Читать книгу Alejandro's Sexy Secret - Amy Ruttan, Amy Ruttan - Страница 10
ОглавлениеFive years later. Miami, spring
“YOU KNOW YOU MARRIED the ugly brother, right?” Alejandro was teasing his new sister-in-law Saoirse Murphy on her marriage to his brother. His ugly brother.
Saoirse, a fiery Irish beauty, had recently married Santiago, who was rolling his eyes as Alejandro and the twins, Rafe and Dante, joined in the good-natured ribbing. They were all the “ugly brothers,” but right now Santi was taking the heat because he’d been the first of the Valentino brothers to take the plunge and marry.
“It’s your fault,” Santi shouted, pointing at Dante and Rafe. “You two are the elders. You should be married already, then I wouldn’t be getting this teasing from the baby.”
Alejandro chuckled and moved out of the line of fire. He knew Dante and Rafe didn’t like to be referred to as the elders, but Santi and he had always done that behind their backs.
The elders were surrogate fathers to him. As Santi had been, before he’d run off and joined the Marines. All because of a robbery in the family bodega. A robbery that had almost cost Alejandro his life, as well. He’d been caught in the cross fire, taking a bullet in the chest at the age of ten.
He’d be dead if it hadn’t been for his father’s heart saving his life, and because of his father’s death he carried a piece of his father with him. It was a huge responsibility he carried proudly. Which was why he was now one of the best pediatric transplant surgeons at Buena Vista Hospital.
Speaking of which...
“I’m sorry, I have to get to the hospital. The new head of pediatric surgery starts today. Apparently she’s a bit of a culo duro.”
“Culo duro?” Saoirse asked Santi.
“Hard ass,” Santi said to his new bride, and then he turned to Alejandro. “Don’t judge the new head just yet, baby brother. She might not be as bad as the rumors make her out to be.”
Alejandro ground his teeth at Santi calling him “baby brother.” He hated that, just as much as Rafe and Dante hated being called the elders, but, then, it was all in good fun and he deserved it a bit for calling Santi the ugly one.
Instead of sniping back, Alejandro took Saoirse’s hand in his and kissed her knuckles. “Sorry for not sticking around too long, so let me say felicitaciones les deseamos a ambos toda la felicidad del mundo.”
Saoirse’s brow furrowed. “Congratulations...wishing both of you...”
“All the happiness in the world.” Alejandro kissed her hand again.
“Suficiente idiota!” Santi said, slapping Alejandro upside the head.
“Ow, I’m not an idiot.” Alejandro winked at Saoirse, who was laughing, obviously enjoying the show of them tormenting Santi.
Dante snorted and Rafe rolled his eyes while Alejandro grinned at Santi, who was busy shooting daggers at him.
“Well, I guess we should be happy he kept speaking Spanish after Mami and Pappi died,” Dante groaned. “But does he have to upstage us?”
Alejandro winked at Dante. “Always, old man. Always.”
He left the bodega before his older brothers started a brawl. He waved to Carmelita, who’d run the business since he was eleven. She waved back, but was focused on her work.
Outside the bodega the heat was oppressive, which was strange for a spring day. It was always hot in Miami, but this was like summer. Moist, sweltering heat. Palm trees lining the street of the old neighborhood were swaying, but the wind didn’t suppress the cloying heat. A storm was brewing to the south.
Fitting.
He’d heard people refer to Dr. Bhardwaj as the Wicked Witch of the East, so it was only fitting her arrival be marked by a storm.
As he walked to his motorcycle a group of boys playing soccer in the street kicked a ball toward him and he kicked it back, waving at them. He knew most of the kids because their parents were people he’d gone to school with. People who had never left the old neighborhood, which comprised a tight-knit community of people from Heliconia, a small island nation in the Caribbean. He’d never been there as his parents had fled the country because of the horrible conditions long before he’d been born.
Only that didn’t matter. Everyone here in this neighborhood was family. Everyone stayed together.
Only he had left.
His apartment was in South Beach. He was disconnected from this place because it reminded him of his parents dying, his brothers sacrificing so much of their youth for him.
It was also the place he’d first met Ricky at a scuzzy samba bar where he’d danced with lonely women. Ricky had started in the more lucrative exotic dancing, just so he could make his own way in the world.
Don’t think about it. That’s all behind you. Focus on now.
He had to keep his head in the game. He’d worked hard to become an attending in pediatric transplant surgery at Buena Vista Hospital. There was no way he was going to let some new head of pediatric surgery force him out.
He usually wouldn’t be so worried, but apparently Dr. Bhardwaj wanted to make changes.
