Page 27 of Deprivation

“Of course, Dr. Barnes. I’ll get the nurse to pull it.” As I complete my sentence, I realize Rebecca hasn’t missed a thing. She is grinning at me like she caught me red-handed with my hand in the cookie jar.Yes, she definitely needs more medicine.I locate the patient’s nurse, Holly, who runs to quickly pull the sedative. I take this opportunity to step away from the situation before I do anything else to embarrass myself.

* * *

An hour later, I’m on my way to the nurses’ station to get more information on a patient with abdominal pain when I see Dr. Barnes don his starched white lab coat and stop in my tracks. I can feel my ears heating up and my heart skip a beat, so I decide to step away and get a sip of water before returning. Moving pictures dance through my mind’s eye. Could Nick Barnes be the shirtless man in the lab coat I dreamt of the other night?

Granted, I was riled up after dancing the night away in the club. The Zone had been even more fun than I anticipated. But the cherry on top was the dream I had after I took my sleeping pill. I recall being entranced by a strong, alluring man with ripped abs and muscular pecs peeking out from under his lab coat. In the dream, I recall we danced provocatively before we quickly transitioning to lying in a bed. We had the best sex I’d had in years. Okay, so the only sex I’d had in years, but that shouldn’t down play the talent of this dream man. The lab coat brought me right back there.But that could belong to anyone. Right?

Focus on the present, Kat. I’m here to work and take care of patients, not have imaginary sexcapades. Gathering my professionalism, I return to the nurses’ station to review my patient’s EMS report when I feel someone slide next to me, closer than one would think professional.

“Good morning, Kat,” Dr. Lee greets with a wide toothy grin.God. He’s beautiful. But he’s a player, don’t forget that, Kat. Olympic class player!

“Well, good morning, Dr. Lee. Are you here to see Mr. Jessup?”I volley back, remembering Jake’s words about Dr. Lee needing the staff to revolve around him. I don’t need any more drama today.

“That I am,” he replies, that flirty dimple coming back out to play.

“It’s so nice of you to come in to see him. We really appreciate it.” I think I hear a groan behind me, but I choose to focus on the raven-haired specialist beside me. “If there’s anything at all you need, I’m happy to help.”

“Awe, Kat. Thank you. I’ll let you know, but I’m grateful for the kind offer,” he banters playfully.

As he steps away toward Mr. Jessup’s room, I see another tall form in my periphery, leaning against the counter. “You never offer to assist me with anything. I could use a bottle of water, or a cup of coffee,” I hear Dr. Barnes mutter under his breath.

“Yeah, me, too. I hear they have them in the doctors’ lounge,” I reply flatly before I can stop myself, walking around the nurses’ station to sit and review my patient’s medical history on the computer. I hear Meghan and Jess giggle and look up to see a small grin at the corner of Dr. Barnes’ mouth.

Jess and Meghan walk away, probably in search of food, and I boldly toss back to the cheeky doctor. “Watch out, Dr. Barnes, that looked like the beginning of a smile. Wouldn’t want you to hurt yourself.”

I watch him shake his head and hope I haven’t overstepped the line with him. But I’m praying this Nick Barnes sticks around a while and gives Dr. Broody some much needed time off.

* * *

“Hi, Brandon, what brings you back to the ER today?” I ask one of our frequent fliers who lies on a gurney in the hallway a few hours later.

“Yeah, remember the last time I broke my hand and you told me I should take an anger management course or at least hit a pillow next time? Well, I should’ve listened. I think I broke it again.”

“Yes, you have. I’ve already seen your X-rays, and you have a boxer’s fracture. You’ve basically broken the base of this finger here,” I inform, pointing to the swollen area on the back of his hand. “What did you hit?”

“Got mad and hit the wall before I could think better of it. Do I have to have it splinted again?”

“Afraid so. I’ll get the supplies. Back in a minute.” I walk to the ortho supply room and grab the materials I need. On my return, I notice Dr. Barnes is now sitting at the nurses’ station closest to me. I revert my attention back to the patient.

“Kat, have I told you how hot you look today?” I’ve heard this line from him several times before, so I continue to place the soft material on his arm before molding the fiberglass splint material around his hand. “Did you know I can speak Spanish?Uno, Dos, Tres.”

I hear laughter now coming from the nurses’ station and peer up to see Meghan, Jessica, and Dr. Barnes all snickering.

“Okay,Fabio, save that for your many conquests. You know I’m too old for you, anyway.”

“Oh, Kat, age is just a number.”

“Yes, a number I’d like to keep a lot closer to my own. Okay, we’re all done here. Jessica will bring your discharge papers in just a minute. Maybe scroll on your phone for those anger management classes while you wait so this doesn’t happen again,” I encourage with a small smile. As I walk toward thepeanut gallery, I notice Dr. Barnes has left, but Jessica and Meghan remain.

“Kat, will you have his papers inuno minutoordos minutos?” Meghan laughs.

“Ha ha. Laugh it up,” I reply, quickly printing out his papers before Brandon does anything else attention worthy.

“Well, he clearly wasn’t your only admirer this morning,” Jess states.

“What on earth are you talking about?”

“Both Dr. Lee and Dr. Barnes seemed to enjoy your company,” Jess replies with a waggle of her brows.

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