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What I did, right or wrong, I did for us. He reached for her hands, rubbing his thumb over the
backs of her fingers. That morning, at the hotel, when I asked to see you again, you almost said yes.
Shock widened her eyes, parted her lips. For a moment, Gabe thought she was going to deny it, and
then it was as if something released in her and she relaxed. Yes. The admission slipped out on a
quiet breath. His fingers tightened around hers as his heart thundered in his chest. This fragile balance
building between them suddenly became the most important thing in his life. Screwing it up was not
an option.
Less than an hour ago, we decided to see each other on a personal level. I hope that meant we
were on the same page. He watched her work this over in her head and tamped down the urge to
pump his fist when she nodded. This job is background noise. You and I, that s my most major issue.
I need to know if it s still yours.
Her blue eyes held his, steady and unblinking. Yes. I want this to work.
Good. That was what he wanted to hear. What surprised him was how badly he d needed it.
You re too far away. He sat back and patted his thighs. Come here.
Her chin came up. Good. His girl still had a little fight left in her. His girl. Damn, he liked the
sound of that. He was ridiculously pleased when she pushed out of her chair and sat on his lap. He
waited until she settled herself, then he draped one arm over her hips and the other across her
shoulders. He skimmed the pad of his thumb down her arm, felt her shiver, then cuddle closer. Trust.
I took this job because this is where you are, to give us a chance at a relationship. I can walk away
right now and never give this hospital another thought except that you work here, but unless you ask
me to leave, I m staying. Now, what has you so worried about the two of us working together? He d
seen interdepartmental relationships work, but it was something she needed to resolve and he d do
whatever it took to make her feel secure where the two of them were concerned.
She rested her head on his shoulder. Her breath tickled his neck when she spoke. Working together
in the same department will be difficult. Her shoulders tensed. He slid his hands there and worked
the muscles loose. If no one knows about us&
No. I m not going to lie or hide what s going on with us. If we re doing this, we re doing it for
real. I want to date you, meet your parents he waggled his brows mow your lawn.
Administration won t like it.
They can mow their own grass.
She sighed. You know what I mean.
Yeah, he knew what she meant, but now that he was this close to having her in his life, there was no
way in hell he d let his job get in the way of keeping her there. Closing his eyes, Gabe tucked her
back in and rested his cheek on top of her head. Contentment settled over him like a well-worn
blanket and he d be damned if anyone or anything ripped it away.
It would work out, he d make it, but first he had to work it out with Beth.
Okay, let s put it on the table. What problems are we looking at?
She rested her hand on his forearm, skimmed her fingers over the hair there. A charge and a staff
nurse had a relationship a few years ago. Preferential treatment caused jealousy and resentment
among the other staff until the charge nurse transferred to another department.
So, you had a couple where one supervised the other.
Yes.
He shrugged. We re both in leadership roles, so I don t see a problem there& unless someone
takes offense if I open a door for you, or allow you to choose which table to sit at for lunch. That
was easy enough. What else?
Time off from work. Say we wanted to go on vacation& both managers would be gone.
Assistants, we both have them. Not the same thing as replacing two members of staff.
Disagreements at work bleeding over into our personal lives and causing problems between us.
We re professionals. Work related issues stay at work. Keep setting them up, babe, and I ll
keep knocking them down.
She was quiet for a moment. He gave her a gentle nudge with his chin. Is that it? Is that all you ve
got? The heavy sigh that lifted her chest told him that the next one was a biggie. Bring it, and I ll
tear it down, too.
If& She swallowed. If this doesn t work& between us& it would be difficult to work together
No. Gabe stopped that thought before she could take it any further. He pulled her face from his
neck, tipped her head back on his shoulder, and sealed his mouth over hers. Desperation and need
flavored the kiss, though whose he couldn t discern. The only if here is if the job gets in our way,
and I was looking for a job when I found this one. I chose this one to be close to you, and that s all.
Finding another won t be a problem. We come first. He banded his arms around her. You come
first. She had to know that, believe it. Trust it. I made that mistake once; I don t intend to make it
again. You and I know better than anyone that life holds no guarantees, but I say we take what we
have now and run with it, take it as far as it goes.
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