Free The Ghost and The Graveyard (The Monk's Hill Witch) by Genevieve Jack Page A

his full lips.
    My mouth began to form the word yes, but I caught myself. “Um. Sorry, no. I can’t. I’m working late, and I have to catch up on some sleep.”
    His eyes narrowed. “You’re having trouble sleeping? I have some herbs—”
    “No,” I said too quickly. I shook my head and smiled. “I’m fine, really. I’ve just been distracted with the move and everything. Haven’t got to bed at a decent hour.” Hell if I was going to invite another foot-stink bouquet into my residence.
    He nodded, but the twist of his mouth told me he didn’t quite believe my excuse.
    I couldn’t tell him about Logan. Not only would it potentially mark me as a lunatic, but I had a strong gut feeling that I shouldn’t. My intuition had never let me down before. “How about tomorrow night?” I countered.
    “When can I expect you?”
    “I get off at seven,” I said. “I can be there around eight.”
    “Then eight it is.” The corner of his mouth lifted and for just a moment I sensed something. Call it premonition. I’d known this man and I would know him again. The feeling passed as quickly as it had come, and I realized I’d unconsciously leaned through the window and kissed him.
    I removed my lips from his and smoothed my scrubs. “Sorry,” I said. “I don’t know what came over me.”
    “Never apologize, mi cielo . Not for that.”
    I nodded, but I wasn’t at all sure I agreed. I had a nasty habit of losing control with Rick. Visions of calling in sick so that I could show him exactly what I’d dreamed about played out in my head. My heart picked up its pace. All of my girl parts petitioned for amnesty from my brain as I silently repeated: I need my job, I need my job .
    As if he could hear my thoughts, he raised an eyebrow and smiled wickedly. He stepped back from my Jeep. “See you tomorrow, Grateful,” he said.
    I regained my composure and waved goodbye, then accelerated, hopelessly late for work.

Chapter 9
    Gary

    S t. John’s is a modern hospital with windows that take up the entire wall and big, airy spaces that defy the claustrophobic feel of older buildings. But the fact that you could see the parking lot from the hallway to the ICU did not bode well for concealing my lateness. Luckily, Michelle raced to meet me at the doublewide, automatic doors to my unit.
    “I’ve been covering for you. You’re ten minutes late.” She grabbed my purse from me and tossed it into the break room where our lockers were without regard for the contents. “You have three-oh-three and three-oh-four, cardiac arrest and pneumonia. Vitals are normal. You’ve been at the blood bank for three-oh-three.”
    The last word was barely out of her mouth when my boss, Kathleen, rounded the corner and met my eyes.
    “Where’ve you been, Grateful?” she asked. Her lips pulled into a stern line.
    “At the blood bank for three-oh-three. I forgot the type and match and had to come back up.”
    “I must have missed you when you came in,” she said. Her voice held a hint of skepticism.
    “I got report from uh…” I cleared my throat. I had no idea who had my rooms before me.
    “Megan. Wasn’t it Megan I saw you with this morning?” Michelle filled in.
    “Yes, Megan,” I followed. “Had to get started right away. Sorry I missed you.”
    Kathleen nodded curtly and rushed off to her next victim.
    “I owe you one, Michelle.”
    We walked side by side toward our rooms.
    “You can pay me back after work today by coming with me to check out a patient on neuro. Maureen asked me to stop over.”
    “Sorry, hon. Can’t today. I have a date.”
    “With who?”
    I stopped myself. I couldn’t tell Michelle about Logan. Not only would she not believe me, but she might go all mental-health-nurse on me. If I didn’t want to end up on Haldol, I figured Logan needed to stay my little secret. “With me.”
    “What?”
    “Listen, I’ve been totally stressed lately. I just want to paint my toes and go to bed early, you