Page 26 of Yours to Keep

When I emerged back onto a different corridor, I scanned the walls instinctively, but there was nothing there. No ridiculous flyers tacked to any of the bulletin boards.

A trickle of relief passed through me, but it slithered down my spine like something slimy because I knew that although this corridor was clean, it wasn’t over. I felt with bone-deep certainty that whoever was doing this wasn’t going to stop because I ripped down a flyer or installed cameras.

This was a challenge. A test. And I never backed down from either one of those.

I was absolutely going to get to the bottom of this, and if it turned out that the gorgeous little nurse with the blazing blue eyes, the sharp tongue, and sharper aim was my secret nemesis, I wouldn’t hesitate.

No matter what Liana thought, I would fire Bree’s ass right on the spot. This was far from over and I was done waiting for these juvenile acts of resistance to subside. I was taking matters into my own hands and the security upgrade was only step one.

11

BREE

The drill whined like a mosquito on steroids, filling the entire break room with an ear-splitting buzz. I leaned against the counter outside, pretending to read a laminated poster about proper hand-washing techniques while watching two security guys mount a shiny new camera directly above the bulletin board.

It wasn’t subtly angled or discreet, pointing straight at the board while another had been mounted just inside the door, giving a view of the entire room. While I was being careful about not showing it, I felt downright buoyant.

Triumphant, even. My flyers had gotten the mighty Sullivan Crowne so riled up that he’d finally approved the security upgrade we’d all known the hospital needed for years. Clearly, he didn’t like it when his ego had been challenged and bruised.

I almost grinned, but I bit it back just in time. This wasn’t quite the same as reverting to the old gowns, but the cameras were a win too. Ever since I’d started working here, even as a home care nurse who’d only occasionally come in with patients or to visit, I’d been warned to keep my eyes open.

What that meant was that on top of everything else, we always had to keep a lookout. One eye always had to be on the carts. The equipment. Our storage rooms. Every freaking drawer in the place.

Not all of it could always be locked up, and anyone could walk right in off the street at any given time. Our own safety and that of our patients had depended on our own vigilance. These cameras would certainly help with that.

Yeah, I’ll take it as a win.

One of the guys stepped back, squinting up at his work before pulling off his gloves. “That should do it.”

“It’s perfect,” the other said. “At least there’ll be no more of whatever this was.”

I smiled to myself and pushed off the counter just as a familiar voice drifted to my ears. “Well, that’s a surprise. It looks like Sullivan finally found some extra money in the budget.”

A slight burst of fear shot through me and I quickly wiped the smile off my lips before I turned to see Liana standing there. She held a coffee cup in her hand, her eyebrows arched with open amusement. These days, most everyone who worked here always seemed annoyed or stressed, but instead of that, she actually looked really entertained.

I snorted. “Funny how that happens, huh?”

Her mouth twitched. “Right? It’s almost like it was never actually about the money.”

I laughed, unable to help myself. “It would’ve been way cheaper to just let people sing happy birthday.”

She took a sip of her coffee. “I said something similar this morning.”

“Did you?” I grinned. “Please tell me you said it to his face.”

She smiled innocently. “I enjoy my job.”

“That’s a yes,” I said, surprised but thrilled. “How did he take it?”

She shrugged and glanced back at the security guys, watching them pack up their tools. “Ah, I think he took it about as well as you’re probably imagining he did.”

I lowered my voice and leaned closer to her. “You know, I almost feel bad about all this happening during his first month on the job.”

Liana glanced back me, that same amusement twinkling in her eyes. “Almost, but not quite?”

“Okay, no,” I admitted. “Not really. I’m sure people would’ve been much more welcoming if he wasn’t… him.”

“Him?” She laughed, the sound warm and easy.