Then Came Alexandra (Southern Love #1) (15 page)

She sniffed.

“I need you to leave and find some other way of being protected. We can work something out. But I won’t sacrifice my happiness and let this situation continue. There has to be a way where we can both get what we want.”

Danielle said nothing. She wiped her tears away. “My mom got in a car accident last night. I just came home to change.”

His eyes widened. “What?”

She nodded. “She’s in critical condition. A semi hit her, totally destroyed her car.” She took a deep breath. “She broke her leg and her arm. I hope she’s okay.”

Danielle had made up crazy stories before, usually so he wouldn’t leave her, but he knew she was telling the truth. “I’m so sorry.”

“I should get going.” She stood up then grabbed her purse.

“Danielle, I’m sorry this happened to you. But we still need to sort this out.”

“Are you fucking kidding me right now?” she snapped. “What the fuck is wrong with you? My mom might die.”

He knew that was a selfish thing to say. “I’m sorry, I’m sorry.”

“I’m sorry I’m ruining your relationship with this tramp, but I have other things to worry about besides figuring out how to stay safe from Evan. Thanks for being so sensitive about it.”

“I’ll pay for you to get a hotel and bodyguard and I’ll move everything for you.”

She slapped him across the face. “You really are unbelievable.” Danielle stormed out and slammed the door behind her.

Blaise felt the sting of his face. It didn’t hurt, but he was annoyed with the abuse anyway. He gripped his hair and sighed in frustration, unsure what to do.

20

After Alexandra finished her classes, she went to the library with Gabe. He was quiet today, not talkative like he normally was. Alexandra was on cloud nine, blissfully happy with Blaise.

She looked at Gabe, seeing the tension on his face. “Is everything okay?”

“Is something going on between you and Blaise?”

She tried to keep a straight face. “No.”

“Good.”

“Do you not like him?”

He stared at her. “Did you see him push me to the ground?”

“He’d been drinking…”

“No, I don’t like him. But if you aren’t dating him, I don’t care. I know he’s close with your aunt.”

She looked at her textbook, avoiding his gaze.

Hannah joined them a minute later. “What happened to you?” she asked Alexandra.

“What do you mean?”

“You totally bailed on the cornfield party.”

“Oh,” Alexandra said. “I wasn’t feeling well. Too much beer.”

“Well, you missed out,” Hannah said.

“There will be other parties,” Alexandra said.

Hannah turned to Gabe. “Did you hear about the accident on the main road? A semi truck totally destroyed a car.”

Alexandra felt alarmed. “Is everyone okay?”

“The truck driver is fine but the driver of the car is in serious condition. No one knows anything.”

“Wow,” Gabe said. “That doesn’t sound good.”

“I’m glad I didn’t work last night,” Alexandra said.

Hannah took out her physics book and turned the page. “I need your brain.”

“Sure.”

Hannah went over her notes and asked Alexandra to help her with a few problems. Alexandra had to review a few of the concepts before she could recall how to complete the problems. She never liked the subject but she couldn’t deny how applicable the discipline was. Physics affected everything even if it wasn’t obvious.

After she finished her classes that day, she went to work at the hospital. Everyone was talking about the accident that happened the night before. Some of the nurses had been there when it happened. It sounded truly horrifying. The trauma was so intense that they just flew the patient out to a larger hospital. Alexandra was shocked something so horrific had happened. It was truly disturbing.

She got to work and put in the order for a chart. Alexandra saw that the patient had pneumonia and a single view chest x-ray had been ordered. She thought that was odd. Three view x-rays were usually ordered to get a bilateral view of the lungs. It was more accurate that way. In New York, the order was almost automatic. She walked into the doctor’s office and saw Dr. Kenley sitting at his computer.

“Hello, sir,” she said.

He turned to her. “Alex, how are you?”

“I’m good. I just had a question about this order.”

He looked at the chart. “Yes?”

“Do you want to change this x-ray to a three view?”

“Portable chest x-rays are easier. Radiology can come to the patient.”

That didn’t make any sense to Alexandra. Medicine was about doing the right thing, not the convenient thing. “But, wouldn’t a three view be more conclusive? If the patient has minor pneumonia, it may not show up.”

