Page 19 of Wildflower Hearts
“You’re obviously a bit drowsy from the meds you were given earlier, and you’re regaining a sense of balance. How about I bring you back something from the cafeteria?”
He went quiet, merely crossing his arms, and winced. She was halfway out the door when his voice stopped her. “You wouldn’t be able to sneak me a smoke, would you?”
Lyla threw him a look over her shoulder. “Maybe you’d like me to get one of the male nurses and check your colon?”
“Fine,” he huffed.
She heard Noah grumbling as she made her way to the elevator.
“Didn’t want a damn cigarette anyway.”
Chapter Eight
“Ihear your star patient is up and kicking.”
She grabbed a small travel-size container of milk from the cafeteria display case. “He’s cranky and has an attitude, but that’s to be expected. The medication is wearing off, and he’s no longer asleep to not notice the pain.”
Pediatric doctor Larissa Shevitz grabbed a small container of orange juice. “Bruce informs me you’re the only RN on the sixth floor currently. That’s quite an accomplishment, considering you’re the only assigned nurse he has.”
She frowned. “I wasn’t aware of that.”
“I thought you were.” Larissa gazed at Lyla with sympathetic eyes. “Your floor only has Diane, Melissa, and Reba now.”
“I have a minimum of seven patients every two hours. Four of those are already in-house patients.”
“I heard. Hence me thinking you already knew!”
She cleared her throat and shot the doctor a smile. “If you’ll excuse me, Dr. Shevitz, I must return to my floor.”
“Of course.”
Lyla paid for the order, quickly making her way to the elevators, and was back on her floor before she had time to recollect herself. She brushed her face with the sleeve of her scrubs and stepped off the elevator instantly collided with the person standing there.
“I’m sorry I…”
“Was too busy crying to notice me standing here.”
Her head shot up. “Oh, hello, Elias.”
He eyed her closely, eyebrows furrowed. “What’s wrong?”
She motioned him out of the way of the elevator and brushed her face clean one final time. “No reason.”
"Don't lie.” He stretched his arm out to place his hand on the wall. He wasn't trapping her in completely, but his muscular frame made it impossible for her to step around him without touching him. "I don't like seeing ladies cry. Tell me what's wrong."
“I’ve had a hard day, okay? They keep throwing all this shit at me because I never say no,” she grumbled as she clutched the food tray in her hands. “This hospital is my job, and I love it, but it’s becoming my entire life. My day off with you was the first time I had a nice lunch with someone not working here or by myself.”
“You’re wearing yourself out, Sweetheart.” He reached out to stroke her cheek. “What don’t you let me take you to dinner?”
“Nurse Hamilton?”
She jolted, eyes wide as she spotted Bruce. “Yes, Doctor?”
“Is everything okay?”
“Yes, perfectly alright,” she blushed. “I was about to deliver some food to Mr. Kingsley.”
He eyed Elias but nodded. “I’ll leave you to it.” He checked his watch. “I want you to take off early. You’ve been here too long.”
