Free NYC Angels: Flirting with Danger by Tina Beckett Page B

was near.
    Like it was doing this very moment.
    Cade entered the surgical area, where the patient and anesthesiologist were already waiting. He glanced up and nodded towards them. Chloe felt a strange kind of detachment looking down at the scene, almost as if she were having an out-of-body experience and was actually standing on the surgical floor.
    But she wasn’t. She was here with Brad.
    If only she could detach from him as easily.
    “Does the patient know other people could be watching this?”
    He nodded. “It’s disclosed in the admissions paperwork.”
    “I can’t help feeling like a peeping Tom sitting here, though.”
    Brad leaned closer and their shoulders bumped. “It’s the best way for surgical residents to hear and see exactly what goes on during surgery. They can observe how the team works together, learn new techniques or how to manage any complications should they arise.”
    It made sense, and it wasn’t like the patient saw a crowd of people staring down at her. It just seemed intrusive somehow.
    But so much less so now as Brad’s shoulder was still touching hers. A steady stream of warmth seemed tobe flowing from that connection, traveling down the length of her arm, settling in her belly.
    Cade’s voice came through the speakers, causing her to jump. “Are we ready?” He glanced at each person in turn and received an affirmation.
    Soon caught up in what was happening, Chloe kept her eyes glued to the monitor to her left as it provided a better view than actually looking down at the floor. “Ablation of the shared blood vessels is done laproscopically?”
    “It’s safer that way. No reason to make a large incision in the uterus in this case.”
    It was almost like watching a movie with a running commentary. She just hoped there were no twists involved in this particular storyline, and that things ran smoothly.
    Cade introduced the fetoscope into the opening, feeding it through the hollow tube until he reached the blood vessels in question. She could now see the rich red vessels that were starving one twin and oversupplying the other. “Getting ready to close the vessels.”
    A couple of quick bursts later, Cade proclaimed the ablation a success. The only thing left to do was drain some of the excess amniotic fluid from the recipient twin’s sac. Then they’d close the small incisions. Chloe only realized she’d grabbed Brad’s hand and squeezed hard when she felt his other one cover their joined fingers.
    “Sorry.” Her words came out on a half-laugh. “I guess I got caught up in what was happening.”
    She let go, and Brad gave his hand a shake or two. “It’s okay. I don’t use it much anyway.”
    “Surely you’ve had worse things done to you?”
    “Surely.” He was still smiling, but his tone wasn’t quite as light as it had been a minute ago.
    She glanced back down at the room below to avoid looking at him. “Will both twins survive?”
    “That’s the hope. We should know within the next couple of days.”
    Minutes later, Cade exited the room, snapping off his gloves as he pushed through the door. “The hospital’s lucky to have him on staff.”
    Brad’s mouth tightened. “That’s what they tell me.”
    “Don’t you like him?”
    “He’s good at his job. I don’t have to like him.” He glanced at her. “And what about you? Do you like him?”
    Chloe shrugged. “I don’t really know him. The other nurses seem to think he’s attractive, though.”
    There was a pause then Brad stared through the viewing window at the people still working around the patient, cleaning up the site and getting ready to transport her to a recovery room. “I’ll bet they do.”
    She couldn’t tell if the words were sarcastic or if he was merely agreeing with her. “I think you two are a lot alike.”
    That got his attention. “You think so?”
    “I do.”
    His eyes searched hers. “And what about your ex? Am I a lot like him as well?”
    A few seconds went by before she