Page 24 of Dr. Alaska
She rubbed her eyes. “That’s not true. You’re right in saying that everyone has a job to do here. And every job is critical. Obviously. Patients do well when everyone works together.”
With a flash of need, Mav wanted to be the one smoothing those tired furrows between her brows. To what end? Her job here was temporary. Mav didn’t do temporary. He didn’t do fish out of water, as she put it. He’d learned that lesson and then some.
Hediddo healthcare colleague support. “Some roles have higher levels of responsibility. We might be a team, but you’re the quarterback.”
“Hmm. Does that make you the running back?”
He pretend-flexed an arm and swaggered while sitting. “Tight end, probably.”
A bright sunshine laugh burst out of her. “You’re not wrong.” Then a red blush crept up her neck and cheeks as she glanced down then up. “Oh my. Welp.” The laughter faded.
Huh. His chest warmed and he drank in view of her pink cheeks and sparkling eyes. “You seemed very composed in that trauma bay.”
“Like a duck swimming, calm on the surface and paddling frantically underneath the water.”
“If you had nerves, you hid it well. Although—”
Sucking in a breath, she pulled back. “What?”
“Couldn’t help but notice that your words got longer and longer the further into the code we went. That accent became more pronounced.”
Scowling, she said, “That’s my tell. The worse the situation gets, the slower I talk. One-syllable words become three-syllable words.”
“Even bad words?”
“Especially those!” They chuckled together, and she rested her head against the couch cushion.
His fingers brushed her golden hair. Just a small touch.
One corner of her mouth rose. “The drawl didn’t stick out as much when I was in Georgia.”
“So that’s where you’re from? I guessed Alabama.”
She made a smelled-something-bad face that drew another chuckle from deep in his gut. It had been way too long since Mav had relaxed and laughed.
A few seconds later, her sigh washed over him like a warm breeze as she murmured, “Guess I’d best write up my notes from Bruce’s code. Check on my other patients before leaving for the night.” The professional armor fell back into place.
“Lee.”
Her head whipped up.
He breathed in the light floral and berry scent that was uniquely hers. “Everyone has to take time to crack a little bit. Let out the pressure.”
“But I’m supposed to be an example. Strong. Steady.”
“Doesn’t matter who you are on the team. It’s important. No one is an island, as the saying goes.”
“Are you saying that you also… crack?”
His days of trying to act tough were long past him. Mav had years of experience in the field. He’d seen his fair share of disasters and miracles, including the heartache that came with some cases. Part of the issue with being the EMS director was similar to what Lee was going through. He had to remain strong for the team, but Mav had learned that his job also included good mental health habits. “Everyone has a breaking point. The trick is letting the stress out as things happen, bit by bit, and not stuffing it away to explode later.”
“I’m not a ticking time bomb.”
“I’m no munitions expert. But I do know when someone might need a friend. Or an ear.” He met her gaze. “Or a hug.”
Lee froze.
Chapter Nine
