Back in his room, she noticed right off his gaze tracking her. A good sign. Very good. She did a quick eye test. Responsive. Skin temperature and color back to normal.
“Hi, Donny. Do you remember me?”
“Yeah. Is Santiago okay? He was driving.” Good, his voice was soft but steady.
“He’s being taken care of by one of our best. Right now, we need to focus on you. Do you remember what happened?”
The kid took her through the same story Shad had told her earlier and then asked if his girlfriend knew he was there. She looked down into the scared boy’s face and smiled.
“Great news. You’re going to be fine. You’ve bruised your ribs, and you do have a mild concussion. Not to mention some forty stitches between your leg and forehead. Do you have someone who can stay with you tonight, wake you up every hour?”
“My girlfriend. We’re in the same dorm. She’s just down the hall.”
“Convenient.”
His pale face blushed bright red.
“I understand she’s in the waiting room. I’ll have the nurse go get her for you, but it’s going to be about an hour before I discharge you. So for now, you need to lay back and rest. As soon as I hear more about Santiago I’ll let you know.”
“Dr. Saunders.” She stopped at the door. “Please don’t let him die.”
Some days this job ripped your heart out and stomped it on the ground. Today was one of them. She nodded and flashed Donny a false smile as she left his room. A quick stop at the nurses’ station confirmed she’d have a few minutes of peace and that Santiago was still in the OR. Slipping into the breakroom, she walked to the fridge and pulled out a bottle of water. She pressed the icy container against the back of her neck.
“Hey, you okay?”
“Yep, just an adrenaline crash. Guess I got used to the easy life.” She searched the cabinet until she’d found her hidden stash of chocolate peanut butter Pop-Tarts. With her dinner in hand, she sank into the cushions on the old couch.
Jenna snagged the last packet and joined her. “Do you miss it? All that attention? The fabulous dates? The hotties?”
Denise laughed. “It’s a tough call: smoking hot men or hemorrhoids. Actually, yes and no.” She broke off a corner of the pastry and nibbled around the edges. “Some of the activities, like paintball, were wicked fun. Trying to split my time evenly between a dozen guys? Think Friday the thirteenth on a full-moon crazy.”
When one of the other nurses stuck her head in and asked Jenna a couple of questions, Denise thought over Jenna’s questions. It’d only been a couple of days and she’d really missed her family—well, most of them—but nothing had felt the same since her return, except for her mom’s attitude toward her.
“Sorry. You were saying . . .” Jenna prodded once they were alone again.
“I did enjoy having time for me, getting out and trying new things. We even got to go zip-lining. You’d love it, and speaking of love, San Francisco—new favorite place ever. But you know what else was great? Not having my nose stuck in a medical journal and having a life. Yeah, I miss that already.”
Jenna bounced up and poured a cup of coffee before settling back down. “Sounds nice. Well, except for that zip thing. You know, if you take the fellowship, you’ll have less time than you do now, and your nose will be back in lots of books.”
“I know.”
The fellowship and all of its ups and downs had been on her mind for weeks, long before she’d left for the West Coast. Being accepted into the program meant longer hours at the hospital, and when she wasn’t working, she’d be studying, and in the end, while she would have a specialty, it wouldn’t mean more pay, which she needed to pay off her loans. It also meant that the life she’d discovered these past few weeks would be put on hold again. How many times could you put your life on hold until it was too late? What she needed was a fairy godmother or a crystal ball to see the future.
“Did you miss it here?” Jenna asked, always ready to play devil’s advocate.
“I did. I missed the satisfaction of helping someone in need, taking the pain away, saving a person’s life. This is horrible to admit, but one of the guys cut his hand and I got all excited. I like feeling needed, and working here, I’m needed.”
“It sounds like you need to find a happy medium.”
Denise leaned her head back against the sofa and sighed. “Think that’s really possible? Having a life and a career?”
Jenna’s phone beeped and she headed for the door. “You’re asking me? I have less of a life outside these walls than you.”
