by Tara Rose
“When can we move Bo Sawyer?”
Lakesha Williams, the day shift unit secretary, was on the phone, and she held up a manicured finger in response. When she hung up, she smiled at him. “How about now, Doctor Gorgeous?”
The corners of his mouth turned up. Lakesha was young enough to be his daughter, ran circles around everyone in the unit, and was a notorious flirt. “Lakesha, you’re beautiful.”
She made satisfied noises deep in her throat. “Call me that every day and I’ll move all your patients out of here in record time.”
“That’s why I do it.”
Lakesha laughed softly, and then handed him a computer print-out. “They’re waiting for him in pre-op, and from there he’s going to a tele bed on two.”
“Beautiful and perfect.”
“I keep tellin’ my man that but he won’t listen.” It was rumored that Lakesha was currently dating a member of the Tennessee Titans.
He winked at her. “When you get tired of trying to convince him, give me a holler.”
Davis found Emma Tremaine and asked who the charge nurse was that shift. He could never remember. “I am. What do you need?”
“They’re ready for Bo Sawyer in OR. From there he’s going to a tele bed on two.”
“Great. Did you write his transfer orders?”
“Yep. All set.” He watched Emma scan the sheet he’d handed her. She looked so much like her sister, Vivian, their HR director, that it was uncanny. Most of Vivian’s family worked here, and each of them were as efficient and professional as Vivian. Everyone liked and respected them.
“All right, Doc. We’ll get him moved right away.” She glanced up. “Is his leg going to be okay?”
“Yeah. I believe so. Thanks, Emma.” Davis walked over to the desk again to pull up the current patient list on one of the computers. It was getting busy already for a Monday. He imagined after Bobby James’s trial got underway starting next week, things could get very bad in town. People were angry, and that meant they might do stupid things to each other.
The former pastor of First Baptist Church had been charged with voluntary manslaughter in the death of his wife, seventeen years ago. His son, Jimmie, had finally remembered what really happened that night, when he’d been only fifteen.
Jimmie had been two years behind Davis, Bo, and Miranda in school, but they all remembered him. He had a bad rollover accident while on a tractor his senior year and became hooked on pain killers afterward. He’d left town for a while after going through rehab, and had even been married a short time.
But he’d been back home about a year now, and up until he recalled his mother’s death, his father had still tried to control every aspect of his life. Those days were over for Jimmie, thank goodness.
He had even moved out of his childhood home, and was now living in Ethan Drake’s house. Ethan was a second year trauma surgeon fellow, and he and Jimmie both were involved with Savannah Patterson, an ICU nurse. Noah Kirkland, a respiratory therapist, was also part of their dynamic.
The town of Sin was split into various camps over this latest development. The folks who had been die-hard followers of Pastor Bobby James felt that Jimmie had sinned in the worst possible way, along with Savannah, Noah, and Ethan. But that church had also lost a lot of members in the past few weeks because of Bobby’s arrest.
The majority of the town wasn’t judging the four. The gossip was that those who had left the church did so because they felt Bobby had mistreated his son for most of his life. They also believed that Bobby would never have accepted his son’s relationship with Savannah, even if they’d been the only two in the mix, rather than one of three men who just happened to be having sex with Savannah.
Others in town expressed hope that Bobby would finally get what he deserved, and they wished Savannah, Noah, Ethan, and Jimmie well. After all, they weren’t the only people in Sin involved in an unconventional relationship.
Their very own Sin Hospital HR director, Vivian Tremaine, was involved in a hot and heavy triad with Ethan’s chief, Dr. Preston Benson, and Luke Henderson, whose family employed Jimmie at Henderson Weed & Feed. The three now lived in Preston’s house.
Davis didn’t care who fucked whom, or who they lived with. He simply envied anyone, man or woman, who had found true love. Or even those who had sex regularly. Hell, he’d take even one date at this stage. Why the hell had he goaded Bo while in his drugged-up state into making that damn bet? Was he getting stupider as he aged?
