Page 43 of Embrace
His head tilted as he studied me. “You really don’t know much about their family, do you?”
I shook my head. “Only what I’ve learned recently. I’m not good at storing famous people in my knowledge base.”
He grunted. “I see. Well, we’ve already had disturbances because the press and the public are now aware that Asher is on our staff. We’ve been forced to reassign his surgeries and…” He sighed and shifted in his seat as if talking about Asher was causing him physical pain. “Listen, Asher knows he can’t frolic through the hospital as if he’s a normal person. And if he thinks he can, then he’s deluding himself.”
I had a feeling the chief was practicing the argument he’d use to convince Asher to quit his job on me. If he knew the Asher I’d come to know, then he would realize Asher couldn’t be forced to do anything he didn’t want to do. And my remaining a fellow at the hospital didn’t help the chief’s case, which was why his claim that the offer had nothing to do with Asher made no sense at all. However, it wasn’t my job to figure out who was pulling the strings. The offer had been made. I would’ve been a fool not to take it. And it was time to focus on my new patient.
“Greg Carroll,” I said abruptly.
The chief’s brows furrowed. “The American football player?”
“Yes,” I said and told him about Greg’s symptoms and his need for discretion.
“This hospital has a contract with all local sports teams to report any medical treatment of their players to their organization. It’s a standard part of Carroll’s contract.”
I grunted thoughtfully. “That doesn’t sound legal to me.”
“It isn’t. It’s more of a good-faith contract.”
I grimaced as I shook my head. “I want to help him. Is there anything you can do to help me do that?”
The chief drew in a deep breath as he pressed his tension-filled lips together. Finally, he released the air trapped in his lungs. “Well, I’m certainly not a stickler for the rules, as you’ve come to know.” He winked at me.
Flutters of hope moved through my belly. “And the hospital is under new ownership. The Christmases may not agree to the same”—I drew air quotes—“‘good-faith deal’ as the previous administration.”
He stroked his chin, frowning thoughtfully. “True. Very true.”
“And he’s a VIP.”
“Right, right.”
I grinned, knowing for certain the chief was going to help. “He’ll need a VIP team. People who know how to—”
“I understand, Dr. Ross. Carroll will get his team.”
I sat up tall, posturing myself to get moving on it fast. “He’s in the hospital, ready to get started.”
The door swung open. I twisted around, and the sight of our visitor made my face light up.
“Who’s in the hospital, ready to get started?” Asher asked.
“Greg Carroll,” Chief Brown said. “And, Ash, we have to talk.”
Asher aimed his scowl at me. “Greg Carroll?”
Chapter Twelve
Penina Ross
Asher stood behind the chair next to me, gripping the top of it. My gaze fell on his hands. He had a tiny scar on the knuckle of his middle finger, and the fuzzy hair that grew there was a lot lighter than the hair on his head. His fingernails were immaculate too. A man with such clean hands—that was sexy. How odd though that I’d never taken a moment to acknowledge such small things about him.
Asher drummed the leather. “Si, we’ll talk, but first, I’m going to need to consult with Dr. Ross.”
Chief Brown soured his expression. “Consult with Dr. Ross about what exactly?” He eyed Asher as though he was challenging him to come up with a good lie.
“We have to talk about Greg Carroll.”
The chief nodded at the empty chair. “Good. Sit. Let’s talk.”
