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“Busy like any week. We’re not full, and we haven’t lost anyone in a couple days.”

“That’s always good.” Lila’s pink tongue dashed across those plump lips, absolutely distracting Ann.

Lila’s mouth quirked upward. Ann had been caught staring, and it wasn’t for the first time. Immediately she thought of Heidi, times when Heidi had caught her staring just like this. It had been a while, but still, Heidi had loved it. Any woman would, really. She should make sure to do that more often.

In fact, Ann needed to make far more of an effort on all levels where Heidi was concerned. Maybe that would bridge the widening gap between them. Cocking her head to the side, Ann gave Lila a curious look. “And how was your week?”

“Oh, boring as ever.” Lila grinned. “Just making orders, getting orders, delivering orders. You know, the usual. I could certainly use something to spice up my life.”

Ann wondered briefly is that was an invitation before she dismissed the idea. Carlos walked down the hall in his scrubs, nodding his head at Ann and looking Lila up and down like she was a piece of meat he wanted to try. If it wasn’t so obvious by the angle she stood at, Ann would roll her eyes and tell him to find someone else since he was lacking in subtlety. Instead, she let Lila handle it.

“Hey, Lila.”

“Carlos.” Lila gave him a broad grin, but it lacked the teasing she’d had with Ann a moment before. “How’s the shift going?”

“Good, good. You busy this weekend?”

Lila slid Ann a deliberate look. Ann kept her face straight and even, not giving away anything. “I think I am.”

“Too bad. There’s a Halloween party at my friends, thought you might like to join us.”

“Next time then.” Lila’s smile faltered. She took the piece of paper Ann had handed her moments before and stepped away from the counter. “See you next shift. Call if you need any special orders.”

The last bit was said directly to Ann. A shiver ran through her. Lila had certainly upped her flirting game in the last few months, not that Ann minded. She rarely got to flirt at home, which was something she sorely missed from the early days of their relationship. It had seemed so much easier then, before she’d truly gotten into the details of who Heidi was and what made her who she was.

“I’ll let you know,” Ann finally responded as Lila wasn’t leaving until she got an answer.

Lila winked where Carlos wouldn’t see just as she twisted on her toes and headed for the double doors to ICU. Ann watched as Lila sashayed her way through them—the sway of her curvy hips, the lightness of her step.Oh to be young and free of the wisdom and depth life brought.They were a little over ten years apart if Ann remembered. She’d asked once, but it hadn’t really mattered.

Carlos focused on her. “You ready to do that transfer?”

“Yes.” Ann grabbed her chart and a pen, readying herself.

She was near the end of her shift when she remembered what she’d wanted to do earlier. Grabbing her phone after she passed everything off to the night crew, Ann walked to her car in a far better mood than she had been all week. Visits from Lila tended to do that. The first text she sent was to Heidi, telling her she was on her way home.

The second was an invitation for a date. They needed the time alone together, without distractions. Hell, Ann needed the time more than anyone, that was for sure. Her mind was an unfocused jumble of what-ifs. But by the time she made it to her car, she had an answer.

Yes.

They figured out the details and finer points quickly and set a date. It would be glorious. By the time Ann got home she was exhausted. Her hips didn’t ache like the previous week, which was the only high point, but her feet did. She slipped off her shoes and left them by the door to try and keep the hospital nasty out of the house. Immediately, she stripped off her scrubs and hopped in the shower.

Heidi popped into the bathroom. “How was work?”

“It was good.” Ann soaped up her hair.

The shower curtain pulled back, the heat escaping and cold air rushing in. Ann hissed as she glared at Heidi’s offending hand. “Can I join you?”

“Sure, but close that up quick.”

Heidi took off her clothes and slipped into the shower with Ann. Heidi smiled, giving Ann an appraising look. Ann couldn’t quite tell what was going through her mind. She never could anymore.

Stepping up to Heidi, Ann left the sanctuary of the hot water spraying on her back and reached out to grab her partner’s hands. “It’s been a while since we’ve done this.”

“Too long,” Heidi answered.

“Agreed.” Ann smiled and turned so Heidi could have the water. She hissed, and Ann should have remembered it was going to be too hot for her. She reached and turned down the temperature before pressing a gentle kiss to Heidi’s lips. “I’m glad you thought of it.”

Heidi’s lips quirked lightly. Ann couldn’t tell if she was happy, pleased, or giving in because it had been so long. It had become so hard to read her over the years. At first it had seemed so easy, but perhaps it never had been.