And changes meant cuts. He had no doubt the arrival of Dr. Bhardwaj was down to Mr. Snyder, current president of the board of directors. Ever since Snyder had taken over he’d been looking for a way to cut every single department’s pro bono fund.
It was a fairly easy ride from Little Heliconia to Buena Vista. The only change was the darkening clouds rolling in.
Yes. Definitely a storm.
“Where have you been?” Dr. Micha asked the moment Alejandro walked into the attendings’ locker room.
“My brother Santi just got married,” Alejandro replied casually. He didn’t really want to engage in conversation with Dr. Micha today.
“Mazel tov,” Dr. Micha said sarcastically. “The witch is on her broom, by the way.”
Alejandro cocked his eyebrow. “Oh, yes?”
Usually he ignored Dr. Raul Micha’s gossip. The man was a paranoid worrywart and thankfully worked far from Alejandro, in Pediatric Dermatology, but for some reason Raul thought he and Alejandro were best friends forever.
“She’s made cuts to my program already.” Dr. Micha shook his head. “Cuts, can you believe it? Snyder is behind it, I’m sure. Snyder was friends with Dr. Bhardwaj’s mentor up in New York, Dr. Vaughan.”
Alejandro was impressed as Dr. Vaughan was a world-renowned pediatric surgeon. So at least Dr. Bhardwaj should know what she was doing, but then he recalled the word that sent a chill down his spine.
“Cuts?” Alejandro’s stomach churned. This was exactly what he’d been afraid of.
“Yes. She’s slashed all I’ve worked for.”
“Buena Vista is a wealthy hospital. It’s not like Seaside. Why is the board making cuts?”
“Buena Vista was wealthy,” Raul said in a snarky voice. Then he peered out the door. “Oh, man, here she comes. You’re on your own.”
Alejandro rolled his eyes as Raul slipped out of the locker room. He pulled off his street clothes and pulled out his scrubs. Before he’d slipped his scrub top on the door to the attendings’ locker room opened. Alejandro glanced over his shoulder and then did a double take as he stared into the dark eyes of the one who’d got away.
Kiri.
His one and only one-night stand from his days as an exotic dancer was standing right in front of him. He’d finished the private show five years ago and she’d kissed him. Alejandro knew he should’ve pushed her away, only he’d been unable to.
“Please, don’t think badly of me, I’ve never done this,” she whispered. “Never slept with a man I just met.”
“I don’t do this either.” He ran his hands through her hair. “You’re the most beautiful woman I’ve seen in a long time.”
Her mouth was open, her eyes wide behind those dark-framed glasses she still wore. She recognized him. This was bad.
“What...? I...” She was at a loss for words.
“Sorry,” he apologized, slipping on his scrub top. He held out his hand. “Dr. Bhardwaj, I presume?”
He was going to pretend he didn’t know her.
Which was a lie.
He knew every inch of her. It was still fresh in his mind five years later. The taste of her skin, her scent and the way she’d sighed when he’d nibbled her neck just below her ear.
This was bad.
“Uh. Yes.” She was still staring at him like he was a ghost, an unwanted ghost at that. She took his hand and shook it quickly before snatching it back. “Yes, I’m Dr. Bhardwaj.”
He nodded. “I’m Dr. Valentino. Senior Attending on the pediatric transplant team.”
* * *
Dr. Valentino? His name is Valentino?
Kiri had never known her Latin god’s last name. Of course, she hadn’t stuck around after her one indiscretion in Las Vegas.
A stolen night of passion that had led to a pregnancy, even though they’d used protection. And then that had led to a late miscarriage at twenty-three weeks, which still hurt all these years later. Staring up at the father of her lost baby boy reminded her in an instant of all the things that could’ve been.
Even though the pregnancy had been an inconvenience, she’d wanted her baby. She’d wanted to be a mother so badly. It hadn’t been how she’d planned to start a family, but she’d been thrilled at the prospect of motherhood. And she’d tried to track down Alejandro, but when she’d called his number she’d learned he’d quit and the agent, Ricky, had refused to give her any information about Alejandro’s whereabouts.
Alejandro reminded her of pain.
Yeah, lots of pain. And the wound of losing their child was fresh and raw again.
And he clearly didn’t remember her, which was like a slap across the face.
What did you expect, sleeping with a male stripper?
“Yes, sorry, Dr. Valentino. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
Come on, Kiri. Get it together.
She was still in shock.
Alejandro smiled, that charming, sexy smile that had melted down her walls and inhibitions five years ago.
“A pleasure to meet you too. Well, excuse me, Dr. Bhardwaj. I have a consult.”
