And Never Say Goodbye: A Town of Destiny Novel Read online

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  The scrub tech, circulator, Anesthesia…and, of course, the coordinator—Gallagher, were all in place as she went to work. She turned to Lawson and spoke under her mask. “You really don’t need to be here. I’m fine. Really. Go get some coffee.”

  Instead, he handed her the abdominal retractor. She shook her head and opened up the belly to cross clamp the aorta and isolate it. Another pretty nurse stood ready for instructions, glaring at Gallagher.

  Wanting to laugh at the damage he must have done to that poor girl’s heart, she smiled, sure her eyes crinkled above her mask. The man was oblivious to the heated attention. “Are the back tables set?” she asked him.

  He nodded, with squinted eyes over his mask. Positive he was trying to read her mind. After she returned her attention to the isolated aorta, she took the chest retractor from him who still gave her an odd look. She glanced at the seething nurse. He really didn’t have a clue, did he? What an ass.

  Carol, the scorned nurse, poured the ice into the belly as Mallory and Lawson packed it, numbing their hands—the part she hated most. Feeling would rush back into her hands when she began to remove the lymph nodes.

  The scrub nurse handed Mallory the cannula to insert into the aorta, flushing the organs. Her usual rock music played in the background while she pulled lymph nodes, sensing Gallagher’s blue eyes singe her skin. She shrugged as if a fly flitted around her. Normally, she had complete concentration, but his presence bothered her today, throwing her off.

  She wasn’t used to sharing her OR with another surgical coordinator, much less her trainer.

  The heartbroken nurse continued to fume. “I’m changing shifts now.” She waited for him to respond—awkward silence.

  Mallory glared at him, drawing her brows together before responding, “Thanks, Carol. Good work.”

  Lawson lifted his head as if realizing the nurse was there. “Yes, good work, Care. See you later.”

  She paused before leaving. “Will you? I’ll be at Joe’s Bar and Grill with the gang.”

  Giving a polite smile, he said, “I don’t know. I’m kinda beat. Maybe some other time,” he said, looking into the girl’s big brown eyes before returning to the patient.

  Mallory cleared her throat and finished recovering the kidneys, wishing she could disappear into the wall. She placed them onto the abdominal tray to get packed in ice.

  Carol nodded. “Fine. Have a good night, Mallory.” She stormed out as the next nurse, an older one, to Mallory’s relief, took over her shift.

  She glared at him over her mask.

  “What?”

  Shrugging her shoulders, she shook her head. “Not any of my business.”

  “Look, I haven’t seen Carol since the Cubs office outing. She knows I’m not looking for anything serious. I’m a lot like you—married to my job. Sometimes they get too attached even when I tell them what’s what.”

  “No need to explain anything.”

  “But I don’t want you getting the wrong idea about me. I don’t lead anyone on.”

  “It’s fine. I respect what you do here, Gallagher. I don’t care if you screw every nurse, doctor, or sheep in Illinois, as long as you keep sharing your talent with the world, it’s all good.” She smiled, her eyes crinkling over her mask.

  Right now, she didn’t care about anything other than these perfect organs going to their new homes. Organs that would save five people. She just didn’t care about his sex life.

  When she used the sternal saw to open the patient’s chest, it never ceased to amaze her to hold the pumping heart and to be placed in the sterile basin. Her eyes misted over, closing them for a moment before breathing a sigh of relief. She did it again. Even the nurses and the coordinators teared up. Another miracle.

  The music still rocked them all, even Gallagher who hated music in his OR, had always said it distracted him instead. But not today. This was Mallory’s OR. He moved his head to the melody. Even if it saved one person, it was a miracle to them. A bond no one else could share. An OR family for life.

  Gallagher placed his hand on her shoulder. “You did it again, McShane. I was worried for a while there when she started crashing, but I should have known better.” His eyes crinkled above his mask.

  Hers crinkled back.

  The rest of the staff agreed. “Good work, Mallory. As always, it’s a pleasure.”

  Mallory watched Gallagher place the bagged organs into the coolers and knew it’d be a long ride home, because now she had to be nice to Gallagher.

