The Surgeon's Favorite Nurse (10 page)

In her spartan rented room there were no personal reminders of anyone, including him, and no excuses for thinking about him. Although that didn’t stop her. But it was time to focus.

She held an arm out, indicating the doorway. “Ladies and gentlemen, if you’ll follow me through here, we’re going to see the trauma bays. Notice how the flow of traffic and ancillary services such as radiology and lab are all located in a compact area to facilitate emergency treatment. After a trauma there’s what we call ‘the golden hour,’ sixty minutes when what we do can mean the difference between
life and death. We can’t afford to waste time shuffling equipment or personnel where they’re needed.”

A murmur of awed agreement hummed through the group as they walked. In the trauma rooms, she pointed out the distinctive features of each bay and what emergency situations could send a patient there.

“What if the room for a particular trauma is already occupied?” a slim, older blonde woman asked.

“We can handle all emergencies in any bay,” Hope explained. “But these are set up for functioning in a perfect world. If there was a major disaster, for instance, there are protocols in place to stretch emergency services. All personnel, whether on call or not, are required to report to the hospital. Patients would be triaged so that the most severely injured get attention first. But under normal circumstances, trauma cases are channeled to the bay best suited to deal with it.”

“I see,” the woman said nodding. “This is quite a beautiful facility.”

“Yes, it is.”

Right now the lavender walls and color-coordinated countertops were pristine. They wouldn’t stay that way long. When the doors opened, and that would be soon, there would be patients and paperwork and paraphernalia everywhere. Hope was sad that she wouldn’t be here to help navigate the speed bumps, adjustments and growing pains of the new campus. She’d be leaving as soon as her replacement was hired. That would be for the best because Jake Andrews refused to stay out of her head.

She looked at the six or seven men and women in this tour. “If you haven’t already seen the patient rooms upstairs, I highly recommend that you do. There are volunteers in the lobby to form groups for that. I’ll be leaving you there.”

Everyone followed her, commenting on the exquisite artwork hanging on the walls and the pleasing color scheme that streamed from one department into the next.

When they arrived at the information desk in the sunlit lobby, she said, “Outside under the white tent, representatives from medical companies are set up with information about services from health clubs, vision screenings, orthotics and general wellness. And if you’re interested in a cholesterol screening, there are people just around the corner who can help you with that. I hope you enjoyed the presentation.”

Everyone thanked her and moved away, all except the blond who’d asked about full trauma bays. She was stylish in crisp jeans, a soft powder blue sweater and a tailored jacket. She stood by the desk glancing around.

“Is there something I can help you find?” Hope asked.

“I’m just looking for my son.” Her gray eyes scanned the crowd milling around and the people walking through the double doors.

Because the woman was in her fifties, Hope assumed the son in question wasn’t a toddler who’d wandered off.

“Were you supposed to meet him somewhere? At a certain time?”

“No.” The woman continued her search. “He works here and I just figured—”

“Mom, there you are.”

The voice came from behind them and Hope knew it instantly. She turned and the lurch of her heart confirmed what she already knew. “Jake.”

“Hi, sweetheart,” the woman said. “It’s about time you showed up.”

“I’ve been around.” He grinned, then leaned down to give her a hug. “Where were you?”

“Pestering this young woman with questions,” she said, glancing at Hope.

He looked from one to the other. “I see you two have met.”

“Not really.” Hope was still trying to wrap her mind around the fact that this was his mother. She’d never expected to meet the woman who raised him under such difficult circumstances and did quite a remarkable job.

“Susan Andrews,” he said, “meet Hope Carmichael, Mercy Medical West’s nurse coordinator.”

His mother held out her hand. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Hope. Jake has told me about you.”

Hope squeezed her fingers and wondered if he’d shared with his mother any of their rocky history. Probably not the story of their one-night stand in his bedroom. Or the sexy close call up against the wall in her office.

A gleam stole into the gray eyes so like his mom’s. “I only told her the good stuff.”

Hope wondered if he could read her mind, because he was definitely messing with her. “Then it was a short conversation.”

The woman laughed. “Good for you, Hope. Don’t let him push you around.”

“Mom? Whose side are you on?” he asked, his tone teasing.

“Hope’s,” she answered emphatically. “Women have to stick together. And you can be incredibly annoying sometimes.”

“Wow, feel the love. I didn’t know that gender tops DNA in the loyalty department.”

