Reunited with Her Hot-Shot Surgeon

by Amy Ruttan

And she understood. The last thing she wanted to do was make a scene. To lose control.

  “Well, I better make a decision on what to eat so we can come up with a plan for George. I have to get back to the training facility soon.” Inwardly she cringed. She wanted to talk with him like old times, but he wasn’t ready and she wasn’t sure she was, either. She was so upset at herself for allowing herself to fall right back into old habits. She thought that the time they spent apart would be enough to cure it all, but it wasn’t.

  Clearly it wasn’t.

  * * *

  Calum didn’t know what had come over Pearl, but one minute it was like the good old days again and then the next, she threw up her wall. And he wasn’t comfortable talking about the baby. Not right now.

  She hadn’t been there for him. He had grieved alone and he wasn’t going to talk about it now. She was right. They were here to talk about work and not reminisce about old times. He had to keep it professional with Pearl.

  And maybe that was the best thing to do. Except it was so easy to laugh with her. He swore he would keep this professional, but he still cared for her.

  If he wanted to keep it professional, he shouldn’t have brought her here.

  He was kicking himself now for suggesting it. This had been their place. He barely came here anymore. He had once or twice over the years because they did have good pizza and it was in close proximity to his house, but being here was hard.

  And it wasn’t the garish decor that made it hard.

  This is where they came after brutally long shifts, where they vented about the day.

  This is where their relationship went from being friends to something more.

  He had come here when he wanted that connection with Pearl when she had gone for all those years. It seemed natural and right. They’d discussed so many cases here. It just seemed right to discuss another one.

  He lost all sense of reasoning when it came to Pearl and he was just setting himself up for heartache, but there was another part of him, one that remembered how much better life was around her. How much he’d been in love with her. She made him feel like he wasn’t alone anymore. Like he could have the family he always wanted.

  The memories of their time together...

  Those he couldn’t shake, couldn’t run away from. They were always there and it was that side of his brain that had driven his decision to bring her here.

  “Have you chosen?” he asked, curious if she’d choose the same thing she always did.

  Hawaiian. Which he found abhorrent because pineapple on a pizza was gross.

  “The Hawaiian,” she said, closing her menu.

  He smiled and shook his head. “Typical.”

  “What?” she asked.

  “Always the same,” he teased.

  “I’m not as adventurous as you having calamari on a pizza!”

  “It wasn’t just calamari.”

  She made a face, her nose wrinkling. “I don’t want to know.”

  He laughed. “I’ve missed this.”

  Her expression softened. “I have, too.”

  Calum reached out to take her hand, but pulled back when the waitress came.

  They both ordered, but when the waitress left, the conversation that only moments before had been so free and easy had come to a standstill.

  Pearl could barely look at him. Why was this so hard?

  They could be friends again. They could work together. They had worked well together. It didn’t have to be anything but that, even if, deep down, he wanted it to be.

  “I want to do targeted radiation first,” Calum said, finally breaking the silence. They were here, after all, to talk about a plan for George. If she wanted to keep it business, then he would keep it that way, too.

  It was probably for the best.

  It kept him from wanting to talk about what happened all those years ago. It kept him from talking about the baby, about their loss. He didn’t want to talk about it now or he’d lose control.

  If this working relationship was going to succeed, he had to keep control of his emotions.

  “That sounds like a good start.”

  “It is,” he said. “That’s why you’ve come to see me. My protocol has a high success rate.”

  “But it doesn’t always work,” she stated.

  He pursed his lips together. “Why would you say that? You’re so pessimistic sometimes.”

  Her eyes narrowed. “I’m a realist. You’re far too optimistic.”

  “My optimism has saved lives. People suffering from cancer need all the hope they can get.”

  Pearl sighed. “Fine. You’re right. It does. I know that, but what I want to know is what you’ll do if your protocol doesn’t work. You don’t need to explain the process to me. I know your process and yes, it’s why I came to you, but what will you do if it doesn’t work?”

  Calum swallowed a lump that had formed in his throat. He hated to discuss outcomes—every patient was so different and because of that every patient responded differently. It was a fine balance of medications, of treatments and the patient’s DNA, which skewed the results. He didn’t like to deal in absolutes, but sometimes, unfortunately there was no other choice.

  “I would have to amputate.”

  Pearl’s expression softened. “I hope we can avoid that. I would hate to see George’s life ruined.”

  “I understand,” Calum said gently. “But sometimes it’s too far gone. Sometimes it doesn’t work. If it worked all the time I would have the patent to the cure for cancer and I definitely don’t have that, but I try to remain optimistic. I try all that I can before I have to opt to the alternative.”

  “Which is amputation?” she asked.

  He nodded. “Yes. The only way to get rid of osteosarcoma, but I’m trying to be positive that this protocol will work on George. There are many factors that might not make it successful.”

  “I understand.”

  “I knew you would. You’re a brilliant doctor, Pearl. You did the right thing coming to me and asking for my help.”

