by to see her. I popped into her room and she was all smiles, sitting up in bed.

"Hey, Bethany, how are you feeling today?" She had only a few more days left and she could go home. Her days were spent lonely while her parents worked, but they came by for dinner in the evenings. We just had to get her fitted for a walker and able to move around a bit by herself and she'd be gone.

"Oh, hey, Rose. I'm doing so much better. When Ginny came in to help me use the toilet, I just used the wheelchair, but I'm really looking forward to being up on my feet again." I was amazed by how this girl in her teens took this all in stride. She lost her ability to play her favorite sport during her junior year and she was still positive. It was a real reminder to me that no matter what happened, I'd be fine.

"That's so good. I heard ortho is coming in this afternoon to bring you a few different types of walkers and crutches. Youfollow your rehab schedule and you'll be training for soccer again by fall. It's sad you'll miss the spring league, though." I turned to check her wristband and then checked that against the computer to make sure she was getting her proper pain meds. Everything was in order, but she was so positive all the time, I just liked being in her room.

"Oh, that’s nothing. I'll be fine for senior year. The scouts will be out to watch, I’m sure." She smiled broadly and said, "Hey, do you mind getting me some more of that Jell-O? I'm feeling hungry today."

"Absolutely," I told her, grinning. "I'll be right back." I stepped into the hallway and walked around the corner to the nurses’ station. We kept cups of Jell-O in the fridge for patients, so I walked in to get one and while I was in there, I heard someone whistle under their breath. I poked my head out, cup of Jell-O in hand, and saw Cole walking past.

"Lordy, lordy… Dr. Silver Fox is on it today. Look at that brooding expression. He's like a real fox stalking prey." Pam waggled her eyebrows, and Ginny chuckled.

"He could come stalk me any day." Ginny snickered and fanned herself. Jealousy pinched my chest, and I scowled a little. They had every right to look at him or talk the way they wanted, but it sort of left me feeling miffed, considering I was seeing him but we couldn’t—or shouldn't—say anything.

I stood just inside the kitchenette doorway and listened to them talking, hating that I was eavesdropping but unable to walk away. I had no claim staked on Dr. Hastings. He was a free man, but for some reason, I felt possessive, like I was upset they were even looking at him.

"I heard Hicks and Davidson both got fired for shacking up, Gin. I wouldn’t be getting any fancy imaginations about the sexy silver fox." Pam's words of caution aimed at Ginny hit me square in the chest. I'd never met the two employees she was speaking of, but it didn’t get past me that they were "shacking up" and got fired for it.

Cole said we'd be fine because we worked in different departments, but I'd had my hesitation. Policy was policy, and if the hospital HR team wanted to get nitpicky, they could.

"I was just fantasizing, Pam." Ginny's tone was playfully chastising, but I heard the tinge of disappointment in her tone.

I wondered how many nurses had fantasized about Cole and how many had told him. How many times a day did he have to fend off would-be paramours to keep himself out of trouble? I didn't like that feeling at all.

"I'm just reminding you to walk the line. With the hospital under scrutiny, now isn't the time to go allGirls Gone Wild. If you know what I mean."

I scowled and swallowed the lump in my throat as I left the kitchenette and ignored the looks Ginny and Pam gave me. I felt like I was on an emotional yo-yo from one moment to the next, and I wanted to stop and get off.

I walked with the Jell-O back to Bethany's room, but I was the one brooding now. Pam had a really good point. Not only was I one of the last nurses to be hired recently, but I was also walking on thin ice. If the hospital did start laying off nurses, I couldn’t really afford to be the first out the door. Bethany was encouraging with her spirit, but she was sixteen. She didn't havebills to pay. I was risking my career by sneaking around with a coworker.

I started thinking, maybe this wasn't a good idea. Maybe if the hospital was on the verge of major cuts, I shouldn't be putting a large red target on my back. But the idea of letting Cole down when he was going through something, and especially if what Kiki said was true about his not opening up to anyone or dating… I felt stuck.

And that wasn't a good feeling to have.

13

COLE

Istood over my stove adding salt and spices to the food in the skillet. Rose leaned against my kitchen counter looking a bit apprehensive. I'd opted for a meal at home instead of a restaurant this time to avoid anyone from work spotting us. While I wasn't exactly nervous about that particular thing, I knew she was a bit hesitant. And with the heat on my position at work, it was a good idea to take a play from her book and be cautious, at the very least.

"So you seem in a better mood tonight," she said, and I sighed, pushing some of my negative thoughts away. I'd managed to destress a little since the other day when I asked her to have dinner with me.

"Yeah, it's been a tough week, but it's over and you're here now." I smiled at her warmly and turned back to my work. The stir fry smelled delicious and I couldn't wait to dig in, but I was enjoying the discussion with Rose while I cooked.

"I'm sure it's personal, but I'm here if you want to talk." She shrugged one shoulder, and I glanced up at her. It was kind of her to offer, but I still wondered what she'd say if she knew Iwas the doctor who messed up and put the entire nursing staff at risk. There were rumors that the administration would start making cuts if the lawsuit went through.

"I'm really okay, but thank you for offering." My hand shook a little as I stirred the dish with the wooden spoon, and some grease splashed up and landed on my arm. I dropped the spoon on the stove and yelped in pain, rushing right to the sink.

Cold water soothed the small burn immediately but did nothing to cool the shame burning in my chest. I plunged my hand under the icy flow and bit down on the inside of my cheek to stifle the grumble of anger I felt rising up.

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