He wants to finish changing in privacy.
“Of course. Perhaps after your consult we can arrange a meeting to discuss the expectations of your department.”
“Yes. It would be my pleasure.”
“I want you,” she whispered. “And I’ve never wanted a man like this before. Please take me.”
“My pleasure.” And he ran his lips over her body, kissing her in places no one had ever kissed her before.
Kiri turned on her heel and got out of that locker room as fast as she could.
Ugh. You’re the head of the department.
Kiri was angry at herself for turning tail and running. When she’d miscarried she’d promised herself she’d never run from the father if she ever saw him again.
She’d tell him everything she was thinking. Those dark thoughts she’d had as she’d recovered from her loss. Everything that had crossed her mind when she’d learned that her baby was gone.
Turn around.
Alejandro was leaving the locker room. He looked so different in scrubs and a white lab coat. Given that she’d had her one-night stand with him five years ago and he was an attending in pediatric transplants, no less, in a world-class hospital, it meant that he must’ve been a doctor when he’d been dancing.
Which made her angry.
Why had he been doing that? Disgracing himself?
“Dr. Valentino, a moment, if you please.”
He turned.
Ha. You can’t get rid of me that easily.
“Yes, Dr. Bhardwaj?”
“I’d like to join you on your consult.”
He frowned. “Why?”
Good. She had him on edge. She had the power back.
“Why not? I have no patient load yet and I’d like to see how you run your practice. The chief told me you are quite the star when it comes to pediatric transplants.”
Which was true. Though she had a hard time believing it until she saw it for herself. Perhaps because she’d learned long before she’d met Dr. Alejandro Valentino that you really couldn’t depend on anyone but yourself.
And she wanted to throw him off his game.
One thing she had learned while going through her department’s finances when she’d first arrived in Miami had been that Alejandro’s department had a lot of pro bono cases. It was admirable, but the board had made it clear to her in no uncertain terms that the pro bono cases had to stop. The board wanted Buena Vista Hospital to be for the elite of Miami.
All those who couldn’t afford to be a patient at Buena Vista had to be moved to Seaside or County. The aim of the board was to cater to the rich and famous. The “beautiful people,” as one board member had put it.
It was a shame, but she understood that Buena Vista wanted to be at the cutting edge of health and it was a dream Kiri wanted to share.
Perhaps once they had that distinction she could convince them to open up their pockets to pro bono cases once again. Although Mr. Snyder had made it clear that pro bono cases were finished. And she almost wondered why she’d taken the job, because since her arrival it had been a headache dealing with the board of directors. In particular Snyder.
Then again, she’d have felt a bit guilty if she hadn’t taken the job her mentor had put her up for.
“Kiri, this is an opportunity of a lifetime. At your age, you won’t get a position like this in Manhattan. Buena Vista is a world-class hospital. Take the job I trained you for. Snyder is a friend of mine and I know he runs a good hospital and you’ll be treated right.”
She snorted at the memory, because it had been too good to be true.
“Of course. If you want to follow me, you can meet with my patient,” Alejandro said.
She nodded and followed him down the hall. It was awkward walking beside him, both of them pretending that they didn’t know each other. Of course, they really didn’t know each other, other than intimately.
Kiri could remember clearly what he looked like naked. How he tasted and how he felt buried deep inside her. Yet he acted like they were strangers.
He should have some recollection of her.
He’s forgotten you.
She had after all probably just been a forgettable experience for him.
Kiri knew that she wasn’t particularly memorable to many men. Which was probably why she didn’t really believe in love in the traditional sense. Even though her parents loved each other, but that was rare.
All Kiri believe in was science and medicine.
Her work.
Although science and medicine had failed her that night five years ago when she’d lost her baby. That pregnancy was the closest she’d ever gotten to love and it had been snatched from her in a cruel twist of fate.
Don’t think about that.
Alejandro grabbed the patient’s chart from the nurses’ station, smiling at the women behind the counter. She could see the effect he had on them—there were a few dreamy expressions—but as he walked past a male nurse he received a fist bump from the man.
He was charming and had everyone fooled. Just like she’d been.
“The patient we’re seeing is one of the pro bono cases sent over from Little Heliconia. The patient is an eight-year-old boy with cystic fibrosis. The family only speaks Spanish. Do you speak Spanish?”
“No, well, only a bit, not enough to keep up.”
Alejandro frowned. “Well, before we go in I’ll fill you in on his condition and what I’ll be explaining to the parents. That way I don’t have to keep stopping to interpret for you.” The way he said it made it sound like her presence was an inconvenience but she didn’t care. He wasn’t scaring her away and she knew that was his current tactic.
