Page 75 of Dr. Alaska
“That we’re…”
Lines formed around his eyes as he gave a sheepish grin. “I believe the phrase isit’s complicated.”
She snorted. “It fits.”
He leaned over and brushed a kiss over her temple, drawing out shivers. “Wait. Are we allowed to kiss if it’s complicated?”
“Hope so.” She lifted her face to him as his mouth swept against hers, again and again, until she could taste his lips and smell his fresh air and spruce scent deep in her soul.
Outside the trauma bay doors, faint cheers filtered back to them.
Maverick froze, his hand still on her jaw with fingers splayed into her hair. His lips were an inch away.
A light growl came from his throat. “I’m going to kill all of them.”
Then as one, Lee and Maverick stood, ducked around the privacy curtain, and peered through the glass.
Everyone—Dee, Louise, Amberlyn, Clyde, assorted other staff, Bruce and Aggie—crowded around the ED security monitor screen off to the side of the work area.
Lee looked up at the fisheye in the exam room and waved. “Are you kidding me? Okay, y’all, yes, you can see us. Is there no privacy in this place?”
Maverick laced his fingers in hers as he pulled her in for a warm hug. Then they opened the trauma bay door and everyone rushed over to them.
“So? How’d it go?” Dee said. “We had visual but no sound.”
Warmth rose over Lee’s neck. “That’s a privacy violation!”
“It is a public place of business,” Dee said, crossing her arms. “It’s notourfault you used it for a private conversation. Also, you’re not patients.” She paused. “Don’t worry. I turned off the sound. You’re welcome.”
Maverick tapped their joined hands against his leg and grinned down at Lee. “You’re the HIPAA expert.”
“She’s right,” Lee huffed. “We can’t sue.”
Bruce picked up another cookie from the plate on the counter but dropped it when Aggie lightly smacked the back of his hand. “Can I go back home now? I want to watch my program.”
“That was an expensive way to pull one over on us, Bruce,” Maverick said.
“Eh, worth it.” He nodded to Lee. “Well?”
She smiled up at Maverick, who lifted his chin. “I’m staying on in Yukon Valley, and we’re, uh, now both, um… It’s complicated,” she managed.
“Taking things slowly!” Maverick wrapped her up in another big hug, then got pulled away as everyone took turns congratulating both of them.
In the middle of the chaos and happy chatter, the EMS phones went off on Maverick’s and Louise’s hips.
“Gotta go,” he said, giving Lee a quick kiss and running back to snag his hat and coat from the trauma room.
“I’ll be here.” Lee pulled his palm to her cheek, then shooed them out the door.
Another call night and another adventure in Yukon Valley.
The End