  She smiled, and the hardness in her eyes, the indifference that tainted her expression when she pulled away from him, melted. She let down that wall she always seemed to throw up to keep people out.

  This was the Pearl he remembered.

  “Well, I hope that it doesn’t come to that. I hope your protocol works.”

  Calum nodded. “So do I. I hope we caught it early enough. Did he say when the symptoms started?”

  “Just before he was drafted by the Bridgers. His mother couldn’t afford to send him to a good doctor at the time. It was all she could do to take care of his siblings and he was off in college. He was also on a scholarship, so if he did feel anything, he was ignoring it. He had to play in order to stay in college.”

  Calum scrubbed his hand over his face. “So he could’ve been ignoring the early symptoms for quite some time then?”

  Pearl shrugged. “Maybe, but I’m choosing to believe him. Although, he didn’t come to me with the issues. It was an injury and that’s how I found it.”

  Why were people so stubborn?

  It was a cruel twist of fate that George probably had the symptoms for some time and was too scared to do anything about it. His own mother had done the same. She had spent all she had on him and his sister, Sharon. She had been afraid of going to the doctor to find out what she had. She had worried it would cost too much.

  She had ignored her symptoms so long it had been too late when she finally did see someone.

  George’s leg hadn’t broken yet, so Calum was hopeful that they caught it early, but he wasn’t sure.

  “So you were going to tell me about my other duties?” Pearl asked.

  “Your other duties?”

  She frowned at him. “You said because you’re the chief of orthope
dic surgery and because I was given special privileges and you were doing this work for the Bridgers that I now work for you. I’m helping you ease your caseload.”

  He grinned. “That’s right. I momentarily forgot about that.”

  “Well, that’s not surprising. Bad seafood, especially bad seafood on a pizza, can really mess with your head.” She was teasing him and he couldn’t help but smile.

  Remember why you’re here. Remember what happened last time.

  Only, it was hard because of the pain she caused him when she was sitting so close to him, in one of their favorite places, and teasing him like she did five years ago.

  His pulse thundered between his ears. She was so close. All he wanted to do was reach out and touch her, to pull her in his arms and kiss her.

  After five years, he still wanted her, and he was annoyed that being this close to her affected him like this. So he tried to focus on her leaving.

  It was difficult to remember the pain, because he didn’t want to.

  Because the pain was too much to bear. And he’d had enough pain to last a lifetime. All he wanted was just a bit more of the happiest time of his life. All he wanted was Pearl.

  * * *

  They ate their pizza and talked about George and the other surgeries that Calum had planned. There was a particular spinal surgery that he wanted her help with. She always had a knack for nerves and the regular surgeon he worked with wasn’t going to be in town when the patient wanted the surgery done.

  They walked back to her training facility so that he could collect his car and go home.

  It was awkward walking the streets back to her office. He wanted to take her hand like he always used to, but he couldn’t. So he jammed his hands in his pockets again.

  “Thanks for the lunch,” she said quietly.

  “Thank you for helping out tonight.”

  “Of course. I’m looking forward to it.” She smiled and then looked away, her cheeks flushed.

  He didn’t know what else to say to her and since their lunch was late, the streets were busy with people heading for home. It was rush hour. Thankfully, he didn’t live far from the hospital, so it wouldn’t take him long to get home to his dog Max, who was probably eagerly awaiting his return so they could head down to Golden Gate Park and have a walk.

  “Have you found a place to stay yet?” he asked.

  “Yes. I have a small house not too far from here. The team rented it for me. It’s a pretty modern house. Not as stylish as the Seven Sisters, but it’s nice and an easy walking distance from the training center. I don’t have a car yet.” She looked like she wanted to ask him if he was still living in the same place, their old apartment, but he wasn’t.

  When she had left, it had been too much to bear being there alone without her and without the baby. He much preferred his new house, which happened to be just around the corner from the Seven Sisters.

  “I don’t live in our old place,” he said quickly.

  A blush tinged her cheeks and she looked embarrassed. “No, I didn’t suppose that you would. That was a very small place in the Mission District.”

  “Right. I actually own a house, just around the corner from the Painted Ladies. It’s a small house and definitely not brightly painted, but Max and I like going to Alamo Square Park.”

  “Max?” she asked.

  “He’s my dog. He’s a mutt. A rescue. I think he’s part sheepdog, because he’s black and white, but there’s something else in him because he’s a big fella.” Calum couldn’t help but smile thinking about Max.

  “I wish I had time for a dog, but I’m always on the move.”

  “Yes. Well, it’s hard to put down roots when you’re always running.”

  Her expression hardened and he knew then that he’d stepped too far.

  “Well, I don’t really have experience with roots,” Pearl said stiffly.

  “No. I suppose you don’t.”

  He wasn’t sure how they were going to be able to work together when he kept putting his foot in his mouth and then he realized they had made it back to the training facility.

