He recognized the voice even before he looked at the man. Terrance smiled wearily.
That stint in Argentinas beginning to look better and better in comparison all the time. At least no one threw up on me in Buenos Aires.
True to Alixs prediction, the patient in Bed K had vomited all over him. An hour and one change of clothes later, he still felt the smell of the incident clinging to him. It was a hell of a start.
Riley Sanchez, a perfect blend of an Irish mother and a Spanish father, flashed a row of brilliantly white teeth. But youve got to admit that the scenerys nicer here. Riley leaned in closer, lowering his voice. Have you checked out some of the nurses?
Were not here to check out nurses, remember?
Cant help it if they walk into my line of vision. Rileys grin broadened. I noticed that the lady doctor they assigned you to isnt exactly someone whod stop a clock. Thats one fine-looking woman.
Rileys laid-back, easygoing demeanor belied the sharp mind that lay beneath. Nothing worth noting ever got past Riley, which was what made him so good at his job. His humor made him an asset when times got tough. But right now Terrance was in no mood for any of his partners witticisms.
Riley saw the way Terrances jaw tightened at the mention of his guide. Something wrong?
He didnt feel like getting into it, certainly not here. No.
Like a dog with a bone, Riley didnt let go. Well, its not right, he observed. He stopped, thinking of the man they suspected. Shes not connected to?
No, Terrance said firmly, shes not.
That much he knew. Alix couldnt and wouldnt be involved
in the reason he and Riley were here. Alix DuCane was as honest as they came, incapable of lying or anything more serious. Hed stake his life on it. Some things, no matter what, just didnt change.
Shifting, Riley studied him. Judging by the way you just said that, youre pretty certain. Its too soon for you to have bonded with the lovely lady doctor, which means that you know her from a previous life.
Terrance took the high road and dismissed Rileys words at face value. Im not into reincarnation.
Neither am I. I was talking about the life we had before we sold our souls to the agency.
Go do a profile on someone else, Riley. The subject was closed.
Riley nodded, backing off for now. Hed worked with McCall off and on over the past six years, the last two steadily. He knew it would do no good to press Terrance, who came around according to his own timetable.
Thats what they pay me for. Riley glanced over his shoulder and saw the head nurse was looking his way. She didnt look pleased. Time to get busy.
Terrance sighed, thinking of the afternoon that was ahead. His endless days and nights as an intern came rushing vividly back at him. I never stopped.
Catch you later, Riley murmured, beginning to guide the cart toward the service elevators and ultimately the kitchen located in the basement. Dont look now, but your lady friend is walking this way.
Terrance turned in time to see Alix heading in his direction. Now what?
Alix had never been one to shirk her duty, no matter how distasteful or difficult it was. She placed dealing with Terrance in that category.
Telling herself that she was no longer the young woman shed once been did no good. In her heart Alix sincerely doubted if she would ever be completely over Terrance McCall.
But there was absolutely no reason to let him know that.
As she drew closer, a foul odor assaulted her nose. She sniffed, then realized that the smell was coming from the same vicinity as Terrance.
Is that coming from you?
He nodded. Patient in Bed K threw up on me, just like you predicted. He was wearing a lab coat that was entirely too snug in the shoulders and had had to change his shirt and pants. One of the residents lent me his clothes.
Alix nodded. That would explain the scrubs.
Shed forgotten how good he looked in the attire. And how much it had once turned her on. This time, however, he looked like someone whod gotten caught in the rain and had his clothes shrink. The cuffs of his pants exposed a section of dark sock.
Rafferty? she guessed, referring to one of the residents on the floor.
He glanced down to see if the mans name was written on the lab coat. It wasnt. Terrance looked at her, surprised. How did you know?
Process of elimination. Hes shorter than you are. Adam Hathaways about the same height, she judged. Theyre the only two doctors in the E.R. right now. The odor was getting to her. She wrinkled her nose. Id suggest you take a shower.
Cant. When she looked at him quizzically, he leaned over and whispered, In case you havent heard, the head doctors pretty strict. If I leave my post for more than a minute, shell have my head.
Alix wasnt amused. She looked at him pointedly, making herself, she hoped, perfectly clear. The head doctor doesnt want your head, Doctor. Or any other part of you, either.
Maybe hed overstepped his boundaries. Feelings for her or not, the woman was married and he had his rules. She had nothing to worry about from him. Duly noted. Just so Im clear on this, are you telling me to take a shower?