“Mr. Davidson is doing well. BP and oxygen levels normal.” She gave him a wide smile.
It was a skill she had perfected, smiling like a demented flight attendant even in the face of cold disapproval.
He ignored her and proceeded to check all the readings that Josie had just recorded on the chart. She stood there silently, feeling humiliation slide into anger. Surely he thought her capable of doing a simple BP read? A second-week nursing student could do that.
“How are you feeling, Mr. Davidson?” Dr. Hayes said in a clipped voice as his eyes ran over the IV bag and heart rate monitor.
“Fine, just sleepy. You’re not going to ask me the same questions Dr. Adkins just did, are you?” Mr. Davidson’s smile was considerably less warm than the ones he’d given Josie. “Because if it’s all the same to you, I’d rather catch some shut-eye.”
So there. Josie felt juvenile satisfaction.
“That’s a great idea. We’ll just see about moving you up to your room.”
She’d beaten him to that, too. Josie said, in a patented cheerful voice, “I’ve already arranged it. Third floor is on their way to transport him.”
He paused in the act of flicking his black hair out of his eye. “Well, aren’t you the busy little bee?”
It shouldn’t bother her, she knew. It was a casual light comment he might have made to anyone, and she didn’t imagine he intended to sound patronizing. But given her current mood of frustration, it rankled too much to let slip by without comment.
“Buzz, buzz,” she said, capping her words off with anotherbright smile.
His eyes narrowed.
He gestured for them to leave, glancing at Mr. Davidson who seemed to be sleeping, or trying to anyway.
Conscious of Dr. Hayes following right behind her, she pushed through the doors of the recovery room and stepped out into the hall. She wondered if he intended to shadow her on her rounds, something he only did on occasion. Too bad she couldn’t go home and clean the oven instead. With a toothbrush. That sounded about as fun.
A moment later he fell in step beside her, and touched her elbow. Josie came to a screeching halt, an embarrassing little gasp slipping out of her mouth. Yikes. Why the hell was he touching her?
“Can I speak to you a moment?” he said.
When she darted a glance over at him, he was frowning.
“Um, sure, of course.” Like she was going to tell her boss no. Not that he was herboss, technically. But he did outrank her. Supervise her. Was responsible for the trajectory of her career based on his assessment of her performance. Damn it. He was her boss.
“In private.”
Josie felt her lip drop down into the area of her chest as she stared at him. “No problem.”
She was in trouble. There was no other explanation. He was going to fire her and suggest she take her drop-and-spill act on the road.
“Your office?” she suggested, trying to sound like the mature adult she sometimes was. She couldn’t prevent a little wheezing sound from escaping her mouth, though.
Dr. Hayes looked around the empty hallway and shook his head. “That’s halfway across the building. Let’s just go in here.”
And he opened the door to the supply room and gestured for her to step inside.
A darkened room.
Alone.
Again.
In private.
The underwear image returned, full force.
Her body flushed, and her nipples perked up.