  Chapter Three

  She was right. The longest ride ever in the first hour. And Gallagher being nice, a new light in his eyes. He’d never worked with her in the same OR or since he’d trained her. Starting out in the call center kept her humble, never allowing her head to get too big. Gallagher was known to have a huge ego, but tonight he let her shine and took no credit.

  Night turned to dawn as the dark sky lightened into orange and yellow hues, forcing her to pull the built-in shade up on the window, snapping it over the hook.

  “Why aren’t you sleeping, McShane?”

  Startled out of her thoughts, she said, “Too pumped. I will when I get home. And you?” She stretched her tired legs out, still sheathed in medical gear, and her bare arms above her head. The effects started to hit at the mention of sleep, a yawn stretching out her face.

  Gallagher shook his head as he watched her, again chuckling. “I guess same as you. That was a different experience—nice—but different. Not used to seeing you work like that.” He closed his laptop and put it back into his black bag, zipping it up and turning his long body toward her. He crossed his bulging arms that were sprinkled in dark hair over his chest, which was probably the same, and his hooded eyes wanting to close.

  Her eyes closed when his did, both giving in to beautiful sleep. She knew their office would soon appear, but wanted to allow this drunken euphoria to possess her even for a short time.

  As she slowly opened her eyes, their office building came into view as Jim drove into the large parking lot. Gallagher’s eyes were already opened, fastened on her. She cleared the frog out of her throat and sat up straight. A blush formed beneath her cheeks, burning her skin. Not her usual reaction.

  “You look so peaceful when you sleep. Did you know that?”

  “How would I?” Her snippiness was back, but not as tangy as she’d usually give him.

  He shrugged, shaking his head with that grin plastered on his smooth face—the hairs probably already growing to the stubble he’d have later. “Maybe someone told you.”

  Smiling, she said, “Wouldn’t you like to know.” She actually had been compared to a sleeping angel before…a very long time ago.

  Thinking about the paperwork awaiting her, she sighed, hating that part of the job. And today was Wednesday. Godawful meeting Wednesday. It was actually called Team Life—a rehashing of all the cases that week. She wanted to make up for her sharp tongue since he seemed hurt by her answer. “Are you going home for some sleep before the meeting?”

  “Me, sleep? Nah. I’ll just hang out here until it begins and then get my sleep in. Maybe grab some in the nap room until 10:00.”

  She nodded and yawned. After she slid out behind him, she pulled her trusty cart through the door. Gallagher was still ahead of her after she refused his offer to pull her cart again. After all, she wasn’t some dainty little damsel that needed a big, strong man to help her.

  Louise looked up from the front desk and smiled. “Morning, guys. Long night again, huh?” She had been with Hope of Life for twenty years and could retire if she wanted.

  Mallory nodded and shrugged. “Gonna be even longer with this meeting. Can I just go home now, Lou?” She grinned.

  “Yes, you may, doll face. After the meeting,” she said, winking.

  “Ugh. Thanks.”

  Gallagher pouted at Louise. “What about me, Lou? Am I your doll face, too?”

  She laughed and wiggled her finger at him. “Has
anyone snagged you yet, Lawson? I’m waiting for that wedding invitation.”

  “Nope. Ain’t nobody gonna, either. I like my freedom, Louise. Not like you, being married for, what…sixty years or something?”

  Mallory slapped his arm and laughed. “Nice, Gallagher.”

  “Going on thirty-six, so there you go.”

  He looked impressed. “Wow…see? I was close,” he said, shaking his head. “Not for this old boy.”

  Mallory raised her brow. “Tina doesn’t like being tickled anymore?”

  He gave her a side glance and grinned, a ruddy flush coloring his face.

  She caught Louise’s grinning face while watching them banter. “And what about you, doll face? Any suitors? You’re too pretty not to have any,” she said, shuffling some papers.

  “Yeah, doll face. Any suitors?” He propped his chin on his hand, his elbow on the desk, probably ready to fall asleep.

  She shook her head. “I’m married to this place, sad as that sounds. Wouldn’t have the time or energy. It’s okay, really,” she added, noticing Lou’s pity.

