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She shifted her gaze to the father. “Sir, back away so Dr. Ford here can help you.”
Racing footsteps sounded behind them. A hulking security guard with a clipped European accent she couldn’t place barked orders to stay back. Cannon inched closer to her. The tension radiating from him equaled her own. She stole a glance, surprised to see him poised to fight.
The father’s shoulders tensed as he turned and dropped his empty hands to his sides.
No weapon.
No knife, thank God. She relaxed her lips into a semblance of a smile. “Thank you, sir. Now let’s move away from the nurse and see to your son.”
Desperation smoldered in the father’s reddened eyes that matched the color of his hair. “We’ve waited for hours to see a doctor. I’m not backing away until you find the goddamn chief of this hospital and get him in here. Now.”
She raised her hand to show she held no weapon. “Sir, I understand you’re upset?—”
He took a step toward Rosalie. “I said, now.”
As she coiled her muscles to react, Cannon shoved the father against the wall. Annie scurried toward the boy. The security guard jumped to Cannon’s side. Rosalie let out a breath as the situation fell under control.
Or out of control, considering the doctor she’d almost gotten naked with acted like a trained lawman.
FOUR
“I’m the CEO of this hospital.” Cannon’s voice dipped to a perilous growl as he pinned the angry father to the wall. “If you try to intimidate or harass my staff again, I’ll have you arrested.”
Wulf, the hospital’s new chief of security, stepped closer. Cannon shook his head. Wulf had a menacing German accent and a body built as sturdy and as tall as a black bear, but the situation didn’t call for force.
Rosalie touched the father’s thick arm. “Sir, I can’t imagine how hard it is to watch your son suffer. But you’re not doing him any good getting upset like this.”
Sweat beaded the father’s hairline, and he nodded. “I’m sorry. Please don’t call the cops.”
Cannon groaned. Too late. Even if Rosalie hadn’t shared that scant detail about her profession, she’d given herself away when she’d reached for her gun. He loosened his grip on the quivering father, but not enough to lose the advantage. Law enforcement or not, he didn’t want Rosalie in the guy’s crosshairs. “What’s your name, sir?”
Moisture gathered in the father’s eyes. “Shawn O’Callahan.”
Cannon’s heart skidded in his chest. A scared, crying parent flayed him every time. “What’s going on with your son?”
“Please help him.” Shawn glanced at the bed where Annie held the sobbing child in her arms. “Aidan hasn’t felt right since yesterday. Crying that his stomach hurts. Crying for his momma. She’s gone. Cancer.”
If a scared parent’s tears flayed Cannon, then hearing about losing someone to cancer lashed him to a stake, doused him with oil, and lit him on fire. He’d come down from the executive suite to see how bad the ER was backed up. He’d expected angry patients, but not to this degree.
He clasped Shawn on the shoulder and held his gaze. “I’m sorry about your wife. I truly mean that, but you need to get hold of yourself. Hear me?”
Shawn wiped his nose with his sleeve. “Yeah, I hear ya. Too loud and too clear.”
Wulf touched Cannon’s shoulder. “Are you sure all is okay, Dr. Ford?”
“Yeah, I’m sure.”
Wulf backed to the doorway and positioned himself like a sentry. For a man who left police work because of a bad back, the guy moved with surprising grace and stealth. One hand stroked his scraggly blond beard that matched his shoulder-length hair. The other hovered by the knife he kept in his pocket. He wasn’t the only one on alert. Rosalie tracked the scene with a sharp gaze.
Shawn wiped his eyes and looked at Annie. “I apologize for scaring you, ma’am. I meant no harm.” He took a sheepish step toward Rosalie. “My apologies to you, too.” He sat next to his son and cradled him against his chest. “I’m so sorry I lost my temper. It’s just… I can’t stand to see him suffer anymore. I’ll do anything to ease his pain.”
Saliva burned like acid down Cannon’s throat. “I understand.”
Annie handed him a pair of gloves. Her hands still shook. Cannon snapped his fingers into latex. The hospital didn’t pay her enough for this drama. Perhaps if he’d given the nursing staff raises instead of…
Not the time to go there.
Or to any of the what-if scenarios he kept examining.
