Nurse’s Date with a Billionaire
Amelia Addler
ANJ Press
Pittsburgh
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, locales, and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.
While every precaution has been taken in the preparation of this book, the publisher assumes no responsibility for errors or omissions, or for damages resulting from the use of the information contained herein.
NURSE’S DATE WITH A BILLIONAIRE
ANJ Press, First edition. March 2019.
Copyright © 2019 Amelia Addler.
Written by Amelia Addler.
Cover design by Charmaine Ross at CharmaineRoss.com
This book is for my mom, who reads everything I’ve ever written, and my dad, who will definitely hear about this dedication from my mom before he gets to see it with his own eyes.
Thank you for showing me what love is.
Table of Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Epilogue
Author's Note
Mailing List
Introduction to Doctor's Date with a Billionaire
About the Author
Chapter 1
By her third day working in the ICU, Kali felt prepared for almost anything. She knew where every drug was in the crash cart. She’d memorized the dosages of all the emergency IV drips. In the back of her mind, she kept a history of all of her fellow nurses’ lives: their likes and dislikes, the names of their children and pets, and where they liked to go for lunch. But nothing prepared her for the patient in room 13.
He seemed like he’d be an easy patient; he came in after being found down, unconscious, on the street. Despite not waking up once he got to the hospital, there didn’t seem to be anything wrong with him. His scans came back negative. No broken bones, no internal bleeding. Blood work stunningly normal. He wasn’t even intubated. In truth, he shouldn’t have come to the ICU, but they had an open bed and the emergency room doctor insisted. The only thing that was wrong with him was that he wouldn’t wake up.
Kali was still vigilant, of course. She’d always been a star nurse, and she didn’t want her promotion to the ICU to be any different. And when she left him, just for a moment, to help Ophelia move her patient in room 15, he was completely fine, still totally unconscious, and in no danger whatsoever.
Which is why Kali was surprised and annoyed to hear Betsy calling her after she was away for two minutes. Not wanting to invoke Betsy's wrath, Kali obediently came running out of room 15.
“Yes?”
Betsy crossed her arms. “Kalista, nice of you to come around. Did you not have to keep track of any patients down on the floor?”
She hated when Betsy used her full name. Kali opened her mouth to respond but paused for a moment – this was clearly a sarcastic comment, but she had no idea what prompted it. She also had no idea what prompted someone to unscrew the top of her coffee mug that morning, either, causing half of its contents to spill down her shirt. But such was the way of welcoming her to the unit, it seemed.
“What’s going on?” Kali replied, keeping her tone steady and free of snark.
Betsy sighed dramatically and pointed down the hall. Kali followed her finger, catching sight of a hospital gown disappearing behind a corner. She rushed down the hall, muttering an “oh my goodness,” under her breath. She watched as the patient, wearing only a hospital gown, approached Dr. Connor and tapped him on the shoulder.
“Pardon me, have you happened to see my trousers?”
Dr. Connor turned to him, a puzzled look on his face. “No sir, I can’t say that I have.”
“Ah, terrible luck,” he said, patting the doctor on the shoulder.
Kali stepped in before he had a chance to say anything else. “Okay now, good to see you up and about, but I need you to go back to your room.”
He turned to her, surprised, “Oh hello there! Have you any idea what’s happened to my trousers?”
She tried to avoid the glare coming from the nurse’s station. “Yes, come with me and I’ll explain everything.” She placed a hand on his shoulder and tried to guide him back towards his room, but he wiggled away.
“Hang on a minute, I’ve just – ”
“This way, Craig,” she said sternly.
“I’m sorry miss, you seem to have the wrong man, I’ve just popped in for a moment and seem to have gotten turned around.”
She stopped, growing increasingly embarrassed that her comatose patient’s miraculous recovery led to an immediate escape and an argument in the middle of the ICU. There he stood, barefoot and dangerously close to exposing his backside to everyone, telling her that she had the wrong man. She could almost laugh at the absurdity of it, except she knew that Betsy would tell everyone how poorly she handled it and how she really didn’t belong in the ICU.
He turned to walk away and she took a deep breath. She was not going to be bullied by Betsy. She was a good nurse. And sometimes that meant using her bossy voice.
“You cannot leave the building like that unless you want to freeze to death. Come with me. Now.”
He turned to her, his face showing surprise at her change in tone. “No need to get snippy.”
She took a firm grip of his shoulder and led him down the hallway.
He continued talking as they walked. “Once we find this Craig fellow, perhaps we can sort out what he did with my trousers.”
“Right in here,” she said, motioning for him to sit on the bed.
“Oh, no thank you. The blankets are suffocating, to be honest. And the machines in here make quite a racket, I have a terrible headache.”
Kali pulled a wheeled computer over. “Do you remember what brought you here?”
He looked around, eyeing the furniture suspiciously. “I can’t say that I do.”