The next couple of hours whizzed by, with the cases getting crazier by the hour. The full moon brought out the stupid in people. At least she wouldn’t have to deal with the bar crowd until Saturday. Alcohol and full moons didn’t mix well. They took people past stupid and brought out the batshit crazy. All she wanted now was a bubble bath and her nice, soft, warm bed.
As Denise walked up the short pathway to her front door, a shadow moved out from a corner and she held up her minican of Mace, ready to take down a mugger. She was tired, cranky, and hungry, not to be messed with. Oh, and her cheek throbbed from the druggie who’d punched her earlier in the shift. Yeah, she was in no mood to be messed with.
“Whoa there, tiger. It’s just me.” Brody stepped out, the porch light illuminating his dark brown hair and the bouquet of flowers in his hand.
“It’s late.” She slipped the key in the lock and left the door open for him to follow.
“I missed you.”
Dropping her purse and keys on the table, she turned to face him as she shook out her ponytail. “It’s good to see you.” She took the flowers and set them on the counter as she went through the process of digging out a vase, filling it with water, and arranging the bouquet until she thought it looked right.
“How’s your family?” he asked.
She went to him, then. Wrapped her arms around him and snuggled in, letting his scent and strength chase away the last few days.
“That great, huh? Let me guess. Your mom?”
“Winner, winner, chicken dinner.” She laughed against his hard chest and pressed a soft kiss to the spot over his beating heart. “I’m thinking of running away. Want to join me?”
“Always.” His mouth swooped down and claimed hers. He took his time tasting, exploring, soothing, and exciting. Maybe she didn’t have to run far. The bedroom would do.
When he came up for air, he winked and took her hand. He led her to the bedroom, where he stripped off her shirt, then her pants, and ordered her to lay facedown.
The cool night air sent shivers dancing over her skin. She’d forgotten to crank up the heat, not that she needed it once Brody straddled her butt and ran the palms of his hands across her back. Heat and something much darker and primal slammed into her. She squirmed and wiggled, trying without success to roll over and line up their bodies.
“Relax. Enjoy,” he ordered.
His fingers kneaded her shoulders. Pain and pleasure as the tension dissipated. Using the heel of his hand, his forearms, and elbows, he worked his way down her back to melt away the knots.
“Mmm, this is better than sex,” she mumbled.
“If that’s true, I haven’t been doing it right.”
Soft, warm kisses followed his hands as he worked the muscles in the hollows above her hips. Okay, maybe it wasn’t better than sex, but it came damn close after a long day on her feet. He massaged her arms until they felt like soft rubber. He moved on to her thighs, then calves.
“I think you missed a spot.” She lifted up her head to grin at Brody.
“Lay down, shut up, and let a man work, will you?” He nipped her tush.
He picked up her foot and caressed and kneaded and kissed until all the aches and pains disappeared.
“Better?”
Yes, but if she told him that, he’d stop. “Getting there,” she said softly as she fought a yawn.
“Roll over.”
“I
’m not sure I can move.”
After a smack on her butt she did as he asked and her head landed in his lap.
“I think you have your positions backward,” she teased.
“And we’re the ones who get accused of perpetual sex on the brain.” With slow, light circles he made his way from her temples, across her forehead, and over her scalp. If she could bottle his touch and sell it, she’d make a fortune. Except there was one problem with that plan. She didn’t want to share Brody with anyone, couldn’t stand the thought of his hands touching another woman.
His hands slid down to caress her shoulders. “Long day?”
“Full moon, and all the crazies came out to play. Plus taking care of my sister before my shift, helping Chel plan her wedding, and listening to my mom rant to Elysia that I should have been there the past few weeks. As if I couldn’t hear her when Elys had to hold the phone three inches away. Just another day in paradise. How was your day? Have you seen your mom yet?”
“I did. She was busy while we were away.”
