Chapter 4
chapter
four
Graham
“Don’t forget that your new nurse starts today,” Carol says.
I take off my reading glasses and stare at the woman who has been approximately sixty-two years old since she started working for me when I opened my practice as a pediatrician.
“I couldn’t forget if I wanted to. You’ve posted it all over the office, sent me a few thousand reminders and somehow managed to have Siri tell me every time I log into a device.” I give her a scowl. “You could pretend that you’re a little sad that you’re deserting me.”
“I could, but you and I both know I’m not a good liar. You’ve been a great boss and you know I love you like a son. But Red and I are still healthy and we want to see the world. So when he offered an extended cruise through the Greek isles and then around Europe, if I’d only retire, I knew it was time.”
I blow out a breath. “I know, and you’re right. Change will be good. How old did you say this new girl is? Is she straight out of nursing school or does she have some experience?”
“You would know all of this if you’d done the interviews instead of passing that off to me.”
“You know, more than I, what I need in a partner.”
Carol snorts. “She’s been the school nurse at an elementary school in Houston for the last five years. She has plenty of experience with kids. And she’s got spunk, so I know she won’t take any of your shit.” She points a finger at me. “I’m gonna walk over and get us some coffee so that when she gets here, you’re fully human.”
“Have you always been this mean?” I ask.
Another snort, then she leaves me alone in my office. Losing Carol sucks because she’s been a wonderful nurse for me these last twenty-five years. But I suppose it’s time for a change.
I roll my neck, trying to ease the tension that’s been sitting heavy since Thursday morning. I couldn’t even focus on my family for Thanksgiving because all I could think about was her. How I’d woken her up twice during the night to take her again. I don’t think I’ve ever been that insatiable.
No matter what I do, I can’t get her out of my mind. Carol is right, coffee will definitely help.
I put my readers back on and pick up my tablet to check today’s schedule. It’s pretty slim right now, but more than likely the phones will start ringing with all the illnesses that sprung up over the holiday weekend. That’s always the way. Your kid doesn’t get fever until the middle of the night or on a day when your doctor’s office is closed.
“Knock, knock,” a woman’s voice says from my office door.
“Come on in and have a seat and let me finish with this note and then…” My words trail off as the familiarity of her voice hits me. I lower my tablet to my desk and then rip my glasses off.
Because sitting right across from me is Liz. The woman I haven’t been able to get off my mind. A burst of primal possessiveness shoots through me, but it’s quickly banked, because what is she doing here?
How did she even find me?
If she’s traced me here, it’s because she knows about my fortune. There’s no other explanation for why she’s here.
Fucking gold diggers. They’ve been chasing my family for years.
“You?” she says, sounding just as surprised as I feel.
“How the fuck did you even find me?” I stand.
She comes to her feet as well.
“Did you snoop through my wallet and check my driver’s license?” I ask.
“What? No! Why would I do that? And what do you mean, find you? I wasn’t even looking for you.”
“Likely story.” I shake my head. “What? You thought you’d seduce me, get me hooked on your gorgeous fucking body and then go in for the kill. I should have fucking known better than to take you home with me.”
Her eyes flash with indignation. “What the hell are you even talking about?”
“I’m talking about how you figured out how much I’m worth and you tracked me down. At my place of work, no less.”
“You think I’m … what? Stalking you?”
“That’s obviously what’s happening. I’m not a moron.”
Her hands go to her hips, and she glares up at me. “I could argue that point!”
“Get your ass out of here. I don’t ever want to see you again.” Even to my own ears, that sounds like a lie.
“That’s not what it sounded like when you were moaning my name,” she snaps. “Or how about that last time you woke me up just because you had to have me again? Remember that?”
Of course I fucking remember. I’ve been replaying every moment of that night over and over again since she left. Goddamn it if I still don’t want her. The pull to her is so strong, I have to grip the wood on my desk to prevent myself from going to her. Her cheeks are flushed with anger and her eyes are full of fire. She’s so fucking beautiful I can barely breathe.
“Oh excellent, you’ve met,” Carol says from the doorway. She says nothing about the words Liz and I have been hurling at each other. “Let’s move to the break room so we can all sit and enjoy our coffee.”
With that, Carol leaves again, fully expecting us to follow. It takes several beats for the truth to dawn on me. Carol clearly knows Liz. Knows her and expected her to be here this early in the morning. But that means… I walk around my desk and sure enough, Liz is dressed in scrubs with cartoon elephants all over them.
Because she’s my new nurse.
Fuck.
My.
Life.
I motion for her to go ahead of me and can’t help but place my palm at the small of her back to lead her to the break room.
“You’re Doc West?” she hisses. “The kindly old pediatrician who’s been this town’s doctor for years?”
“Yes, I am.”
“You’re not that old.”
“Thank you for noticing.”
“I cannot believe this,” she says.
But then we’re stepping into the room where I have a full sized refrigerator, a table with some chairs, microwave and several other things my employees make use of. I keep the fridge stocked with bottled waters and cans of soda. And the freezer is packed with popsicles. But that’s mostly for the kiddos.
“Now then, Lizzie Greer, this is Doctor Graham West. Or maybe y’all already covered that. Hard to tell with all the yelling,” Carol says.
Liz’s—no, Lizzie’s—eyes squeeze shut as if merely looking away will make this mess less … well, messy.
“He was supposed to be a kindly old small-town doctor,” she says.
“Yeah, it’s a real bite in the ass when you realize how handsome he is. Don’t worry though, I’m sure he’ll get on your nerves sooner or later.”
Lizzie shakes her head. “No, this can’t happen. I can’t—we can’t—work together.”
“Too late for that, honey,” Carol says.
I recognize her syrupy-sweet-but-don’t-you-talk-back-to-me voice. It gets the kids every time to comply with shots, nasty medicine and everything in between.
“The techs have been fielding calls since seven this morning and we are now officially packed to the gills with appointments today and it’s gonna be all hands on deck. I’ll manage all the techs while you get used to working with the kindly old doctor.”
“Carol,” I say with a growl.
She rolls her eyes, not even pretending to be chastised. She hands Lizzie a tablet. “First up we’ve got a live one in exam room four. I’m guessing a double ear infection, but it’s hard to tell.” Then Carol claps her hands. “Okay then, go team.” And once again, she walks out of the room.
“If she wasn’t retiring, I’d fire her,” I mutter.
“Asshole,” Lizzie whispers. Then walks off to look for exam room four.
I go in search of my doctor coat because for some dumbass reason I want to look more official? I don’t even know. I just know that I am fucked.