The pro bono budget was dwindling and she wished she could help more, because at one time in her life she’d been in the poorest of the poor’s shoes, getting by on only sub-par medical care.
It was why her sister Shyanne had died.
Shyanne had hidden her pregnancy from her parents, knowing they couldn’t afford to help her with medical bills, but the pregnancy had turned out to be ectopic. Virginia had happened to be home on a school break in her first year of medical school and had kicked herself for not seeing the signs early enough.
By the time the ambulance had come to take Shyanne to the hospital, she was gone. Ruptured fallopian tube. She’d bled out too fast.
It was one reason why Virginia donated so much time to the pro bono cases, why she didn’t want Bayview’s ER closed, like the free clinic had been closed.
There was a knock on her office door, but before she could answer the man in question swaggered into the room and she had to remember herself. She had to control the flush that was threatening to creep up her neck and erupt in crimson blooms in her cheeks.
It was a damn pain in the rump that she was basically his boss and that he was so devilishly sexy. Reddish-gold hair, green eyes like emeralds. Even the scar on his cheek, which just grazed that deep, deep dimple, made the young woman she’d buried under her businesslike façade squeal just a little bit. He was the quintessential bad boy and she’d always had a soft spot for bad boys. Even though her mother had warned her not to give them the time of day.
Virginia and Shyanne had listened. Shyanne had got involved with a good boy. One who had been a golden son of De Smet, South Dakota. A golden son who had knocked Shyanne up and taken off on a football scholarship, leaving Shyanne in the lurch.
“You wanted to see me, Dr. Potter?”
“Yes. Please, take a seat.” Pulling at the collar of her blouse, she motioned to the seat in front of her desk. When he moved closer she caught a whiff of his scent. A clean scent of something spicy but rugged and the smell made her insides flutter. With a calming breath she folded her hands neatly in front of her on her blotter. “The board has asked me to speak with you.”
A brief smile quirked on his lips as he sat down. “Again?”
“Yes. Are you surprised?”
“Not really.I did happen to catch the expression of some of those investors today.”
“You think it’s funny?”
Gavin cocked his head to one side. “A bit.”
Virginia bit her lip and silently counted to ten. “I managed to smooth things over.”
He rolled his eyes. “Look, can I lay something out for you, Dr. Potter?”
She was stunned. “Of course, by all means.”
“I don’t care what the board approves or disapproves of. I don’t care if they think the way I practice medicine is barbaric.”
“I don’t think they actually said barbaric, Dr. Brice.”
He grinned. “Please, call me Gavin.”
Virginia swallowed the lump in her throat. It was the first time since they’d met that he’d asked her to use his first name. Not that they’d had much social interaction, besides work-related conversations, and these seemingly frequent discussions about the board and his disregard for following hospital policies.
“Gavin, if you’re unhappy, perhaps there’s something we can do, or I can do, to make your practice here better?”
“There’s nothing you can do. Frankly, I wouldn’t be happy anywhere outside Border Free Physicians.”
Intriguing. “Then can I ask you a personal question?”
“Of course, but I may not answer.”
Touché. “Why did you leave Border Free Physicians and apply here?”
Gavin’s easy smile faded and his mouth pressed into a thin line, his brow furrowing. Virginia couldn’t help but wonder if this was something he wasn’t going to answer. In his few weeks here she’d ascertained he was a private man. He didn’t socialize with many people, ate his lunch alone and did his job efficiently, as far as Virginia was concerned. Maybe not to the board’s approval, but as long as the patients lived and there were no lawsuits she was happy.
“I’m needed here,” he said finally. Only that’s all he said. No explanation about why he’d applied for the job or why he’d told her he wasn’t happy here and wouldn’t be happy anywhere but with Border Free Physicians.
So why had he left?
“You look confused,” Gavin said, the teasing tone returning to his voice.
“Not confused.” Oh, who am I kidding? “Okay, a bit confused.”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t really want to put you in this position.”
“You haven’t put me in a position, Dr. Brice.”
“Gavin.”
Heat bloomed in her cheeks. “Gavin. I only want to help you, even if this position is not the one you want.”
Gavin nodded his head. “I thank you for that.”
“For what?”
“For trying to help, but I really don’t think I need it.”
“I know it’s difficult, you came from a job where you worked in rough conditions and had to think on your feet and quickly, but the board of directors has to protect the hospital’s best interests.”
“Isn’t that basically what all trauma surgeons do?”
Virginia smiled. “Yes, but there are certain rules and regulations that have to take place in a hospital setting. They feel what happened today was inappropriate.”
He snorted. “Inappropriate to save a man’s life?”
“There are rules and the board is protecting the interests of the hospital.”
“So you keep reiterating.”
“It seems I have to.” She crossed her arms. “Do you understand what I’m saying?”
“The bottom line.” That look of disdain returned and he shook his head slightly.
Virginia knew and understood what he was feeling, but what choice did they have?
“Unfortunately.”
Gavin stood. “I have to protect my patient’s best interests, Dr. Potter. I won’t change the way I practice medicine.”
“I’m trying to help you.” Now she was getting irritated. How could she help someone who didn’t want her help? Easy. She couldn’t. She was losing an uphill battle when it came to Dr. Brice.
He
