The Surgeon's Favorite Nurse (4 page)

She was deliberately trying to piss him off. Really working at it. What the hell had he ever done besides kiss her? He had to admit it was a really great kiss, but still…

“Are you going to stand out here in the hall and daydream?” Mitch had walked up behind him. His smile was set on screw-with-a-friend. “We were foolishly hoping our fearless leader would come inside and celebrate his shiny new promotion with the peasants.”

“It’s not daydreaming if one is gathering one’s thoughts,” Jake defended. Only he knew the lie for what it was.

“You have that look on your face,” Mitch said. “The confused-about-a-woman expression.”

Just then Cal walked by and made a dramatic show of putting his hands over his ears. “I don’t want to hear. I’m an impressionable and sensitive man.”

“Sensitive like a water buffalo.” Jake was glad his partner had given him an excuse to ignore the “woman” comment and dodge that bullet.

The three walked in the conference room and took seats
around the table with Jake taking the head and his friends on either side, as usual. They were barely settled when Cal pulled out his wallet. As usual.

“Before we get down to business you have to see this picture.”

Mitch took the photo and grinned. “Look at those blond curls Annie’s got.”

“Looks just like me,” Cal said proudly.

Jake studied the photo of Cal, his daughter and wife, Emily. “Annie’s really getting big.”

“So is Em. At least she will be,” Cal answered. “Before I’m accused of being a pig, you should know she’s pregnant. We’re going to have another baby.”

“That’s great.” Mitch reached across the table for a congratulatory handshake. “How did she pull that off? Surely you didn’t have anything to do with it.”

“Yeah. Right. Immaculate conception.” Cal glared. “Buddy, you need a refresher course in anatomy and the reproductive process.”

“Hardly.” Mitch wasn’t intimidated by the glare. In his glory days he could give lessons on the care, feeding and fringe benefits of a really good glare. “Samantha and I have the whole birds-and-bees thing goin’ on just fine.” He slid his wallet from the back pocket of his jeans and took out a picture. “Equal time. This is the latest one of
Lucas.
”

Cal took it and smiled. “Tall, dark and dandy, just like his dad. Look at those teeth.”

“Two on the bottom and he’s working on the uppers.” Mitch’s tone was rueful. “He’s waking up a lot at night and Sam thinks it’s teething.”

“I feel your pain.” Cal tucked his picture away. “Annie is getting her two-year molars and it’s not pretty.”

“Great. More to look forward to. I can hardly wait.”

Without comment Jake listened to his two friends go
back and forth about who was losing the most sleep. Once upon a time they’d both resisted love, even after meeting the right woman. Compelling personal reasons had put a fear of commitment into each man until a lonely future was far worse than taking a chance. Now when they gathered to discuss finances, goals, problems and growing their practice, the monthly status meeting started with an update on married life and growing their families.

Jake had always tolerated this part of the monthly meeting, not that he wasn’t happy for his friends. It’s just that he had career goals and success aspirations different from theirs. But today he was having a strange reaction to news about wives, kids and a new pregnancy. He always cared, but only half listened. Today he was interested. What was that about?

It was definitely new and he wondered what was different since last month. There were only two changes. His appointment to chief trauma surgeon.

And Hope.

He heard his name and realized they’d been talking to him. “What’s wrong?”

Mitch’s expression was intense. “That’s what I’d like to know.”

“Yeah.” Cal rested his forearms on the table. “You have something against marriage?”

“Not if it’s working for you.”

“It definitely is,” Mitch said. “Marrying Sam was the smartest thing I’ve ever done.”

“So says the man who in this very room swore up and down that he didn’t need conflict resolution counseling and it would be a waste of time,” Jake reminded him.

“You neglected to tell me that my counselor would be sexy. And smart. And the love of my life,” he added.

“My bad.” Jake grinned.

He remembered when Mitch’s attitude had ticked off most of the Mercy Medical staff, some of the physicians and administration. His behavior had put the trauma practice in jeopardy of not having their contract renewed. That would have dealt his own career trajectory a serious blow. But his friend salvaged the professional relationship with the hospital
and
found personal happiness.

“Darn right your bad,” Cal said. “I’m grateful every day that Emily came back into my life and gave me another chance. I don’t know what I’d do without her and Annie.”

“You sound like girls,” Jake teased.

The two looked at each other before Mitch said, “We’re okay with that.”

“So you guys are blissfully happy and recommend marriage. Good for you.”

“Don’t knock it till you’ve tried it,” Mitch cautioned.

“I’m not knocking anything,” Jake protested. He looked at Cal on his right and Mitch on his left. “I get it. You guys are happy. Can we talk about business now?”

“One question. What’s going on with you and what’s-her-name? The daughter of the president of the hospital’s board of directors?” Mitch settled an intense look on him.

