Seducing The Boss (Pulse #2) - Mari Carr Page 0,46

surgeons.”

“Then thank you for what you did for us.”

Kellan hung back as Mom went into his dad’s room. It was hard to believe the man in the bed was his larger-than-life father. For the first time ever, he looked small and fragile.

“Give it to me straight, Sara. What happened in that operating room?”

“Your father’s will to live is incredible. You have to believe he’ll be okay.”

“You said that to my mother. Now fill in the blanks.”

“They lost him on the table twice. Had to resuscitate him. He’s still not out of the woods.”

“Shit,” Kellan murmured, instantly sorry he had asked.

“That’s why he’s still listed as critical?” Kellan asked, unable to shake the image of that flat line on the machine. “If they removed the spleen, and he can survive without it—”

“The accident caused other injuries, including a broken rib that punctured his lung. There was a lot to repair,” Sara explained.

She reached out to take his hand, giving it a comforting squeeze. “But I have a good feeling, Kellan. You get your bullheaded stubbornness from that man in there. He’s not ready to go, so he won’t.”

Kellan was used to being compared to his dad. They favored each other in coloring and build—and personality. They were driven, opinionated, and not particularly great at listening, at least according to his mother.

In the past, he’d rejected the comparisons, the likenesses. Kellan preferred to think of himself as his own man. Now, he was proud to be like his dad. And he hoped to God he got the chance to tell him that. If his father died before Kellan could apologize and tell him that he loved him, he would never forgive himself.

“You okay?”

He nodded slowly. “Yeah. I’m going to hang out here a little longer.”

Sara glanced at her watch. “My break is over. I’m working a second shift, so I’ll be close by if you need me.”

Kellan felt a strong urge to kiss her again, but he recalled Sara’s comment about getting them fired. He didn’t want to put her job at risk. The hospital—the ER—needed her.

“I’ll come find you later. Maybe we can grab a cup of coffee in the cafeteria.”

“It’s a date.” She winked and turned, walking away unaware of the impact her little joke had on him.

A date. With Sara.

That sounded pretty damn good to him.

…

Kellan walked through the hallways like a robot. It had been a full twenty-four hours since he’d entered the hospital yesterday morning, intent on continuing his seduction of Sara. Then his world had spun on its axis and left him hanging upside down, fighting to find some sort of balance again.

Finally he found her in the doctor’s lounge. The room was empty except for her. She was staring down, and for a moment, he wondered if she was asleep. Or praying.

“Sara?”

Sara looked up at him sleepily, her hands cupped around a mug of coffee. “Your dad?”

“Resting. My mom is with him. She’s given me orders to get out of here and get some sleep. So I’m doing the same to you. Grab your stuff. We’re going home.”

She looked like she might argue, so he tugged her up from the table and kissed her. The door to the lounge was open. Anyone in the world could see them. He was too tired to care.

Apparently, even exhausted, Sara had more sense than him. She backed away.

“Kellan.”

“We’re leaving.” She hesitated until he added, “No funny business. I swear. We’re both coasting on fumes. I just want to make sure you get home okay.”

Sara smiled appreciatively. “I was actually just sitting here wondering how I was going to drive. I can’t keep my eyes open. Let me tell them I’m going.”

She opened a locker, retrieved her purse and jacket, and then followed him to the charge nurse’s desk. If the woman found it unusual for Sara to be leaving with the hospital CEO, she had the good grace to keep that opinion to herself. She thanked Sara for all her hard work and told her to get some rest.

They were quiet on the ride to her home. She’d left her car at the hospital, not bothering to argue when he insisted on driving her. Despite her own fatigue, she managed to remain awake, and he knew she was keeping an eye on him, making sure he didn’t fall asleep. They were equals in exhaustion.

When they pulled into her driveway, Kellan sat numbly behind the wheel, unmoving. He wondered where the nearest coffee shop was. He wasn’t going to