He leaned back in his chair and glared at her. “So you catch one thing in the ER and now you’re an expert?”

Alexandra was taken back by the venom in his voice. “No, I…”

“I spent eight years in medical school, you didn’t. Just because you’re a tech doesn’t mean you know anything. You change bedpans and sheets, not challenge my orders.”

“I’m not trying to challenge you,” she argued. “I’m trying to do what’s best for the patient.”

“Get out of my office.” He turned back to his computer, ignoring her.

Alexandra didn’t understand how the conversation got out of hand. She was just trying to help. She went back to her desk and sat down. After a moment of deliberation, she put the order in.

A hour passed and the radiology department took the x-ray in the patient’s room. Alexandra waited for the radiologist to read the shot. It said the patient didn’t have pneumonia. Alexandra wasn’t convinced. When she looked at the chart, she saw the elevated white blood cell levels, indication of an infection. She borrowed an extra stethoscope from the supply cart and walked into the patient’s room. She listened to the patient breathe and knew there was something wrong. The patient didn’t have a history with smoking, asthma, or breathing problems. She walked back to her desk and thought to herself.

A moment later, the doctor handed her the chart without looking at her then walked away. It was discharge papers, sending the patient home. Alexandra was shocked when she saw it. The patient was clearly sick. She didn’t understand what was happening.

“What’s wrong?” Suzie asked.

Alexandra sighed. “Has Dr. Kenley worked here long?”

“For a few years. Why?”

“Is he a good physician?”

She shrugged. “I think so. He was the doctor who attended the wreck last night. He hasn’t even gone home for the day.”

Alexandra nodded. Now she understood his actions. He was in a hurry to go home, not that it justified the corners he cut. She took a deep breath and approached the charge nurse.

“Hey, Alex,” she said with a smile.

The charge nurse had become fond of her since last week. Alexandra hoped this would make the situation easier. “I’m a little concerned about this patient.”

Betty took the chart and looked through it. “The patient is going home. It seems to be in order.”

“Well, Dr. Kenley ordered a one view chest x-ray. I advised him to order a three view so he could see the bilateral image. He said no.” She kept his rudeness out of it. “And now he’s sending the patient home even though the blood work suggests there’s an infection.”

Betty nodded. “Well, everyone is different. Due to the age of the patient, the CBC levels may always be high.”

“But I checked the lab work last time he was here. His white blood count was totally normal. And I went into the patient room and listened to his lungs. There’s a loud cracking in each one. I think the patient has pneumonia but Dr. Kenley didn’t assess it in his physical exam.”

Betty stared at her. “I’ll check.” She grabbed her stethoscope and walked into the room. Alexandra patiently waited. When Betty returned, she looked at the chart again and sighed. “I think you’re right, Alexandra. Dr. Kenley has been working for twenty-four hours straight. I think his mind needs a break.”

Alexandra didn’t think that was an excuse, but she held her tongue. In nursing school, she had class all day before she went to clinical at night, only to have class again in the morning. Being tired wasn’t an excuse to her.

Betty walked away. Alexandra returned to her chair and waited for Betty to emerge from the physician room. A few moments later, Betty emerged with the chart. She handed it to Alexandra. “Order the three view.”

Alexandra smiled. “I’m on it.”

Dr. Kenley walked by a moment later, notably glaring at her. She heard him mumble something as he passed but she didn’t catch it. She didn’t want to make enemies at work. She always thought of the medical field as a team victory, but that clearly wasn’t so. The south was much different than New York. Alexandra was still getting used to the culture shock. She sighed to herself, trying to forget about the drama she caused. She just wanted to do the right thing for the patient. It didn’t matter if people didn’t like her because of it.

When she got off work, it was late, almost midnight. She was depressed about her day at work and there was one person she wanted to talk to. She turned on her cell phone, disregarded all the messages, and called Blaise.

“Alexandra.” He always said her name in a special way, like it belonged to him. She liked hearing it.

“Hey.”

“What’s wrong?”

She was surprised he understood her emotions from a single word. “I had a bad day.”

“Tell me about it.”

