One Night in New York

by Amy Ruttan

  “Professor Langley didn’t want him in the OR, so I told him that there were too many people in the OR.”

  Mindy was confused. “Why would he not want Dr. Napier in the OR?”

  Dr. Chang snorted. “Probably because Dr. Napier’s mother complained to him about how many hours her son was getting in OB/GYN, seeing how she finds both our practices of medicine to be a waste of talent.”

  “Who is his mother?”

  “Another surgeon. He doesn’t like to say and I’m not in a position to divulge her name. Dr. Napier is pretty private.”

  “I get that. We all have secrets.”

  Dr. Chang cocked an eyebrow. “Yes.”

  “Does his mother have the same last name?”

  “No, he has his father’s name. His parents were married for a short while. I knew Dr. Napier’s mother when she married Frasier Napier. I really liked Dr. Napier’s father, never cared for his mother too much.”

  “I don’t blame you. She sounds like a real…”

  “Pain?” Dr. Chang laughed. “Yeah, she is.”

  “I’m surprised that Dr. Napier never told me who his mother is.”

  “Now, that you’ll have to ask Dr. Napier about. I doubt you’ll get any answers from him, though. He’s a private person. I don’t even know why he keeps it to himself, but I respect his wishes.” Dr. Chang finished scrubbing up and then left the scrub room, tossing her surgical cap in a receptacle on the way out.

  Mindy finished her scrubbing and headed out too.

  There were many more layers to Dr. Samuel Napier than met the eye. In the course of her career she’d met other physicians who’d had famous parents in the medical field and they had been quite proud to boast about that. Yet Sam didn’t really talk about his mother much. He’d mentioned his father and family in Scotland with fondness, but nothing about his mother.

  Don’t pry.

  She didn’t want people to know about her humiliation in California.

  That was her business and apparently Sam wanted to keep his secret about his mother private too and she respected that.

  Besides, who was she to go prying? She was just an attending at the hospital he worked at and she was just someone he’d slept with once.

  They weren’t friends; they were no longer lovers. If he’d wanted to tell her about his mother, he would’ve.

  Mindy scrubbed her hand over her face and headed toward her office, where she could dictate a report of the successful delivery of Ms. Bayberry’s mono-amniotic twins while it was still fresh in her mind.

  As she passed the skills lab, she could see someone hunched over a simulated womb, trying to insert a needle through to the fetus. Of course he was failing, because the sensors were going off and Sam was cursing in a very thick Scottish brogue.

  Just leave him.

  Only she couldn’t. She was his teacher after all.

  “Bloody hell.”

  “Is something wrong?” Mindy asked, as she shut the door to the skills lab behind her.

  Sam glanced up. “Sorry, Dr. Walker. Did you need the skills lab?”

  “No, no. I just happened to be walking by after Ms. Bayberry’s surgery and saw you in here. Is everything okay? You didn’t stay for the whole surgery.”

  “I’m fine. Once I saw the twins were going to make it, I left. My shift was over.”

  “Why didn’t you go home?”

  Sam shrugged. “It’s lonely at home and I thought I would practice some other skills.”

  Mindy nodded and headed over to him. “Is there a particular reason you’re cursing at this simulation?”

  “Just a wee bit frustrated.”

  “Here, I can help.” Mindy placed her hand over his and then paused, removing her hand. “How about I show you?”

  “Aye, that would be good.” Sam handed her the catheter and needle and stood, moving out of the way so she had access to the simulation on the table.

  Once again Mindy was very aware that Sam was standing very close to her. Why did she keep putting herself in the way of temptation?

  Because you’re weak.

  “It requires a certain bit of skill to do this. The womb is strong but fragile, as is the life it holds inside. Are you watching?”

  “Aye.” Sam leaned in closer.

  “Good.” Mindy cleared her throat and then proceeded to show Sam how to do the procedure. “Keep your hands steady but firm. One wrong move…”

  “I know. Can you do that again?” he asked.