It was no secret that both men still adored Miranda. They’d talked about her to each often enough. But Bo had been embarrassed ever since his ex-wife and Miranda’s ex-husband had been caught in bed together when Miranda came home early from work one day. They’d been carrying on, in both homes, for five years.
Now, Bo barely went out at all, and he knew Miranda was in the same boat. Not that he had any room to talk. All three of them lived like hermits, but Davis didn’t have the excuse of a cheating ex-spouse to explain his existence.
Davis once asked Bo why he didn’t simply ask Miranda out. Their divorces had been final for almost nine years now. In response, Bo had asked him how he’d feel if he had an ex-wife who had been carrying on with Miranda’s ex-husband.
Davis had pointed out that Miranda had gone through the same thing. He also pointed out that she might be thinking along those same lines, which could explain why she’d never done anything about the longing looks she gave Bo. But the man wouldn’t budge.
Davis had done nothing about his own desire for Miranda, so he was in no position to give Bo dating advice. But as the years drifted past, he was so damn lonely he could hardly stand it. He loved this job, but it gave him almost no time for anything else. And few women compared to Miranda.
He’d only dated Miranda for six months when they were sophomores, but he still compared every woman to her. It always amazed him how something that happened so long ago could still affect a person, decades later.
His trip down memory lane was cut short when EMS brought in a possible drug overdose victim, and it was well into evening by the time he was able to end his shift. Davis called up to the second floor to make sure Bo had returned from surgery, and was told he’d been in his room for about two hours. He was being kept overnight and they’d discharge him in the morning.
Davis decided to visit Bo before he went home, just to make sure he was still doing all right. He sprinted up the stairs to the second floor, and then made his way to the desk to see which room Bo was in. Just as he was about to turn around and head for it, a familiar voice stopped him.
“Looks like we both had the same idea tonight. I wanted to be sure he was okay. His family has been calling everyone they know who works here, asking about him.”
Davis smiled at Miranda. She looked freshly showered, and it was so unusual to see her in street clothes that his gaze traveled lazily over her colorful summer top, shorts, and sandals. Why had he never noticed before that her fingernails and toenails matched in color? Because she doesn’t wear sandals to work, idiot!
When he met her pretty green eyes again, she regarded him with a mixture of amusement and confusion. Heat rushed to his face. “Sorry. Not used to seeing you out of scrubs. I mean in street clothes as opposed to them. Not out of them as in only your underwear.”
She stared at him for a few seconds, and then she laughed. Linking her arm in his, she walked toward Bo’s room. “Thank you for clarifying that. Although, if I remember correctly, you did see me in my underwear once. We were sixteen, so it was a long time ago.”
“Oh, yeah. I guess I did.” Good lord. Could he sound any lamer if he tried? And it didn’t escape him that she remembered that incident. “I wonder what would have happened if your parents hadn’t come home that day?”
Her face flushed and his dick grew hard. “Oh, I think we both know what would have happened.”
If only Miranda had been his first instead of what’s her name… They locked gazes for what felt like long moment
s, and then she glanced toward the hallway as someone approached the desk, and the spell was broken. That stolen afternoon had happened a long time ago, but right now he wished he could have it back. “Let’s start over. Hello, Miranda. Nice to see you again. You look very pretty in those clothes.”
“Thank you.”
Her smile was wistful, and he couldn’t help wondering if she wished the same thing he did. That they could return to an easier time and the possibility of young love and awkward sex.
They approached Bo’s room but Davis stopped just outside of it. “Before we go in,” he said, “I want to apologize for earlier. Both for making the juvenile bet with Bo, who was clearly high on pain meds, and for acting like a surly teen.”
“It’s all right. I’m not upset. But tell me something. How did the subject of Bo asking me out come up to begin with?”
He took a deep breath. She had asked, after all. She deserved a straight answer. “Miranda, if you knew how any times Bo and I both discussed going out with you again, you’d be shocked.”
She blinked a few times. Clearly, she hadn’t been expecting that answer. “Really?”
