Sway knocked on his boss’s door and walked in at the same time he heard her sharp voice bark an abrupt, ‘it’s open’. He shook his head in dismay, looking down at her cluttered desk in the tight space that had once been a storage closet.
“Didn’t mean to bother you but the students need their schedules for next week.” Sway watched her frantically scan the multiple stacks of papers. The head of the nursing department should’ve been able to keep herself more organized, but he’d never seen anyone as disoriented as Marge Best.
“Oh my gosh. It’s um, it’s around here somewhere, Sway. I’m so sorry.” She pulled at a few tendrils of oily brown strands of hair that had fallen loose from her haphazard ponytail. If he hadn’t seen her arrive at six this morning, he would’ve sworn she’d slept there.
Sway did a quick scan over her desk and pointed to the corner where some papers lay neglected under more bundles of papers. “Right there, Marge. If you give them to me, I’ll get everyone notified of their duties today and what to expect for next week’s rotations.”
Marge looked as if she wanted to get up and maneuver around the death contraption and give him a huge kiss, instead she smiled in relief and handed over the thick stack of papers. Sway didn’t mind helping Marge, he was basically her right hand after working side by side with her for six years in emergency. Besides three other nurses with a bachelor’s, Sway was the only one with a master’s in nursing in the emergency department, so most responsibilities, questions, and inquiries automatically worked their way to him. He didn’t bother to stay and try to talk Marge off whatever cliff she was dangling over today—she was the one who made the six-figure salary, not him it looked like she’d earn every dime of it by the end of the day.
Sway hurried down the busy halls, trying to get to the break room to eat a couple quick bites of his tuna sandwich before the midday rush. He’d never understand how there was always an influx of emergencies after lunch time and then right after dinner. As if people waited to get hurt when it was most convenient for themselves.
Sway was wiping at a stain on his blue scrubs when he ran into a hard obstacle, knocking him backwards a few steps; taking with him, not only the contents in his hands, but also the poor individual he’d just tried to run through.
Sway heard an easy chuckle before a smooth voice responded. “Where’s the fire, Nurse Hamilton?”
Sway’s eyes widened at the sight of one of the most respected surgeons in the hospital. “Oh no. Dr. Chauncey, I’m so sorry. I wasn’t even looking where I was going.” Sway struggled to regain his bearings as he hurried to pick up folders and papers that’d rained down onto the linoleum floor. While he rambled on more apologies, Sway realized there were more people with Dr. Cayson Chauncey, including the Chief of Surgery and head of the Nephrology department. “I really apologize.”
“It’s okay, Sway. It was an accident,” Cayson said, gently extracting the folder he’d been carrying from Sway’s grasp.
Sway managed an uncomfortable smile, standing amongst three of the most amazing medical minds he’d ever had the pleasure of meeting. Cayson must’ve realized that Sway was stuck on stupid for a few seconds and graciously put him out of his misery.
“Rich, James, I’m not sure if you know Sway Hamilton. He’s one of the most talented RNs our emergency department has ever seen. He’s been a charge nurse down there for almost a year now. He runs the entire unit with Nurse Best,” Cayson boasted, making Sway’s face heat to a blazing temperature.
“Is that so?” The Chief of Surgery said with raised brows.
“It is. He works mostly with the students. And I’ve witnessed myself how well they respond to his leadership and methods of teaching. Don’t even get me started on the amazing way he has with patients. I’ve wanted him in Nephrology, for years but he keeps telling me no.” Cayson looked at Sway pointedly, but his smile and subtle wink showed just how not upset about it he was.
Still, Sway shook his head adamantly. “I never said no. I just want to be an asset to your team and I feel I would benefit from a little more experience in that area of medicine before I consider that position,” Sway said with a lot more surety than he felt in front of these accomplished physicians.
Cayson wasn’t at all disappointed in Sway’s response. In fact, he looked quite proud. “You see what I mean. Brains. Discipline. Focus. He has the nurse trifecta.” Cayson laughed along with the other doctors. He patted Sway’s shoulder in parting. “You have a good day, Nurse Hamilton. It was a pleasure running into you.”
Sway nodded to Cayson as he moved past, and idiotically bowed to the Chief of Surgery as if he was the emperor of a dynasty. Sway didn’t slap his forehead when the doctor accepted his bow with an amused smile, but he wanted to. He wasn’t sure why he’d done that, but a nod, even a hand shake, didn’t seem appropriate. He was still berating himself for being an idiot when he felt a surprisingly strong hand on his shoulder and warm, espresso scented breath close to his ear.
“I certainly hope you’ll get that additional experience soon. I look forward to seeing you again, Nurse Hamilton.”
“Um, Sway. Calling me Sway is fine, Dr. Dominick.”
Sway watched keen gray eyes study him for long seconds as if he was the good doctor’s latest, most interesting case. Finally, Dr. Dominick’s bow lips curved upwards, “And James works just fine for me, Sway.”
Sway stood in the middle of the hallway, while the head of Nephrology made his exit. The man who’d co-created with Dr. Chauncey, and helped fund the hospital’s new Living Donor Kidney program had just asked for Sway to simply call him James, as if he was just another guy who worked there. Other professionals noted Dr. Dominick as he walked, recognizing him immediately. The men were respectful and maybe even a little envious of him, of his prestige. And the women, the women were simply captivated. The eligible bachelor moved with a confidence most doctors possessed, but he lacked the annoying air of superiority that usually came with it. That wasn’t his personality, at least from what Sway could tell and from what he’d heard. Dr. James Dominick was brilliant, kind and very rich. The physician trifecta.
It took him a couple of seconds to come out of his stupor. He blinked down at the now disorganized stack of papers in his hand as if the answer to his question might be amidst the students’ schedules.
Had the Dr. James Dominick been flirting with him? He wasn’t sure of the doctor’s sexuality, he kept that part of himself personal and strictly confidential. Maybe James was gay and interested. Was that what Sway wanted?
No.
Well, what the hell do I want?
The thought of a silent bounty hunter came to mind. Sway pulled out his cell phone.