Page 8 of The Beat of her Heart

One thing felt certain—Madeline had been right when she’d called Giselle intense. Giselle was different. There was a sense of distance, as if she didn’t have time to engage in pleasantries.

Dr. Mars cleared her throat. “We’re going to do some preliminary rounds. Would you join us, Addie?”

Addie knew Josephine well enough to realize that wasn’t a suggestion.

She nodded. “Of course.”

As they walked, Addie found herselfstealing glances at Giselle. There was no denying her presence. She wasn’t the type of person anyone could ignore, even if they wanted to. The way she moved, her posture—it all spoke of someone who was used to being in control, who didn’t let anything or anyone slow her down.

“So, Dr. Carlisle,” Josephine said as they walked. “How’s Phoenix Ridge treating you?”

“Everything seems pretty efficient,” Giselle said. “The facilities are well maintained, and the staff appears capable.”

Capable?

Addie winced internally at the word. It sounded too detached, as if they were all just parts of a machine that either functioned well or didn’t. But she stayed quiet, not wanting to jump into a conversation.

Josephine, however, didn’t miss a beat. “I’m sure you’ll find the team here more than capable.”

Giselle nodded slightly, her attention already back on the case file Josephine had handed her. Addie wondered if she cared about things like teamwork or bonding with colleagues.

As they rounded the corner, she keptpace next to Josephine, still too aware of Giselle and the spiciness of her perfume.

“How about you, Addie?” Josephine asked. “How’s everything in peds?”

“Busy as always,” she said. “But we’ve got some pretty interesting kids in the wards.”

“Patients, you mean,” Giselle said.

Addie felt a flurry of emotions. First, she hated that the new woman had cut in to call the kidspatientsin a tone that suggested they didn’t matter. Then again, her voice sounded sonorous, almost seductive, as the words left her lips.

She decided it was best to keep her response to the bare minimum.

“I’d rather call them kids.”

Josephine nodded, glancing at Giselle. “Addie here is a bit of a miracle worker when it comes to the kids.”

Giselle didn’t look up from the file. “I’m sure.”

The nurses had painted a picture of someone cold, but it wasn’t that simple. Addie could see the way Giselle focused, the way she was already in work mode. Maybe she wasn’t cold—just careful. She had walls up, and even though Addie hadjust met her, she wondered why they were so high.

They stopped outside the patient’s room, and Josephine turned to Addie. “You’ve been following this case, haven’t you?”

“Yeah, Janet’s been stable since the surgery,” she said, glancing at the door. “But we’re monitoring her closely.”

Giselle looked up at the mention of surgery. “What kind of surgery?”

“Complex heart defect,” she said. “We performed an atrial switch a week ago.”

Her eyes flickered with interest for the first time since they’d started walking. Addie liked it a bit too much. “And her recovery?”

“Slow but steady,” she said. “We’re keeping an eye out for any signs of complications.”

Giselle nodded once, her attention shifting from Addie to the door. “I’ll take a look at her.”

Josephine gave her a small smile. “Why don’t you take the lead on this one, Addie? I think it’d be good for Dr. Carlisle to see your work up close.”

She hesitated for a split second, but then nodded. “Sure.”

---