Chapter Four
JULIE SLIPPED INTO her coat and took her leather purse from the neatly organized locker in the doctor’s lounge. Just as she was about to leave, her phone jolted to life, ringing insistently. She quickly pressed the device to her ear. “Dr. Banks.”
“Doctor, Mr. White in Room 312 is asking for something to help him sleep,” a nurse said, her voice tinged with concern.
Her heart raced at the thought of Rodney White, the embodiment of a patient who ignited a fiery enthusiasm within her. What about this individual made her blood surge with adrenaline and urgency? She mentally shook her head, acknowledging that this intense feeling stemmed from her fervent dedication to her work, the thrill of being the first on the scene, and her unwavering commitment to her patient’s well-being—far exceeding the cautious recommendations of the physicians.
As the memories replayed in her mind, she couldn’t shake the awareness that her instinct to act stemmed from a deep sense of empathy and an unyielding desire to make a difference. This pull was more profound than any conventional training could instill. It was not merely a physical urge.
“I’ll drop by and talk to him on my way out.”
“Thank you, Dr. Banks.”
After ending the call, Julie removed her coat and draped it over her arm. She knew she could have prescribed a sleep aid for her patient, but she wanted to see Mr. White again before heading home. Once again, she reasoned it was purely from a physician’s standpoint, not a woman’s desire for a man.
As she exited the elevator on the third floor, she noticed the nurses clustered around Mr. White’s room. Her heart raced as she hurried forward, eager to help in a medical emergency.
“What’s wrong?” she asked, her authoritative tone honed by nine years as a trauma surgeon. Time was always critical, leaving no room for niceties in emergencies. One had to develop a thick skin to navigate the chaos.
The four nurses stood up and looked at her with shy smiles. One brave nurse grinned and said, “You have to see this, Dr. Banks. She’s absolutely adorable.”
Adorable? She first envisioned a child. Did Mr. White have children? She didn’t even know if he was married. Although he wore no ring and hadn’t asked for anyone, she concluded he was single.
Once again, she mentally shook her head to clear her thoughts. She shouldn’t have entertained such thoughts about her patient. She was glad he would be released tomorrow, allowing her to refocus on her work.
As Julie entered the room, she spotted what the nurses had been raving about: a yellow lab puppy wearing a “Service Dog in Training” harness was kissing the cheek of the fifth nurse on duty. Upon seeing Julie, the nurse straightened.
Attempting to soften her tone, Julie smiled and asked, “What do we have here?”
The nurse looked taken aback. “I’m sorry, Dr. Banks.”
She waved her hand dismissively. “It’s no trouble, but I was requested to help Mr. White get some rest.”
The nurses rushed out of the room, and Julie turned to Mr. White, raising an eyebrow. “If you wanted to ask a nurse out, you could have simply asked instead of interrupting their duties.”
The young man beside the bed chuckled, grasping the puppy’s leash. “Doc doesn’t need help getting a woman.”
Julie noticed “Doc” staring at his companion with an icy glare. “You can blame him for bringing the dog.”
Kneeling, Julie let the puppy sniff her hand before she petted it. Soon enough, the puppy climbed onto her knee and started licking her face. Julie couldn’t help but laugh heartily. She understood why the nurses were so eager to receive affection from the little one—it was soothing.
“Casey, heel,” the man said. The dog paused her kisses, trotted back to him, and sat down, her tail wagging.
Standing and clearing her throat to reestablish her role as a doctor, she evaluated the data on the machine connected to Mr. White. Once composed, she looked at him and smiled. “What’s this I hear? Do you need something to help you sleep? Is everything all right? Are you in pain?”
Her patient looked at her and smiled. “Nothing’s wrong, Doc, but I’d like to get some sleep tonight.” He glanced at the coat draped over her arm. “Were you leaving? I didn’t mean to make you go out of your way for me.”
Julie shook her head. “It’s no trouble. I had to pass this floor to get to the parking garage.” She assessed Mr. White before nodding. “I’ll have something sent to help you sleep. Goodnight, Mr. White.” She turned to his visitor and nodded at him, taking one last look at the adorable puppy at his feet.