  “Of course.” She removed the needle and reset the simulation. As she prepared to show him again, his hands slipped over hers, causing a zing of excitement to course through her as she recalled the way those strong hands had felt on her body, in her hair. “What’re you doing?”

  “I want to feel. Do you mind?”

  Yes.

  “No.” Mindy’s voice caught in her throat as the words came out. “Not at all.”

  His touch made her tremble slightly but she regained control of herself. The last thing she wanted to do was mess up the procedure or let Sam know how he affected her.

  “Amazing,” Sam whispered, his hot breath fanning her neck, causing gooseflesh to break out on her skin and down her back.

  “It is. Do you want to try again?”

  “Yes.” He moved away from her and she got up. Sam took her place and she reset the simulation.

  “You can do it.” Mindy stood back and watched the monitors as Sam expertly copied the procedure. “See, I knew you could do it.”

  Sam nodded. “Thanks for your help, Mindy.”

  She frowned. “I don’t think—”

  “I know. You don’t think I should be using your first name, but in the last month you’re the person I’ve talked to most and I believe I am your only friend in New York.”

  “We’re friends?” Mindy asked.

  Sam smiled, his blue eyes twinkling. “I’d like to think so. We can be friends, can’t we? Coworkers can be friends. Just as long as you don’t show me favoritism, we’re okay.”

  Mindy chuckled. “Yeah, I think we can be friends, Dr. Napier.”

  “Sam.”

  “Sam.” It felt right to say it again, but also wrong. She couldn’t let him in. She was afraid.

  “I’d just ask when we’re on duty for you to call me Dr. Napier. The whole favoritism thing.”

  “That really bothers you.”

  “What does?” he asked.

  “People thinking you’re getting preferential treatment.”

  “Aye. It does.”

  “I know it does. Your accent thickens.”

  He grinned. “You are getting to know me well.”

  I tried not to. Only she didn’t say that thought out loud.

  “Well, that’s what friends are for. Though I’m surprised you don’t have many friends who are residents.”

  “I do, but they’re not in my specialty and some have moved away.”

  “Oh, really? I never see them around.”

  Sam shrugged. “They’re all busy with their own lives. I live with several of them in Brooklyn. I see them when I head back to my flat.”

  “I’m surprised you leave the hospital. I swear you live here.”

  “I could say the same for you, except I have seen your apartment.” Then he frowned. “Sorry, Mindy. I didn’t mean…”

  Heat flushed her cheeks at the reminder that he’d been to her place. Slept in her bed…well, not exactly slept in her bed.

  “I’ve been busy here. Consults, surgeries. I can’t really set my own hours, like I did in my private practice.”

  Sam nodded. “When are you off next?”

  “Tomorrow.”

  “Me too.” Sam stood. “As a thank-you for helping me in the simulation lab I’d like to take you on a little tourist jaunt of New York City.”

  “A jaunt?” She asked. “Why?”

  “You say that like I’m offering you a big bowl of the plague or something.”

  “I don’t do jaunts,�
� Mindy said.

  “Oh, come on. Who doesn’t do jaunts?”

  “Me.” Mindy chuckled.

  “Well, you’re going to go on one tomorrow,” Sam said with finality.

  “Fine. So where will this jaunt take us?”

  “Have you seen all the touristy sights yet?”

  “No. I haven’t had time.”

  “Then it’s settled. I’ll pick you up tomorrow at nine a.m. sharp and we’ll see all the sights of New York City.”

  “What? It’s the middle of winter. It’s cold out there.”

  Sam chuckled and headed toward the lab door. “I won’t take no for an answer. You can dress in layers to fend off the cold, like any good New Yorker would do. Besides, it’s time to get you got acclimatized to the cold weather if you aim to remain in New York.”

  Mindy scowled. “What if I don’t come downstairs at nine a.m.?”

  “Then you’ll leave me standing in the cold in front of your apartment, shouting your name.”

