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“Around ten a.m. After I realized the cut was beyond the first aid kit I keep in my backpack, I slapped some gauze over the blood and drove myself here. I’ve been waiting to see a doctor for”—she glanced at the clock on the wall—“almost six hours.”
“My apologies for the longer-than-average wait time. Our network has been down since last night.”
Rosalie nodded. If a hospital had to revert to using physical charts instead of electronic medical records, something was wrong.
“Any allergies?”
“None.” Except for overly warm hospitals. She carefully pulled off her sweatshirt and tied it around her waist.
“Surgeries other than the one on your?—”
“No.” Rosalie reached around her torso and pressed her palm to her stinging scar.
“Are you okay? You got pale for a few seconds. You said you didn’t lose consciousness when you got hit, but head injuries can be sneaky.”
“I’m fine. I didn’t even fall when the board smacked me. Any idea what is causing your computer problems?”
Annie shrugged her stout shoulders. The snowmen on her shirt jiggled with the movement. “What brings you to town?”
“Engagement party. My cousin Bella and her fiancé Devon met while skiing in Red Snow, so they decided to celebrate here.”
“How wonderful. Where’s the party?”
“At the Mountainview Inn.”
“Right across the street. Lovely place.”
Rosalie’s phone buzzed next to her. “Mind if I answer? It’s probably my mom.”
“Sure, honey. I bet she’s worried about you.”
“She’s worried about something, all right.” Rosalie barely got out a greeting before her mother yelled loud enough to rattle the bodies in the morgue.
“My God, Rosalie. What is taking so long? Has the doctor seen you yet? The party starts soon. I laid out the dress with the ruffles I bought you.”
Rosalie didn’t bother telling her mother she wasn’t wearing that dress tonight—or ever. She may love Bella like a sister, but ruffles were a hard no. The party would be tough enough to get through without trying to meet her mother’s expectations.
“I’m being seen now. I’ll be back soon. Gotta go.” She pushed her phone into the pocket of her yoga pants and looked at Annie. “Sorry about the interruption.”
“No worries.”
Rosalie pulled out her gloss and slid it over her lips. As she licked the corners, memories of Cannon’s chocolate taste flooded her mouth. When he’d said—not asked—that she was going home with him, her body had sung at the command in his voice.
The air in this town really did make a girl lose her senses. This sweet nurse probably knew if a forty-two-year-old guy named Cannon, who looked like he was in his thirties and boarded with the abandon of a teenager, lived in the area. The only other personal tidbit Rosalie knew was that he ran a local organization. That had been all he’d shared about his work, and she’d been fine with that. But what good would it do if she found him?
Tonight was Bella and Devon’s engagement party, and tomorrow, she’d leave town. That didn’t leave any time for fireplaces, hot tubs, or handsome snowboarders. Forget about seeing him again after she got home. She’d barely found time for the last guy she’d dated.
Annie took her vitals. “Your chart says you work for the FBI. How exciting.”
“Yes. Cybercrime.” She specialized in the ruthless criminals who committed atrocities in the virtualandphysical space.
Annie stepped to a counter with cabinets set above. “Then you must know how hard it is to do this job without access to the network.” She pulled out supplies and returned. “This is more stressful than the school bus accident that came in last month. At least then, we could check for allergies. Get tests done and results quick. All the children and the teachers survived, thank the Lord, but if we were in a situation like we are today…” Annie shook her head. “I just don’t know what would have happened.”
Rosalie did. Medication errors. Upset patients. Death.
She crossed her legs and leaned back on her elbows. She was supposed to be unplugging from work, but focusing on the hospital’s network problems was preferable to worrying about getting through Bella and Devon’s engagement party with a smile on her face.
And better than wondering what might have been with Cannon. “What is your technology department saying?”