  He started for the elevator. “Let’s go, doll face. You have some paperwork to do.”

  She laughed and looked back at Louise nodding with an impish grin. As she pulled her cart, she shook her finger at the older woman. Mallory knew damn well what she was thinking. Not happening, Lou. Not happening.

  After getting off the elevator, Gallagher grabbed her cart. “I’ll take care of the organs. Go do your paperwork.”

  “Thanks. I owe you one.” She walked to a free desk that everyone shared. There were a few people on computers at other desks. The sun poured through the floor-to-ceiling windows. She still had no real sleep in her, and the sun was telling her so.

  She sank into the hard chair and pulled the documents out, a constant yawn freezing her mouth open. Her eyes watered as she tried to focus on the words. As her eyes began to close, she laid her head down on her arm for just a moment. A moment that turned into an hour.

  A tap on her arm startled her awake. She squinted and noticed Lance Johnson, another good coordinator, another guy she’d have to rebuff. “Oh…hey, Lance,” she said, wiping her mouth.

  “Hey, sleepyhead. Need any help with that?”

  He had asked her out a few times in the past, but she always said no. Newly divorced at that time, so not a good idea. His ex-wife was a nurse at one of their hospitals, so it’d always felt awkward to run into her.

  “I heard you guys rocked it out last night,” he said, smiling. He pushed an escaped tendril behind her ear.

  “Who told you? Lawson?” She wiped her mouth again from the drool, wiping it on her pants.

  “Jose. Wished I could have been there to witness you two working together. That had to be fun. Here, let me help you. You’re wiped.” He pulled a chair next to hers and grabbed a pen.

  She smiled her thanks and rubbed her eyes.

  Gallagher walked over and smirked, squeezing her shoulder. “What do I see here…some cheating going on?”

  A shiver ran through her when he touched her. She peered at his hand before looking up at him while batting her lashes. “Yes—Lance to the rescue.” Meeting Lance’s gaze, she gave a soft smile. “I owe him.” Sensing an awkward silence, she glanced back up at her giant partner with the disappearing grin, replacing it with a tight one.

  His hand slid away. Then his jaw clenched and he cleared his throat. “Oh, so Lance is the big hero now? I see how it goes,” he said, his smile returning, but something seemed wrong, like he was bothered.

  Mallory couldn’t figure him out. He never acted like that before. She didn’t want to use the word jealous because that sounded so…presumptuous. No, not jealous. Not of her. If anything, he would encourage it. “He was just saying how he heard we rocked it on the Stevens donor.” She wished he hadn’t pulled his hand away. What was wrong with her?

  Gallagher sat on the edge of the desk. “I didn’t do anything. That was all McShane. She sweet talked the husband and calmed him down, otherwise would have lost consent.”

  Her eyes briefly met his blue ones, a mixture of grays and greens but definitely blue. Definitely not his usual behavior. He held her gaze for what felt like forever, a hint of a smile in them yet serious.

  Lance waved him off. “You’re in my space, man,” he said and turned to her. “Maybe we can go to lunch after the meeting, if you’re not too tired.”

  Her eyes still glued to Gallagher’s, feeling a sharp spike shoot through her body, she said, “I don’t know, Lance. I think I might just go home and get some much-needed sleep. Maybe next time.” She dragged her eyes away from Gallagher’s and met Lance’s disappointed face. She didn’t really know if she wanted a next time, either. She wanted her bed…and not with him.

  Gallagher hopped off the desk and snuck behind her to pat her bun, raising her eyes to him. “Good girl. Go home and get some sleep, McShane.” He strutted down the hall, still wearing his scrubs. She touched her bun to make sure it was still intact—no flyaways.

  “It’s still there,” he said over his shoulder.

  She laughed and caught Lance’s questioning eyes before he returned to her paperwork, grateful he didn’t ask anything. She didn’t know what she’d say anyway—why Gallagher was obviously flirting with her.

  Shrugging, she thought about his scrubs that seemed to be made for his body, fitting just right. She also wondered if his closets and drawers were filled with them like hers. Or did he have a date section for girls like Tina? All his designer jeans in perfect order right next to his dressy shirts. Did she really care about his wardrobe?

