by Ann, Natalie
“Gil saw you guys talking. Guess she wasn’t paying much attention to you. Not like you are used to women being all gaga over you. Most are all but leaning into you, not away when you speak. Not sure why some of the nurses think you are God around here.”
He held his hands up. “Weren’t you the one that used to say you played God with your hands?”
Sam laughed. “We both have said it before, but that is with our jobs not our personal lives.”
He dropped his hands down. “Yeah. I know. I know better than most.”
He’d never forget witnessing someone dying on the table the first time and prayed it wasn’t something he did. When the patient’s oxygen levels started to drop, then their heart rate plummeted, he thought for sure he’d calculated something wrong.
When it was all said and done, it wasn’t anything he’d done but rather the patient had a heart condition that no one knew about. Shit like this happened all the time.
Did he go home that night and drink while he stared at the wall and contemplate if he had what it took?
Yeah, he did and he never told a soul. And when the next death came on the table he acted the same way.
That one was a long shot. A patient’s last-ditch effort to remove a tumor with a stage four diagnosis. The patient knew the risks, but they were going out fighting.
That was what Wyatt had in his mind right now. Fighting for what he wanted. Or at least the knowledge of what the hell was going on around him.
“You do. We both do. So what is going on with you and Adriana? Did you really ask her out and she said no?”
“I offered to show her around the hospital. My mother asked me to do that. I was just following orders so that my mother didn’t skin me alive if I didn’t do what she asked.”
“Dude. That’s lame and you know it.”
Wyatt grinned. “You know how my mom is.”
“So she said she didn’t need you to do that. I’m not sure that is really striking out so I guess Gil was exaggerating.”
“Well, I did ask her to dinner tonight,” Wyatt admitted.
“And she said no?” Sam asked.
“I said I could show her around town since she was new. She said no, thank you, that her father could. Then she walked away to get to work.”
This time Sam started to laugh even harder. “Was this before the surgery that you and I were in earlier?”
“Yeah.”
“That explains why you were quieter than normal. It seemed tense in there and I couldn’t figure out why.”
“It wasn’t tense,” he said.
“If you say so. Adriana wouldn’t look at you even when she had to ask you a question.”
He’d noticed that too and it was what sent him to his office to do his work when normally he would have put it off until the end of the day.
“Whatever.”
Sam grabbed a pen and started to circle something on his calendar multiple times. “There. Now I’ll remember it. Actually.” He stopped and picked up his phone and started to type. “That’s better.”
“Remember what?”
“The day a woman told you no.”
7
Celebrity Status
“Wait up, Adriana.”
She turned to see Sherry coming toward her. No, Carrie. No, that wasn’t it either. Whatever, didn’t matter. She’d see the name on her tag when she got closer. It was only the second time she’d worked with this nurse.
“Yes.” She looked at the nametag quickly. “Mary. Something I can do for you?”
“No, just wanted to talk.”
Figures. “I’m a little busy,” she said, going back to her notes on the computer. She’d just closed the last surgery she was scheduled for today.
“Sorry. I can talk while you type. Is it true? Did Dr. Fierce ask you out? Wyatt? And you told him no?”
Are you kidding me? What the hell? “I’m sorry, what did you ask?”
“I asked if you turned down Wyatt Fierce. My God, do you know how many women would love to go on a date with him? Unless maybe you aren’t into men. If that is the case it’s fine too.”
She narrowed her eyes. Staying to herself still caused this crap to happen. “I like men just fine, but I’m not interested in dating anyone right now. Especially someone that everyone else seems to want to be with.”
“Many want to but not many have,” Mary said. Adriana snorted, not believing that. “It’s true. I mean he dates a lot, but I don’t think he sleeps with everyone. I’ve had a few conversations with women who have only gone on one or two dates and not much more.”
“I’m sure he ended things by the sounds of it. Or didn’t call them back.” She knew that type.
“No clue. I never really asked. Anyway, I think you might be the first person I know that told him no. You might get some celebrity status for that here.”
“Great. Thanks for the warning,” she said, picking up her laptop and walking away to finish up her work.
It was just her rotten luck when she was leaving for the day that she’d spot Wyatt in the hallway. Instead of going to her car, she turned and marched in his direction and called his name.
He lifted his head and looked at her, smiled, then got a really good look at her face and it dropped. “What’s wrong?”
“We need to talk privately. Is there someplace we can go where no one can see us?” She wasn’t making that mistake again. Too many eyes here, too many big ears and even bigger mouths.
“We can go to my office if you want.”
“Perfect,” she said and followed behind him. Her eyes weren’t looking at his ass in those scrubs trying to imagine what he looked like under the loose fitting pants. Liar!
Once they were behind the closed door, she crossed her arms and decided to let him have it. “How could you have embarrassed me that way?”
“What?” he asked, taking a step back. “Damn, you’re tiny but you’re scaring me. You don’t have a scalpel in your pocket, do you?”
