Page 9 of Rust the Rejected
Without glancing at Dr. Ingolf, I nod and continue my observations of the busy ER. Out of the corner of my eye, I notice a slight smirk on his handsome face. Masculine with angular bone structure yet with soft, full, kissable lips. WHAT?!?!?!
It has to be the morphine kicking in for real now. The drug robbing me of all sensibility and restraint. I bite back a curse. The gods help me!
Fortunately, a commotion at the entrance to the ER distracts me. Three nurses rush past my curtained area while an EMT shouts for help. A female’s cries mingle with the calls for a doctor STAT.
Dr. Ingolf’s hands pause as they adjust the last strap on the splint. He cocks his head as though listening to something. His nostrils flare. A glow appears in his hazel eyes. He turns to the nurse.
“The incoming patient requires my expertise—”
“Let me guess, your gut instinct tells you?” Dr. Ingolf nods in response, and the nurse continues. “A lot of patients owe their lives to your gut instinct, doctor.”
“True. And Dr. Moore is stable. You can put the sling in place and discharge her pain meds and a list of the orthopedic doctors,” he says hurriedly. He glances at me, nods, and rushes towards the new patient.
At last, he’s gone.
But why the hell do I feel at a loss?
Get a grip, Nat. What is this? Emergency Room Stockholm Syndrome, or what?
I barely listen as the nurse speaks to me. Carefully, he places the sling over my head to rest at my neck and loops it around the soft cast. A few adjustments, and I’m all set.
When he asks if I have someone who can take me home, I shake my head and yawn. The morphine and the late hour make me sleepy. He tells me to wait a bit, and I settle against the bed. My eyes shut.
“—still here? Did something happen after I left her with you?”
“No, Dr. Ingolf. She doesn’t have anyone to take her home. I didn’t want her to go alone, considering she only came in with a robe on. Plus, she’s a hospital doctor. I felt responsible for her safety. I’m leaving now and can offer her a ride home.”
“No, I’ll do it. I left so abruptly, I owe it to her to check in.”
My fuzzy mind absorbs the conversation on the other side of the drawn curtain. But I can’t believe Dr. Ingolf just offered to drive me home. I should protest. However, I don’t want to get in a rideshare with only my robe and the hospital socks. It has to be after midnight by now.
As my hand slides across the sheet in search of my mobile, the curtain parts. Dr. Ingolf strides in.
“Hello again, Dr. Moore. The nurse tells me you adjusted well to the splint. How do you feel after some rest?”
“H—Hello,” I say with a dry mouth, then swallow to try again. “Hello, Dr. Ingolf. Fine, thank you. And I’ll accept your offer of a ride home. I’m not inclined to take a rideshare at the moment. If you give me a second, I’ll be ready to go. Oh, and thank you.”
The little smirk appears onthoselips again.
I ignore it and wiggle my way to the edge of the bed. Immediately, he reaches out to grasp my good arm. But I wave him off. Let’s not go overboard with accepting his help.
He inclines his head and steps away. The curtain falls back in place.
Once again, a twinge of loss gnaws at me. I berate myself as I slip the hospital gown off and replace it with the robe. One arm through the sleeve and the other side draped over my shoulder. I tighten the belt. A glance down at my feet, and I shrug. I’ll just have to make do with the socks and watch out for sharp objects.
A rumbling chuckle meets my ears as I step from the curtained area.
With a hip leaned against the nurse’s station, Dr. Ingolf laughs with a young brunette. She bats her long eyelashes at him as her hand reaches to slap his forearm coyly. Their heads dip. His mouth goes to her ear. She covers her mouth with a dainty hand and giggles. She. Giggles. Typical male doctor, female nurse flirtation. Gah!
Just what I needed to witness to eliminate any ridiculous stirrings of attraction towardsDr.Ingolf. With a smirk of my own, I step forward.
“Ready,” I say loudly.
CHAPTER4
Natalie
“Thank you and enjoy your day.”
