Page 91 of Doc Showmance
The image of her on the ground after he’d pushed her tortured me. I swallowed against a fresh new wave of rage. I turned us to block the camera view of Amber and whispered, “I need you to chill. If he touches you again, I’ll kill him. I’m trying not to end up in jail, okay?”
She stilled, even though she still panted for air.
I didn’t want to let her go. Her back against me soothed the need to hurt Kovac more. “Guess you’re not just all talk. Nice kick.”
“Let’s all just take a deep breath,” Seth said in an even tone. “What started this?”
Amber’s face flushed as she pointed at Kovac. “That imbecile was about to change Winnie’s medications, which would pull her off her pain medication. We got into an argument about his stupidity, he pushed me out of his way to get to the patient, and Ian punched him.”
The sheriff asked, “Dr. Kovac, did Senator Daymond give you permission to take over as the primary doctor caring for Winnie at some point after he flew in from San Francisco to see Dr. Hardin? Or after she performed the surgery this morning?”
Kovac’s face scrunched up. “She attacked me.”
“I left the senator on a phone call in the lobby.” Seth chewed his piece of gum and waited. “I’m going to give you a bit of advice, Dr. Kovac. Sounds like Dr. Hardin saved your ass. You don’t want to know to what lengths the senator would go for his dog. If you had gone and done something stupid that hurt her after all she’s been through?” Seth whistled. “Now, Dr. Todd and Dr. Hardin, it doesn’t get anyone anywhere to go in swinging. Since he put hands on your lady friend and potentially hurt her, I’ll give you a pass this time, son. Next time, I’ll have to take you in.”
“Thanks,” I said, resenting his condescending tone.
“Dr. Hardin…” Seth ducked his head, which allowed his cowboy hat to shadow his face as he swung his head from side to side. I could’ve sworn he was trying not to grin. “Let’s keep those lethal weapon legs of yours under control.”
Dr. Morris appeared. “What’s going on? Who’re you?”
“I’m the sheriff, Seth Briscoe, sir.” He tipped his hat. “Happened to be here with Senator Josh Daymond, whose dog Amber did surgery on today. Seems Dr. Kovac decided he would take over the case without getting permission from the senator. Dr. Kovac and Amber had an altercation, which resulted in a few shoves. Dr. Todd threw a heavy left hook and Dr. Hardin…” He cleared his throat. “She kicked him in the privates.”
“I run this hospital.” Dr. Morris glared at all of us. “Is anyone pressing charges?”
“I think we all have an understanding now.” Seth met Amber’s gaze. “Dr. Hardin still needs to talk to the senator about his dog’s surgery.”
Dr. Morris barked, “Dr. Todd and Dr. Kovac, in my office. Now. Dr. Hardin, deal with the owner and get the sheriff out of the treatment room. Then come to my office.”
Kovac hissed to Amber, “This isn’t over.”
I grabbed Amber when she lunged toward him. I pulled her tight into me and whispered, “Chill. He’s pushing your buttons.”
She shook her head. “Shouldn’t have kicked him.”
“Yeah, I probably shouldn’t have hit him, but it felt good. You still came off on the good side of this whereas I might lose my job.”
“Lucky you, if you get to exit this crazy boat. I might lose my job, too.”
“Unlikely you’ll be fired. You good?” I let up on my hold on her. “This was on live TV. That’s a Today Show camera.”
“Show’s over, folks,” Amber said out loud with a smile. She made a bow.
35
Amber
As I walked in front of Seth toward the exam room Susan said they’d put the senator in, I couldn’t meet the eyes of any of the staff. I’d boarded the crazy train several times at work. People had seen me do some things in anger, usually while arguing with Kovac, but I’d never hurt a person. I’d thrown some stuff the last time he pushed me this far.
Crap. Was Ian going to lose his job over me attacking Kovac? The asshole pushed me. Maybe it’d been intentional drama for the camera, but he knew my hot buttons, especially my patients’ care.
At the exam room door, a burly, suited guy held up his hand to stop the cameraman. “No cameras. Only the doctor and the sheriff.”
I glanced behind me and cringed. That wasn’t one of the normal camara people. It was a guy from theToday Show.
Inside the exam room we used for consultations, the senator sat in the leather armchair texting on his phone. I leaned into the counter, my back to the senator and Seth, and dropped my head.
“You all right, Amber?” Seth asked. He was such a good guy at heart. I wished he could make Joley happy.
