basketball half-court. Games and tournaments were a regular and eagerly anticipated part of their lives.
Tag grinned. “That should be fun. Edible prize from the Donut Den?”
“Yeah, but Mom said we can’t be on the same team anymore.”
Tag scowled. “Who made her boss?”
“Emily. She put Mom in charge of the teams and the bracket.”
“Well, in that case, we’re screwed.” As a former corporate executive for one of the largest oil and mineral extraction companies in the country, Emily’s charm and organizational skills, combined with the sheer force of her will, left no room for argument.
Gareth chuckled his agreement. “Yeah, but the party will be epic.”
FRIDAY, THE LAST day of Ally’s first week on the job, and she’d only been in her office a few minutes when Flynn popped his head in.
“Hey, you got a second?”
“For you? Always.”
He came in and took a seat. “A couple of things. First—don’t forget we have a party to go to tomorrow.”
“I haven’t. I’m looking forward to it. You said it’s an outdoor thing, right?”
“Yes, and I’m glad you brought that up. Wear comfortable shoes.”
“What, like hiking boots or flip-flops?”
“No, like sneakers. We’ll be playing basketball. Bering and Emily have a half-court, and there’s going to be a little tournament.”
“Got it. That sounds fun.”
“Next thing, we have a patient who is going to be transported to Anchorage this afternoon.”
“Yesterday’s rock-climbing accident?” Two injured climbers had been brought in the day before after suffering a bad fall.
“Yes, a doctor in Anchorage is going to perform surgery on that shattered leg. I know you’ve had a long week and this will be your first transport. Do you want me to see if I can get one of the paramedics at the station to do it?”
“No, I got it.”
“Okay, it’s scheduled for two. When Tag arrives with the helicopter, I’ll page you, and we’ll go from there.”
Ally’s stomach did a flip. Tag James had been lingering in the back of her mind all week. She’d been waiting to hear about the meeting he’d requested with her and Flynn. She had polished her apology and wanted to get it off her chest.
Careful to keep her tone neutral, she asked, “He flies helicopters, too?”
“Yep. I don’t think there’s a flying machine out there that Tag doesn’t know how to operate—small planes, float planes, big planes, gliders, helicopters. I don’t know that he’s licensed for commercial jets, but I’m sure he could fly one.”
“Was he in the air force or something?”
“No, he’s just really accomplished. In a family filled with overachievers, Tag is the standard-bearer. You remember him, right? He brought Louis in last weekend?”
She sighed and said flatly, “Oh, I remember him, all right.”
“Uh-oh. Wait...was he the person who commented about your attitude?”
“And my age, yes. I have a feeling this is going to be a long day.”
Flynn sat back in his chair and chuckled. “Huh.”
“What?”
“Well, it’s just that everyone loves Tag. Great guy. Pillar of the community type. He’s also one of Dr. Boyd’s favorite people.”
“Figures,” she muttered. “Pod mates, those two.”
“Uh, not exactly. Tag is just easy to get along with. Usually.”
“Hey, I’m... I can be easy to get along with, too.”
“You can be, sure...”
Ally gave him her best menacing glare.
They shared a laugh, and then Flynn said, “Ally, seriously, it would behoove you to get along with him. Pull out the charm, which I know is difficult, but which I also know you’re capable of.”
“I’m going to try, Flynn. I promise.” Wondering if Flynn had forgotten, she asked, “Did he contact you about setting up a meeting? We agreed to settle our professional, um, discrepancies under your guidance.”
“Nope. Haven’t heard from him, although...”
She waved him on impatiently. “What? Spit it out.”
“It’s a good idea, I think. He does have a lot of experience.”
She scowled. “As do I.”
“Hey, settle down there,” Flynn teased, raising a conciliatory hand, fingers spread, palm out. “I know you do. All I’m saying is that medicine is collaborative, or it should be. You know that. You also know from working with Abe your entire life that not everyone thinks or believes the way you do. We talked about this before you took the job.”
“I know. I do know that, Flynn. I just wish a different pilot was doing this transport today.”
Slowly he tipped his head, like a thought was occurring to him. “This party tomorrow, it’s for his sister Iris. Did you know that?”
“No.” It figured. Just her luck. Small towns.
Flynn peered at her for a few seconds. “Is this computing? Those women you met the other night, at the Cozy Caribou? Most of them are related to Tag. He has relatives all over this town.”
Ally’s brain went into overdrive. This meant Iris’s sisters, Shay and Hannah, were also Tag’s sisters? Meaning she’d initiated a discussion with his sister Hannah about her arthritis that, had the conversation taken place, would have included mention of alternative treatments.
Yikes. Based on their initial encounters, Tag would not approve. Ally was almost relieved that Hannah hadn’t taken her up on her offer. Almost, because, she reminded herself, she didn’t care what he thought of her. At least today’s excursion would give her a chance to apologize before encountering him in a social setting.
A small smile played on Flynn’s lips. “You know, most women in this town wouldn’t consider it such a hardship to spend the afternoon with him.”
“Oh, yeah?”
“Yeah, he’s generally considered the one to catch around here.”
“The one to catch?” She repeated the statement flatly.
“Rankins’s most eligible bachelor.”
What did that mean? That he was some kind of player or that he wasn’t? “Huh. Well, I’m not most women, am I?”
Flynn barked out a laugh. “That you are not. I gotta get going. Promise me you’ll make nice with Tag James?”
“I promise I’ll...try.”
* * *
TAG WAS SURPRISED when he arrived at the hospital to find that the patient wasn’t ready for transport. His inclination was to seek out Dr. Ramsey, although he knew the task now fell under Ally Mowak’s job description.
With flashbacks of their last meeting flickering uncomfortably before him, he headed to Ally’s office only to find that she wasn’t in.
Tag gritted his teeth as he realized they’d never had that meeting with Dr. Ramsey. He’d headed back to the