Page 39 of Doctor’s Forbidden Match

“It’s for Hannah Morgan.”

My breath catches. Hannah. Something’s wrong with her.

The annoyance at being pulled away from my day off evaporates instantly, replaced by concern.

“She fell on set. I need you here.” There’s darkness in his tone now.

“What do you mean, she fell?” My hand tightens around the phone. “How bad are we talking?”

“Dr. Sterling.” His tone shifts into that authoritative boss; one that makes my teeth grind. “I’m ordering you to come in. This is for privacy; she’s being treated by only you. Those were the terms.”

I kick at the rocks on the ground near my chair, sending a few skittering toward the water.

“I’m not at home. I’m a few hours away.” I stand up, already mentally calculating the drive time.

“She’ll be here getting X-rays and an IV for rehydration and nausea until you arrive.”

“Nausea?” That catches my attention. My mind runs through possibilities. Pregnancy? Drug reaction?

“I think it’s from the painkillers.” He sounds uncertain, which isn’t like him.

“Riiight…” I drag the word out, thinking. That could be it, or it could be something else entirely. I won’t know until I examine her.

“When will you be here?”

“A few hours.” I could make it in an hour and a half if I push it, but I’m not speeding for him. And I need a minute to calm down.

“Fine. I’ll let her know.”

The line goes dead.

I stand there for a moment, staring at my phone in my hand. No more peaceful day for me.

“Everything okay?” Jameson asks.

I turn to face them both. Emmett’s sitting up now, watching me with raised eyebrows.

“I have to go back. Patient emergency.”

“Seriously?” Emmett groans and throws his head back. “We just got here.”

“Yeah.” I shove my phone back into my pocket, harder than necessary. “Tell me about it.”

I move toward the cabin.

“Hey, wait up.” Jameson stands, his chair scraping against the wooden planks. “Is it serious?”

I pause, one foot on the bottom step of the cabin porch, my hand gripping the rusted railing. “A patient fell. Needs X-rays, the whole nine yards.” I don’t mention who it is. Can’t… Patient confidentiality and all that fucking shit, even with my best friends.

“Can’t someone else handle it?” Emmett calls out from his spot in the chair.

“Apparently not.” I take a breath, trying to rein in my temper. This isn’t their fault. “It’s complicated. Privacy concerns.”

“A special patient?” Jameson asks, his eyebrows raised knowingly.

“Something like that.” I push through the cabin door, letting it swing shut behind me.

Inside, I grab my bag from the closet and start shoving everything back inside, not bothering to fold anything properly right now.