Of course he would try to make a joke out of this. Hadn’t she heard that before about him? That he was always joking. Always friendly, flirting and talking? “I wish I did so I could snatch your tongue out of your mouth. You embarrassed me by asking me out in public.”
“That wasn’t public. There wasn’t anyone around,” he argued. “We were in a corner by ourselves.”
“Yet people saw us. I was just approached by another nurse who wanted to know if it was true. If I actually turned you down. Like no one in their right mind would do that. Did you ask me where people could see us to put me on the spot so I’d say yes?”
She knew plenty of doctors that did that. Figured they’d never be turned down in public. It was a pressure or power move.
Spencer hadn’t done that though. No. He didn’t want anyone to know about their relationship and she’d been totally fine with it.
Spencer had been new to the hospital, having transferred in months prior. Not many knew much about him and he said he didn’t want to be judged other than by his work performance.
Since she felt the same way, she was all for the privacy.
She was wrong there too.
Seemed like she was wrong about a lot in her life lately.
“I can get any woman I want,” he said, standing up straighter. “I don’t need to lower myself to tactics like that.”
“Really? Well, you didn’t get me. Was that a blow to your ego?”
“You think pretty highly of yourself, don’t you?”
That made her step back for a second. She’d never been that way before. “I just want to do my job. I don’t want any attention on me. Dating someone like you is like putting a flashing neon light on the front of my scrubs while I walk around the hospital ringing bells.”
“So that is why you said no?” he asked.
“I said no for the reason I told you. I don’t need you to show me around the hospital or the town.”
He hesitated for a minute. “Your stepmother asked
my mother to talk to me about that. That if I came across you, to make the offer. That’s what I did.”
Oh shit. Had she really put her foot in her mouth over this? Had she misinterpreted what he’d been asking all along?
No. She couldn’t have been. She wasn’t an idiot. At least she didn’t think she was. She’d seen the look in his eyes. It was about more than showing her around.
“She didn’t need to do that.”
“No, she didn’t. But my mother asked me to do something and I followed through. You don’t know her. She’s a tiny thing like you but I’m terrified of her,” he said with a big grin on his face.
She laughed. She really had no choice at this point.
This day had gone from bad to worse.
She’d totally read the whole situation wrong. She was embarrassing herself in front of him right now.
He was only being nice and friendly. What many said about him.
Just because he was cocky and arrogant and she’d had her fill of doctors like that, she shouldn’t hold it against him.
Her father raised her better than that.
“I’m sorry. I guess I read it all wrong. I thought you were asking me on a date because you were attracted to me.”
“Oh, I’m attracted to you too,” he said.
Her jaw dropped and she closed it when no words were coming out.
* * *
Wyatt actually thought he might be understanding more of what was going on. Or so he hoped.
“So it was a date you asked me for?”
“It was an offer to show you around because, like I said, my mother asked me to do that. Then you said you thought I was attracted to you and I admitted I was. Why can’t it be both things?”
He was confusing her, he saw.
“I’m sorry. I’m being rude when I shouldn’t be. You were trying to be nice and I get it. I’m not normally this defensive.”
“Oh, I think you are. I think you do what you want and say what you think. I like that. I tend to do the same. Many say I never shut up. That I put people to sleep for a living because I can’t stop talking and they get bored with me.”
She started to crack the barest of grins. “I find it hard to believe anyone gets bored with you.”
“Did you just compliment me?” He put his hand to his chest adorably. “I might need to mark this day down on the calendar.”
“Very funny,” she said.
“I’ve been told I’m always funny. That I’m the joker of the family. No reason to stop now when it comes so naturally.”
“You think you are going to win me over, don’t you?”
Holy shit, could that be possible? “Is it working?”
“No,” she said firmly. “Let’s get this straight. I’m new here, but not new to town. I’ve visited plenty over the past few years. I left my last job and city to start over. I’m very thankful that my father talked me into getting my license here and it gave me the out I needed.”
He wasn’t sure he liked where this was going. “Can I ask why you felt you needed an out? Are you running from the law or something? A lawsuit?”
She laughed. “Please. I wouldn’t have been hired if I was running from the law and most likely not even a lawsuit and you know it.”
“Then what? Shed some light on this for me.”
“Why? Because you were turned down and never have been before?”
“I wouldn’t say I’ve never been turned down before,” he said. “Though it doesn’t happen often.”
“Which is probably why those that witnessed our conversation, even if they didn’t hear the words, could figure out what happened.”
“Maybe,” he admitted. “So...are you going to tell me why you have such an aversion to me? We don’t know enough about each other for you to lose your temper like this and then have to apologize. It seems to be a lot of misunderstandings and I’m trying to figure out why. I’m a pretty smart dude yet I’m kind of dumbfounded.”
“Because I told you I wasn’t interested in a date?”
