Fighting Lust: A Deadly Sins Novel by Jennifer Miller Page A

supplies, cleaning the med room, doing inventory, reviewing open charts, and other chores that we usually struggle to find time to complete. Most of them hate it. I don’t care. This is part of what it means to be on a team and some of these tasks are ones we could become more proficient at – and really, in this work, tedious tasks and paperwork are never in short supply.
    Noah and Natalie already cornered me, requesting me to make good on that drink I owe them – and to go out with them after work since I bailed on them the last time. I haven’t given either of them a direct answer and in truth, keep avoiding them at all costs. Earlier I heard Natalie’s voice down the hall and as it got louder, I ducked into the visitor’s women’s restroom to avoid her. She didn’t see me and I feel a little bad for escaping from her, but I’m really not in the mood for going out with them. It’s nothing against either of them, I adore them both, but I’m just not in the mood to drink, gossip about work people, or relive our worse patient nightmares. I’m actually looking forward to going home, running a bath and maybe reading for a little while before falling asleep. The thought alone makes me happy and even more eager to get the hell out of here.
    Walking around the corner, I see Rachel, the triage nurse, obviously having just checked in another patient. Pushing the portable vital machine that is used to take a patient’s temperature, pulse, blood pressure and oxygen level in their blood, and stethoscope in hand, she walks out of one of the exam rooms, closing the door behind her. I watch as she notates something in the patient’s electronic medical record located in an alcove next to the door. When I walk up to her, I hear muffled laughter through the barrier. “What have we got?” She smiles as I look over her shoulder on the entries she’s making and then I quickly page through the electronic chart to see what tests or radiology studies are being ordered, if any. Seeing the order for a head CT scan and findings related to a neuro examination, I quickly open up the patient information and documentation about the presenting condition. Clearly someone has suffered a head injury.
    “Adult male that needs stitches above his left eye. Initial vitals and neuros seem ok. He needs a head CT and repeat neuros to rule out head injury or concussion.” She looks around and then leans toward me and whispers, “He’s freaking hot. Both of them are. He has a friend with him.” At my amused look she shrugs, “Just a heads up.”
    “Thanks for the information,” I laugh as she walks away. Looking at a few more things on the chart, I make sure to check his vitals giving special attention to his neuro assessment, and quickly scan the brief description about what happened before I walk inside the room. Heading straight for the sink without much more than a sideways glance at the men in the room, I turn on the water. “Alright, Mr. King,” I say as I pump soap into my hands, lather and rinse. “My name is Tessa, and I’ll be your nurse this evening.” I shake the excess water from my hands and grab a paper towel to complete the job. “Why don’t you tell me what brought you here tonight that resulted in the need for stitches?” I flip open the trash can with a tap of my foot against the pedal, throw the towel away and as I do so, am surprised when I hear laughter. Spinning around to find out what’s so amusing, I get a good look at the patient, then freeze, a tingle going up my spine, though the reason is initially lost on me.
    “Well, I’ll be damned. Wasn’t sure I’d see you again. Tessa you said, was it?”
    My confusion and curiosity quickly turns to comprehension and immediate nervousness. I’ve run into men that I’ve slept with at a bar or club, but never here - not where I work. I guess part of me always knew it was a possibility – I mean, I’m no saint – there have been plenty of guys. The thing is, I