“Everywhere? Hmmm, interesting,” Spence said in a deep drawl.
Spence watched as the tension immediately returned to her shoulders.
“Really, Dr. Whitman? Is it polite to eavesdrop on conversations that have nothing to do with you?” Sage asked, obviously not in the mood to banter with him.
And as much as he’d have liked to flirt with her, they needed to have a professional talk. “Follow me,” he told her, and he could read her eyes. She was thinking, Who the hell does this guy think he is to give me an order like that?
Her words didn’t quite match her thoughts, of course. “I need a break. Maybe later,” she said as she turned to leave.
“I don’t think so, Dr. Banks. This is important.” He turned, knowing she would follow. She had a backbone, but when he put on the white jacket, he was in charge, and she knew it. She’d learned that in the five months she’d been a resident. He wasn’t often at her hospital, but when he was, he was very much in charge.
She’d fought him the first couple of times they’d worked together. Then she had learned that he had a lot to teach, and she was an eager student.
“Fine,” she said.
He didn’t think she was going to be too happy about the news he had to tell her, but he also knew she’d get over it. That’s one thing he appreciated about Sage. She adapted well, and she was going to make a hell of a fine doctor. He was grateful to know he’d be a big part of her training.
It was time to introduce himself as her new boss.
What was he doing here?
Sage was quite proud that she’d managed to avoid Spence most of the time. He spent only a few days a month at her hospital, and she hadn’t been alone with him once while he was there. She hated to admit it, but he was a hell of a teacher, and she would normally be eager to learn from a man of his skills.
But since she couldn’t think of him in a nonsexual way, she figured she was better off learning from anyone else. It seemed that lately, though, exhaustion was always muddling her brain, and she couldn’t figure out what she wanted or needed anymore.
Might as well get this over with. Of course, it was just her luck that she was on the clock and couldn’t be rude to Spence. She could at least think unladylike thoughts about him, though. There was nothing he could do about that.
“You did well in there, Sage.”
“I’d prefer you call me Dr. Banks.” Well, that might have been a tad rude, but he could suck it up.
“Why so formal? It’s not as if we don’t know each other,” he replied, not acting in the least offended by her tone and demand.
“Dr. Whitman, I’ve had a long day, and I have a much longer night ahead of me. Could you just tell me whatever it is that you have to say so I can try to grab a ten-minute break before the next disaster?”
There, that was straightforward and professional. Okay, maybe a bit catty, but his ego was large enough that he wouldn’t be offended. Plus¸ she was sure there were plenty of nurses present who’d gladly bandage any injuries she inflicted upon him. Hell, they’d kiss all his wounds and make them better.
And yet her words seemed to trigger some sort of response from him. The corners of his mouth lifted and a gleam shined in his eyes. He was enjoying this dance they seemed to be in. Truth be told, so was she, though she was fighting against it like crazy.
“Yes, your night is just beginning, isn’t it? Don’t fret, I’ll be alongside you the rest of the evening,” he said as he took a step closer, causing her to retreat automatically.
“What are you talking about?”
“Hasn’t anyone told you?”
“Told me what?” She was thoroughly confused, and with an already muddled brain, she wasn’t finding this guessing game at all enjoyable. She was used to being the smartest person in the room. But she was now surrounded by experienced medical staff and was just one of many highly intelligent people.
“I’ve just taken over as the head of the ER.” Spence waited for her reaction.
But Sage knew he wanted to see emotion in her face, could tell by the way he’d delivered the message, dragging out the drama. Well, he would be disappointed.
“Fine. I need caffeine” was all she said as she turned on her heel and strode toward the doctors’ lounge. Thankfully, they’d recently installed a beautiful espresso machine and she would never have to worry about caffeine withdrawal again while at work.
During her college years, she’d gone days and days on nothing but mocha lattes. Yes, she was a doctor, and yes, she knew she had a very poor diet, but didn’t everyone have vices of one sort or another? It wasn’t as if she smoked, did drugs, or drank much alcohol. If she wanted sugar to be her poison of choice, she dared anyone to question it. It looked like mochas would be her staple for as long as she was a doctor. Hey, there were a lot of calories in a mocha, so she didn’t have to worry about starvation—just the caffeine shakes.
Scratch that whole idea. Serious shakes weren’t a good idea at all—not if she wanted to help people. So she decided on only a small mocha coffee, then sat down and waited impatiently while Spence, who’d followed her, got his own cup. Could he be lying to her about working here permanently?
“I thought you were some big-shot doctor in Seattle.”
“I am,” he replied.
She certainly didn’t have to worry about hurting his ego. It seemed to be invulnerable. And she was getting tired of this game.
“Well, even you, Dr. Whitman, with all your superpowers, can’t be in two places at once.”