“You didn’t tell me you weren’t interested,” he pointed out. “You said, you were good, and then no, thank you to the offer of showing you around the hospital and then around town. So what if I asked you on a date? Not because my mother wanted me to show you around, but because I’m attracted to you and I’m pretty sure it’s mutual.”
“Attraction isn’t enough to go on a date with someone.”
She didn’t say no. He’d take that as a win. “Attraction is normally the first sign that a man and woman get to ask someone out.”
“Fine. You’re right there.”
“Two things to mark down on the calendar,” he said. “I get the feeling you don’t say someone else is right often.”
She narrowed her eyes. “Insulting me isn’t helping.”
“I wasn’t insulting but stating what I believe is a truth. You seem pretty straightforward so I’m doing the same.”
He figured she’d appreciate that. “Fine,” she said, dropping her shoulders. “I’m attracted to you, but I’m not in a place to get involved with anyone.”
That was something at least. An answer to the questions in his head. “Bad breakup?” he asked. Did his mother say something to him about that? He wasn’t sure. He kind of tuned her out when she was playing with him like she was and wished he hadn’t.
“Yes,” she admitted. “It’s just not a good time.”
“Then I guess I need to wait around to find the right time,” he said. “Or soften you up.”
She held his stare as if she couldn’t believe he’d said that. “Why? I don’t get it. We don’t even know each other enough for you to even want to do that. Attraction isn’t enough to hold out and wait.”
“Nope, it’s not.”
“So it’s a challenge?” she asked. “I’m not into playing games and I get the feeling that is all you do.”
“I like games as well as the next person. I like games like sports and biking, hiking, tennis, basketball. I like to be active. I can’t sit still I’m told. Do you mean those types of games you don’t like to play?”
“Actually those things I do like. I mean I’m not into playing the dating games. I’m too old for that.”
“Younger than me,” he argued.
“You don’t know when to give up, do you?”
“Because you haven’t told me you aren’t interested,” he said, which caused her to cross her arms and start tapping her toe. It might have been stupid on his part to say that and she could easily come back and say she wasn’t. He’d have to drop it then.
He wouldn’t push anyone.
She opened her mouth, no words coming out, then closed it again. “Fine,” was all she finally said.
“Which means I need to bide my time. I can do that. Nice talking to you,” he said walking to his door to open it and walk out with her.
He was smart enough to take this victory while he could.
She walked forward, out the door and down the hall ahead of him. It was all he could do not to laugh out loud.
8
Always Had Me
Ten days later Wyatt was looking at himself in the mirror of the hotel where he was trying to adjust his tie. He hated wearing ties, but he couldn’t very well not have it on for Sam’s wedding, especially since he was going to be standing at the altar.
There was a knock at the door, so he moved to open it and saw his twin, Jade, standing there in her bridesmaid gown.
“Will you look at the two of us,” she said. “Need help with that?”
“Sure,” he said. “You know how much I hate these things.”
“It’s just for today,” she said back, fixing it just right and then stepping back. “It’s not going to be awkward dancing with me, do you think?”
He rolled his eyes. “It’s not like I’m going to pull you close. Bryce is the best man, Payton the maid of honor. Ryder is with someone that works with Dani. That leaves the two of us. You’re the one that has go
tten so close with all the new women coming into the fold.”
“I had to,” she argued. “I’m so outnumbered. Now I know how Ella felt when all her brothers got engaged.”
Ella was their cousin that was just a few months younger than them. She had four brothers, all minutes older than her. Quintuplets. They were always referred to as The Five.
“I suppose I can understand that,” he said. “But you’ve never been alone. You’ve always had me.”
“Oh yeah, lucky me.”
“Come on, Jade,” he said, tugging on her perfectly styled hair where she jumped back and slapped his hand. “You would be lost without me. You know it. We are two peas in a pod. Peanut butter and jelly. Eggs and bacon.”
“Why is it always food with you?”
“Because I’m not going to be referred to as Michael Kors and Prada. You did that once and I never heard the end of it. Noah called me Prada for a month when you did it.”
His sister could be warped when she wanted to be and pay him back worse. She just didn’t do it often.
“It was kind of funny.” She walked over and sat on the bed. “So what is going on with you? You were off your normal game at the rehearsal dinner last night.”
“I’m just being respectful to the soon-to-be newlyweds.”
She snorted. “You, being respectful to a family member? I fully expected some gag or joke, but there was nothing.”
“Maybe I’m maturing,” he said.
Really, it had more to do with the fact he was trying to figure out a way to spend some time with Adriana again. It was taking up his thoughts more than pranking a family member.
If he didn’t know better he’d think she was avoiding him. They hadn’t been scheduled together for any more surgeries, which wasn’t uncommon. There were a lot of surgeons and lots of nurses. Not as many anesthesiologists. They were rotated all over the place.
“That will be the day. And we should probably get down there. Or you should get down there and I’ve got to go back and check in with Dani. Her mother is almost in tears and she got Aunt Diane going. I didn’t want to lose it.”
