Slumping behind the nurse’s station, I gulped down some badly needed coffee. It had long since gone cold. It didn’t matter. My brain was still half-asleep, and my belly was an empty hole. I needed either food or coffee—both would be appreciated, but I wouldn’t be picky.

I’d expected to be off today. It wasn’t my usual day for it, but with the holidays approaching and some of the staff traveling, I was working in a few extra days and taking off on others to make the schedule work. So I’d planned on sleeping in and enjoying a lazy day, maybe wrapping up my shopping.

Then the stupid phone rang, and Raisa’s panicked voice pulled me out of dreamland.

One of the surgeons was out sick with food poisoning. Could I come in and cover?

The energy bar I’d eaten on the way out the door hadn’t done much to energize me, and the jump of energy I’d gotten from the coffee earlier had long since faded.

I glanced at my watch and decided I was going to sneak off for my break a little early.

Just as I made that decision, somebody called out, “Dr. Downing!”

The cheer in the voice made me tired. I was too worn out for cheerful. Some people were morning people. Not me. Granted, it was past eleven, so it wasn’t like it was early, but that wasn’t the point. “I need more caffeine,” I muttered as I scanned the buzzing emergency department.

Kris, one of the assistants who manned the front desk, waved at me.

She had that familiar wide grin on her face as she approached. “I think I figured out why you didn’t say anything. If I had a sexy thing like that, I’d keep him all to myself too.”

“Huh?” I blinked at her.

She laughed, the bright giggles practically assaulting me. “Your guy. Let me guess…he’s big, tattooed, reddish-brown hair, got a rough sort of bad-boy look going on?”

Cormac.

I didn’t say anything, just arched a brow.

She huffed out a sigh. “You are no fun. He’s out front. Pacing a hole through the floor, and I think he’s making the security guards nervous. He wanted to come back here, and I had to give him the whole patient confidentiality thing. You got a few minutes to go out and talk to him?”

“Yeah.” I checked the board to make sure nobody else was on break, then marked myself out so they’d know. “I’ll be back soon, Charissa.”

My nurse nodded at me, curiosity gleaming in her eyes.

I could feel half the floor staring at me as I followed Kris through the doors that led out front.

Sure enough, it was Cormac.

I hadn’t exactly had any doubts. It wasn’t like I knew a whole lot of big, tattooed gingers, right?

He caught sight of me the second the doors swung open and stopped mid-step, turning to face me.

I smiled at him. From the corner of my eye, I could see the security guards, and it was pretty obvious they were all taking a keen interest in him too. Hoping to put them at ease, I reached out and put a hand on his arm.

It also served to keep him from bending down to kiss me, especially when paired with my arched brows.

He made a show of rolling his eyes at me. “Let me guess,” he said in a low, teasing whisper. “PDA isn’t allowed.”

“It’s not…encouraged,” I responded. “Not very professional.” I looked him up and down instinctively. There was something jumpy about him, something on edge. “You’re not hurt, are you?”

“No.” He covered my hand with his, his thumb sweeping across my skin in a lazy caress. “I just wanted to see you. That a problem?”

Tipping my head back, I studied his face, his eyes. They were locked on me with a steady focus that belied that teasing, charming grin he directed at me.

Part of me wanted to push.

I ignored it.

I’d told myself I was going to trust him. At least for now. “Come on,” I told him, turning and hooking my arm through his. “I ended up getting called in unexpectedly and only had time for one of those crappy breakfast bars. I’m so hungry, I could eat a horse.”

“Think you’ll find anything better in the hospital?” he asked skeptically.

“I’ll have you know they make great fries here. And the deli sandwiches are made to order.” I gave him an arch look.

He made a sound that was clearly unimpressed but didn’t resist as I tugged him along. We were halfway to the cafeteria when he spoke again. “So, you got called in this morning? At the last minute?”

“Yes.” I hooked a right by the cardiac rehab department and led him down yet another long, gleaming white hallway.

“This place is a maze,” he muttered. “How do you keep from getting lost?”

“Signs help.” I pointed one out with a sober look. “Especially the first few weeks.”

“Brat.” He nudged me with his elbow, a faint smile on his lips. “You get called in at the last minute often?”

“Here?” I shrugged. “Not so much. Happened more at my last job, although half the time, I wasn’t informed until I was already at work and then I’d be expected to stay and work a double. It can be exhausting.” The doors to the cafeteria loomed up ahead of us, and I gestured to them. “We’re here.”

He remained silent, only speaking to the woman behind the counter to offer his order, then to the cashier when he shoved a twenty at her, saying, “For both of these.”

“Thanks,” I said as he took both trays and started to wind through the busy dining area.

We sat down to eat, Cormac still uncharacteristically silent. It made me fidgety, but I fought back the urge to toy with my utensils, with my hair, with my soft drink. Focusing on my food instead, I tried to talk myself into calming down.

I’d almost managed too.

Then I glanced up as a co-worker said, “Hello.”

The intent way Cormac was staring at me made my heart lurch. I kept my expression blank through sheer force of will alone, shifting my gaze past him to see one of the nurses from the medical-surgical floor. I waved, ignoring the blatantly curious stare she gave Cormac.

I met his eyes. “Are you sure you’re okay?”

“Why wouldn’t I be?” he asked, offering a crooked grin.

“I don’t know. You just seem…I don’t know. On edge about something.”

He reached out and stroked a finger down the back of my hand. “Well, there is a certain edge I’m dealing with. But we can’t do anything about it here.” He wagged his eyebrows at me.

I couldn’t help but laugh.

Withdrawing my hand, I took another sip of my soft drink. “You’re incorrigible, Cormac.”

“That’s what Mum always said,” he told me with a heavy sigh.