“Both shifts? Way to go, Ava. You screwed two doctors with one stone.”

She bristled when an angry voice stopped her. She turned around to see Brian standing there shaking his head. “I’m sorry, Brian. I couldn’t have anticipated this and you know—”

“No need. I understand. You scored points with the dragon queen and maybe there’ll even be fringe benefits staying at Maximilian’s house.”

“What are you insinuating? If you think I took this assignment…” She trailed off when Brian turned around and walked away, still shaking his head dismissively.

Spoiled, rich brat.

She didn’t bother to follow him to explain herself further and continued straight to Dr. Follett’s office where the team would be meeting.

She took a moment to gather herself, inhaling and exhaling two steady yoga breaths, then knocked on Dr. Follett’s office door, squashing the butterflies that still fluttered within her, as she followed the command to enter. The last thing she needed was a case of immature stutters and blushing before him and all her peers.

Her eyes found Aleksander immediately and he stared at her a bit longer than necessary as well. Breaking their gaze, Ava took a seat in one of the extra chairs that had been pulled into the office.

Sydney and Whitney were already seated. Their somber expressions mixed with the tightly restrained grief on Aleksander’s face gave the room a depressing mood. Mrs. Blackthorn sat beside Aleksander, her round belly adding to her sophisticated beauty, and Dr. Follett sat behind his desk, wearing his usual down-to-business expression.

“Now then, since we’re all here, we’ll discuss the particulars,” Dr. Follett started, and went on to tell them about their stratospheric salaries—which if they had been known before, would have had doctors fighting each other to be on the care team—their free hours, and he explained some of the technicalities of their working contract, and finished with, “Our legal team and Mr. Maximilian will be drafting the contracts based on the ones you initially signed when you started work here. Of course, the same safety and ethical rules apply.”

Involuntarily, Ava glanced towards Aleksander. Their gazes collided before she returned her attention to Dr. Follett, who was saying, “I will have them for you to sign shortly.”

Ava shifted uncomfortably in her seat, wondering what was going through Aleksander’s mind, because hers was spinning in circles with so many questions. The memory of his touch was electric on her skin and she straightened to stifle the butterflies that threatened to let her secret out.

Dr. Follett finished the meeting after a lengthy and careful explanation of the medication prescription, the exams and procedures, and all the other medical necessities Olivia would need for her stay at Lake Tahoe, saying, “I’ll visit once a week—more if necessary, but I have faith in you. Would you like to ask or add anything, Mr. Maximilian?”

“I think you’ve covered everything, Doctor Follett. Thank you so much for your time,” he said, grateful for the effort the medical staff gave to make sure Oliva was taken care of.

“I’ll have the paperwork ready to sign shortly so make sure to stop by my office before you leave today.” Dr. Follett stood, with a satisfied smile, and wrapped up his part of the meeting, “Now, Mrs. Blackthorn and Mr. Maximilian will continue with you.”

After Dr. Follett shook hands and said his goodbyes, Hannah Blackthorn proceeded with explanations about flights and schedules and other benefits associated with the assignment, with Aleksander inserting a comment here and there. Less than an hour later, it was all done and they were shaking hands.

“Dr. Larsen,” Aleksander said, with her hand still in his.

Ava looked up into his eyes when he dropped the handshake.

She hated the way he said her name, somewhere between a question and a summons—though she could not say she didn’t want to be summoned before him.

For Kristus’s sake! “Yes?” she answered, maintaining her professional tone, even though he was unraveling her fast, and it took everything in her power to stay in control. Don’t you dare give anything away. Think of Olivia. Think of your career.

“I am trusting you with my most precious treasure, doctor, and I very much need this holiday to be successful. Are you sure you can handle the…situation?”

“You can trust me, Mr. Maximilian.”

His lips parted slightly as if to say something, but the words didn’t make it out. He cleared his throat and turned to Hannah, “Is that all?”

Hannah smiled and stood, “I think we’ve covered everything. Thank you all again for agreeing to take care of Oliva and give her the best holidays she could ask for.”

After tying everything up and passing on her patients to doctor Leslie Carter, Ava went to Joseph Cumber’s office to explain why she wouldn’t be able to cover him for New Year’s Eve.

Under the circumstances, he was understanding and assured her he’d find alternative coverage, wishing her good luck on her assignment. Relieved that he wasn’t upset, she headed to Dr. Follett’s office to formalize her assignment with Olivia Maximilian.