“Do you know what year it is?”
“Yes of course.”
She smiled. “What year is it?”
“2019.”
“Good. Do you know what month it is?”
He looked to the window. “February.”
“Very good. And your name?”
He opened his mouth, then frowned. “Funny thing, it seems to have slipped my mind.”
“Have a seat,” she said, “and I’ll get the doctor to come over and examine you properly.”
“No no, please don’t. I don’t want them injecting me with something because I can’t tell you my name.”
She smiled. “Don’t worry, he’s just going to ask you some questions.”
“Really, I’m quite alright, I think I’ll be going – ”
“Sit!” Kali pointed a finger at him. Frowning, he listened.
She popped her head out into the hallway and waved Ophelia down.
“Hey, can you ask Dr. Connor to come over and tell him that the patient in room 13 woke up?”
“Sure thing!”
Dr. Connor was old sc
hool, and Kali knew he’d want to talk to the patient himself. She managed to keep Craig in the room for a few minutes until the doctor arrived.
“Good morning,” he said as he came in. “I’m Dr. Connor. I thought that was you out in the hall.”
“Morning, I’m…Craig.”
“Oh! Nice to meet you Craig.”
Kali suppressed a smile. Did he really remember his name, or was he just catching on? Dr. Connor spent the next few minutes asking him questions before explaining what was going on more fully.
“Well Craig, if you haven’t gathered yet, you had an accident. We’re not sure exactly what happened. The paramedics found you down on the sidewalk, your wallet and your shoes were gone, and the only identifying thing you had on you was this.”
Dr. Connor handed him a shining money clip.
“Craig’s Cash,” he read aloud. “Ha! Isn’t that clever?”
Kali resisted rolling her eyes. She didn’t think it was clever, really, more so pretentious.
“It seems you’ve suffered some memory loss, and judging from the scrapes and bruises, you’ve had some head trauma. Nothing serious, but we’ll do another scan to make sure there’s still no bleeding. No one can be sure how long it will last, but I will say that you otherwise seem remarkably intact. Hopefully it will resolve itself in a few days or weeks.”
Craig nodded. “Right. I’m feeling better already. But beg your pardon – where am I, exactly?”
“Madison. Madison, Wisconsin.”
“Ah, right,” he responded. “That’s what I thought.”
Dr. Connor smiled. “Any other questions that I can answer?”
“No,” Craig said, standing and extending his hand. “You’ve been quite helpful, I hate to be a bother so I will be on my way.”
Dr. Connor shook his hand and turned to Kali, lowering his voice. “Let’s transfer him out before he tries to walk out of here again.”
Kali smiled. “Of course, thank you Dr. Connor.” She turned to the computer to finish some documentation.
“Thank you so much for your help, I feel loads better now. I’ll just be going – ”
“Na-uh,” she said, stepping between him and the door. “Have a seat, I’m going to put in for your transfer and then, and only then, will we be able to give you your pants.”
“My pants? Ah, alright, trousers. Now Miss…?”
“Kali.”
“Miss Kali, it seems I’ve awoken from my slumber with an accent that suggests this is not home to me.”
She nodded. “It does, Craig.”
“Do you suppose this is one of those cases where a blow to the head changed my speech? Could I have woken up speaking Vietnamese or fifteenth century Italian?”
“I don’t think so, Craig.”
“So it is safe to say that I’m very likely English?”
She nodded. “Sounds like it, Craig.”
“Right,” he said, straightening himself out.
“Let me check with the doctor to see if we can get you some breakfast. Do not let me catch you walking around again.”
He smiled cheerily. “Sorry about that!”
Kali left the room but kept a close eye on his door. She got the okay to order breakfast, but since she’d missed the regular ordering time, she called the cafeteria and requested a tray be brought up for him. She put in for his transfer and took a seat at the nurse’s station, relieved that she could finally have another sip of coffee.
“No food or drinks in patient care areas,” said a stern voice behind her.
She gritted her teeth. “Sorry Betsy, I didn’t realize.”
“Do you floor nurses regularly eat and drink in front of patients?”
“No,” Kali replied evenly, “but we bent the rules a bit because the break room is so far from the nurse’s station.”
“There’s no bending the rules up here. We follow the same rules whether anyone is looking or not.”
Kali smiled. “I’ll set this away.”
Betsy crossed her arms. “And try not to lose your patient again.”
“Will do!” Kali replied cheerfully, watching Betsy slowly walk away.
Ophelia popped into the nurses station. “Hey, don’t let her get to you.”
“She hates me.”
“She hates everyone,” Ophelia replied. “Don’t take it personally. How’s your guy doing?”
“Seems like he’s doing great. He’s got a bit of amnesia, though.”
“Ah,” said Ophelia. “Did the doc think it was drugs? Alcohol?”
