Playboy Doctor (13 page)

For the next few days, Willow worked hard to maintain a respectable distance from Shayne during their shifts together. All the while, the memory of his tender kisses and caresses loomed in the back of her mind. The way Shayne held her, their moment together was more than physical attraction, Shayne harbored an emotional intensity so rare for a reserved surgeon. She'd seen it in his eyes. She'd felt it in his touch.

Simply electrifying.

Therein lied the problem.

Which brought her to their argument. She'd set him straight on the reality of their plight and yet it did nothing to quell the unease beating through her. They shouldn't be entertaining the idea of sharing intimate moments like kisses and caresses. And she'd told him so. Made herself perfectly clear they shouldn't. She'd hoped he would agree. Instead he pressed for more, demanding the reason why.

Oh, she had so many reasons to keep him away. An entire ocean between them. He, a world traveler; she, a homebody. But most of all, her physical challenges preventing her from having children. Something he admitted wanting more than anything in the world. She'd be more than happy to give them to him... but couldn't.

Keeping Shayne at arm's length proved fruitless when having to rub elbows with him on a daily basis. His constant nearness, along with his mischievous glances, made it all but impossible to keep her wits about her. They'd grown tight as a team, worked in sync, and Willow found herself looking forward to work more and more each day in spite of her hands-off efforts.

Today, however, she was particularly tense. Shayne had scheduled an emergency procedure for Baby Jack that afternoon. While she was on edge about the procedure, Shayne itched to get into surgery to fully understand the infant's condition and help him survive.

With no time to prepare emotionally, Willow had scrubbed in, slipped into surgical garb, and was now assisting with the procedure. Despite her experience as a nurse, she couldn't help her feeling of pulse-pounding intensity as Shayne began the surgery and assessed the patient's condition. Willow caught herself holding her breath. She might as well have been working on her own child. She had indeed become a mother to this baby and like any mother, she fretted over the outcome, even though he couldn't be in better hands.

Dr. Edwards, in his usual cool manner, got to work repositioning the greater vessels in the baby's heart.

Willow tried to remain calm and collected, determined not to make a single error. She studied Shayne as he completed the arterial switch and finished the case, never once breaking his concentration.

Baby Jack came through beautifully.

Willow gave a silent, prayerful thanks.

Not until the infant was sent to recovery did she feel confident he had a good chance at surviving. But they weren't out of the woods yet. He would require long-term care, meds, and therapies. She intended to help him every step of the way. Where Shayne helped the baby with his current medical situation, she could help with his future medical situations—as only a mother could.

Following the surgery, Willow pushed through the doors into the Call Room. She barely entered before tugging off her surgical cap and peeling off the surgical gown. She had an appointment with Connie in Social Services to discuss adopting Baby Jack. She tingled with excitement over the prospect of motherhood.

She was disposing of her garb when Shayne sidled up beside her.

"In a hurry?" he asked.

She smiled up at him but offered no explanation of her heartiness. She may not be able to fully hide her excitement, but she still chose to keep her decision to adopt Baby Jack to herself for now. At least until she spoke to Connie.

"I assume you're in good spirits now that our littlest patient has survived surgery," Shayne asked.

"Oh, yes."

"Could have been a lot worse for him." Shayne removed his cap, his thick dark locks tumbling out. He pulled off his disposable surgical clothes, forcing her to notice those strong cords in his forearms. Those same arms that had saved Baby Jack's life, but had also held her close.

"I have every confidence his recovery will go well," Willow sang out.

"You seem in good spirits that go beyond a successful surgery. If I didn't know any better, I'd say you're up to something." He looked at her as if trying to mentally put the pieces together.

"Oh?"

"You're keeping a secret. I can tell by your impish grin."

Yes, she was floating on air, and no, she couldn't hide it. But she still kept the truth close to her heart. "Yes, I'm in good spirits. After all, my landlord is home on bed rest, doing well on adjusted meds. And Baby Jack came out of surgery fine. I'd say it's been a good day."
And it's only going to get better.

"Mr. Langdon and Baby Jack might be good. But not your bungalow. I still have work to do, sanding more baseboards and such. I'll come by this week."

With the gleam in Shayne's eye, the man actually looked forward to working on her place. He'd been so insistent on helping her so far, she knew he wouldn't stop until he got his way. Like he always did. Willow marveled at his tenacity for imposing himself in her life. She should fend him off. But her good mood kept her from resisting him.

"If you must," she quipped.

"Just like that?"

"Just like that."

* * *

Willow entered Social Services to visit Connie, the social worker on Baby Jack's case. Her heart hummed with excitement about becoming a mom.

"Thanks for seeing me today." Willow assumed the seat across the desk from Connie.

"How did the surgery go?" Connie asked while pulling together various documents.

"The procedure couldn't have gone better." Willow spoke professionally. "Of course, the baby will need regular follow-up attention by cardiac specialists probably into adulthood. He's certainly a trooper."

Connie smiled. "I'm glad to hear it. It's noble you're filing for custody for the infant. However, the process won't be easy, since you're going to be a single parent."