“We should compare notes,” Hope said, liking his mom immediately. “How is he annoying? Let me count the ways.”

“For one thing he thinks he’s always right,” the older woman said.

“I noticed that the first time we met.” The second time he’d kissed her and put everything out of her mind except wanting to be with him. That was pretty annoying.

“He’s stubborn, too.” Susan Andrews slid a teasing glance up at her son.

“Hey, I’m right here,” he protested.

Without acknowledging him, she continued. “When he was little, he used to throw temper tantrums if he didn’t get his way.”

“Really?” Hope could see that he wasn’t the least bit upset at this revelation.

Mrs. Andrews nodded. “I kept my sanity by telling myself that determination is a good quality in an adult. In a two-year-old, not so much.”

“I can see that about him. The whole stubborn thing,” Hope agreed.

One of his dark eyebrows arched. “Has anyone ever told you that two against one is piling on? There are penalties against that in football.”

“Football isn’t always fair,” the older woman said. “And neither is life.”

“Words to live by. You should listen to your mother.”

“What makes you think I don’t?” The pretended affront was reflected in the tilt of his head and made him look too cute. “Everything she says is a pearl—”

His phone must have vibrated because he reached for it, looked at the display, and said, “Stop talking about me.”

His mother frowned as he moved a few feet away and answered the call. “He works too hard.”

“How do you know the call is about work?” Hope asked.

“The look on his face. Suddenly serious. I worry about him.”

Hope studied the concentration on his features where the teasing expression had been only moments before. He was certainly driven to succeed. She’d wrongly judged him as mercenary when they’d first met and felt bad about it.

“Maybe,” Hope said, “he can slow down a little now that he’s the trauma medical director here.”

“That would be nice, but I’m not holding my breath. Failure isn’t an option for Jake. Hard work and too many hours are the price he pays.”

He replaced his cell in the holster on his belt and rejoined them. “I have to go. Paramedics are bringing in accident victims.” He looked sincerely regretful. “Sorry about lunch, Mom. I’m on call.”

“No need to apologize.” She touched his arm. “I understand.”

“I was going to show you stuff not on the public tour, but duty calls—”

“I’ll do that,” Hope offered. “A special tour rate for the medical director’s family. If you’re up for it, Mrs. Andrews?”

“Call me Susan. I’d like that, Hope. How very sweet of you.”

“Yeah,” Jake agreed. “I owe you one.”

“No, I’m happy to—”

“Gotta go,” he said, checking his phone. He leaned down to kiss his mom’s cheek. “I’ll call you.”

“When you have time, sweetheart.”

Hope stood beside the older woman as they watched him hurry through the hospital’s automatic double doors to the designated doctor parking just outside. The teasing was fun and she missed him already. That was beyond stupid and fell into pathetic territory.

She pulled her gaze from where he’d disappeared and looked at his mom. “I’ll show you the rest of the hospital.”

“Wonderful.”

They took the elevator upstairs for a look at the cheerful and sunny patient rooms. There were pullout beds tucked away in a window seat to allow a family member to spend the night with a sick loved one. Each bed had a computer where medical information was charted and could be shared in e-mail updates to family and friends. It also functioned as a personal computer.

Susan looked impressed. “You mean I could do online banking while being laid up?”

“Yes.” Hope smiled. “While someone is trying to get well, they shouldn’t have to feel trapped and worry about the bills getting paid. The hospital looks at healing from a three-pronged approach—mind, body, spirit.”

“This is pretty amazing.”

When there was nothing left to see in the main building, Hope offered to accompany the woman to the health fair outside under the tent.

“That’s not necessary. I’ve already taken up too much of your time.”

Hope told herself that looking after Jake’s mom was nothing more than politeness to a nice woman who happened to be related to her boss. It was all about doing a good job because the job was all she had.

“I don’t mind,” she said.

“You’re a sweetie, but I think shepherding an old lady is above and beyond the call of duty.”

“No, it’s not. And you’re not old. I’ve enjoyed showing off what we’re doing.”

“It’s certainly impressive. And I’d like to thank you for taking me under your wing.” She tapped her lip thought
fully. “Jake tells me you’re staying at the Residence Inn, practically living out of a suitcase.”

“Well, I—”

The woman continued, “Eating out all the time isn’t good for you,” she warned. “Too much salt is bad for your blood pressure. I’d like to fix you a home-cooked meal.”

“That’s too much. I don’t want you to go to any trouble,” Hope protested.