“No no,” Kali said. “There were no drugs or alcohol in his system. None at all. Dr. Connor said it was probably head trauma.”
“Oh! Interesting!”
“Yeah. And get this, he has a full blown British accent.”
“No way! Like when people wake up from a coma speaking a different language?”
Kali cocked her head to the side. “That’s what he asked. I told him no. I think he’s just, you know, British.”
“Oh, you’re probably right, I guess those are old wive’s tales,” Ophelia said, laughing.
Kali smiled, still keeping an eye on the door. “I put in for his transfer, so hopefully they can get him to a more suitable floor soon.”
“That’s good.”
“Yeah,” Kali said.
“Well I’ve got to run, but please let me know if you need anything, okay?”
“Thanks Ophelia.”
Kali turned back to the computer, trying to focus. She still felt slightly on edge, but tried to calm herself with some facts. Nothing happened to Craig, he was fine. He didn’t wander off of the floor or out of the building. Also, it seemed even more likely now that Betsy was the one who loosened the lid on her coffee, likely to teach her a lesson. And third, Craig would soon be transferred out of her unit and out of her life, and she could focus on the next patient who would actually need her help. Hopefully she’d never have to deal with Craig, the great escapist, again.
Chapter 2
After he was transferred out of the ICU, Craig had to share a room with an elderly man and his nasty cough. He had no interest in catching whatever he had. After one night with him, he made it a point to be ready for the doctor the next morning.
“Good morning Craig, how are you doing today?”
“Hello Dr. Lind! Quite well, thank you. It’s all coming back to me pretty rapidly now.”
“Is it? That’s great news.”
“Yeah, I remember it clearly now. Some hooligans confronted me, demanding my wallet. Last thing I remember is a fist coming at me.”
“I see. And the headache?”
“Gone. I feel totally fine. And my last name I also remember. It’s…Daniel.”
“Daniel?”
Oh shoot. Craig realized he’d basically just reversed Daniel Craig’s name. He didn’t actually know what his own last name was – not yet, at least. But he knew who Bond was.
“Daniels,” he said hurriedly, stressing the “s” at the end. “I’m staying at a nearby hotel, and I’m sure if I pop in they can help me get a new room key.”
“Ah, well that’s great news. I’m sure medical records will want to talk to you to correct your chart here…but otherwise, you’re good to leave later today.”
“Terrific news, thank you so much doctor.”
Dr. Lind swiftly exited the room. Craig was surprised how easy it was. How could anyone not tell he was lying? Surely he’d remember who he actually was soon. The sooner the better, obviously, but he didn’t need to waste his time being around all of these sick people.
He managed to secure what remained of his clothes. Apparently, his attackers stole not only his wallet, but also his shoes. Must have been nice shoes, he thought ruefully. He needed to secure a new pair before medical records went looking for Craig Daniels – the poor schmuck who would get hit with his hefty bill.
Craig, finally out of his hospital gown, stepped into the hallway to track down his nurse.
“Lisa,
do you have a moment?”
She seemed to blush before walking over. “Yes Mr. Smith?”
“Lisa, I’m not sure if you heard, but I just received the excellent news that Dr. Lind said I am good to go. The thing is, my shoes must’ve been stolen in my attack. Do you have any idea where I might get a loaner pair?”
She beamed. “Yes, of course. We have clothes donated for patients and erm – well, if you could just tell me your size, I can have them send a pair up.”
He nodded. He didn’t remember his shoe size either. “Right. My size…well, it would be UK sizing. So I’m not sure how to convert it. Perhaps I could make the trip myself and choose a pair?”
“Oh, right, totally forgot!” she giggled.
Craig flashed a smile. He seemed to be having some sort of an effect on her. He couldn’t remember if he was good with women – maybe it was his accent?
“It’s no trouble,” he said. “I’m perfectly capable of walking now. There’s nothing wrong with me at all!”
She wagged a finger at him. “I don’t think so. Hold on, I’ll have someone come up. And you’ll need a coat, too?”
“Er – yes, I think so.” Right. He was in Wisconsin in the dead of winter for some reason. His assailants stole his coat as well. Craig had the bizarre realization – what if it wasn’t a random attack, and he was actually targeted? Had he been committing some sort of crime? Did he live a life of crime? Or was he a spy, MI6 agent like Bond? Now wouldn’t that be cool.
Truth be told, he had no memory of the attack. He had no memory of what he did for a living or who he was. It was almost amusing – what a fun game it all was.
“Give us some time and we’ll get you set up, okay?”
He smiled at her again. “Thanks Lisa.”
Craig went back to his room and noticed that his roommate was nowhere to be found. A sound escaped from the restroom, quickly answering the question of what happened to him. Craig frowned in the direction of the door. He decided that a shared room was certainly not in his taste. He’d much rather be back in his private, high tech room in the ICU. Even though his nurse there was unimpressed with him.
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