Part of her felt guilty for even thinking of Aleksander in any way other than her patient’s father, but another part felt even more guilty for taking on the assignment without telling Dr. Follett about the situation.

She had been debating with herself all day on whether she should mention her relations with Aleksander, though she feared it could get her kicked off the team, and Ava wanted very much to remain its lead doctor, not only because Olivia was an adorable girl, but it would also be an incredible experience which would help her career. And it went without saying that Aleksander was a bonus, even if she would just be looking at him.

With a sigh, she knocked on Dr. Follett’s door.

As soon as Ava entered his office, Dr. Follett expressed his appreciation for her volunteering and in the same breath wished her good luck.

“It’s nothing. Anyone would be happy to help,” she said, genuinely modest.

“I’m afraid that’s not true. As you saw for yourself, many in fact, did not volunteer.”

“Well, yes, but with the holidays, and everything…”

Dr. Follett raised his palm in dismissal and waved for her to sit. Ava quietly took a seat in front of his desk as he set several sheets of paper side by side on the end of his desk nearest Ava. He explained what each one was as she signed the various waivers, leave of absence, guarantee of employment, and to her dying shame, ethical procedures for teams working in residences.

She only half-listened though, pre-occupied as she was with Brian’s allegation and how it touched too closely on what she felt she was unethically hiding.

“Well, that’s that, Dr. Larsen. You’re all set legally, and as much as we’ll be looking forward to your return, we can’t help but wish for an extended absence for Olivia’s sake.”

“Of course. But I’d prefer a miraculous cure and a quick return, if I had my way,” Ava replied.

“As would I,” he said, then made a small show of returning his Mont Blanc to its place and looking at his computer screen, and taking hold of his mouse. He looked back at her and said, “Thank you again, Dr. Larsen. Please come see me as soon as you return. There’ll be paperwork we’ll need to do on the other end.”

“Yes, doctor. I will,” she said, but still made no move to leave, or even get up.

He returned to his computer work, then after a short time in silence that quickly became awkward, he asked, “Was there anything else? Concerns or questions?”

Ava told herself not to hesitate. Otherwise she’d never do it and it would haunt her the whole time. Just do it—like jumping in the ice cold lake back home. “Dr. Follett, I do have a concern—an ethical one. I met a man last night at Dr. Jenny Maguire’s birthday celebration at the Rose Bar. It turned into an impromptu date, and…” How do I say this? ”It turned…passionate—”

“Doctor, I can see how easily a new relationship can be strained by a sudden departure, but what you do in your private life is…well, private. I’m sure that I’m not the right person—”

“The man was Aleks—” she interrupted herself to finish lamely, “Mr. Maximilian.”

“Oh,” Dr. Follett said, momentarily speechless at the unexpected revelation.

“I didn’t know he was Olivia’s father or I never would have—I mean, it just wouldn’t have happened. Nothing would have happened if I had known. Then I saw him today in the meeting and that’s actually why I didn’t volunteer sooner. I didn’t know if I should. I still don’t know if it’s appropriate.”

Ava felt better to a degree now that it was at least out in the open. She didn’t feel guilty. Or not as guilty as she had.

“Have you and Mr. Maximilian discussed this and the ethical questions this relationship raises?”

“We haven’t spoken since last night when he—”

“I don’t need to know,” the doctor blurted, raising a palm.

Ava blushed. “I was going to say, since he drove me home. And we’re not in a relationship, if that helps.”

“Do you intend to be?”

Ava didn’t know how to answer that. She didn’t know what she intended. Or rather, she had no intentions. Her default course of action would’ve been to do nothing. She wasn’t looking to be involved with anyone. But Aleksander did have a way of maintaining a persistent presence in her mind since their good night kiss.

“Ava? Are you planning on staying involved with him?”

“I’m not planning anything,” she said, too abruptly and defensively and immediately regretted her tone. “I’m sorry. I just mean to say that I haven’t had the time or a chance to think about this at all. The only thought I had was to not volunteer and thus avoid any potential problem. But then I was sort of pushed into it—and I don’t mean that in a bad way—and now, here I am.” She gave a smile that pleaded for understanding and whatever guidance he could provide.

Dr. Follett strummed his fingers against the solid oak desk as he searched for a solution. “I suppose if you and Mr. Maximilian discuss this before you fly to Nevada and come to an agreement that any potential relationship would necessarily have to wait until...the end of the assignment, then there shouldn’t be any issue, and I will keep this in my confidence.”