“Jake can barbecue. It relaxes him. Or so he says. Please say yes, Hope.”

This woman’s genuine warmth melted the ice inside her and opened up a chasm of emptiness that Hope had only begun to realize was there. Jake had tapped into it first. Just the mention of his name intensified the loneliness until she didn’t have the emotional reserves to say no.

Surely two years of soul-deep aloneness atoned for her sin. Just once in the light wasn’t a punishable offense, was it? The price for protecting herself was to be by herself and right this minute, that price was too high.

Before she could talk herself out of it, Hope said, “Thank you, Susan. I’d love to join you for dinner.”

A
t Mercy Medical Center, Jake walked into the E.R. doctor’s lounge and poured himself a cup of coffee from the pot. This small room tucked away from the bustle of the trauma bays was an oasis of serenity with gray-brown Formica countertops and generic linoleum floors. A rectangular table stood in the center of the room with four metal folding chairs around it. Along with the never-ending coffee, there were stale cinnamon rolls on a paper plate. When you were too busy to grab a meal, that rock-hard pastry could taste like the best steak at Delmonico’s.

Just as he took a sip from his mug, the cell phone clipped to his scrubs vibrated. He leaned back against the counter and looked at the display before answering.

“Hi, Mom.”

“I hope I’m not interrupting you.”

“Nope. I just got out of surgery. Repairing a lacerated liver.”

“That sounds bad. How did it go?” she asked.

“The patient is young and in exceptional shape so the prognosis is good. He should do fine. And he’ll be more careful the next time he rides his skateboard off the curb and pretends it’s a half pipe.”

“I’m glad it went well,” his mother said. “And that I’m not catching you at a bad time.”

“I’m between traumas. Paramedics are on the way.”

“So you are busy. I should let you go,” she protested.

“I’ve got a few minutes. Mitch will do the initial eval. He’ll holler if he needs me. What’s up?”

Something was, because when he was on call Susan Andrews didn’t bother him unless there was a good reason.

He straightened away from the counter. “Is everything okay, Mom?”

“Hopefully.” She laughed a little nervously. “And speaking of Hope, she’s like a breath of fresh air, a ray of sunshine. Don’t you think?”

“Yeah.”

Hearing Hope’s name produced an image in his head of her sparkling eyes and the amused, yet mysterious, smile that curved up the corners of her full mouth. That put a hitch in his breathing.

“Yeah?” his mother echoed, uncertainty in her voice. “I was going for a more enthusiastic reaction. You’re going to be really upset with me. Don’t worry. I can get you out of it. You’re on call. I can just say that you got hung up at the hospital. I’m sorry I bothered you—”

“Whoa, Mom.” What the heck was she talking about? “Did something happen with you and Hope after I left?”

“Not in a bad way. She was so charming and gracious that I invited her to dinner. And volunteered you to do the grilling,” she added. “But it’s all right if you don’t want to.
I wasn’t matchmaking. Honestly. I just had a spontaneous thought and the words came out of my mouth. And I—”

“Take a breath, Mom.”

“Okay.”

There was silence on the other end of the phone and he assumed she was breathing. He needed to take his own advice because this unexpected good news made him want to pump his arm and holler from the top of the hospital’s bell tower. The reaction would seem out of proportion to his mother and he didn’t have time for the long, sad, frustrating story. Along with giving him life and unwavering support, she’d just given him the gift of time with Hope. He needed to reassure her that this couldn’t be more okay with him.

“Not a problem, Mom. You know I like to grill.”

“That’s what I told Hope. That it relaxes you.”

With Hope in close proximity relaxation was a challenge, unless he had her in his arms.

“What time?” he asked casually.

“She’s coming about six-thirty. But you do what you have to at the hospital.”

“I’ll be there, Mom. Or I’ll call,” he added, not wanting to sound too eager. Nothing short of a disaster could keep him away.

“Okay. Bye, sweetheart.”

Hot damn! If he’d known his mother was the secret weapon to hanging out with Hope, he’d have used her sooner. Before he could take that thought further, the door opened and Mitch walked in.

His partner looked at him, then did a double take. “Good news?”

“What makes you say that?”

“You look—” Mitch’s eyes narrowed suspiciously. “I don’t know. Happy?”

“What makes you think that?”

“You’re smiling.”

“I’m always happy.”

“And politicians always tell it like it is.” Mitch, the world’s greatest skeptic, settled his hands on his hips.

