Page 104 of Yours to Keep

“I’m really glad you asked,” I said. “That’s the other thing I needed to tell you about.”

She crossed her arms, staring up at me with something that looked a lot like hope in her eyes. “Okay. Well, I’m listening.”

“It’s no secret that this is the first time I’ve taken on a hospital,” I said. “In the past, Crowne Medical was separate. We worked in the industry, but in our own little corner of it where we developed what people needed and sold it. We sent technicians and training teams to teach medical professionals how to use our tech, but that’s it.”

“Okay. I knew all that.”

“Yeah, but the point is that I realized it would make a lot more sense to move our main testing facility into an actual medical environment, which is why we’re here. Having our newest advances available directly to patients. And the data we’d get that way made sense, but I somehow didn’t take into consideration that the hospital wouldn’t just be another branch of the company.”

Surprise flickered in her eyes. “I see.”

“No, I don’t think you do. Not yet. I came in here determined to make this an extension of Crowne Medical, but it’s not. It’s a hospital owned by Crowne Medical. Big difference.” I raked a hand through my hair and gestured vaguely around the corridor. “I think it’s become pretty damn obvious that I need help, and while I’ll admit that I’ve always been stubborn, I’m not so stubborn that I can’t admit when I’m in over my head, so I’m putting together a review team.”

Her eyebrows knitted slightly, curiosity replacing some of the guardedness in her expression. “A review team?”

“We’re going to choose representatives from the staff, and Liana is going to head it up. She already knows the financial landscape inside and out, and she’s not afraid to tell me when I’m being an idiot.”

“That’s true,” Bree said quietly.

“The rest of the team will be doctors, nurses, technicians, and department leads. People who understand how policy changes affect patient care and staff morale in real, practical ways. Before I implement any major restructuring or budget adjustments, it will go to them first.”

She studied me carefully, her eyes moving from one of mine to the other. “What happens if they disagree with what you propose?”

“We’ll go back to the drawing board, but I’m hopeful this team will also be able to help me problem solve. To come up with solutions together rather than just shooting me down. I’m still working on the details.”

“Collaboration?” she said slowly, almost like she was too afraid to believe she could be understanding correctly. “Real, meaningful collaboration. Not just in name?”

“Look, I’ve recently learned that the numbers don’t always reflect what happens on the floor. They don’t show the nurse who stays late to comfort a terrified patient or the technician who catches something a machine misses because they know the patterns. I need people who know those things to tell me when my ideas are bad. That’s the only this works.”

Her lips parted slightly, disbelief flickering across her face before she schooled it back under control. “Are you actually serious about all this? Because it sounds too good to be true.”

“I am serious, Bree. We’ll have to fine-tune the system as we go,” I said honestly. “I’ve never done anything like this before. Not in this context anyway and there will be trial and error, but I want to be better than I have been. I need to be better.”

“You do?” she asked, her voice wobbling a little bit as tears welled on her eyelids again. “For real?”

“For real. I want to run this hospital in a way that saves lives without destroying the people who do the actual saving, and I’m putting my money where my mouth is.” I paused for a beat, but I’d come this far and she was still here, so I pushed forward. “I don’t expect you to forget what I did and I don’t expect forgiveness just because I made some changes, but I am asking for something.”

She swallowed hard. “What’s that?”

“A second chance,” I said, my throat and my chest suddenly so tight that I might be needing a doctor myself if this didn’t go my way. “With the hospital, and with me.”

I took a step closer, lowering my voice even though half the administrative wing was openly pretending not to eavesdrop. “I love you, Bree.”

My pulse roared in my ears as every pair of curious eyes seemed to glue themselves to us. I could practically feel the shockwaves of my confession traveling down the hall, flying into every corner of the hospital, but I didn’t give a shit.

The only thing I cared about right now was Bree. Her eyes widened, shock flashing across her face, but it was quickly followed by something deeper and warmer. Something more hopeful despite how incredulous it was at the same time.

“You… love me?” she asked, almost like she needed to hear it again to believe it.

“I do,” I said without skipping a beat. “I tried to convince myself I could compartmentalize you. Maybe even treat this like a distraction, but I failed. Pretty fucking spectacularly. You make me want to be a better man, a better leader, and frankly, a better human being. I’m not willing to lose that. I’m not willing to lose you.”

Her expression crumpled slightly, tears brightening her eyes, but she smiled through them. “I forgive you.”

Relief hit me so hard, my knees nearly gave out, but before I could even begin to respond, she stepped forward, grabbed the front of my shirt, and kissed me. Right there in front of the HR office.

The hallway erupted into a chorus of muffled gasps and very poorly disguised cheering. I barely registered it. All I could focus on was the way she fit against me, soft, familiar, and devastatingly right. I wrapped my arm around her hips and pulled her closer, grinning against her lips as I kissed her again.

“You’re not embarrassed of people knowing we’re together?” I asked between kisses, slightly breathless and more than slightly surprised.