"Yes." Willow's heart dipped. She wasn't single by choice. She never expected her husband's sudden departure to have such far-reaching effects, including impacting a decision as huge as this. She prayed her unmarried status wouldn't hurt her chances. "But single parents take care of sick children all the time," she asserted.

"True. And you're the nurse who's taken care of the baby since the moment he entered this hospital. Given his medical status and your impeccable work, I'm sure these two factors will work in your favor."

"I hope so."

"Those factors aside, my concern lies first and foremost with the welfare of this child. This is a commitment of a lifetime, Willow. I have to be assured you're up for the task."

"I'll do whatever it takes. I want this, Connie. You know how much I want this."

Connie pursed her lips in a tight smile and pulled out more forms. "Yes, I got it loud and clear from each of our phone conversations and your three follow-up voicemails." She chuckled as she assimilated various documents.

"I did all the preliminary research online. Downloaded every guide necessary to get started on filing," Willow offered.

"Good. Documents and a detailed journal of his medical care are a must. You'll meet with a counselor on a regular basis. And you'll still need to take a class on how the statewide operational plan works so you meet all criteria for the baby. Here's more paperwork you won't find online." Connie handed over booklets, forms, and legal papers requiring signatures.

"Wow, this makes it so real."

"This is just the beginning. You know the expression, It takes a village? It has never been more true than for a child with a lifelong illness. You are an excellent nurse with a good head on your shoulders. But working with any state agency can leave you overwhelmed. Remember, you're not alone. Help is out there for you. Promise you'll take advantage because you're going need it."

"I promise."

"I'll expedite the process the best I can through the Children's Medical Services Network, petitioning for temporary custody. At the very least, you'll serve as the medial foster care parent. The MFC status will go into effect fast due to the baby's urgent care status while we wait until the forms funnel through all the right channels."

"Thank you for pushing this through, Connie."

"I'm pushing this through because I am pushing for you. But remember, I make no promises of the outcome."

Chapter 11

By the next day, Willow must have checked her phone for messages at least a hundred times in the hopes she'd hear from Connie. While sitting in the cafeteria during her lunch break, she kept her cell phone on the table beside her, willing it to ring. Of course, it was too soon to hear back, but she kept the phone near nevertheless.

Emmy plunked down her plastic orange tray loaded with a turkey sandwich, low fat milk, and a chocolate pudding.

"Hey, girl. Another gift came anonymously for your favorite little patient. Lotion and a hat. Hey, I only saw you upstairs with the baby once today. Busy day?"

"Back-to-back procedures."

"So? How's it going with you two?"

"Baby Jack and I are really bonding. I can feel it."

"I'm sure the baby is great, but as usual, I was talking about you and Dr. Edwards." Emmy rolled her eyes.

"Oh, him. Um, we're, you know, okay."

Willow sank back into her chair and mindlessly toyed with the lettuce in her Caesar salad. Over the past several days, she'd found herself reassessing her appraisal of Shayne as a bad-boy player. The legend didn't exactly fit the man she'd come to know, which only left her perplexed. Okay, so maybe he wasn't the love-'em-and-leave-'em type after all, but he was definitely leaving, right?

"Rumor has it that you two are getting along very well," Emmy announced. "I mean, very, very well. People are already wondering if you two are a couple on the QT."

In a flagrant display of indignation, Willow sat upright and scowled. She'd been nothing but professional and forthright, despite the magnetic pull of this guy. Hadn't anyone noticed her professionalism? Or how they worked together as a great team? She wanted to put these people in their place. But even she couldn't deny the spark between them. The spark continued in a hot glow she'd been trying to ignore. Oh heck, how could she deny it if every other person on the medical staff saw the spark as well?

Even if they weren't a couple.

"That's the problem with rumors," Willow complained. "They take on a life of their own. You don't know whether or not to believe them."

"Are you referring to all the rumors swirling around Dr. Edwards' playboy reputation?"

"The reputation is a lot harsher than the man himself."

"Isn't that a good thing?"

Willow gave a reluctant nod. "Too good. Oh, it doesn't matter, he'll be out of my hair and out of my life soon enough," she announced with a huff.

"You're not fooling me. You'll miss him. And I know he'll miss you."

"Maybe," was all Willow could admit.

"You know, it's okay to have feelings for the guy. You two do make a great team... and a great couple."

Was Emmy really condoning this? Oh, heck yeah. She had been all along. So annoying.

"Emmy, I can't believe you're saying this to me." Willow glanced around, hopeful no one had heard her friend's remark.

"Let me tell you a little secret. Surgeons are a breed unto themselves. They need to have supreme confidence to do what they do. But the insecurity over saving lives is just as great. For a surgeon like Dr. Edwards to do what he does, he needs the love of a good woman to keep him going. He also needs the assurance of a great nurse by his side. Sometimes, that person turns out to be one in the same." Emmy eyed her up and down.

A hairline fracture split a corner of Willow's heart. She sank back into her chair. "Am I that transparent?"

"You two are as subtle as a couple of flashing neon signs. I mean, the attraction between you two is absolutely glaring."

"Still, he's leaving."

"I know."

Emmy's tone—laced with history and understanding—piqued Willow's interest. "And how do you know so much about this doctor-lovey-dovey stuff anyway?"