Heart Like Mine by Maggie McGinnis

observing, and then we’ll meet when you’re ready?”
    â€œI think … that sounds fine.”
    He looked out the window again, then back at the hallway through her open door, shaking his head.
    â€œI can’t believe how quiet it is up here.”
    â€œWell, it’s late. Everybody’s gone home.”
    He nodded, looking in no hurry to leave. “Do you work this late often? Or is this because you spent the day downstairs?”
    â€œLittle of both.” She shrugged slowly. “It’s a nice time of day to get stuff done. No interruptions.”
    â€œAh.” He straightened up and gathered his salad container. “Except for rogue docs trying to convince you not to cut their funding?”
    â€œIt’s a problem. But you brought dinner, so you’re excused.” She pointed to her salad. “Thank you again, by the way.”
    He shrugged, smiling. “I figured inviting you out for a lobster dinner would be completely transparent. The other department heads would talk.”
    She let out a surprised laugh, but felt it falter as she looked at his face, which had grown suddenly serious. In the soft light of her desk lamp, it was easy to imagine the two of them having a quiet little dinner in her office, followed by—dessert. She felt her cheeks flush as she pictured closing the door, sliding into his arms, clearing her desk as he kissed her silly in the moonlight.
    â€œRight.” Her voice was embarrassingly shaky. “Not a big lobster fan, unfortunately.”
    He pushed the chair back toward her desk, not at all hurried. But then he took two steps toward the door, and she stood up to follow, intending to close it behind him. Clearly, he didn’t hear her, because before he reached it, he turned around, and she almost ran into him.
    He chuckled as he put out a hand to steady her, and this time, he didn’t let go. She looked up, and his eyes scanned her face, landing for a long beat on her lips. Then he blinked hard and let his hand slide from her arm while he reached for the door.
    â€œGood night, Delaney.”

 
    Chapter 9
    Early the next afternoon, Delaney was walking by a patient room when she heard a commotion and then a scared scream.
    â€œOh, no! Help! Help! ”
    Delaney looked left, then right, but the hallway was empty for the first time all day. She was the only hospital employee in sight, and somebody needed help. Oh, God. She wasn’t trained to help with emergencies down here.
    She wasn’t trained to help with emergencies anywhere .
    She ran into the room, then stopped short as she saw a mom with her little boy on the bed. And the blood. So much blood.
    â€œHelp! Please help me! He’s bleeding!”
    The woman grabbed a towel and pushed it down onto the boy’s leg, but it quickly turned red. Delaney’s stomach lurched when she caught sight of the boy’s eyes, which were open wide and terrified.
    She ran closer, but couldn’t see his call button anywhere on his bed. God! Where was it? Where was everybody?
    She spotted a pile of white washcloths on a little shelf near the foot of the bed, so she grabbed the whole pile and pressed down on the boy’s thigh, keeping her eyes on his face so she didn’t faint.
    â€œIt’s okay, buddy.” She tried to keep her voice even and calm. “We’ll fix you right up. The doctor’s coming.”
    Please, God, let the damn doctor be coming.
    His eyes rolled back as the washcloths soaked through, and Delaney panicked.
    â€œWhat happened? Where’s his call button?”
    â€œI don’t know!” The mother looked terrified as she let go of the cloths and pawed through his blankets.
    â€œGo get help!” Delaney motioned with her chin. Somebody had to hold pressure, or this poor kid was going to bleed out. “Go get somebody!”
    The woman fled the room, and ten seconds later, Delaney could hear feet running down the