“Sir, you need to stop here and fill out a form,” someone said as Dante strode by.
“I’m fine. Just here to see someone in there.” He pointed toward the double doors and kept on walking.
“So, you’d just let someone go on hallucinating rather than trying to help her?” Noah spat.
“If she doesn’t want to wait while more critical patients go first, I can’t force her to.”
“But you should have at least spoken to her. She said she was just left sitting and waiting—in the hall!”
Dante didn’t expect to see Noah so worked up about Mallory’s situation. He hadn’t even wanted to get involved. Why was he all hot under the collar?
Ah. He saw it now. The young woman in the white lab coat was just Noah’s type. Long, straight dark hair. Petite figure. The sparks flying were pure sexual chemistry. His tall, trim brother was standing too close and looming over her.
And she wasn’t backing down—she met his intense stare with her own. Dante figured he’d better rescue Noah before this woman tied him to a chair with her stethoscope.
He moved closer to the heated exchange. “Come on, Bro.”
“Hell no. This doctor has some explaining to do.”
“I already explained. We have a triage system. Your friend was going to be seen, but the trauma cases have to come first. It could be a matter of life and death.”
“Well, if she goes home and commits suicide, that’s on you.”
The young doctor gasped. “Oh my goodness! Is she suicidal?”
“Hell, I don’t know, but if she is—”
Dante grabbed Noah by the shoulder. “Come on. Mallory’s waiting by the car.”
Noah glared at the doctor, and she leaned forward, placing her hands on her slender hips as if challenging him to continue his ridiculous tirade.
“Fine. Goodbye,” Noah said. “Have a crappy day.”
As she strode away, Dante heard her mumble, “Son of a monkey’s butt.” He rolled his eyes, grabbed his brother’s arm, and dragged him away.
By the time they reached the parking lot, Mallory was nowhere to be seen. Dante sputtered a slew of curse words under his breath.
“See, dude? She doesn’t want help. And like the doctor said, you can’t force it on her.”
“Unbelievable. Now you’re taking the doctor’s side, after chewing her out and wishing her a crappy day.” He unlocked the car doors.
Noah chuckled. “Yeah, I stepped in it, didn’t I?”
After they both jumped in, Dante answered. “You sure did. I hope you never get brought into that ER for smoke inhalation. She’ll probably leave you in the hallway for a month.”
“No. She took the Hippocratic oath. That would turn it into a hypocritical oath.”
Dante shook his head and drove out of the parking lot.
* * *
Noah had to do something to pull his brother out of this funk. They had three days off, and he didn’t want to spend them watching Dante mope around.
“Hey, how about if we go out tonight? There’s a new club downtown.”
Dante stretched out on the couch. “Nah. I’m not in the mood to go clubbing.”
“Well, I am. I’d like to meet someone, and you’re my wingman.”