  Mindy gasped. “You wouldn’t do that.”

  He cocked an eyebrow. “Oh, wouldn’t I?”

  “I wouldn’t hear you high up in my penthouse.”

  “I don’t care. I’ll still do it.”

  “Fine,” Mindy agreed grudgingly. “I’ll dress in layers, but you’d better take me to all the really famous landmarks. Not the landmarks a native New Yorker thinks are famous. Like some weird house or building that was in some obscure movie in the eighties.”

  He laughed. “Agreed. I’ll see you tomorrow, then.”

  Mindy’s heart skipped a beat as he left the simulation lab, whistling something. What had she just done? This was not keeping her distance. This was the opposite.

  She tried to tell herself that they were just friends. That this outing would be innocent. Nothing had to happen. Nothing needed to be said. They were just friends.

  Yeah, keep telling yourself that.

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  I HOPE HE’S not down there, shouting.

  Mindy was running late, though only by about five minutes. Still, she darted from the elevator and past the doorman out onto the street. She was terrified that Sam was going to make good on his promise and begin to shout her name.

  When she rushed outside he was standing in front of her building, his hands deep in a black peacoat, looking up toward the sky. Then he looked at her and grinned, that cocky, devilish smile that made her weak in the knees.

  “I thought you’d be out here, screaming my name,” Mindy said as she walked over to him.

  “Well, I was contemplating it but I remembered that your place is a penthouse and that’s a bloody tall building.”

  Mindy chuckled. “It’s the best.”

  He cocked an eyebrow. “You really think so? I prefer the brownstone myself. That’s why I live in one.”

  “I thought you lived in an apartment with a bunch of other residents?”

  “Aye, but the flats are in a brownstone. It’s kind of just a bedroom really. Though one of my roommates moved in with her boyfriend recently.”

  “You live with girls. Why does that not surprise me?” she teased.

  “There is one other man in the house.”

  “Sure, sure.”

  “There is. I don’t know why you don’t believe me. What have I got to hide?”

  “A harem.”

  Sam snorted. “Oh, aye, a harem of surgical residents.”

  Mindy rolled her eyes and then laughed. “So, what do you have planned for us today since you were so insistent that I spend my day off touring New York City in the freezing cold temperatures.”

  “This isn’t cold.”

  “It is when you’re from California.”

  “Aye, well. Yes, I guess so.”

  “How do the Scots keep warm? Especially when wearing kilts?”

  Sam groaned. “I’m not wearing a kilt. Why are you bringing up kilts now?”

  “Because you’re making fun of the fact that I’m from California and I hate the cold.”

  “I had porridge this morning.”

  Mindy wrinkled his nose. “Ugh.”

  “It keeps you warm. It’s hearty.”

  “No, thanks,” Mindy said.

  “You need to toughen up, Mindy.” Then he slipped his arm through hers. “And we’ll start by dragging you out on a ferry to visit one of my favorite ladies.”

  “You told me that we were going to see traditional tourist attractions. I don’t want to visit one of your girlfriends on some obscure island.”

  He looked at her like she was crazy. “I was talking about the Statue of Liberty, you daft hen.”

  She glared at him.

  “What’s that look for?” he asked.

  “For calling me a daft hen!”

  “I’m sorry.”

  “Oh, well, that’s okay.”

  Sam chuckled as they walked toward the subway station. “You were a wee bit jealous when you thought I was going to drag you to meet a girlfriend.”

  “Hardly.”

  “Aye, you were.” His eyes were twinkling. “Admit it.”

  “I’m not going to admit to anything and you can’t make me. So how are we going to get to the Statue of Liberty?” she asked, changing the subject of jealously and girlfriends, because he was right, the thought of him with another woman drove her a bit bonkers. It made her see green, though it shouldn’t. She didn’t have a claim on him.

  “We’re going to take the Number One train down to the South Ferry Station.”

  Mindy dug in her heels. “We’re taking the subway?”