“That’s good.” A yawn escaped, and she mumbled, “Sorry.” A few more minutes and she’d be snoring.
“She wants to introduce me to my soon-to-be dad on Saturday.”
Her eyes flew open and she sat up with her body twisted around to see Brody, fully awakened by the bomb he’d dropped on her.
“Brody, that’s fa . . . wow. You okay with that?” She gave his hand a quick squeeze, knowing this couldn’t be the easiest thing for him to accept.
He glanced away, rolled his head to the left, then the right, and back to the center to meet her eyes. “I don’t see that I have any other choice. She’s made up her mind and says she’s following her heart. According to a friend of mine, Dr. Stewart’s record is as clean as a Boy Scout’s. Heck, the guy was an Eagle Scout, and then a scout leader for his son’s troop.”
“I’m surprised you took your friend’s word.”
“I may have done some discreet inquiring on my own.”
“Brody,” she admonished and laughed, knowing he meant well, even if he sometimes stepped way over the boundary lines.
He drew his legs up in front of him to rest his forearms. “I had to do it. Things like drinking and domestic abuse don’t always make it into police reports.”
She crawled forward, settled between his legs, and leaned into him. Cupping his face with her hands, she kissed him. It was no more than a light caress. “You’re a good son and a good man, Brody Nichols. I’m sure the good doctor will be happy to welcome you into his family.”
His eyes met hers, so full of uncertainty and pain. “Come with me Saturday.”
Taken aback by his request, she sat back on her heels and did the one thing her mom accused her of not doing: thought about how her answer would affect the others in their lives. Showing up with Brody would create certain assumptions and expectations from Dena Nichols. Rightly so, given their past. Also, given that Dena was friends with her mom, it was fair to say she’d share those assumptions and expectations with Denise’s mom.
She didn’t want to get either woman’s hopes up. There was also the problem of her work schedule and that she had to work on Saturday night. No way could she ask one of the other residents to swap with her so soon after returning.
Brody reached out and tugged a curl. “It’s a simple yes or no to dinner, not a lifelong commitment.”
“That’s not what your mom will think and you know it.”
“She knows we’re seeing each other, so what’s the problem?”
“She’s going to expect this to end up with us actually walking down the aisle and saying I do this time.”
“Would that be so bad?” he asked flatly.
“No. I don’t know. Maybe. We’ve proved we’re still sexually attracted to each other, but that wasn’t our problem before, and I’ll be damned before I let anyone push us into a commitment we’re not ready for. It’s not going to be like last time.”
He tugged her into his arms, wrapping her in his warmth and strength. “It won’t be. We’re older, wiser, and a hell of a lot better at saying no.” He kissed the top of her head. “I’d really like you to be there for me. Jason, Cherry, Dave, and Tawny are invited too, and if I promise to keep my hands to myself and to introduce you as my friend, will you come?”
She heard the need in his voice and her heart softened. Whenever she’d needed a friend or support or a white knight, Brody had been there for her. Was it so much to ask of her to do the same for once?
“You can introduce me any way you want. It won’t fool your mom and I’m okay with them knowing. I do have to be at work by seven, though, and you’d better be prepared for my mom butting into your business because you know she will. Especially with Elysia expecting twins and Chel engaged. She’ll consider it her personal quest to see me in the same boat as my sisters.”
“Your mom doesn’t scare me. Now.” His hands slipped down to her chin and tilted her face up to meet his. “Let’s forget about everyone else and focus on us.”
His kiss was hot and hungry and urgent and chased away any lingering doubts she might have had about going to dinner. She crawled up his chest, pressing her seminaked chest against his fully clothed one. Something she fully intended to correct, in a minute or two, once she could remember how to do more than one thing at a time as his kiss seared her brain and set every nerve on fire.
Desire shivered deep inside and she wondered how she’d had the strength to walk out of his life twice before and whether she’d been insane to do it.
