The Heart - Kate Stewart Page 0,80

had handpicked a majority of people fit to work at the center, and I was excited while Dallas was nervous.

My brother was next.

Paul: Remember how you wanted to spend quality time with the twins?

Enclosed was a picture of their living room covered in what looked to be flour. I let out a hearty laugh as I scrolled through, seeing picture after picture of their twin boys, both carrot tops, grinning from ear to ear, and thoroughly covered in the thick powder. I knew my mom would get a kick out of it so I forwarded the pictures along in case my brother didn’t think of it. The last text was another picture, this one from Jack. I hadn’t seen him since last Friday, and though we’d had several long phone conversations, I was getting anxious.

I opened the picture and shot off the toilet. It was a selfie of Jack sitting on his bike in front of Memorial. I raced through the lobby, my ass on fire, as at least three nurses tried to stop me. I made quick excuses, passing the buck without apology as I made my way outside. Jack was nowhere to be found. I looked at the picture again and noted the text was sent almost an hour ago.

Deflated, I walked back inside and sent him a message.

Rose: I missed you ☹

Jack: I’d hoped you would.

Rose: No, I mean I missed you being here.

Jack: Again, the result I was hoping for.

I groaned in frustration as he toyed with me.

Rose: I mean at the hospital.

“No you didn’t, beb. Look up.”

Cajun.

“Bonjou,” he said, knowing what his accent did to me. Six-feet-three-inches of gloriousness stood across from me in that hospital hall, and I didn’t pause my stride for a second as I collided into him with relief.

“Hi,” he whispered as I hugged him tightly to me. “Rough day?”

“The worst,” I said, beaming up at him, “but it isn’t now. You didn’t tell me you were coming!”

“So let’s make sure I’m hearing this right. You did, in fact, miss me,” he said, looking down at me with the same happy expression.

With quick thinking, I gripped his hand and led him to an empty conference room. As soon as the door shut, I was nailed to the back of it.

Lips, tongues, hands, limbs, it was all a blur as we kissed like we’d never see each other again. I was desperate for him, and it seemed him for me. After minutes of relentless assault, I pulled away with a smile.

“That smile was worth the drive.”

“You’re some kind of man, Jack, and yes I missed you,” I said as his comment hit me hard in the chest. “I don’t want to be Dr. Whittaker anymore today.”

He pressed a light kiss to my jaw and then cupped my face. “Really bad day.”

“Just an asshole using me as a verbal punching bag,” I admitted. “I really don’t get the ego trip of some doctors. It’s like good looks and no personality, so full of potential but completely worthless in the space they’re using and the air they’re breathing.”

Jack raised his brows. “Want to go take a few sips off our bottle and play technician?”

I nodded with a smile. “Please, get me the hell out of here.”

“Say no more,” he said with another soft kiss. “Got everything you need?”

“No, let me hit the locker room and I’ll meet you outside.”

Jack nodded as I opened the door and took leave of the room before him. I was on my way to tell McGuire that my last surgery was cut short when I heard him firing off at what I’d first thought was an intern. When I stopped at his door, I quickly learned different.

“You sabotaged my resident. Why, Hanson? Answer me.”

“She’s too confident and didn’t take direction well.”

“Bullshit,” McGuire barked. “She’s more capable than half of the staff and will be able to do your job better than you in half the time. I did you a favor by lending her to you for surgery but never again. From now on, you’ll get the less polished of my residents and maybe then you’ll be able to distinguish the difference.”

“Take it easy, McGuire, no one is bullying your resident.”

“Not from this moment forward, Hanson. I can promise you that. Your ego is unearned. You’re a decent surgeon, but you aren’t worth the trouble. I had to convince the board to keep you on last year. This year, I won’t raise a finger.”

“McGuire, calm down,” Hanson said with