Free Blood Covenant by Lisa Harris Page A

supervising both the regular clinic and the cholera center I’m exhausted and running on adrenaline, but I think I’m going to make it.” She scribbled a few notes on a file and handed it to one of the nurses. “Two more cases of severe cholera. I’ve lost track of how many we’ve placed in the isolation ward. The seventy-five beds we have aren’t going to be near enough.”
Nick frowned. Another confirmed case of cholera wasn’t the thing that had him the most worried at the moment. Fatigue registered in Paige’s eyes as she turned back to him. She was going to have to find a way to pace herself and get some rest, or in a day or two she wouldn’t be able to function, let alone meet all the demands placed on her. And after all they’d experienced today, there was no telling what the future might hold. Twelve hours ago he’d left on a routine medical staff transport expecting to be home by supper. Instead, they’d lost a colleague and found themselves stuck in the middle of some godforsaken refugee camp. He could only pray that tomorrow would be better.
He tapped his fingers beside the pile of charts she’d started working through. “How late do you plan to work tonight?”
She rubbed her eyes and looked up at him. “I was told that they typically close the clinic at six, but because of the epidemic there are too many critical patients to leave with the night staff. I’ll stay here instead of the hotel all the volunteers are booked into.”
“Ahh, the Hilton.” Nick chuckled. While the nearby location was a convenient place to house both local and foreign staff, he’d hardly call the shabby line of rooms a hotel — a designation that had made it a running joke. “From what I’ve heard, the conditions there are about as far away from a four-star hotel as this camp.”
Paige set down the pen and smiled. “I was told that the hotel has a bit of a reputation for, shall I say, a mixture of sordid activities. And by the way, Taz told me he’d be happy to set up a cot for you in the registration tent if you’d like. It should be a bit more quiet than in here.”
“I’m glad someone’s looking out for me.”
Nick watched as she grabbed the clip from her head and retied her shoulder-length hair. Even at this hour, the humidity still hung in the air, making loose wisps of hair stick to her neck. Truth was it had been a long time since a woman had captivated his attention, but he’d found it impossible to put her out of his mind on the flight to Kingani and back. Nor had he wanted to.
In the short time he’d known her, he’d already been impressed with her spunk and sense of humor. And he hadn’t missed the fact that she was beautiful, with those blue-gray eyes and full lips.
He dropped his gaze before she accused him of staring and focused instead on the wood-grain pattern of the desk. Something that didn’t interest him in the least. But the bottom line was that the convoy would arrive with all the supplies from the capital on Wednesday and then they wouldn’t need him here anymore. She was leaving the country on Friday. He’d be lucky if he ever saw her again.
“Nick?”
He looked and caught her gaze. “Sorry. I’m feeling a bit … distracted tonight.”
She pointed to the bag he’d brought and cocked her head. “I smell something other than the ever-persistent smell of chlorine that I’m quite sure wasn’t on my supplies list.”
“You finally noticed?” Nick opened up the sack and let the scent of grilled chicken fill the room. “I thought you might be hungry.”
Her smile reached her eyes. “I honestly haven’t had much time to think about eating, but now that you mention it …” Her stomach growled on cue.
“Then someone needs to help our doctor keep up her strength.” He thumped the large stack of files with his thumb. “Can you sit outside for a few minutes and catch your breath? Not only are the stars beautiful, but a fifteen-minute break will go a long way toward recharging