She returned an unwavering gaze. Had she seen him wince at her words?
“Martha is one of my diabetic patients. She asked the nurse to call me.”
He nodded. “So did you feel like your blood sugar had dropped?”
The woman hung her head. “I knew when I ate Sally’s petits fours that I’d be in trouble.”
“Martha! We’ve talked about this!” Kelsey exclaimed.
“I know, hon. But there’s nothing like Sally’s petits fours. You can’t eat just one.”
Jordon cleared his throat. “Well, then, young lady …”
Martha giggled. Kelsey smiled, which captivated him.
A few seconds later Martha made a huffing noise. “You do know I’m the patient, don’t you?”
Jordon blinked and looked at her. “I’m well aware you are my patient. And apparently you don’t follow doctor’s orders. I’d like to keep you overnight and give you a good checkup just to make sure we have your blood-sugar level back in line.” He looked at Kelsey. “I also would like Ms. Davis to give you a refresher course on what to eat and not eat. Just in case there’s something that wasn’t covered.”
He noticed Kelsey stiffen but he wasn’t sure why.
“I understand,” Marsha said, with just enough humility to make him believe she might be more cautious about the number of petits fours she ate in the future.
“All right, I’ll get the paperwork started to have you admitted.”
“At least that isn’t committed,” Martha said.
Jordon chuckled. Martha reminded him of Ms. Olson, one of the patients he’d had to leave behind in DC. He’d miss her and what he’d worked so hard to build.
“I don’t think your infraction was that serious but you can’t keep eating petits fours. The nurse will be in to see about getting you admitted to the floor. I’ll check in on you this evening before I leave.”
Jordon pushed the curtain back and stepped out into the large open space of the ER. Before the curtain fell back into place Kelsey joined him.
“May I speak to you a moment, Doctor? In private.”
She didn’t wait for him to respond before she started out the double doors of the E.R. Left little choice, he followed her. She glanced back as she rounded a corner but continued on. He had a nice view of her high tight behind incased in blue pants that defined it to perfection. When he saw her again, she was standing beside a door. She pushed it open and entered as he approached.
Kelsey had no idea what she’d been thinking when Jordon had entered the small consultation room. Suddenly there hadn’t been enough space or air. She hadn’t been rational, she’d been too angry. She couldn’t afford anyone to imply she didn’t do her job well. He had inferred just that.
The chance of getting the job in Atlanta was far too important. If that got back to the administration of the new hospital she’d never have a chance at the position. It was hard enough to overcome the past, she didn’t need anything else to stand in her way. Some of the administration staff had known her as a kid and still had a hard time seeing her as a responsible employee.
The second the door clicked closed Kelsey turned to face him and took a step closer, putting only a foot between them. Looking up at the tall and rather large man, she questioned her decision-making. He gazed at her with complete innocence, which fueled her ire to the point she gritted her teeth to stop herself from doing something far more stupid and unethical.
“Back there it sounded as if you might be implying that I hadn’t done my job,” she hissed. “That I am responsible when a patient doesn’t follow dietary directions outside this hospital. I assure you that I instruct to the best of my ability but I cannot make anyone do what they don’t want to do.”
To her amazement, he looked surprised, maybe slightly annoyed.
“I didn’t mean to imply—”
“Whether you did or didn’t, it came out that way. You’ve not been here long enough to make any assumptions about my work. I don’t need there to be any insinuations or suggestions that I don’t do my job well.”
“I didn’t do either!”
“Just know I don’t appreciate what you said. You’re the new guy here and I’m going to let it go this time. If this happens again, just know we will be having another discussion. We have to work together and I’ll be professional and I expect you to be the same.”
He stepped toward her.
She’d made an uncalculated mistake. He stood squarely between her and the door. She wanted out and he was as formidable as a Stonehenge boulder.
“Are you finished?” he growled, his eyes narrowing.
Kelsey forced herself not to gulp.
“I don’t know what you think I did,” he continued, “but I assure you I didn’t say that you were responsible. I know how rumors and unsubstantiated statements can damage a career. I would never do that to anyone. As for not appreciating something, I haven’t allowed someone to harangue me in this manner since my mother caught me stealing money out of her purse when I was a kid. So, Ms. Davis, you can give it a rest.”
He turned, jerked the door open and was gone before Kelsey could form a parting word. She scowled at the closed door.
Jordon drove home down Bay Road toward the house he’d rented in a “snowbird” deal. He would live there through the winter months while he looked for a place to buy. As a kid, his house had been a part of a subdivision located further inland. He’d always envied his friends at school who lived on the water so that was where he planned to get a place. When he’d returned to town he’d decided against one of the large condos on the ocean side and had opted for a place on the bay.
Pulling the SUV into the white crushed-shell drive and beside the one-floor bungalow, he turned the engine off and looked out at the water beyond. The sea grass waved gently in the wind. Yes, he’d done the right thing by coming back here. Not all the memories were great but the ones before his parents’ divorce outnumbered those afterwards.
Hardy, his chocolate Labrador, barked his welcome as he climbed out. The dog already had a stick in his mouth, waiting for Jordon to play.
“Hey, boy.” He leaned down and gave the dog a good pat on the side. “Let me change and we’ll go to the water.”
Opening the door to the house, he stepped straight into the kitchen area. The place had been built in the sixties and little had changed. Dark paneling, overstuffed furniture with wooden armrests and laminated floors in an unappealing green didn’t deviate from the traditional décor of the times. The house wasn’t attractive but it was clean and functional. The only concession made to change was the large TV on a stand in the corner. Jordon didn’t plan to miss a single Washington Redskins’ football game if he could help it.
He pulled his knit shirt over his head as he went down the hall to the larger of the two bedrooms. Throwing his shirt in the corner, he pulled on a well-worn T-shirt. It
