Chapter 6 - The Man Who Came Back
Three weeks passed.
Ara returned to seventy-hour workweeks.
Lucian did not call.
No guards appeared outside her apartment.
No black SUVs followed her.
He had kept his promise.
She found that strangely irritating.
Pette noticed.
“You keep looking at the entrance.”
“I do not.”
“You absolutely do.”
“I'm working.”
“Sure.”
Ara pointed toward the nurses' station.
“Don't you have patients?”
“I have eyes too.”
Then the elevator opened.
Bruno stepped out.
Ara froze.
He wasn't armed.
At least not visibly.
He carried flowers.
Pette grinned.
“Oh, this is excellent.”
Ara walked toward him.
“Why are you here?”
Bruno handed her the bouquet.
“Boss sent these.”
Ara looked at the flowers.
Then at him.
“Take them back.”
Bruno looked horrified.
“You want me to tell Lucian Maro his flowers were rejected?”
“Yes.”
“I threatened you with a gun and somehow this is scarier.”
Ara nearly smiled.
“Tell him flowers aren't an apology for invading someone's life.”
“They're not an apology.”
“What are they?”
“Thank you.”
That changed things.
Ara accepted them.
“Fine.”
Bruno visibly relaxed.
“Anything else?”
“Yes.”
He handed her an envelope.
Inside was a check.
Ara saw the amount and immediately gave it back.
“No.”
“He knew you'd say that.”
“Then why send it?”
“It isn't for you.”
Ara looked again.
The check was payable to Mercy General Trauma Services.
The amount was enough to replace aging surgical equipment Ara had spent two years fighting administrators to upgrade.
She looked at Bruno.
“Why?”
“Boss asked what you needed.”
“I didn't tell him.”
“Pette did.”
Ara turned.
Across the nurses' station, Pette suddenly became extremely interested in paperwork.
“Pette!”
Bruno laughed.
Ara looked at the check again.
“No conditions?”
“None.”
“No name on a building?”
“He specifically said no.”
“No favors?”
“Doctor, I'm just delivering an envelope.”
Ara sighed.
“Tell him thank you.”
Bruno smiled.
“You could tell him yourself.”
She narrowed her eyes.
“Where is he?”
Bruno pointed.
Lucian was standing at the far end of the corridor.
Alone.
No entourage.
No weapons.
Just Lucian.
Ara walked toward him.
“You planned that.”
“Obviously.”
“You could've called.”
“You would've ignored me.”
“Probably.”
“How have you been?”
“Busy.”
“So have I.”
“Getting shot again?”
“Trying not to.”
She stopped in front of him.
“The donation was unnecessary.”
“Was it useful?”
“Yes.”
“Then it was necessary.”
“You're impossible.”
“So I've been told.”
He looked healthier.
Color had returned to his face.
His movements were easier.
Ara asked, “Pain?”
“Manageable.”
“Breathing?”
“Normal.”
“Any fever?”
Lucian smiled.
“Are we on a date?”
“This is a medical assessment.”
“I was hoping for coffee.”
Ara glanced at the clock.
She had twenty-three minutes before rounds.
“One coffee.”
Lucian blinked.
“What?”
“One.”
His expression became suspiciously pleased.
“Twenty minutes.”
“Twenty-three.”
“Don't push it.”
They walked toward the elevator.
Lucian pressed the button.
Ara looked at him.
“No Bruno?”
“He's downstairs.”
“No guards?”
“Nearby.”
“You promised.”
“You said no guards you could see.”
Ara stared at him.
Lucian sighed.
“I'll send them farther away.”
“Better.”
The elevator opened.
As they stepped inside, Pette called from behind them.
“Dr. Voss!”
Ara turned.
Pette grinned.
“Twenty-three minutes!”
Ara shook her head.
Lucian whispered, “I like her.”
“Everyone does.”
The doors closed.
May you like
For the first time since that stormy night, Ara didn't feel like Lucian Maro had dragged her into his world.
It felt like they were meeting somewhere between his and hers.