“You mean Blair Havens?” She was definitely Congressman Havens’s daughter and he was definitely president of the board of directors. Jake answered, “We’re dating.”

“Is it serious?” Cal asked.

“What are you? Her father?”

“I have a daughter,” he said. “And if any guy messes with Annie he’ll have me to deal with. So, I’m just saying…”

“Well, I guess it depends on what you mean by serious.” Jake was dodging the question.

“Serious as in settling down. Marriage,” Cal spelled out.

“I’ve thought about it,” he admitted. “Blair is beautiful,
smart and connected. Her father was in Congress and still has political influence. It would be a good career move. But…”

“Ah.
But,
” Mitch said, a knowing look in his eyes. “A three letter word that means not so fast.”

“Something like that,” Jake agreed.

His personal life had flatlined a long time ago when he fell in love but didn’t pass her family’s white-trash test. In their eyes, once you’ve been homeless the smell of loser never goes away. The experience taught him not to take anything for granted. Hard work alone didn’t guarantee success or happiness. So, a relationship should buy you something. A career boost. Connections. The path to power.
Something.

“Okay, guys.” He looked from Cal to Mitch. “Can I start the meeting?”

“Fine.” Mitch nodded.

“Okay with me.” Cal met his gaze. “The sooner we’re done here, the sooner I can get home to the family. Go, bro.”

Agendas were passed out and the first item was a status report on hiring new doctors for the practice. While his friends talked, Jake’s mind wandered to the memory of a pair of pretty hazel eyes flashing with humor and intelligence. A mouth, with its defined upper lip and full bottom one. A mouth that could be cute and crooked when she smiled. It was just a memory, but still had the power to drive him crazy.

And, dammit! This was his practice. The one he’d started with nothing but determination and guts. His career and the stability of his future was on the line. Everything he’d ever wanted was now his for the taking. This was an incredibly inconvenient time to lose focus.

He and Hope didn’t have a relationship, let alone
anything that would guarantee him success. In fact, what was between them had the potential to implode all his plans.

Maybe he needed to talk to her again about keeping things between them purely professional.

T
he sports bar across the street from Mercy Medical West was noisy and Hope didn’t really want to be there. But a couple of the E.R. nurses had reached out to her and socializing was a good way to generate trauma team spirit. On second thought, maybe a sports bar was the perfect place to be. She sat with her coworkers at a tall bistro table in the far corner of the room to the right of the walk-up bar. Flat-screen TVs were mounted on the walls and visible from every seat in the place.

Karen Richards, a petite strawberry blonde, was a hard worker and experienced E.R. nurse, by all accounts one of the best on staff. When the newest campus opened, her reputation would be put to the test. She held up her longneck bottle of beer and said, “This is your official welcome to Las Vegas, Hope.”

Green-eyed brunette Stacy Porter held up her pink cocktail. “I second that.”

“Thanks.” Hope touched her glass of white wine to each of theirs. “So, tell me about yourselves. Married? Kids?”

Karen toyed with her beer bottle. “I’m divorced. Two girls, Cassandra and Olivia, ages six and four. We live with my mom who’s a nurse at Mercy’s main campus. I’m twenty-six and still live with my mother. Is that pathetic, or what?”

There were worse things, Hope thought. “Is it working for you?”

“Yeah. She’s my rock and helps with child care.”

Hope nodded. “What about you, Stacy?”

The twentysomething held up her left hand and wiggled her fingers, showing off a diamond solitaire. “Just got engaged. Tim works in Human Resources at the hospital.”

“Congratulations.”

Even as she smiled, Hope tried to suppress the pang of envy. She remembered the huge joy of being with the man she’d loved and the shimmering anticipation of their life together. A life that barely got started before it was gone. Losing Kevin had nearly crushed her.

“When’s the big day?” Hope plastered a big, fat, fake smile on her face.

“April,” Stacy said. “Before Vegas is hotter than the face of the sun. It will be a church wedding, not in the Garden of Love Chapel with an Elvis impersonator.”

“Are you sure?” Hope held her palms up and lifted each in turn as if weighing something. “Elvis? The Chapel of Love? Church could be boring.”

The women laughed, but Hope knew from personal experience that boring was a blessing. Just then a cold wind blew into the bar and blasted boring into oblivion because Jake Andrews had walked through the door. It felt as if her heart hit a pocket of turbulence that made boring look even better. Some kind of radar drew his gaze to their
secluded corner and he nodded at her before heading in their direction.

“Look who’s here,” Karen said when he joined them. The tone of familiarity indicated they knew each other. “Hi, Jake. To what do we owe the honor?”

“Ladies.” He looked around, then let his gaze linger on Hope. “There was a rumor that the E.R. department was here for happy hour.”