“Is there some reason I shouldn’t smile?”

A frown darkened Mitch’s already-intense blue eyes. “As a matter of fact—”

Jake’s trauma-sense started tingling. “What’s wrong?”

“Ashley says you dumped Blair Havens.”

“Take that out of the rumor column and put it under fact,” Jake confirmed. “So what?”

“That’s not actually the rumor I meant. All the way home from your party last night Sam couldn’t stop talking about you and Hope. There wouldn’t be a you and Hope if Blair was still in the picture.”

“Thanks for the vote of confidence. But how does Sam know there’s a me and Hope?” Besides the fact that she was a mind reader.

“Damned if I know,” Mitch answered, shaking his head. “Maybe because she’s a woman. Maybe it’s her job and she’s good at it. Whatever. She’s convinced that the last bachelor standing won’t be standing very much longer.”

“That’s a pretty big leap.”

“I said the same thing. But my wife was willing to put money on it,” Mitch commented.

“A bet on my love life?”

“It’s Vegas.” Mitch shrugged. “Don’t get me wrong. I like Hope. If she makes you happy, I’m happy.” But he didn’t look it.

Jake’s bad feeling went viral. “Quit stalling. What’s up?”

“No point in sugarcoating this. There’s talk around the hospital that the board of directors is rethinking your appointment to trauma medical director.”

“Where did that come from?” Jake demanded.

“Your guess is as good as mine. No one ever knows where the talk starts, but I’ve got a hunch it’s leaked from Havens’s office.”

Jake felt himself start to do a slow burn. “Ed Havens gave me a contract.”

“Signed?”

“It’s going through legal now. But there’s a verbal agreement. And he announced it publicly.” The same night Jake had kissed Hope for the first time. The same night he’d realized that not breaking things off with Blair would be a mistake.

Mitch sighed. “Any lawyer will tell you there’s a world of difference between verbal and signed.”

“I’m the best candidate for the job. No one wants it more or has worked harder.”

“Does that hard work include going out with the guy’s daughter to tilt the scales in your favor?”

Jake felt a burst of anger roll through him. “Let’s be clear. I didn’t date Blair to get the appointment from her father.”

“I believe you. I’m just repeating the talk. Forewarned is forearmed.” Mitch held up his hands to signal peace. “A word of warning… Ed Havens isn’t just a powerful man. He’s also vindictive. He won’t take his daughter’s public breakup well and we both know it.”

Jake started to protest when Mitch looked at the pager on his scrubs’ waistband. “Paramedics just rolled in. One of the vics has belly trauma. I’ll order an MRI.”

“I’m right behind you.”

When he was alone, Jake took several deep breaths to clear out the anger and frustration. He hadn’t asked Blair out to stack the career deck in his favor. She was beautiful and fun. It had seemed like a good idea at the time. And
if he was being honest with himself, he’d known the relationship had a short shelf life, although he’d kept hoping he was wrong.

There’d been a part of him reluctant to let go, but he realized now that a lot of it was about the poor boy getting the prom queen. He’d let things go on too long because there was no reason to alter the status quo. He’d had everything to gain, nothing to lose.

Until Hope.

One look at her had changed his life and he was still trying to figure out if that was a good thing.

Susan Andrews lived in a beautiful condominium community in Summerlin, not far from her son. After being buzzed through the gate, Hope followed verbal commands from the rental car’s GPS to find her way. The houses in this development were actually duplexes, she realized. They shared a common wall.

The properties she passed were all beautifully landscaped and well-lighted. It made her think of Jake’s house, the time she’d ended up in his bed. She couldn’t say that was the worst night of her life, but there was no doubt in her mind it had been a mistake.

That unexpected passion had ignited without warning and reminded her of what she was missing. Remembering simply made her regret what she couldn’t have, so it was best to forget about it.

She’d come here tonight for two reasons. She hadn’t been able to make herself say no and it would be rude not to show up.

Hope parked at the curb when the GPS announced the destination on her right. The stucco was painted chocolate brown, with a cream-colored trim. In front of the house, smooth rocks formed a dry riverbed and flat stone steps
created a path from the street to the sidewalk leading to the entrance. Within a few artistically displayed mounds of rocks, lantana bushes protruded.

Right now they were nothing but sticks. She’d been told that these plants looked lifeless in the winter, but spring revived them in brilliant and vivid shades of gold, yellow and purple. Again she was sad that she wouldn’t be there to see spring in Las Vegas. It occurred to her that she was the opposite of winter lantana—outwardly alive but dead inside. The difference was that she had no wish to be revived. She didn’t want to come back to life and risk hurting so badly that she would die inside again.