  “What’re you worrying about? There’s nothing wrong with taking the subway.”

  “I’ve never taken public transportation before.”

  “Never?”

  She shook her head. “In Los Angeles it wasn’t safe.”

  “Well, it would take you all day in this kind of traffic to get down to the South Ferry Station and even then it would be almost impossible and probably expensive to find parking. I also don’t have a car. Do you?”

  “No. I’ve been meaning to go and look…”

  Sam tsked under his breath. “Trust me. Don’t waste your money. If you want to leave the city for some reason, rent a car. Trust me, the subway train will not bite you.”

  He took her gloved hand and squeezed it. “Do you trust me?” he asked.

  “I have no choice.”

  Sam laughed. “Aye, that’s true. Come on. I swear it will be fun.”

  Mindy let him lead her down the steps of the Eighty-Sixth Street Station into the underground of New York City. The first thing she noticed was that it was warm but the air was dank and smelled stale. She wrinkled her nose but followed him through the turnstiles as he paid their fare and he led her to the platform.

  She gripped his arm, holding on to him for dear life, and he teased her.

  “Do you think I’m going to push you off to meet your maker?”

  “If you do, I’m taking you with me,” she said.

  He laughed again. She liked the way he laughed, it always made her smile.

  “Deal,” he said. “But I promise you I won’t be throwing you over the edge. It would be a waste of a beautiful woman.”

  Heat bloomed in Mindy’s cheeks. She wanted to chastise him for saying that, but they were alone. They weren’t on duty. They were just two friends exploring the city and she didn’t have a problem with him telling her she was beautiful.

  There was a rumbling sound and she peeked down the dark tunnel to see two headlights in the distance.

  “Come on, we have to move to the front of the train and get one of the first five compartments.”

  “Why?” Mindy asked, as Sam guided her down to the other end of the platform.

  “They only allow the first five compartments of the train to exit at the South Ferry Station. I don’t know why, but that’s just the way it is.”

  The train slowed and stopped, the breeze blowing her loose hair into her face as it pulled into
the station. The doors opened and a few people got off. Once the way was clear Sam pushed his way on, dragging her with him.

  Surprisingly, there was a seat and he sat her down and stood in front of her. The doors dinged shut and the train pulled out of the station and down the dark tunnel.

  “I feel bad with you standing there.”

  “Don’t feel bad. I don’t think you should be standing on your first ride on the subway. Maybe when we head back up to the Upper West Side.” He winked at her, holding tight to the handhold above him, his body swaying back and forth with the train.

  They chatted the best they could during their subway ride to the South Street Ferry. It was hard, with the constant jolting coupled with the loading and unloading of people.

  “Come on. Up you get.” He held out his free hand and helped her to her feet.

  “Why?” she asked, as she held on for dear life.

  “The next stop is ours and we have to get off as quickly as we can before people start pushing to get on.”

  Sam gripped her hand tight as the train came to a stop and the doors opened. He led her through the throng of people and out onto the platform. He guided her through the crowd and up to street level, where they headed to the Battery to catch the ferry to take them to Liberty Park.

  Mindy shivered in the cold wind. “Do they operate on bitter days like today?”

  “The only day they don’t run is December twenty-fifth and this is not bitter, you big wimp.”

  She punched him in the arm but didn’t let go of his hand as they walked to the ferries. As they approached the depot she could see signs about pre-booking to enter the pedestal and the crown of the Statue of Liberty.

  “You have to reserve your tickets in advance.”

  “Don’t worry. I booked them last night. Got the last two tickets for this morning.” He glanced at her briefly as they waited in line. “You’re trying to figure out a way out of this. Why?”

  “Why? Because it’s freaking cold. What if the boat sinks and we’re eaten by sharks?”

  Sam cocked an eyebrow. “Are you afraid of the water?”

  “I’m not afraid of water. I’m afraid of sharks and drowning. Oh, and hypothermia.”