  “Well, thank you for the late lunch and again, thank you for taking on George. I should have his lab work to you in a day or so, and let me know when his scans are scheduled.”

  “I will. And I plan to see you tomorrow around eleven for that surgery I mentioned. The spinal surgery.”

  “Of course, and I’ll be on call tonight. Have a good evening, Calum.” She turned her back on him and walked back into the Bridgers’ training facility. He just stood there, watching her walk away.

  Why did he think that he could do this?

  Why did he think that he could work with Pearl again?

  He should’ve said no. He could’ve asked another surgeon to help with his other cases.

  He should’ve turned her away, but when it came to her, even after five years he was a pushover.

  And he was going to pay for his soft heart, and he wasn’t sure he could deal with more pain.

  CHAPTER FOUR

  COFFEE IS GOOD.

  She was tired. It had been a long time since she had done an overnight shift and now that she thought of it, it hadn’t been since residency days.

  She’d done long surgeries—surgeries that had to be done after a game. She’d been on the sidelines when players were taken off the field, but it had been a long time since she sat in an emergency room waiting for orthopedic injuries because the hospital was only sent severe cases. It was quiet tonight, which made the time drag on and on.

  There had been some post-op patients that had been filtered through, but that was about it. Though she wouldn’t comment on the quiet activity. That was a jinx waiting to happen.

  “Look alive, Henderson!”

  Pearl sat up and relaxed when she saw it was Calum in his scrubs. He was grinning and his eyes were twinkling mischievously.

  “I thought you were off tonight?” she remarked.

  “I was, but I felt bad. Your first night back and I left you on your own.”

  “I’ve done this before, you know,” she teased. “But I appreciate you checking up on me.”

  “Solidarity and all that.” He leaned over the desk. “The spinal fusion is booked for eleven. No point in going home since you’re done at four. You remember where the on-call rooms are?”

  Warmth crept up her cheeks. She remembered vividly where they were and what happened in one. She remembered one particularly heated stolen moment. His hands on her skin.

  His kisses, his caresses, the pleasure.

  And just recalling the way it felt to be in his arms made her blood heat. It didn’t help he was standing so close to her, wearing the same color scrubs he wore that night.

  Don’t think about it.

  She cleared her throat, trying to break the nervous tension. “Yes. And I’ll be ready for the spinal fusion. I’m looking forward to it.”

  “Good.”

  The phone rang at the desk and Calum leaned over to answer the call. His arm brushed hers and a tingle of electricity went through her. Just that simple touch made her body zing with need.

  “Right. We’ll be ready. How far out? Okay.” He hung up the phone.

  “What’s up?”

  “Accident. Severe crush injuries. A transport rolled over on a pickup truck.”

  Her eyes widened. “And the truck driver is the one with the crush injuries?”

  Calum nodded. “It’s his right side. Bones crushed, possible nerve damage. You think you’re up for the challenge?”

  “Yeah. How far out?”

  “Ten minutes.”

  She stood. “Let’s go.”

  Pearl followed Calum to the ambulance bay, where he helped her into a trauma gown and gloves. Her adrenaline was pumping. It had been a while since she was here, in this sit
uation.

  And a really long time since she’d worked with Calum.

  The siren grew louder as the ambulance came closer, until it was in their bay and the doors of the rig opened.

  “Massive trauma from that pileup. San Francisco General thinks this guy would be better off here with you, Dr. Munro,” the paramedic said.

  Calum nodded. “Anyone else they need to send, we’ll take them.”

  The paramedic nodded and Pearl helped as they unloaded the patient. Pearl could see the damage to the right side of the patient’s body, even just from a quick glance.

  And the way the man’s hand was, she wasn’t sure how much could they save.

  “Vitals are good,” Calum said.

  “CT scan was done at San Francisco General. No serious injuries to the vital organs,” the paramedic said. “Kind of amazing.”

  “Yeah, for sure.” Pearl helped push the gurney in.

  “We need to get him up to the OR floor,” Calum said. “Dr. Henderson, can you go over the file with the paramedic and meet me on the operating-room floor?”

  Pearl nodded. “Of course.”

  Calum motioned to a couple of residents as they took away the trauma patient. He used to complain to her of being a control freak, but he was just as addicted to work as she was. He told her that work kept his mind off of things and he always kept busy.

  She understood and respected that.

  She worked to be the best, to please her parents, which over time she learned not to care too much about.

  “Here’s his file, doctor,” the paramedic said. “All the information from San Francisco General.”

  “Thanks.”

  The paramedic nodded and returned to his rig.

  Pearl glanced at the images. So much damage, yet his spine was intact and his major organs unharmed. She closed the file. It was going to be a long night, but it was these kind of challenges that had driven her to orthopedic surgery, much to her parents’ disappointment. Neither of them felt like she should do this specialty.

  Of course, she’d never been able to please them. Right now, none of that mattered.

  But tonight she’d save a life. Tonight she’d do the best she could and give this patient a chance.