“Yes, really. I don’t think either one of us has gotten over you.”
“Why didn’t I know that?” Her voice was so quiet he barely heard the question.
“I don’t know. Same reason both of us have been dancing around this for so long I suppose.”
Once again, they stared into each other’s eyes, until they heard voices approaching them. His mind was reeling as they walked into Bo’s room. Why the hell hadn’t he done anything about his ongoing feelings for Miranda? Her divorce had been final for nearly a decade. Was he afraid she’d say no?
Bo was sitting up in bed, watching TV, and gave them both a big smile.
“Hey there! I’ve had endless visitors since they brought me up here, but you two are the ones I really wanted to see.”
Miranda pointed toward his leg. “Can I take a peek?”
He pulled back the covers, and she glanced over the surgical dressing on his wound. “Are you still in pain?”
“Not too much now. And no, I’m not as drugged up as I was earlier. I’m glad you two are here. I have a question.”
“What is it?” asked Davis, hoping he wasn’t going to ask her out again.
“I want to know what I said when you did that CT scan on me.”
She looked so disappointed that for a few seconds, Davis was afraid she’d cry. At least one burning question had been answered. She still had as much of a thing for Bo as he had for her. But where did that leave him? Odd man out, that’s where, genius.
“You don’t remember any of it?” she asked, her voice too casual. “Not even the bet you made with Davis?”
He reached up and ruffled her hair, the way they both used to do to her when they were kids. She’d hated it then, and judging by the way she jerked her head out of his reach, she didn’t like it any more now. “I’m teasing you. Of course I remember it.”
Her smile was instantaneous and full of relief. “You’re such a brat.”
He cut his gaze toward Davis. “Where’s my fifty bucks?”
“I’ll tell you what. Instead of the fifty bucks, I’ll leave your sutures in.”
Bo gave him a droll look. “You’re a laugh a minute. So, Miranda, when are we going out?”
She grinned at him, and then cut her gaze toward Davis. “I’m not sure I can let you off the hook that easily, Bo. Drugged up or not, that was a really immature thing to do. And then you teased me about not remembering it.”
Bo grabbed her hand. “Forgive me? Please?”
“Your charm won’t work this time.”
“Ah, come on, Miranda,” said Davis. “Give the poor guy a break. He’s injured.”
She gave him a curious look, and then an expression of determination came over her face that had him wondering what had just gone on inside her mind. “I have a better idea. Why don’t I cook supper for you both? As soon as Bo can go home, that is. What do you say?”
Davis was certain he’d only imagined her words, until Bo responded to them.
“I’m going home in the morning, and I can’t work for at least six weeks, so I say yes.” He glanced toward Davis. “You’re coming, right? Not going to turn down a home-cooked meal from our favorite girl, are you?”
Hell no. “Not a chance.” Davis wasn’t sure how the hell this had come about, but he was glad it had. It was the closest thing to a date he’d had in way too long. He didn’t even care that Bo would be there. He welcomed the experience. As long as he got to spend time with Miranda, he’d be happy.
Chapter Three
Bo was so damn excited about having supper with Miranda and Davis. He’d been discharged from the hospital Tuesday morning, but he had to wait for a ride. Then he spent two hours getting his prescriptions filled and making sure everything in his house that he could fall over while wearing his leg brace was put up.
He hated not being able to drive, but was told it would be at least a month before he could. Bo had plenty of family members ready to pitch in and help, plus he knew Davis would lend a hand as much as possible.
Miranda had traded on-call duties for Wednesday night so she could have an uninterrupted evening with him and Davis. Davis had also arranged for one of the other doctors to take his shift in the ER that evening. Davis picked him up at six and drove him to Miranda’s house.
“Do I really need to wear this thing around my leg for a month?” he asked, folding his body into the passenger seat of Davis’s car.
“Yes. If you tear the muscle they just sewed up, you’re back in the hospital. It’s a deep wound, Bo. Give yourself a break. You’re not in football playing shape anymore.”
He grinned. “Gee, thanks for the reminder.”
