“What was that, Commander?”
Erica snapped the chart closed and stood to attention when she realized Dr. Wilder was standing behind her. “Nothing, sir.”
Thorne cocked an eyebrow, a smile of bemusement on his face. “You’re not up for formal inspection, Commander. At ease.”
Erica opened her chart again and flipped to the page she’d left off at, trying to ignore the fact that Dr. Wilder was standing in front of her. She could feel his gaze on her.
“I heard the whole conversation with Bunny,” he mentioned casually.
“Oh, yes?” Erica didn’t look up.
“I’m scheduling you for the night shift deliberately. You do realize that?”
“I know, Captain Wilder.”
“You know?” There was a hint of confusion in his voice.
Erica sighed; she was never going to finish this chart at this rate. She set down her pen and glanced up at him. “Yes. Of course you are. I’m not a stranger to this treatment.”
“I bet you’re not.” He leaned against the counter. “You think it’s a stupid ritual?”
“I do.” She wasn’t going to sugarcoat anything. She never did.
His eyes widened, surprised. “Why?”
“It’s bullying.”
“You think I’m bullying you?” he asked.
“Of course. I’m new.”
“And it doesn’t bother you?”
“The ritual bothers me. I think it’s not needed, but it’s not going to dissuade me from my job.”
There was a brief flash of disappointment. Like he’d been trying to get her to snap or something. She was made of stronger mettle than that and he’d have to do a damn lot more to sway her. She was here to stay for the long haul, or at least until she made captain—and then the possibilities would be endless.
“Well, then, you won’t mind working the night shift again next week.”
So much for unpacking.
“Of course not.” She shrugged. “Is that all you wanted to talk about, my shift work?”
His gaze narrowed. “You’re very flippant to your commanding officer.”
She wanted to retort something about him being on her operating table five years ago, but she bit her tongue. The last time she’d lost her cool, when she’d forgotten about the delicate and precise hierarchy, she’d lost her commendation. Of course, that had been a totally different situation with a former lover. Captain Wilder wasn’t her lover. He was just a former patient and now her commanding officer.
She was used to this macho behavior. Erica could take whatever he had to throw at her. As long as he didn’t bring up what happened during her first post, but she seriously doubted he knew all the details about it because he would’ve mentioned it by now.
Everyone always did.
“Sorry, sir.” Though she wasn’t. Not in the least.
“It won’t last forever.” He was smirking again.
“Can I be frank, Captain Wilder?”
He shrugged. “By all means.”
“Perhaps we should go somewhere privately to discuss this.”
“I don’t think so.”
“Fine, suit yourself.” The recovery area was usually quiet, but it was even more so now, and it felt like everyone was fixated on her and Captain Wilder. “If this is your way to try and make me crack, you won’t succeed.”
Thorne crossed his arms. “Really? You think this is a means to drive you away?”
“I do and you won’t succeed. If there’s one thing you’ll learn from my file, Captain, it is that I don’t give up. I won’t give up. So I’ll take whatever you have for me, Captain, and I won’t complain. So, if you’re looking to see me break, you won’t. If night shifts are what you want to give me, so be it. I’ve done countless night shifts before. It’s fine. If your plan is to ostracize me, well, then, you won’t succeed unless I’m the only one working and there are no patients. I’m tougher than I appear, Captain Wilder.”
Thorne was impressed. He didn’t want to be, but he was. She barely saw the light of day, yet she came in and did everything without a complaint. When he’d heard her mumble something about stupidity, he’d been planning to swoop in and make his kill. Push her to the breaking point.
Only she’d risen to the challenge and basically told him to bring it on.
Yes, his goal with the numerous night shifts was to ostracize her, but it wasn’t working. He admired that. He didn’t want to, but he did. She was right. It wouldn’t work unless she was working by herself out in the middle of a desert somewhere. He was so impressed.
So she’ll take whatever I give her.
It was time to throw her off.
“Tell you what. You’re on days as of Saturday. Take tomorrow off and readjust your inner clock. I’ll see you at zero nine hundred hours. Get some sleep. You obviously need it.”
He didn’t give her a chance to respond; he turned and walked away, trying not to let her see his limp, because his leg had been bothering him today, and maybe because of that he’d decided to be a bit soft on her.
No, that wasn’t it. At least, that was what he told himself.
Just as she wouldn’t back down, he wouldn’t either.
Thorne would make sure she left the hospital and that it would be her idea. Even though he kept his distance he was always aware of what she was doing and when he was around her he felt his resolve soften because she impressed him so.
He was drawn to her.
No woman had affected him like this in a long time. Even then he wasn’t sure any woman had had this kind of hold on him.
Don’t think about her that way.
Only he couldn’t help himself. He’d been thinking about her, seeing her face for years.
She haunted him.
Why did I bring her here?
Because he was a masochist. He was taunting himself with something, someone he couldn’t have.
A twinge of pain racked through him. He needed to seek the solace of his office, so no one saw him suffer.
Erica had to go before things got out of hand.
He pushed the elevator button and when it opened he walked in. Thankfully it was empty at this time of night and he could lean against the wall and take some weight off his stump. Even if it was just a moment, he’d take it.
He waited until the doors were almost shut before relaxing, but just as the doors were about to close, they opened and Erica stepped onto the elevator.
Damn it.
He braced himself. “Can I help you, Commander?”
“Excuse me, Captain, but I don’t understand why you’ve suddenly changed your mind about my shifts. Didn’t you understand what I was saying to you?”
“I do understand English,” he snapped.
Go away.
“Why did you suddenly change my shift? Especially so publically. Others will think you’re being easy on me or that I’m a whiner.”
“Weren’t you whining?”
“No.