Page 7 of The Coworker
I close my eyes and I can still see his ruggedly handsome face. His eyes looking into mine.I love you, Brooke.
That was what he said to me just a few hours before he tried to kill me.
And that’s not even the worst thing he did.
I stare down at the paper chart, wanting to open it and look inside, but knowing I shouldn’t. Morally, I definitely shouldn’t. Legally… It’s a gray area. Technically, as a prisoner of this facility, he’s one of my patients. But if I open this chart, I won’t be looking at it as a practitioner.
I’ve only been here a day. It’s a bit early to be breaking the rules.
When I applied for this job, I didn’t think I would get it, given my connection to one of the inmates. But I was a minor at the time of Shane’s trial, and my parents worked hard to keep my name out of public records. Still—I had believed a background check would give me away. But I was wrong.
Or else the warden knew about the connection, but they were so desperate to hire somebody, they let it slide.
I hear a click, and I realize somebody has used their ID badge to unlock the door to medical records. Panicked, I stuff Shane’s chart back into the file cabinet and slam the drawer shut just as the door swings open. Officer Hunt is standing there, his tall silhouette filling the doorway.
“We have another patient for you.” In the dim light of the room, his eyes look like two dark sockets. “What are you doing in here?”
“I, uh…” I glance back at the file cabinet. “There was just something I thought of on a patient from this morning that I wanted to make a note on.”
I have every right to be in this file room. There’s no way for him to know that what I was doing in this room was far from kosher, although I suspect my burning cheeks are giving me away.
Hunt narrows his eyes at me. “I laid out all the charts for the scheduled visits. If you need any other charts, I can bring them to you.”
“Oh!” I force a smile. “Well, thank you then. I sure appreciate it.”
He doesn’t return the smile.
Well, great. I’ve been here less than a day, and the guard already thinks I’m a problem. But it sounds like they need me more than I need them, so my job is safe. For now.
As long as Shane Nelson doesn’t need to be seen in the medical ward anytime soon.
Chapter 4
ELEVEN YEARS EARLIER
My parents would kill me if they knew what I’m doing right now.
They think I’m studying after school with my best friend Chelsea. They think Chelsea is giving me a ride home, then I’m going to pick up a change of clothes and have a sleepover at her house.
If they knew I was sitting in a car a block away from my house with Shane Nelson, it would be bad. And if they knew it will actually beShane’shouse where I’ll be spending the night tonight… well, I don’t even want to know what they would do. For starters, I would be grounded. And not the kind of grounded where I don’t get to play video games or get deprived of an extra serving of dessert. I would be yanked out of high school, probably homeschooled, and never allowed to leave my bedroom ever again.Thatkind of grounded.
So that’s why when Shane drives me home, he always parks a block or two away. Even that is a risk, but when it comes to Shane, I’m all about taking stupid risks. I’ve always been a good girl—straight A’s, honor society, debate club. I’ve never met a guy who has made me want to break all my rules before. And when Shane looks at me from the driver’s seat of his Chevy, I realize there’s not much I wouldn’t do for him.
“I’m really looking forward to tonight,” I tell him, in a voice that I hope sounds mature and sexy, but more likely sounds squeaky and nervous. I can’t help it—I’ve never spent the night at a boy’s house before.
“Me too.” He traces the curve of the gold snowflake necklace I always wear around my throat. “So much.”
Shane’s vivid brown eyes meet mine. I’ve known Shane since middle school, and I swear he gets better looking every year. Shaggy dark hair, a dangerous grin, and now all those damn muscles. Back when we were twelve, he was just a punk who couldn’t quit getting in trouble at school. Then in high school, he joined the football team and became the star quarterback. I watch him every day as Chelsea and I cheer from the stands, and he isreallytalented. Still not good enough for my parents though.
“You know,” Shane says, “it could just be us at my house tonight. You say the word…”
When Chelsea found out that Shane’s mother was going to be out of town visiting his grandmother for the weekend, it was her brilliant idea to have a little party at his house tonight. She quickly invited herself and her own football star boyfriend, Brandon. Brandon is particularly skilled at always having a bottle of something alcoholic at every party.
“I don’t know if that’s a good idea,” I say. “If Chelsea doesn’t get to come, she’ll rat me out to my parents.”
Shane makes a face. “She’s your best friend. You really think she would do that?”
Oh, she absolutely would. Chelsea might be my best friend, but she is always looking out for number one. But for once, I’m sort of glad. Shane and I have been together for three months, and I’m nervous about being all alone with him. I don’t think he even knows I’m still a virgin. He isn’t one—he hasn’t said so, but I’m sure of it. It’s not possible.