  Lance put the pen down and pushed the finished paperwork into the folder. “We better get going. Meeting’s about to start.”

  In the middle of a yawn, she looked at her watch and jumped up, bolting down to the conference room, leaving Lance behind. She’d thank him again later. When she entered, it was already packed with other coordinators, supervisors, and administrators. Ellen, the silver-haired CEO, always showed up, living for these things. She was like their mother hen and looked out for them.

  “Hey, Mal. Heard you did it again,” said one coordinator from the other team.

  Mallory gave a tight smile. Hated compliments. “Not just me.”

  “Stop. You’re the organ whisperer,” another said.

  She didn’t know if they were mocking her or genuinely impressed, and she didn’t care. If she cared about what people thought and said about her, she’d be dating married men, in love with one of the female nurses, or sitting around her cauldron while stirring spiders and chanting spells. She chose not to care.

  Most of them just smiled and kept walking, a few thumbs up and head nods.

  Her supervisor, Jennifer, scuttled over as Mallory found a chair right in front of Gallagher. “Hey, Mal. I know you’re tired, but is there any way…”

  Sighing, she tilted her head. “Can I get some sleep at least, Jen? If I screw up due to being tired, that wouldn’t look good, now would it?”

  Jennifer was just as tired, raising her baby alone and trying to keep everyone happy, especially her boss. The bags under her eyes gave her away. “I hear ya loud and clear. Okay then, get some rest.” She stood. “Oh, and great work last night…again. I heard Mr. Stevens was over it until you got there.” She tapped Mallory’s back and walked to the front, preparing to speak.

  When Mallory felt someone’s foot kick her chair from behind, she turned around to find a smiling Gallagher chewing on a pen. That dimple on his left cheek distracted her.

  “Perfect view of the bun. Thanks, doll face.”

  “Oh, shut up.” She turned around and covered her mouth to contain a snicker. Then, she reached back and wiggled her bun in his face. She could easily take it down at the meeting, but she wanted to present a professional demeanor.

  “Just perfect.”

  Mallory twisted around and stuck her tongue out to his lazy grin. Then on a more serious note, she asked, “Hey, do you kn
ow if Jim’s still around?”

  Leaning closer in, he said, “He left down state to pick someone up. Why? Need a ride home?”

  “Damn. Yeah, I’ll find one. Thanks.” She started to turn around when she felt his hand on her shoulder.

  “I can drive you. My truck is here from last night still.”

  She tilted her head, narrowing her eyes. “I don’t know. What would people say…Mallory took a ride home with Wolf? Can you imagine those rumors? Thanks, though.” Not really caring what rumors they’d come up with, she found the perfect excuse. Being so close to him in a truck made her nervous, and she didn’t understand it.

  He relaxed his grip on her shoulder and sat back. “I’m driving you home. Stop being so…you.”

  After she thought about it, she shrugged and gave in. “Fine. If you don’t mind.”

  “I don’t mind,” he said in a quiet tone.

  “Thanks.” She returned her focus to the front, trying to listen to Jennifer speak, going on about Mallory again—something they got tired of around here. She got a little tired of it herself. A self-conscious feeling took over her, with him behind her. Like dark blue eyes were drilling her neck. She rubbed her nape as if to hide it, holding her hand there.

  “What’s wrong, McShane? Have an itch?” he whispered close to her ear.

  Heat rose through her to the top of her head. Soft chuckling deep in his throat flowed behind her. She shook her head, rolling her shoulder as if to ward off his presence.

  Her eyelids grew heavy listening to them drone on. She closed her eyes for just a brief moment. That moment turned into a kick from behind her.

  “McShane, wake up. You’re nodding.”

  Her eyes popped open and scanned the room. Everyone else held the same glazed-over look. She squeezed her eyes to stay open, blinking rapidly. She could do this. Only twenty minutes to go. The clock ticked by at a turtle’s speed.

  Jennifer’s voice perked her ears open. “Mallory, we have another letter from one of our families. They wanted you to know how grateful they were to your kindness and patience with them. I’ll let you take it home and add it to your collection.”