Kiri nodded. “Okay.”
“José Agadore has end-stage liver failure. Intrahepatic bile obstruction led to the deterioration of the liver tissue. By the time County sent him to Buena Vista there was nothing to be done to help the liver and I placed him on UNOS. Today I’m going to be updating the family on his condition.”
“There’s no liver match yet, then?” Kiri asked, making notes. Snyder wanted notes on all current pro bono cases in her department. Each head of each department of the hospital was doing the same.
Alejandro shook his head. “And the boy is not doing well. His last panel of blood showed ascites and a bilirubin count of three point one.”
Kiri flipped open the chart to see the labs and sighed. It didn’t look very promising. The more a body took a pounding while waiting for a liver, the less chance the patient had to pull through the surgery. “Has he passed cardiovascular and respiratory tests?”
Alejandro nodded. “He’s just waiting. Like so many are.”
Kiri nodded and followed Alejandro into the patient’s room. The little boy was jaundiced and was sleeping, a nasal cannula helping the poor mite to breathe. Kiri’s heart went out to the family. A mother and father huddled on the room’s couch, dark circles under their eyes. They immediately stood when Alejandro stepped up to the bedside, hope in their eyes, but they didn’t even glance in her direction.
“Buenos días, Señor y Señora Agadore, cómo está haciendo José esta mañana?” Alejandro asked.
“Tan bueno como se puede esperar,” Mr. Agadore said, then his glance fell on Kiri. She gave them a friendly smile, but it was clear they didn’t trust her. Not that she blamed them. They were scared, tired and there was a language barrier separating them.
“As good as could be expected,” the father had said. Kiri had understood that. She’d heard that same phrase in several languages from countless parents whose children had been fighting for their lives, the same haunted expression in their eyes.
Alejandro turned and nodded at her. “Permitame presente Dr. Bhardwaj. Ella es el jefe de cirugía pediátrica.”
The Agadores smiled politely and nodded. “Hola.”
Kiri half listened, catching a few words here and there as Alejandro spoke to the frightened parents about what was happening with their son and how they had to continue to wait until a match for their son was found.
When Alejandro reached across and shook the Agadores’ hands, they turned to her and she shook their hands as well. Alejandro opened the door and they walked out into the hall. She followed him as he returned José’s chart to the nurses’ station.
The charming, easygoing smile was gone, replaced by a man who was subdued because, like her, he knew that José didn’t have much longer to live.
“How much time does he have left?” Kiri asked.
“Days,” Alejandro said. “I keep my phone on, just waiting for the call from UNOS.”
“Well, I hope the call comes soon. Thank you for letting me in on your consult. We’ll speak again soon.” She tried to leave but Alejandro stopped her.
“You can’t cut my program.”
“Pardon?” She asked stunned.
“I know that you’ve made cuts. I’ve heard the rumors,” Alejandro whispered. “You can’t cut the transplant program, any part of the transplant program.”
She crossed her arms. “This is not the time or place to speak about this, Dr. Valentino.”
He grabbed her by the arm and led her outside, into an alleyway. Thunder rolled in the distance and she glanced up at the sky to see dark clouds, but the heat was still oppressive. It was a bit eerie.
“What is the meaning of this?” she demanded.
“You can’t make cuts,” he repeated.
“I’m the head of the department. If cuts need to be made, I’ll decide,” she snapped.
“If you make cuts there will be hell to pay,” he said through clenched teeth. His eyes were as dark and wild as the storm rolling in.
“Are you threatening me?” she asked.
“No, I’m just telling you that you can’t make cuts to this program.”
“I have no intention of making cuts to the program, Dr. Valentino.” Then she sighed. “I’m making cuts to the pro bono program. That young boy, he’s the last pro bono case that you can take.”
“What?” Alejandro was stunned. “You can’t.”
“The board is cutting pro bono funding. They still want a world-class hospital, they’ll fund research programs and equipment. They’ll even fund staff, but pro bono cases must be referred to County.”
“Cases like José’s can’t be referred to County. County doesn’t have the equipment to handle children like him. Sending them to County is a death sentence. County sends cases like José’s to us for a reason. We’re the best.”
“My hands are tied. Only those who can afford to pay for the services at Buena Vista will be treated.” Then added, before she could stop herself, “You know all about what it’s like to cater to the wealthy, don’t you?”
His eyes were like thunder as they narrowed dangerously. “You do remember me, then.”
“And you remember me. Given your age and your standing here, you must’ve been, what, a resident when we met?”
Alejandro cursed under his breath. “Yes.”
“And does the board know what their precious Dr. Valentino did before becoming an attending at a prestigious hospital?”
