Page 6 of Dr. Roz Harrington
Roz straightened her blazer and turned her attention back to the hospital board member, nodding along to whatever he was saying. But no matter how hard she tried to focus, her mind kept wandering back to Sam and the lingering heat of that single shared glance.
For the first time in a long while, Roz felt out of control. And she hated it.
The room quieted as the event’s host, a prominent hospital board member, stepped onto the small stage at the front of the ballroom. Roz shifted her weight, her arms crossed lightly as she stood at the edge of the crowd. The speech was the usual mix of gratitude and self-congratulatory remarks about the collaboration between Harrington Memorial and the fire department. Roz’s attention wavered until she caught a familiar name.
“And now, I’d like to recognize two individuals whose tireless dedication to their fields exemplifies the spirit of this partnership: Dr. Rosalind Harrington and Captain Samantha Quinn.”
Roz blinked, her stomach tightening. Of course.
She stepped forward with practiced ease, her face the picture of poise, even as she felt Sam move beside her. Sam was calm,composed, her hands clasped behind her back as she nodded to the applause. Roz stole a glance at her. The firehouse dress uniform somehow made Sam even more imposing, her broad shoulders and disciplined stance commanding attention without effort. It was maddening how effortless she made it look.
As the applause died down, the host gestured for Roz and Sam to say a few words. Roz kept her remarks brief, highlighting the importance of teamwork in trauma care, but even as she spoke, she was acutely aware of Sam standing beside her. When it was Sam’s turn, her voice was steady and professional, but Roz noticed a subtle warmth that drew people in.
When they stepped off the stage, a hospital administrator swooped in, eager to introduce them more formally. “Dr. Harrington, Captain Quinn, I’m not sure if you’ve had the chance to meet properly.”
Roz turned, offering a polite smile. “I believe we crossed paths in the ER the other day.”
“Briefly,” Sam replied, her tone neutral but her blue eyes sharp. She extended a hand, and Roz hesitated a fraction of a second before taking it. Sam’s grip was firm, her hand warm, and Roz felt a strange jolt run through her at the contact.
“You two make quite the team,” the administrator continued, clearly oblivious to the undercurrent between them. “Both leaders in such high-pressure fields. I imagine you could learn a lot from each other.”
Roz’s smile tightened. “Perhaps,” she said smoothly, turning her gaze to Sam. “Though I suspect Captain Quinn prefers a more...cautious approach.”
Sam arched an eyebrow, her lips curving into a faint smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes. “Caution isn’t a bad thing, Dr. Harrington. It tends to keep people alive.”
“True,” Roz replied, tilting her head slightly. “But sometimes, hesitation can cost lives just as easily.”
The words hung in the air, and Roz watched as Sam’s jaw tightened ever so slightly. She didn’t look away, her green eyes locked on Sam’s blue ones, daring her to respond.
“I suppose it depends on the situation,” Sam said finally, her voice steady. “And whether the risk is worth the reward.”
Roz’s lips curved, a spark of satisfaction flickering through her. “Ah, but sometimes the greatest rewards require the greatest risks, don’t they, Captain?”
Sam held her gaze for a moment longer than necessary, and Roz felt a rush of exhilaration she hadn’t expected. There was something electric about the way Sam’s presence filled the space between them, steady, immovable, and entirely unshaken by Roz’s sharp edges.
The administrator, oblivious to the tension, laughed lightly. “It’s good to see two such dedicated professionals exchanging ideas. I’ll leave you to it.”
As the administrator drifted away, Roz and Sam remained where they stood, the charged silence stretching between them. Finally, Sam broke it.
“You enjoy being right, don’t you?” Sam asked, her tone calm but laced with challenge.
Roz smirked, the corners of her lips tugging upward. “I don’t enjoy it. It’s just a fortunate byproduct of my profession.”
Sam let out a soft chuckle, and Roz felt an unexpected flutter in her chest at the sound. “Confidence is one thing,” Sam said, stepping just slightly closer, “but overconfidence? That’s a different story.”
Roz’s pulse quickened, though she kept her expression cool. “And yet, here I stand.”
Sam’s gaze lingered on her, searching, and Roz suddenly felt exposed in a way she wasn’t used to. “That’s what fascinates me about you, Dr. Harrington,” Sam said, her voice dropping just slightly, enough to send a shiver down Roz’s spine. “You walkthat line so effortlessly. I can’t decide if I should admire it or be concerned by it.”
The air between them was electric, and Roz found herself leaning into the tension rather than pulling away. “I could say the same about you, Captain Quinn. Your discipline is admirable, but I wonder, do you ever loosen your grip? Or is control the only thing keeping you grounded?”
Sam’s lips twitched, her eyes narrowing slightly. “Control isn’t a crutch, Dr. Harrington. It’s what keeps the chaos from winning.”
Roz’s smirk softened into something more genuine, though she wasn’t sure why. “We all have our ways of keeping the chaos at bay, I suppose.”
“Maybe,” Sam said, her gaze still locked on Roz. “But some methods are more dangerous than others.”
The words were simple, but the way Sam said them left Roz’s heart beating just a little faster. For a moment, she forgot the glittering chandeliers and the hum of conversation around them. It was just Sam, her sharp blue eyes and steady presence drawing Roz in despite herself.
