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of fluorescent lights. Cassie Garner had just finished a grueling four-hour surgery and returned to her office, rolling her
I won't be able to make it to dinner.
cratch, and wait for him to celebrate. She even had a massive surprise prepared for him-she had pulled countless strings, leveraged old connect
ocial engagements and endless meetings. She was used to it. That was why she hadn't even mentioned to him that
, her face pale with urgency. "Dr. Garner! We just got an emergency patient in the ER. Acu
, grabbing her stethoscope. She followed the nurse out, asking briskly, "Hav
oiding eye contact. "Um, according to the paramedi
op-tier surgeon with extensive experience, she had seen her fair share of similar cases. It
mergency room, a furious, booming male vo
he doctor?! Why isn'
e pain! Are you people goi
tting through the crowd of rushing medical staff, and landed squar
Baldwin
er that he was swamped with work and co
anxiety as he stared down at the young wom
ng ringing filling her ears as the sterile sme
e nurse announced, snappi
lad in a white coat and a surgical mask. Seeing her frozen in place, he roared, "What are you stand
o gentle and patient with her was now twisted into a vicious
her mask. She didn't rush forward to scream, cry, or demand an explanation. She simply turned to the head nurse and issued a co
Cassie's. But he quickly dismissed the thought. Cassie worked at the main Columbia University Medical Center; there was no way
ove the operatin
mping, locating the bleeding point, suturing. Her movements were mechanical, flawless, and utterly devoid
he surgery was a
oors swung open, she saw Baldwin leap up from the waiting room bench. He rushed to the side of the bed,
re safe now. I'm right h
zing glare, turned on her heel, and
With numb fingers, she tore the pages down the middle, again and again, until it wa
er street clothes, and hailed a cab back to the apart
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