“All three of us,” Stacy said.

“Is this a ladies-only initiation rite for the new girl in town? Or can anyone join?”

“Have a seat, Doc,” Karen said. “This is the first annual Mercy Medical West employee-bonding ritual.”

He sat on the empty chair between Stacy and Hope. His shoulder brushed hers, sending a blast of heat through her. The waitress took his drink order and brought him a bottle of beer, as if he were just one of the guys. But he didn’t look like just one of them.

Except for scrubs after surgery, she always saw him in a suit and tie, as if he were running for elected office. Tonight was no exception. The charcoal slacks, matching jacket, crisp white shirt and tone-on-tone silver tie made him look
so
good, broad-shouldered and masculine. The pocket of turbulence spread from her chest to her stomach and made her as nervous as a fearful flyer.

She didn’t like being aware of him. She didn’t like being aware of him in a way she hadn’t been aware of a man since her husband. Jake Andrews? Really? It made no sense. He and Kevin were nothing alike. Jake was mercenary and ambitious—not at all her type.

She wanted to get up and leave but felt it would appear rude. Not to mention weird. So she toughed it out until everyone had finished their drinks.

Then she pushed away her wineglass. “I think I’ll call it a night.”

“So soon?” Karen said.

Hope slid down from the high chair. “Busy day tomorrow. The fire department is inspecting the building and if we don’t pass they’ll revoke our certificate of occupancy. But you all stay and have fun.”

“Don’t have to ask me twice. Mom’s got the girls.” Karen looked at Stacy.

“I’m free. Tim has a late meeting.”

“I’ll see you both tomorrow. This was really great,” she said. “Good night, Jake.”

He stood beside her. “I’ll walk you to your car.”

“I’m parked just across the street.” It was an effort to keep her tone light when her heart was beating like crazy. “Don’t bother.”

“It’s no bother.” He smiled at the other two women. “See you later.”

Then he settled his palm at the small of her back, escorting her through the crowded bar and into the chill air of the late-January night. Hope felt the pressure and heat of his fingers. Just that casual touch made her heart pound and her knees wobble. It wasn’t okay and she stepped away from him as they walked side by side across the dark, hardly used street between the strip mall and the recently black-topped hospital lot.

“My car is by the E.R. entrance,” she said and walked as fast as she could toward it.

“Do you have somewhere to be?”

Glancing up at his profile, the lean line of his cheek and jaw she said, “No. Why?”

“Then you’re cold?”

His touch had gone a long way to taking the chill out of the dark night. “A little. Why?” she asked again.

“Because it feels a lot like you’re going for a land speed record. As in running away from me.”

“No.” It was only a small lie. “But you and I aren’t exactly on the same wavelength.”

“Really?” He slid his hands into his pockets. “You mean because you accused me of being selfish, self-centered and motivated by power and greed?”

And he’d accused her right back of taking shots at him to ease her guilt about kissing him. There was enough truth in his words to make her squirm.

“It’s just been a long day in a series of very long days.”

“So you’re just anxious to be home,” he guessed.

“Something like that.” She looked up at him. “Besides, we’re being strictly professional. Your words, your idea. And a good one.”

“That’s possibly the nicest thing you’ve ever said to me.”

Fortunately she didn’t have to respond. “Here’s my car.”

The one with the rental company sticker clearly visible on the bumper. She pressed the button on her keys to unlock it.

“Thanks for walking me,” she said, then quickly slid inside before he could even think about kissing her. Not because she thought she was all that, but past history and the way he kept looking at her mouth suggested he might.

He waved once, then disappeared into the dark. Hope sat for several minutes to pull herself together and cursed Jake for the fact that she
had
to pull herself together.

When her hands stopped shaking and her heart slowed to a manageable rhythm, she turned on the car, backed it out of the space and headed toward the exit. After rounding a corner of the hospital, she passed the front entrance
where designated doctor parking was located. Her headlights picked out the only car in the lot and the hood was up.

A guy was leaning over looking at the engine and she knew that guy was Jake. Even if she hadn’t recognized the suit, the excellent butt was a giveaway.

In a span of possibly three or four seconds she had a plan and was only surprised her mind could function that fast given its recent workout after exposure to Jake Andrews. He was a perfectly capable male and she sincerely wanted to blow by him, but that just seemed too harsh.

She pulled into the space beside him and pushed the button to roll down her window. “Trouble?”

“What was your first clue?”

She’d known he was trouble the first time he walked into her office and nothing that happened since had changed her opinion. “Is there anything I can do?”

“If you have any experience with explosives, you could put this piece of trash out of its misery.”

“So the trouble is chronic.”

“In for maintenance or repair every other week,” he confirmed. “I’ve got the tow company on speed dial. They’re en route as we speak.”