“Can you come over?”

“Of course,” he said. “Are you hungry?”

“Yeah.”

“I’ll bring something.”

“Thanks.”

“Do you need a ride?”

She sighed. “I really need to get a car.”

“It’s not like the big city,” he said. “I’ll be there soon.”

“Okay.” She hung up and stood in the parking lot, waiting for him to arrive.

After he picked her up, they drove back to her house. He placed his arm around her shoulders, and she rested her head against his chest. Nothing was said on the drive home. She just enjoyed being held by him. The simple touch made her stress more bearable.

They arrived at the house then walked into the warehouse.

“I got Mexican food,” he said. “I hope you like burritos.”

“Who doesn’t like burritos?” she said with a smile. She walked up the ladder and he joined her a moment later. They opened the boxes and ate across from each other.

“So, what happened?” he asked.

She sighed then told him the whole story.

“Why is this a bad story?” he asked. “You handed his ass to him.”

“It bothers me that he got so mad when I was just trying to help. He shouldn’t care about his pride or going through patients like a pile of paperwork. He should care about the well-being of the patient, nothing else.”

Blaise stared at her. “You should be a nurse, Alexandra. You were made to do it.”

She shook her head. “Working as a tech and catching mistakes isn’t the same thing as being a nurse.”

He sighed. “Baby, you’re a great nurse. If anything, being a tech is a disservice to the people. You should be pushing the meds, not making phone calls and putting in orders.”

“I don’t want to talk about this anymore.” She picked at her food then pushed it aside.

“You know I would never lie to you to make you feel better.”

She didn’t look at him. “I know.”

“And I don’t think you should be a nurse.”

She looked at him, her eyebrow raised. “What?”

“You should be a doctor.”

Alexandra laughed. “Yeah right.”

“I’m being serious.”

“No way.”

“Why not?”

She shrugged. “If I can’t be a nurse, I definitely can’t be a doctor.”

He rolled his eyes. “Alexandra, you are a great nurse. Stop saying you aren’t. And you actually care about the patients. We need compassionate physicians, not people who take shortcuts.”

“Blaise, I didn’t call you so we could argue all night.”

He put his food aside. “Okay. What did you call me for?”

“So you would hold me and kiss me.”

He sighed. “I’m not doing a very good job.”

“No.”

He came beside her then held her to his chest. He planted a kiss on her forehead. “I’m sorry you had a bad day.”

“Thank you.” She wrapped her arm around his waist and listened to him breathe.

“How was school?”

“It was okay. Nothing too interesting happened.”

His voice turned cold. “Did Gabe bother you?”

“He’s my friend. He never bothers me.”

Blaise didn’t comment to that.

“How was your day?”

He immediately thought of the ordeal with Danielle. “Just as uninteresting.”

“How’s your cotton doing?”

“It’s too soon to tell.”

“Has your uncle bothered you?”

“No,” he said. “But now my brother wants to do the deal too. I’m related to money hungry idiots.”

“There are a lot of those, unfortunately.”

He kissed her forehead again. “I’m glad I found someone who’s nothing like that.”

“Me too.” She squeezed him tighter.

“Are you feeling better?”

“Yeah. Why?”

“Because I would love to have a hot make out session with you.”

She smiled. “I’d like that.”

He cupped her face and kissed her, moving her to the blanket on top of the hay. He was immediately aggressive and domineering, devouring her like he hadn’t had a taste in years. Alexandra loved the way he kissed her. It was like he needed her, for now and for always. Just the feel of his lips against her told her how much he cared for her. She felt safe with him, like he’d never hurt her. As long as she had him, anything else that came her way would be resolved.

The longer they kissed, the more she wanted him. She imagined how he looked with his shirt off, chiseled and carved. She grabbed the hem of his shirt and tugged it off. He held up his arms and allowed it to come loose.

Alexandra stared up at him, admiring the perfect physique. It was even better than she imagined. The grooves of his stomach were sharp as stones. His chest was wide and prominent, thick and solid like a slab of limestone. She sat up and kissed his chest, tasting him. He watched her, desire in his eyes. She trailed her lips down to his happy trail then back up.