"Wait Sam I need to tell you this. I like you a LOT too. I have been involved with
a woman before and you're definitely not an experiment. You make me feel
things no one ever has before." Riley told her blushing lightly. Sam just grinned
and buffed her nails on her shirt. Riley elbowed her in the ribs. "Don't get cocky."
She warned. "I've had other reasons for insisting on dating men but that's over
with now. I promise some day soon I'll tell you all about it. I'm tired of trying to be
something I'm not and I'm not going to do it anymore. I think you and I would be
wonderful together and I hope you'll give us a chance." She gazed pleadingly
into Sam's eyes. Sam couldn't resist the plea she leaned down kissing Riley
gently on the lips. It wasn't like the frantic kisses they'd shared earlier. It was
soft, gentle and full of promise.
They sat cuddled together on the loveseat neither speaking simply happy to be
together. Riley happened to glance up at the clock it was almost 10.
"Shit." She muttered.
"What's the matter?" Sam asked.
"I should go. I have a 7 am surgery."
Sam's arms tightened reflexively around Riley she didn't want her to go. She
kissed her gently on the lips.
"When can I see you again?" Sam asked.
"Are you coming into the hospital for therapy this week?" Riley questioned in
return.
"Yeah, Monday, Wednesday, and Friday." Sam told her.
"Maybe we could try to meet for lunch. I'm sorry I can't promise, but I never know
what my schedule is going to be like. I cover all the ER trauma surgery cases."
"I'm usually done with my therapy by 12:30 we could meet in the courtyard like
before." Sam suggested.
"I'll be there if I can. Maybe you could page me when you get done with your
therapy and I could let you know if I'm free."
"Sounds like a plan." Sam said hugging Riley close to her.
Neither woman attempted to get up. Finally, Riley sighed and pulled away from
Sam.
"I really should go."
They shared a gentle kiss at the door and again at Riley's truck. Sam had
insisted on walking her out. Sam stood watching until Riley's taillights
disappeared out of the parking lot.
Chapter Eight
Riley stepped out the operating room. She'd had to go back in and do further
debriding of the wound on her young patient who had been in the motorcycle
accident. The leg looked better and with an additional surgery for skin grafts
later it should heal completely. As she headed for the recovery room, she heard
her name called. She turned to see Dr. Stevens, the Head of Surgery heading
for her. Damn and I was in such a good mood too. Dr. Steven's had been a great
surgeon in his time but his surgical techniques were as outmoded as his
attitudes toward women. Riley kept hoping he'd retire. But he was for the
moment her boss so she plastered a smile on her face as she waited for him.
"Good Morning Dr. Stevens. What can I do for you?"
"Did you finish the surgery on the Phillips boy?"
Duh, Riley grimaced internally. I'm standing here in the hall outside the OR in soiled scrubs aren't I? Keeping the fake smile on her face Riley replied. " Yes Dr.
Stevens I completed the surgery. It went well and he's in recovery. I was just
heading over there."
"Good. I need to speak with you about another matter. I've been concerned
about your recent behavior. You need to be more careful about the friends you
keep. They seem to be unduly influencing you. I promised your uncle I would
look after you." He said in a lecturing tone.
Riley had no idea what he was talking about but his condescending attitude was
pissing her off. And the whole idea that her uncle thought she needed looking
after was infuriating. I'm 35 years old for God sake! She fumed.
"Dr. Stevens I have no idea what you're talking about. My friends are of no
concern of yours and I'm perfectly capable of taking care of myself." Riley
replied trying to keep her temper.
"I'm speaking of the display you put on in the parking lot last week with that
woman." His tone of disgust made it clear what he thought of two women
kissing. "Your uncle certainly wouldn't approve of such deviant behavior."
Riley was shocked for a moment. She hadn't noticed anyone in the parking
lot. Then again, I was a little occupied. She snickered. When what Stevens said
really sank in Riley's temper flared. The guy had just called her a deviant. Now
she was really pissed. "My personal life is none of your damn business." She
shouted. Several people in the hall turned to watch the confrontation with
interest. They quickly turned away when Riley glared at them. She forced herself
to calm down taking several deep breaths. "Who I choose to associate with
outside this hospital is no ones business. I do my job and I do it well. My
personal life is not up for discussion." She told Stevens through gritted teeth.
"Now Riley I'm just trying to look out for you like I promised your uncle. You
really don't want to get involved with 'those people'." He explained as if speaking
to a stubborn child.
Riley's face turned red and her eyes flared with anger. She stepped up close to
the doctor invading his personal space. "I happen to be one of 'those people'
and I'll associate with whoever I damn well please. Stay out of my personal life!"
Riley was so angry she was stuttering. She turned on her heels and stomped
down the hall slamming into the recovery room.
Dr. Stevens stood watching her go. She always had been a stubborn child. It
was time to make a call to Rielly; he was sure he had no idea what his niece
was up to. Hopefully he could talk some sense into her.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Riley finished up in the recovery room and headed for her office. She was still
furious over the conversation with Dr. Stevens. How dare he try to tell her who
she could be seen with and that her uncle wouldn't approve! One of the reasons
she'd moved back to San Diego was to get out from under her uncle's thumb.
She grinned remembering the kiss in the parking lot. She hoped the old goat had
gotten an eyeful. Her pager shrilled interrupting her thoughts. Her grin widened
when she recognized the number. She hurried to unlock her office door. She
quickly dialed Sam's cell.
"Hello."
"Hi Sam. All done with your therapy?"
"Yeah, the slave driver let me go. I still say that guy gets way too much
enjoyment out of making people sweat."
Riley laughed. It wasn't the first time she'd heard Sam complain about Tony. "It's
for your own good Sam."
"Yeah, Yeah. So could I interest you in some lunch?" Sam asked.
Riley looked over her desk and the charts she needed to update. Oh what the
hell, s he thought.
"Sure, but would you mind if we ate in my office? I'm kind of swamped with
paperwork."
"No problem. I'll even bring it to you." Sam offered.
"Great Sam thanks." Riley said. She hung up after giving Sam directions to her
office. She settled in to do a little paperwork before Sam arrived.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Riley had managed to clear some of her desk by the time she heard someone