Page 11 of Egotistical Jerk
I removed the lid and held the cup to my cheek. Without closing it again, I took a generous gulp of the warm, caffeinated drink. After I wiped my mouth with the side of my hand, I grinned at Mary.
"You're lucky I like you."
Her hand went to her chest and her eyes wide with mock relief. "I know, right?"
Both of us laughed before we made our way to the elevator.
"One of the nurses told me you came to see Mrs. DuBois last night." When I looked her way, she pinned me with a stare. Her light eyebrows arched high. "On your day off?"
One of the first things you learn in medical school is not to get attached to patients. I could still hear Professor Levenson's raspy warning,"Your job is to save lives, not make friends."
I had every intention of doing just that until I saw Mrs. DuBois sit on her own day in and day out. For whatever reason, the thought of her being there by herself didn't sit well with me. So, I'd been sitting with her on some of my breaks as well as coming in on my day off during visiting hours.
"Yeah… I feel bad for her. Have you seen anyone come visit her in the past two weeks?"
Mary shook her head before taking a delicate sip of her coffee. "I haven't, but Mia, you can't get attached."
"I know." We reached the closed elevator and after poking the button, I turned my back to the doors to face Mary. "It's just not in me to treat a case and not a person." Behind me, the doors dinged as I took another few gulps of my coffee. "Maybe I should ask Dr. Ryker to teach me his heartless ways?"
The color drained from Mary's face; her eyes grew so big I was afraid they'd pop right out of their sockets. She opened her mouth, and a small little mouse squeak escaped.
I didn't even have to look.
Pressing my lips into a thin line, I muttered, "He's behind me, isn't he?"
Her head started bobbing up and down before the last word left my mouth.
Great. Just freaking great.
I released a breath and pivoted.
Sure enough, there he was, standing just inside the elevator; that now-familiar storm in his eyes focused solely on me. His jaw muscle ticked away, just about matching my heart's wild gallop. It was only when I heard a snicker that I realized he wasn't alone. Dr. Hogue was standing off to the side, his outstretched hand stopping the doors from sliding shut.
Even if the look on Dr. Ryker's face hadn't clued me in that he'd heard what I'd said, the amusement shining in Dr. Hogue's eyes surely would have. If Sebastian Ryker didn't have a reason to dislike me before, he sure as hell had one now.
Pretty sure we looked like a bunch of idiots with them standing inside the elevator and Mary and me standing outside. All four of us just staring. It was ridiculous. Flicking my braid over my shoulder, I stood a bit taller and aimed my stare at Dr. Stormy.
"Are you getting out or going up with us?"
Behind me, poor Mary gasped for air while Dr. Hogue had a hard time keeping his laugh at bay. Dr. Ryker, though, he glared. Undeterred, I popped out my hip and tapped my foot.
"Well?"
If human beings were capable of spitting fire, this man would've engulfed me in flames. He was so furious, the vein in his forehead looked ready to burst.
"You done with your rounds?" Even when his voice dripped acid, it was smooth and silky and oh-so-sexy.Stop it, Mia.
"Sure did. And before you ask, Gillian has my reports too."
Dr. Ryker's dark brows dipped low. "I want to see you in my office in thirty minutes."
Was I finally going to get the take-your-stuff-and-go speech? I straightened my index and middle finger and pressed them above my brow in a mock salute.
"Yes, sir. Now, if you don't mind, Mary and I would very much like to take the elevator to the fourth floor."
"Oh, we can take the stairs too, I don't mind," Mary quickly spat out the words.
"But I do." My gaze stayed locked onto Dr. Ryker's dark one. He cocked his head just a smidge before stalking toward me like a predator circling its prey.
