Free Fang Hospital (Dr. Gabriella Van Court, Book 1) by Tanya Goodwin

get him transferred to ICU, thanks to you.”
    “I know you suspected the same.” Gabriella paused. “We work well together.”
    “We do,” he said softly. He toned down his voice to whisper. “When we’re all done taking care of others, I’ll take care of you.”
    “I look forward to showing our appreciation to one another.”
    “I will appreciate every inch of you.”
    “Here’s to exploration! Meet you in the doctor’s call room.”
    “I’ll beat you there.”
    “I’ll give you a head start.”
    “Then I better get going. Later, Dr. Van Court.”
    “Later, Dr. Cade.”
    Gabriella lowered the receiver. She rested her hand over the handle feeling the heat from his hand lingering on the other end. He finally let go. She traced her tongue across her fangs, anticipating his taste. Soon Max would be all hers. She’d pull him to the brink of her world. He’d beg for more, but she would not turn him. Gabriella nodded. It was possible—a vampire and mortal amour. She pressed her lips. I’ll make it work!
    “Not in the long run,” K.L. said.
    Gabriella’s eyes grew large. Her powers were weirdly weakening again. She’d always been able to keep her musings private, until now. She whipped around to face him. “You read my thoughts!”
    He shrugged. “Odd, isn’t it? But they came through, crystal clear. I was only giving you my thoughts on the situation.”
    She quickly cut off any errant rumination, just in case. Gabriella dug her hands into her hips. “It’s none of your business, anyway.”
    K.L. rolled his eyes. “Oui, oui, mademoiselle. Pardonez moi!”
    Gabriella eased her grip on her hips. “Pardon me, too. I didn’t mean to snap at you. I know you meant well. I was just shocked that you could intrude into my thoughts. No one except Volk has been able to do that.” Gooseflesh snaked down her spine. Her fingers quivered as she placed her hand on his shoulder. “And thank you for speaking French.” She lowered her gaze. Her heart squeezed. “I miss my home. I miss my family.”
    K.L. took her hand. He kissed it and held it to his cheek. “I know. I get weepy at times, too. But we are family now.” He lowered her hand and squeezed it. “Quit worrying. A lot has happened to you. You, my dear, are hopelessly in love with a human. That’s got to sap some of your vamp energy. And there’s the whole Barbara incident.” He winked. “It’s not easy being a new vamp parent.”
    Gabriella massaged her forehead. “No, it isn’t.” She panned the lab. A nauseating pressure built in her chest. “So, uh, where is our little darling?”
    K.L.’s head flitted about on his neck, scanning the lab 360. “Merde! She was just here!”
    “I trusted you to watch her!”
    He shot his finger at her. “I was doing you a favor!”
    “You volunteered!”
    K.L and Gabriella glared at each other. It was a vampire stand-off!
    She willed her pulse to slow and pulled back her fangs. K.L retracted his.
    Their stare melted. They hugged. Gabriella patted his back. He patted hers.
    “I’m sorry,” they blurted out simultaneously.
    Gabriella gathered her wits. With Barbara feral and on the loose somewhere in The Fang, bodies would soon be stacking up. She grabbed K.L’s hand. “Fighting is only wasting time. We need to find Barbara, and fast.”

 
    Chapter Seven
     
    Cardiology arrived minutes after Max had hung up the phone from them, calling for a stat transfer of his patient to the intensive care unit. He rushed to cubicle 3 to send him off. Max tapped the man’s hand.
    “Everything will be fine. They’ll take good care of you in the ICU.”
    “Thank you for taking me seriously.”
    “Actually, you have Dr. Van Court to thank. She’s the one who put a rush on your blood work.”
    “Tell her thank-you, until I can tell her in person. Let her know where I am, will you?”
    “Will do. I’m sure she’ll come to visit with you soon. But for now, the folks in ICU will keep you plenty busy.” He