“Are you threatening me?” Alejandro asked, angry.
“No.” Even though five years ago when she’d miscarried and had had no one to help her, no one to hold her hand, she would’ve gladly threatened Alejandro then. She’d wanted him to hurt, to know the pain she’d been feeling.
“I danced to pay off student loans. That’s all. Once I’d earned enough money, I quit.”
“I don’t care,” Kiri said. “What I care about is protecting the reputation of the hospital. What if word gets out that a surgeon was an exotic dancer?”
“I haven’t danced in five years. My last show was in Vegas.”
Kiri’s cheeks heated and he took her right back to that night so long ago. “Why did you pretend not to know me?”
“Why did you?” he countered.
“I was surprised to see a stripper as a surgeon.” And she regretted the hateful words the moment they’d slipped past her lips.
“I’m not a stripper. I’m a surgeon. That’s all I am. Of course, it’s hard to practice as a surgeon when your program is being slashed.”
“Your program is not being slashed. Only the pro bono fund. You can practice on patients who can pay.”
Alejandro opened his mouth, but then a thin, long wail sounded from behind a Dumpster. It was weak, frightened.
“Was that a baby?” Kiri asked.
“Yes.” Alejandro turned and they listened, trying to drown out the sounds of traffic and thunder. Then they heard the small wail again.
Weaker this time.
Alejandro dashed over to the Dumpster and behind it saw a grease-stained box filled with newspapers. Kiri knelt down beside him and gasped as Alejandro peeled back the papers to uncover a small, blue-gray baby. Very small and obviously newly born, because the cord was still fresh and hastily cut off.
“Oh, my God,” Kiri whispered. “It’s a baby.”
A tiny infant that had been abandoned in an alleyway of a hospital. Alone and afraid.
“Fools,” Alejandro cursed. “Who would do such a thing?”
And Kiri couldn’t help but agree. Someone hadn’t wanted this poor mite, but to abandon the baby in the heat next to a Dumpster? That was dreadful.
It was times like this that the loss hurt even more. It reminded Kiri again that life was cruel and dirty.
Life was unfair.
Alejandro whipped off his jacket and gently lifted the infant, wrapping the boy up. “Let’s get him inside. It’s sweltering out here and, with the storm coming, that’s the last thing he needs.”
Kiri nodded as Alejandro gingerly picked up the baby. She opened the door and they ran inside. All she could do was keep up with Alejandro’s long strides as he called out for nurses, residents and equipment. They laid the baby down on a bed; he looked so small on the large gurney.
Alejandro moved quickly, giving him oxygen, holding the mask over his nose while they waited for an incubator.
“Who would do such a thing?” Kiri wondered out loud as she stared down at the small baby, new in this world and all alone.
Alejandro shook his head. “I don’t know, but it’s a good thing we found him. He wouldn’t have lasted long out there. Look, his stats are very low—I’m surprised he’s lasted this long.”
The incubator was brought in and a resident took over respirating the baby while they ran an umbilical line to get fluids into him. Kiri reached down and stroked his tiny hand between her finger and thumb. The hand was so small it made her heart skip a beat. It made her yearn for what she’d lost.
And what she’d probably never have since her obstetrician had said she’d probably never again conceive or carry a pregnancy to term. Motherhood was not meant to be for her.
“How old do you think he is?” Alejandro asked, invading her thoughts.
“I think probably about thirty weeks. Maybe. More like twenty-eight,” she whispered as they intubated the baby and transferred him over to the incubator to take him up to the nursery. She’d lost her son at twenty-three weeks. He had only been slightly smaller than this boy.
Alejandro nodded. “We probably just missed the mother. I’ll let the ER doctors know to be on the lookout for her.”
Kiri nodded as the resident team wheeled the incubator and the baby up to the nursery. “Good call. I’ll take the little one up to the nursery and arrange for his transfer to County.”
“County?” Alejandro asked, stunned.
“Yes,” Kiri said. “I told you, the hospital has cut the pro bono cases.”
Alejandro frowned and crossed his arms. “He won’t survive the trip to County and County doesn’t have the facilities of a level-one NICU.”
“Then Seaside,” she offered. “He can’t stay here.”
He shook his head. “We have the foremost neonatal intensive care unit here at Buena Vista. He needs to stay here.”
Kiri didn’t want to send the baby to County either, but her hands were tied.
“And who will pay for his medical expenses? He doesn’t have a family. He’s an abandoned baby.”
A strange expression crossed Alejandro’s face. “I will pay for his medical expenses. I’ll take responsibility for him. I’ll act as his family.”
