“Oh, fine, fine. Resting plenty, so don’t worry.” Destiny waved a hand. “Fussing far too much about this gala we’re having this weekend. Which is what I wanted to talk to you about.”
“It’s for your foundation?” Maybe Destiny believed that as the head of an emergency department, she had the income to make huge donations to Destiny’s nonprofit.
Destiny nodded. “That’s right. I wanted to talk about the foundation with you.”
The server came over and took their lunch orders. When he had taken their menus away, she said, “We strive tirelessly to provide treatments for people in developing nations who don’t have the access to medical care that the Western world does. I know you’ve worked at refugee camps, so you’re certainly aware of what it’s like to face an outbreak of disease with little access to pharmaceutical supplies.”
Kira nodded. “Local hospitals in the US have their own share of issues, but access to medical supplies isn’t one of them.”
“What made you decide to take a job in the emergency department?”
After trying to start her own practice and meeting only roadblocks, she had been offered a position with a cardiac team on the other side of the city, at a medical center with a private client list. But that sort of thing had never been what Kira wanted. The people with the money to solve their problems and get the care they needed weren’t the ones she was here to help.
Kira took a sip from her own water glass, the condensation leaving a wet stain on the white tablecloth. “I’ve always preferred an environment that is fast-paced, and day-to-day, you never know what you’re going to face in the ER.”
“And you work evenings?”
“My shifts are always six at night to six in the morning, which I’ve found suits me best.” Not only because it was usually busier at night and on the weekends, but also because people were less inclined to hang around and make small talk in the middle of the night.
Busy shifts went quickly, and interesting cases were like puzzles to solve. In the end, the result was saving a person’s life.
Destiny cleared her throat. “I hope you don’t think this too forward or like I’m bragging, but you know I’m friends with the hospital’s administrator and I’m one of their biggest donors. If you wanted to move out of the emergency department, I could put in a good word for you.”
“Thank you. I know I had the job offer in the first place because of your influence and our connection after that fortuitous day at the country club.” Kira smiled. They’d been tennis partners since. “But I’m very happy where I am.”
She expected the words to taste not quite right in her mouth. But they didn’t, because she was happy. She liked her job, even if she didn’t quite feel like she fit in Renegade.
Not yet, anyway.
After all, surely it wouldn’t seem this way forever. One day she would realize she’d been here long enough to put down roots, and this city might even start to feel like home.
“What made you choose Renegade out of all the places in the world you could’ve picked to practice medicine?” Destiny smiled, but it didn’t seem to be completely natural. “Not that I’m complaining, since it seems like kismet that you fell right into my lap.”
Whatever that was about, Kira wasn’t going to explain that she had thoroughly researched the four-man team of Delta Force soldiers who had stormed into the medical tent at the refugee camp that day. Or that she had discovered where they were from and who they were. Months after she had met them, they’d been declared dead—killed in action. That was a whole other story she didn’t want to think about right now, but looking into those men had put Renegade, Colorado, on her radar.
“I researched all the open positions that I might like at hospitals all across the country, and as soon as I saw pictures of Renegade, I knew I wanted to move here. The combination of a metropolitan area with a small-town feel and a short drive to reach mountains and the wilderness sold me on moving here.”
“I’m so glad you did.” Destiny reached over and patted her hand. “I won’t beat around the bush, dear. The Healing Hearts Foundation is desperately in need of a fresh face to be our spokesperson. I hope you will come to the gala and get to know the staff, as well as see what we are about. And then I hope you’ll give serious consideration to joining me on staff and helping to get sufficient medical supplies to people who really are in desperate need of them.”
The server deposited their plates in front of them with a flourish. Kira stared down at the small portion of white fish surrounded by leafy greens she couldn’t have named. All of it was covered in a sauce that was an odd orange color.
Before she went to work tonight, she was going to stop off at her favorite hole-in-the-wall drive-through burger place and get a large fries with her bacon double cheeseburger. With all the walking she did on shift, she would burn off those calories by morning.
Tomorrow, right around dawn, she would run four miles on her favorite trail to bleed off the stress and strain of her job. She would get seven hours of sleep, and then she would do it all over again. Rinse, repeat.
She liked her life and the predictability of it. She would’ve said everything was fine and that she didn’t need anything else.
But why did thinking about her routine make her so sad?
“What do you say?”
Kira smiled at her lunch companion. “I would love to attend the gala.”
Three
The basketball bounced off red brick and sent a dusting of concrete into the air. Luca snatched the ball and turned, tossing it toward the basket so that it sailed over Hammer’s head. It bounced off the rim and sank into the net. Overhead, the night sky was threaded with clouds obscuring whatever stars might be visible.
Probably he should start thinking of the guy as “Rowan,” since that’s how everyone here referred to Hammer.