Page 34 of Stolen Kisses
“Just let me speak. If you go down that route, there are inevitable repercussions. People talk in a place like this. Rumors happen fast and it’s not good, especially if you’re in a position that demands respect.”
Like the head nurse position,Krista guessed silently.
“It was just dinner and we probably won’t even go out again. Really.”
Karen hesitated, then nodded. She laid the time-off sheet that Krista had put in this morning down in front of her. Krista already had the upcoming weekend off, but she put in for Monday, too, in case Noah was right and it took longer than expected to romanticize the cabin. “Head nurses don’t often get the luxury of taking long weekends.”
Krista looked up. “Karen, this is the first time I’ve taken a long weekend in over a year. I never shirk my duties and I have the time off to take.” And she deserved to be head nurse more than anyone else on this floor. She’d been here the longest. She was the most qualified.
“I just want you to be aware of the responsibilities that might come your way if you were to move up in the ranks. Not everyone is cut out for such a position.”
Anger swirled like a dark tornado in Krista’s belly, funneling up through her chest. She inhaled deeply, still biting her tongue as hard as she could. Afraid to speak—because she would definitely say something she’d regret—Krista only nodded.
“Okay.” Karen stood.
Thank you, God!
“Have a good night,” her supervisor said, patting Krista’s shoulder before walking away.
Krista blew out a breath. Sucked in another and repeated. She did it until she wasn’t about to explode.
“Everything okay?” Chandler stood at the front of the nurse’s station now.
Krista shook her head, then her gaze jumped to make sure that Karen had left. “Not really.”
“Want to talk about it?” he asked.
“Not really,” she said again, clutching her pen. She did want to talk about it, but not with him. She needed to talk to Noah. He was always her sounding board.
Chandler shrugged lightly. “If you change your mind, you have my number.”
She smiled. “Thanks.” She watched him walk toward the elevators and disappear, searching herself for any inkling of attraction. Nope, nothing. She was so screwed to be single forever.