Davis laughed. “Hey, neither am I.”
Miranda lived on the same street that Savannah Patterson used to live on before Danny Harrell, one of the town’s locals hoodlums, tossed a homemade pipe bomb into her empty house and it went up in flames.
Savannah had just moved everything out and had listed it for sale when the fire occurred. Danny had been out on parole, so he was now back in jail, this time on the other side of the state. His sister Kay-Jean, who had caused more trouble in Sin than almost anyone, had left town shortly after Danny’s arrest. No one had heard from her since.
As they passed the burned out mess that used to be Savannah’s house, he and Davis talked about the incidents leading up to the fire. “A lot of folks say Kay-Jean put her brother up to it.”
Davis nodded. “I’ve heard that all over the hospital. It’s no secret she and Savannah weren’t friends.”
“No one who worked in the ICU with Kay-Jean liked her, from what I heard.”
“That’s true. She was a difficult person to like. Same with Ellie Adams.” He glanced toward Bo. “You know her?”
“I know of her. She’s a respiratory therapist, right?”
“Yep. And former best friend of Kay-Jean’s.”
“I’ll bet Ellie knows where she is then.”
Davis shrugged. “I don’t know if she does or not. Ellie and I don’t talk much. When she comes down to the ER for an emergency she doesn’t speak to anyone unless she has to. And as for Kay-Jean, every time I had occasion to run into her at work, I was less than impressed with her nursing skills or her people skills.”
“Some people are just bad blood.”
“My mama always said that. Both the Harrell family and the Adams family, with the exception of Rodney, are bad blood.”
Bo nodded. Vivian Tremaine’s sister, Amy, was married to Rodney, Ellie’s brother. But Rodney made no bones about how little he thought of his own family, especially Ellie. “Do you think it’s true that Danny set Savannah’s house on fire to begin with because Kay-Jean passed judgment on Savannah for moving in with Ethan, Noah, and Jimmie?”
Davis snorted. “If the gossip inside that hospital can be believed, it’s true. That and he
r hatred of people in general. Not very Christian like of her, considering what a staunch supporter she was of Jimmie’s father.”
Bo shook his head. “I hate to speak out against a pastor, but Bobby James was the most un-Christian like man I’ve ever met.”
“I agree. And as for Kay-Jean, it’s also generally believed that she thinks Savannah put Jimmie up to visiting the ADA in Murfreesboro to have his mother’s death reexamined.”
“Now I know that’s not true,” said Bo. “Ethan was in the store last week, asking about plumbing and electrical work for tornado shelters. We did that work for Preston’s shelter, and Ethan wants one, too. Ethan told me himself that Jimmie went to the ADA on his own, after the events of the night his mother passed came back to him. All Savannah and Noah did was tell him they’d support him, no matter what his decision was.”
“Then I’m sure that’s exactly how it happened. Savannah would never encourage someone to hurt another person deliberately. She’s not like that. Kay-Jean hates her because she’s happy, a thing Kay-Jean doesn’t know how to be.”
The men nodded as Davis pulled into Miranda’s driveway. Her home was old, but she’d restored every inch of it. Even the landscaping looked fresh. “She must work on this every single day,” said Davis. “Each time I come past here she’s done something new to it.”
“I think she does.” Bo and Davis exchanged a glance as Davis turned off the engine. “She hasn’t dated in years.”
“I know.” Davis sighed out loud. “Look, before we go inside, let’s get this out of the way. I’ve never really gotten over her, and I think I’m safe in saying you haven’t either.”
“You already know that.” Where was he going with this? Bo wasn’t in the mood to rehash old news. He was hungry, and his leg hurt like a bear.
“I’m tired of hanging out on the sidelines, watching my life go by. I want to see if there’s anything that Miranda and I can rekindle.” Davis shifted in his seat to face Bo. “And I’m all right if you want the same thing. Don’t use the excuse of Rhea and Mark to keep you from having what you’ve always wanted. They’re together, and I doubt they give you or Miranda a second thought anymore.”