“You’re really not going to tell me what happened on that show, are you?” Angie huffed out an indignant breath, but the cocked eyebrow and fisted hand on her ample hip told him she wasn’t done.
“Angie, my love, I told you the most important part. I’m still single and waiting for you to leave your husband.”
“So you can leave me the first time a certain doctor smiles in your direction? Fat chance. You may as well tell me or I’ll just ask your mom next time she calls.”
With a nod toward the stack of papers in her hand, he shut the door on the subject of his love life. “Are those for me?”
She crossed her arms over her front and looked down on him. “No, I thought while you were off lollygagging around, I’d take messages for the vet down the street. Of course they’re for you. See anyone else around here to help out?”
“Angie,” he softened his tone. “What’s bugging you?”
Taking the seat opposite him, she set the stack on his desk. “You’ve been gone for three weeks and you’ve got darker circles under your eyes than you did before you left, and if those stress lines between your eyes get any deeper, I’ll be able to plant posies in them. I thought, had hoped you’d come back happier.”
“Life is complicated right now.”
When hadn’t his life been complicated with Denise in it? But it was more than that. Granted, he was ready to take what they had up a notch or two, while she seemed content to keep it confined to the bedroom. He was tired of being alone, and there’d only ever been one woman for him.
“Some complications are good.”
“Why can’t it be simple? It is for my mom and Dr. Stewart.”
“Because people aren’t simple and you know that better than most, but there are things you can do to make your life easier, like take on an associate.” She handed him a folder to review. “Nice enough young man, polite, intelligent. Graduated from Yale Law School, moved here after spending the last two years in Chicago practicing contract law. He’s engaged and his sweetie is stationed in Newport. She’s got four years left and then plans to leave the Navy. She’s from Warwick. They’re hoping to stay in the area, be close to her family.”
Skimming down the résumé in front of him, he noted the highlights of Timothy Dev’s education and career. His efficient secretary had told him more than the two-page summary. “I’m surprised you didn’t have him installed and fast at work before I returned.”
“
I thought about it. Ms. Yang from Legal Aid called and said to remind you she was still waiting for an answer on her offer.” She stood to leave. “Mr. Padgett called too. He’s ready to settle. Brody, you know whatever you decide, I’ll be there for you. Not that I have a choice. There’s no other admins out there who’d put up with you.”
When he’d opened the doors of his office, the goal had been to expand, to take on an associate and then partners and build up the practice. The building held two other offices that up until a couple of months earlier he’d rented out to a web designer. He was tapped out on time and couldn’t take on more, which was fine. He made a decent living and now he didn’t need to worry about his mom’s retirement years. But he was also tired of working eighty-hour weeks, and while the offer to join Legal Aid as a full-time staff member tempted him, he’d still be working eighty- to ninety-hour weeks.
He loved what he did here in his own practice—contracts and small business law. He also loved what he did there—protecting the rights of women and children—but he loved Denise more and knew he’d need to make a choice soon.
The phone rang, forcing him to put the decision off a little while longer. For the next couple of hours he returned phone calls and reviewed a new contract one of his long-time clients wanted to sign. Lunch came and went, and if it hadn’t been for Angie he’d have starved. A knock on his door in the late afternoon brought his head up from his review of the contract.
“Hey, Jase. What brings you by?” They exchanged slaps on the back and man hugs.
“Good to have you home, Bro. How’s Denise’s sister?”
“Better. She’s expecting twins.”
“Wow, twins. Kind of scary. Saturday, I’ll bring the wine and homemade bread and Dave will bring the shovel in case we don’t like this guy.”
“Appreciate it. Although I have a feeling this is one of many changes we’ll have to get used to in our lives.”
Jason drummed his fingers on his thigh, gazing out the window. Did his friend know something about the good doctor he hadn’t found out during his investigation? Or was Jason worried his mom was rushing things too? Having spent more time at Brody’s home than his own growing up, Jason hadn’t been spared his father’s wrath or his mom’s protection.
Fiance for Keeps Page 18
