Page 34 of Wildflower Hearts
He grunted and leaned against the wall beside the elevator. “Quit doing that. You know my name, use it.” He waited until she nodded. “I knew Noah had a soft spot for you since day one.Everyone could see it. I thought it was only a crush, and you didn’t seem to feel the same, so I chose to ignore it. Bad call on my part.”
She shook her head. “Elias, that’s all it was. It happens sometimes with patients. They get connected to a doctor or nurse on a personal level. I’m sure Noah’s moved on to bigger and better things. I know that I have.”
“I see that. I’m sure working yourself to death is really filling a void in your life.”
“There is no void.”
Elias shook his head. “You never were good at lying to me.” He ignored the scared expression in her eyes as he reached out and took her chin in his hand. “It’s okay to feel something for someone other than professionally.” Just as quickly, he released her and glanced at his watch. “God knows you of all people should be happy. I need to get going before Noah thinks I bailed on his ass.” He shot her one last look before hitting the button on the elevator. “I’m not angry at you. Despite how things ended between us, we miss you. I know for a fact that Noah does.”
“Goodbye, Elias. It was nice seeing you.”
“You too, Lyla.”
The elevator doors shut, and she walked back to the nurses’ station. “Do you have a new file for me or not?”
“Lyla…”
“Don’t start,” she cut Melissa off with a sharp look that matched her tone.
Sighing, the nurse extended a folder toward her.
Chapter Twelve
It took an entire week, but she finally blocked the conversation with Elias from her mind by working double shifts. She ignored Melissa’s concerned jabs and the nurses who fussed at her. A firm, arched eyebrow and threat of reporting them for harassment, though they knew she never would, caused them to quieten, but she found that was short-lived as they merely waited several hours before ganging up on her again.
Lyla finished her task of cleaning up from the last patient’s discharge, not looking up when someone knocked on the open door. “Yes?”
“There’s a delivery for you at the front desk.”
“I’ll be right there.” She hesitated. “What is it?”
“I’m not sure. Melissa said you had to sign for it.”
“Oh, okay.”
“I’ll inform her you’re on your way.”
“Thank you.”
As she slipped from the room, her mind scanned through the list of viable options of what could be waiting for her. She hadn’t ordered any supplies, and no other packages for the hospital had been billed in her name to her knowledge. More than likely, Melissa was pulling another prank, and she was willingly falling for it again. A passing nurse winked as she walked by her, and she frowned. Maybe she forgot that she-
She stopped several feet from the nurses’ station. Noah was leaning against the counter talking to Melissa. He was dressed in ripped jeans and a black shirt with skulls covered by his black leather jacket. He said something that made Melissa laugh and smiled, the expression lighting up his entire face. It was at that moment that he saw her. Hands lowering to his sides, his gaze locked on hers. He moved forward at the same time that she did, ignoring the people bustling around them, and the eyes of several nurses, including Melissa, watching them.
Lyla tucked her hands into her scrub pockets to keep them from shaking. She shifted her feet uneasily. “What brings you to my floor?”
“I finished my final session today.” He scratched at the back of his neck. “I wanted to see you again before I left.”
“Well, you’ve seen me.”
He pursed his lips together. “I wanted to tell you that I’m sorry for what I did. I told Elias what really happened.”
“I know. Elias came to see me during one of your sessions a week ago.”
“Maybe things can still work out between you.”
She shook her head firmly and studied her shoes. “There is no Elias and me, Noah. He’s a good man. He’ll find someone else.”
“Look, I don’t want to waste your time, but hear me out.” He took another step toward her. “I was an idiot for acting jealous over Elias, but since the day I woke up and saw you holding my hand, I felt a strong connection to you. That feeling hasn’t gone away. I’ve tried to ignore it, and I can’t.”