She hesitated, knowing she’d hate herself, but finally said, “Do you need a ride home?”

“I could call a cab, but…” He walked closer, then leaned down until their eyes met. “I wouldn’t have to wait for one. Would you mind?”

In more ways than he could possibly know. But it was too late to take back the offer. “Hop in.”

About thirty minutes later his car had been towed. Jake had given her directions to his house in the upscale Lakes area of Las Vegas and she pulled into the semicircular drive.
She admired the front of his sprawling home where floodlights illuminated the large yard and stately exterior.

“There’s enough light out here to do vascular surgery without eyewear enhancement.” She slid a wry look at him. “If that was a prison there’d be no chance of escape, what with the way it’s lit up.”

“I’m glad you like it. Want to come inside and see how the inmates live?” The questioning look in his gray eyes had a challenge around the edges.

Excitement skipped down her spine and for that very reason she should say no. Unfortunately that’s not what came out of her mouth. “I’ve never been in a McMansion before.”

“I’m happy to be your first.”

The remark was casual, teasing. Was she the only one thinking it had sexual overtones? Adrenaline surged through every last one of her nerve endings. This was a bad idea, but there was no way to retreat that wouldn’t show weakness. Jake was the kind of guy who could smell vulnerability and pounce. Quick tour, she told herself, then she was out of there.

After Jake unlocked the door and disabled the security system on the wall just inside, she followed him into the impressive, two-story entryway. The floor was neutral beige travertine that separated the living and dining rooms.

Trailing after him, she found herself in his big kitchen with stainless steel appliances and a granite-covered island big enough for its own zip code.

Adjacent to that was what he called the “media room.” It looked a lot like a family room to her, but she wasn’t a person who needed gadgets to make it look, feel and sound like a war zone. In her opinion, there was enough real in reality and making it feel more authentic in your own home wasn’t entertaining.

Five beautiful bedrooms and four baths later they were standing in the master suite. Through floor-to-ceiling windows she could see the huge backyard with pool and patio area lit up as brightly as the front. A king-size four-poster oak bed sat in the center of the longest wall with nightstands on either side. The doctor didn’t make his bed as evidenced by the comforter, blanket and sheet that were bunched at the foot, with pillows tossed haphazardly in the center of the mattress. A matching oak dresser and armoire were arranged around the room.

There was a step-down area with a cozy love seat arranged in front of a fireplace, without a single TV or home entertainment center in sight. She could easily imagine the sexy sort of entertaining he did in here. Part of her envied the woman lucky enough to be involved in that entertainment.

She took a steadying breath before looking at him and saying, “So, other than not making your bed, you have the perfect place to hang your hat and a pricey set of wheels that can’t be relied on to get you here. What’s up with that?”

“At least I own the clunker in question.” He loosened his tie, an incredibly masculine movement. His silver eyes shimmered with teasing, and something more intense that made her shiver. “Can you say the same about your ride?”

“It’s a rental.”

“I sort of figured that out. What with the name of the leasing company on the back.”

“You have no room to talk. At least it reliably gets me from where I hang my hat to work. That’s all I care about.”

“Where
do
you live?”

“The Residence Inn a couple of miles from the hospital.”

“Are you working with a Realtor? If not, I can recommend someone—”

She shook her head. “There’s no point. I accepted the assignment on a temporary basis, only until the new campus is up and running.”

He looked puzzled. “Surely the job offer was permanent.”

“It was. But those weren’t the terms I wanted. Human Resources was desperate and the agreement is for me to stay until they can find a long-term replacement.”

Moving to the French doors, she stared outside at the lights until her vision blurred. Body heat and her Jake sensors made her hyperaware the instant he came up behind her.

“I don’t understand. You’re not interested in putting down roots?” he asked.

His breath stirred her hair and she shivered. Longing swelled through her, making her chest ache for what she would never have again. She’d put down roots once and they’d grown deep. When a senseless act of violence pulled them out, her heart came, too. It kept beating and maintained life, but that was all. The part that made her want to live and love had died.

“No,” she finally said. “The job, car and housing are all temporary, which is just the way I want it.”

Her attempt to keep her tone light and breezy must have failed because Jake touched her shoulders and turned her. His eyes were dark with questions.

“What is it, Hope?”

“Nothing. That’s just how I want my life to be.”

“You’re not like most women, are you?” His gaze went from teasing to intense as it skimmed over her face.

Before she could find the words to explain why temporary worked for her, he’d dipped his head and touched his mouth to hers, proving he’d missed the point. Temporary meant not doing this. Temporary meant no ties. It did not mean the sweet and sexy and soft feel of his lips on hers. Or making her forget what she’d been trying to say because her insides went liquid with longing.