Mine at Last Read Free Page A

reporters—his sister, Tatiana, was a reporter—and they were a tenacious group whose only focus was the story they were currently chasing. It was a shame because he certainly would like to get to know this one better. But if she was a reporter, he didn’t have a choice. She had to go. “Can I help you with something?” he asked, already knowing what she wanted.
    Shauna hadn’t recovered yet. Her jaw was still dropped and her heart jumped, skipping a few beats. Her stomach lurched and crumbled as if she’d been tossed off the Empire State Building in free fall. She stared up at his half smirking, half stoic expression as the air around her seemed to evaporate. It was him. She knew him from a long time ago—Dominik Coles. He repeated his question. “Huh?” was the best she could muster at that moment as gathering coherent words was apparently impossible.
    His eyes narrowed. He wasn’t smiling now. “My name is Dr. Coles. Do you need emergency medical attention?” he asked her.
    She swallowed hard, finding it difficult to speak. She shook her head, then finally answered, “Um, no.”
    “Are you waiting for someone who’s being seen in the back?”
    “No.”
    “Then may I ask why you’re here?”
    She considered telling him and then changed her mind. She wasn’t ready to end her observations. “I’m just here looking around,” she said simply.
    “Why?” he asked.
    “It’s my job.”
    Dominik took a deep breath and shook his head. Ever since Harris Bowman’s lawsuit and the ensuing scandal, the hospital had been crawling with reporters. “Well, you’re gonna have to do your job someplace else. This isn’t a library, a social club or a coffeehouse media center. You can’t just walk in, have a seat and chill out. So, come on, get your things. It’s time to go.”
    “Wait, are you kidding me?” she said. “You’re throwing me out of the E.R.? You can’t do that.”
    “Do I look like I’m kidding? You don’t need emergency service, so you can’t just come in here off the street and have a seat. This waiting room is for our patients and their families. Government regulations do not stipulate reporters are allowed to harass patients in my E.R.”
    “Reporter, no, you don’t understand...”
    “As a matter of fact, I do understand,” he interrupted. “You’re here staked out to try to get a story, just like your photographer friend we just escorted out. Put your tablet away, get your things and leave here before I ask security to escort you out, too.” He glanced down at her computer tablet, the hospital’s name typed prominently across the screen. “And whatever it is you want to know, I have no comment and neither does anyone else.”
    She hastily covered her tablet and grabbed her briefcase. As she picked it up, her wallet and keys fell out. She grabbed her wallet. He picked up her keys and handed them to her. She took them and, along with her tablet, secured them in the briefcase. The last thing she needed was for him to see what she was writing or ask for identification. “I’m not here to...”
    “Come on, your photographer friend’s waiting for you.”
    “But I’m not with him and I’m not a reporter,” she said.
    He turned and motioned for the two security guards standing by to come over. “Yeah, that’s what the last guy just said. He was trying to get into the back to take pictures,” Dominik stated to Shauna,
    “You’re making a mistake,” she protested.
    “Lady, I don’t make mistakes,” he said just as security arrived at his side. “Gentlemen, please escort this reporter off the premises.”
    “I’m telling you, I’m not a reporter,” Shauna repeated as she put her briefcase on her shoulder and stood. The security guards moved behind her. “Fine, I’m leaving.”
    “Thank you. Have a nice day.”
    Dominik watched as the security guards followed her through the automatic doors. His gaze followed her across the parking lot to her car.
    At his desk, he