The Time of Her Life Read Online Free Page B

provides hot water. You can drink this cold,
though, too.”
    “It’s your water dispenser now. I’d like to say you can get a
decent cup of coffee around here, but I’d be lying. I budget for the good stuff,
but when it’s brewed in big quantities... Keep a supply of those on hand.”
    She dropped the package back into her case. “Appreciate the
heads-up.”
    “That’s what I’m here for.”
    Her smile flashed wide and bright, and he noticed again how
attractive she was. Not what he needed to be
noticing.
    “Let’s get this show on the road.” He grabbed the door for the
lady and motioned her through, forcing himself not to notice how attractive she was from behind, too.
    He kept his gaze leveled at the back of her head—where it
belonged—not noticing the way her shiny dark hair caught the light, bouncing
around her shoulders with her every step.
    Excitement must be getting the better of him, because the plans
he’d been making for eight months were coming together in the very feminine form
of this new administrator.
    * * *
    S USANNA ’ S TOUR BEGAN with the entry code to the secure doors off the
front lobby—lockdown, as the wings of patient rooms were known—and hadn’t slowed
the whirlwind pace in the hours since. She tried to tamp down her nerves, which
hummed at full volume, as she absorbed everything at once.
    Gerald had led her to expect a top-notch facility, and The
Arbors appeared to be that. At a glance, the staff seemed professional and
friendly, residents well-groomed and active.
    Jay was a charming host as he directed her through the facility
and instructed her on a floor plan that served both utilitarian and aesthetic
purposes. Four wings branched off from the lobby and two centrally located
elevators.
    The elevators were large enough to accommodate wheelchairs,
walkers and gurneys, providing the only access to the upper floors besides
locked emergency stairs at the end of each wing.
    “We’ll assign you codes to get through the outer exits, too,”
he said. “They can be handy when traffic backs up.”
    “Which happens quite a bit, I imagine.”
    He appeared to consider that, tipping his head to one side so
that strands of blond hair slipped over his brow. “Actually, not too much unless
we call 9-1-1. Then we reserve the south elevator until emergency arrives. The
residents don’t do a lot of traveling between floors unless they’re going to the
third floor for therapy, so that helps.”
    Pausing with his hand poised over the keypad, he glanced at her
and added, “I provided Gerald with our policy and procedure manual. Have you had
a chance to look at it yet?”
    “Cover to cover.”
    His smile came fast, a smile that nearly blinded her with
approval. “Good.”
    This man wanted the arrangement to work as much as she did,
Susanna realized. She wasn’t sure how she knew, but she did. And the awareness
both surprised and reassured her. With Jay’s assistance, this transition should
go smoothly.
    She hoped. The first step began with Susanna convincing Jay to
go through with acquisition.
    But he wanted to be convinced...and that realization made her
feel much better. “Reviewing schedules and staffing budgets is different from
seeing the result of a well-staffed facility in action,” she said as they exited
the elevator.
    “It takes adequate staff to provide adequate care. It’s
criminal what some facilities get away with.”
    He came to a sharp stop outside the elevator and thrust the
hair off his forehead with an absent gesture. “You do not want to get me started
on my opinion of federal regulations.”
    “Noted.” Obviously a hot spot.
    “Here at The Arbors, we have a shift R.N. who manages the LPNs,
the licensed practical nurses, on every floor and deals with the physician who
makes rounds each day. Yes, I said physician, not
nurse practitioner or physician’s assistant.”
    He was clearly proud, and as Susanna’s expertise was in the
facility finances, she knew the