ng small and fragile. She squeezed Bl

about me, baby gi

ad, fighting back a fresh wave of tears. "You ju

his face a calm, professional mask. "Thank you, Doctor,"

, formal nod. "We'll

he operating room doors. Blake watched until i

Bow

er daze. "Family members belong in t

he gave Hill a dead-eyed stare and turned, walking

y scrubbed, standing before the s

of the assembled team

t, "Dr. Escobar will be first assistant. Dr. Bowman will stand by my side

motion, but not an unheard-of one. Dr. Hill's jaw tightened. "S

el of finesse and synchronicity that I can't risk with someone I don't trust implicitly. I trust

od at Barrett's side at the operating table. Hill wa

t brief moment, he wasn't her boss or her tormentor. He was her partner. Hi

ed with the fluid grace of a master. Blake's hands were an extension of his own, anticipating his every need, placing instruments in hi

curdling in her stomach. It was like they were

moment o

Barrett said, his voice tight

ythm of warning. Blake's hand, holding a ca

. His voice was low and calm, for her ears o

e rock-solid again. She adjusted the angle of the catheter by a milli

resistance was gone.

d his loupes, she saw a flash of

ployed perfectly. Wanda's heart was be

ett stepped back. "Dr. Bowma

ook slightly as she took the needle driver and began to

enaline and exhaustion. In the scrub sink area, she turned on the water a

n the d

er face. She leaned against the cold stainless steel

arms wrapped arou

rr

lding her as she cried, letting her soak

hispered, his lips close to

r a moment, she forgot the contract, forgot Gwyneth, forg

er. He gently but firmly pushed her away, hi

cold tone. "And I expect to see you on rounds tomorrow morning a

lone by the sink, the warmth of his embrace alrea