Blowing out a deep breath, she walked past two cars in the driveway. One of them she recognized. Apparently repairs had been made to it since the night she’d given Jake a ride home. A night she would take back if she could. The other was a hybrid compact.

She stopped on the covered porch and knocked. Seconds later she heard footsteps inside, just before the door opened.

“Hope,” Susan said, smiling. “Welcome. Come in.”

“Thank you.” She saw Jake, leaning against a railing in the entryway where stairs went up to the second story. He looked casual and handsome in worn jeans and a long-sleeved navy cotton shirt. Her pulse raced as she said, “Hi.”

“Did you have any trouble finding the place?” One of his dark eyebrows lifted, probably because he knew she knew he didn’t live far and she’d found her way to his place. Twice.

“Olga got me here without a hitch.”

“Who?” he asked.

“The GPS. It’s voice-directed. Female voice. Sometimes she sounds sort of Ukrainian, so I named her Olga.”

He straightened and folded his arms over his chest. “You know, I have some influence at the hospital. A psych evaluation could be arranged.”

“Don’t pay any attention to him, Hope. He calls his GPS Tiffani with an i.” Susan was looking slim and fit in tailored gray slacks and a black cashmere sweater that highlighted her blond hair. “Don’t you have steaks to cook?” she asked her son.

“Yes. Big, thick filets. I’ll get right on that.”

He disappeared around the corner and Hope wanted so badly to follow. Instead she smiled at her hostess. “This is a lovely neighborhood.”

“Thanks. I really like it.” She slid her hands into the pockets of her slacks. “Would you like to see the place?”

“Very much.”

“Follow me.”

They walked straight ahead into a room with floor-to-ceiling windows along the back that looked out on the lights of the Las Vegas Strip. It had a fireplace on one wall with a celery green microfiber corner group arranged in front.

“Family room,” Susan pointed out. “The kitchen is there.”

Hope figured it for the kitchen, what with the granite-topped work island, cook top, oven and refrigerator. The bonus was the unobstructed view of Jake’s excellent backside as he bent to retrieve something from inside.

“Don’t mind me,” he said, without looking at them. “Dinner will be about a half hour. The steaks will take a while, which is good. I have a lot to relax from.”

“Take your time, sweetheart. The dining room is through that doorway,” Susan said to Hope.

She peeked inside at the beautiful cherrywood hutch, buffet and matching formal table. Three place settings were arranged with simple platinum-trimmed white china
and silver. Cloth napkins. The chairs were covered in a chocolate-colored nubby material.

“It’s lovely,” Hope said.

“Wait until you see the upstairs.”

Her hostess showed her into the master bedroom with a walk-in closet big enough to house a family of four. An oak sleigh bed dominated one wall with a matching dresser and armoire arranged around the perimeter. White shutters complemented the crown molding and gave it a simple, clean look.

The bathroom was spacious and bright with its marble countertops and tile floor. Gold fixtures added an elegance and charm that reflected Susan Andrews.

“There are two other bedrooms and my office up here.”

Susan guided her through the expertly coordinated rooms and they sat on the hunter green and maroon love seat in the last one. Clearly it was a home office with a desk, computer and file cabinet. The stack of papers and folders told her it was a working office and not just for show.

“May I ask what kind of work do you do?” she said.

“I own a cleaning service business. Maid to Order. I have ten crews of two people who do commercial buildings and residences.”

Hope noticed the abundance of paperwork and said, “It looks like business is thriving.”

“Yes.” Susan glanced at the desk and nodded. “Thank goodness. I’m grateful to keep my people employed.”

Hope could tell by the tone that she felt a deep responsibility to her employees. “How did you get into the business?”

“Necessity is the mother of invention. I married too young and had Jake right away. I had no skills or training
for any kind of job outside the home. But when my husband walked out on us, I needed to make money. All I knew how to do was clean.”

Susan shrugged as if it was that simple, but Hope remembered the look on Jake’s face when he told her about being homeless.

“That must have been hard on you,” she said. “Jake told me what happened.”

“If it was just me—” Susan stopped and swallowed hard. “Jake was about twelve or thirteen when we lost the house. I can’t even begin to understand how hard it was on him. But he helped me clean other people’s homes and never once complained.”