“Thank you, doctor. That sounds so obvious, I should’ve thought of it myself. I probably would have,” she said, rising from her chair. If not for Brian making me feel like a cheap whore. “If I had just given myself more time. Thank you again, doctor. For everything.”

Before heading out, Ava stopped in the women’s restroom and heard a woman cry out from one of the stalls. She set her purse on the sink counter and called out, “Hello?”

No one answered, but Ava could hear heavy breathing. She imagined a woman in one of the stalls in a lot of pain, but too embarrassed to say anything. She decided not to force the issue and chose a stall with an open door. After she finished and was washing her hands, she could’ve swore she heard a giggle. She turned around and bent down, looking under the stall doors and saw four feet in one of them; men’s and women’s shoes. That pissed her off.

She walked over and banged on the stall door. “Who’s in there?”

Again, silence.

“I know there’s a man in there, and this is the women’s restroom. Come out now or I’m calling security.”

She heard a rustle of clothing, then the click of the lock disengaging after a moment.

The door swung open and a nurse she didn’t know said, “We were just talking.”

She stepped out of the stall and Brian came out with his shirt still out half of his trousers, which were just zipped but unbuttoned.

He grabbed her arm and smiled sweetly. “It’s cool, Ava. We weren’t doing anything.”

She shook her arm free from his grip. “It’s not cool, Brian. I don’t use the toilet in my own home with a man in the bathroom. I don’t appreciate the violation of what little privacy I have in a work restroom.”

The nurse looked down at her shoes. Brian’s face turned red.

“Okay. I get it,” he said. “I’m sorry, and it won’t happen again.”

“It better not. I’m sure Dr. Wang wouldn’t think it was cool that you were…talking in the ladies room.” Ava grabbed her purse and left.

But she hadn’t taken two steps when she heard the nurse speaking, “Geez, that woman is uptight. Hasn’t she ever wanted to have a little fun at work?”

Brian responded, “Dr. Larsen wouldn’t know fun if it came up and sucked her tit. She’s a Class A bitch. But now that’s she gone, where were we?”

Openmouthed and stunned, Ava heard the stall door shut and lock. Oh, you stupid, spoiled brat!

Standing in front of Dr. Wang’s office door to report on Brian’s disgusting behavior, Ava hesitated to knock. If there was a single human on the face of the planet capable of destroying a soul—and a career—with a glance, it was Dr. Paloma Wang. Oddly enough, the woman also possessed the ability to leave one speechless when she decided someone was good enough to be complimented on their work.

Taking a deep breath, Ava knocked on the door and entered when Dr. Wang summoned her in.

“Good evening,” Ava said lamely, and the sharp look she got in response made her regret bothering the doctor. Still, leaving suddenly would only make matters worse, so she closed the door behind her and spoke as fast as she could. “I wanted to report an ethical issue.”

Dr. Wang sat back in her chair and removed her glasses, fully interested. “Go on.”

“Well, I don’t mean to sound like a gossip telling on the other doctors or anything.”

“Out with it, Dr. Larsen.”

Ava swallowed hard. “Right. I just saw Dr. Brian Duncan and a nurse I didn’t recognize, uh, talking in the women’s restroom.”

With a sardonic smile, Dr. Wang raised a thin brow. “Talking?”

Damn. She’s going to make me say it out loud. “Well, I caught them having sex in a toilet stall.”

Other than the slight narrowing of eyes and the subtle pursing of lips, Dr. Wang seemed otherwise unbothered, though Ava knew that such an act was unraveling the doctor at her core. “Is that all?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“Thank you,” Dr. Wang said, replacing her glasses on the bridge of her nose and returning her gaze to her computer.

“That’s it?” Ava asked, hating herself for not tucking tail and running while the air was still breathable.

“That’s it, Dr. Larsen. I will look into the matter and make sure the proper actions are taken to ensure the integrity of our establishment. You may leave.”

Ava didn’t wait another second and exited the room. Part of her hoped Brian wouldn’t lose his job over the issue, though if he did, he certainly brought it on himself.

She put it out of her mind and instead thought of her own predicament. She needed to make sure she didn’t end up in a similar situation.

And that meant resisting Aleksander’s charms and denying her urges for two, maybe three whole months, a feat Ava wasn’t sure she would be able to accomplish.