“Before you go,” Mr. White said, “you owe me an answer to my question.”
Surprised, Julie turned to the side and tilted her head. What question? Then it hit her. That question. She shook her head. “I’m sorry, Mr. White, but I don’t date or marry my patients. Still, I appreciate the lovely proposal.”
Mr. White narrowed his eyes at her. “Well, there’s nothing more to be done. You’re fired.”
Julie jolted at his words. This man must be delusional to think she would marry him after a near-death proposal from someone she didn’t know. “If that’s what you wish.” She turned to leave the room, saddened by the turn of events.
“Hold on, Doc,” the visitor said. “Casey and I will walk you out.”
Julie walked to the door, a wave of shame washing over her for wanting to visit her patient. Still, she sensed he was joking about the proposal and firing her. “There’s no need.”
“Nah,” the man said, “she needs the practice.”
Uncertain about what training the dog needed, Julie nodded and opened the door. The handler paused to allow her to exit first.
As they silently walked to the elevator, the nurses took one last look at the dog, even though they might have been admiring the handler. He was a handsome man, had a sexy appeal, while the puppy only enhanced his persona. However, Julie preferred her men to be more rugged, like Mr. White.
As she entered the elevator, the handler turned to her. “I’m Pup,” he said.
Confused, Julie tilted her head in question. “Pup? I thought the dog’s name was Casey.” At least, that was the name he used when giving her commands.
He chuckled. “Her name is Casey, but they call me Pup since I’m the lead handler at the agency and the youngest agent.”
Julie still had no idea what he meant, so she nodded, hoping to wrap up the conversation while her thoughts swirled around Mr. White.
“Is Mr. White a doctor?” she asked, puzzled about why this question came up first.
Pup shook his head. “Nah, he’s a medic. He used to be a paramedic before becoming a SEAL. Now, he serves as a medic for one of the teams.”
Agency. Teams. Where on earth did these men work? The government? It felt secretive, but she discovered Mr. White had been a SEAL.
They stepped out of the elevator and into the parking garage.
Pup cleared his throat. “You know he was just kidding, right?”
Once more, she found herself absorbed in his conversation. “About?” She looked around the lot, ever watchful for vagrants and potential attackers. Not that there had been any incidents since security started patrolling the lot every hour.
“Firing you, obviously.” Pup chuckled. “He’s just pulling your leg about the proposal.”
“Oh.” Julie couldn’t understand why it bothered her that it wasn’t real, even though she realized it was an impossible situation. “Does he do this often? Propose to women he just met?”
“Not that I know of. Doc is pretty particular. Given his size, he prefers his women tall and athletic.” Pup chuckled again. “Just like you.”
To change the subject, Julie asked, “How old is Casey?”
“Six months. She’s still a baby learning but has so much potential.”
“Where is she getting her training? You said you were the main handler. Where?” She needed to understand more about Mr. White, even though she didn’t want to admit it.
“We’re employed at Hamilton Investigation and Security.”
Julie waited. He spoke as if she should know this agency, but she had never heard of it. “Is this in Baltimore?”
Pup shook his head. “On the outskirts, we have a few acres for practice and planning. We even have an outdoor range.”
Guns? She didn’t see Pup carrying one. “You have a weapon?”
He nodded. “I’m just carrying a backup piece at my ankle. We don’t typically open carry unless we’re on the job. There’s no need for it.”
Julie reflected on the circumstances surrounding Simon and Mr. White’s injuries and considered that a gun could have been a wise choice, though she kept that opinion to herself.
The parking lot was primarily empty at this late hour. On days she had surgery—long hours on her feet—it was her routine to rack up extra steps by parking as far from the exit as possible. She pointed ahead. “That’s me. I can make it the rest of the way.”
Pup shook his head. “Nah, let Casey practice. Besides, Doc would knock me senseless if I let you walk to your car alone.”
Sighing in resignation, Julie gave in. It shouldn’t take long. She’d love to see the puppy in action. She had never watched a dog check out a car before. “Okay.”
“So, anyway,” Pup said, as if they had been in the middle of a conversation. “At HIS, we complete missions that no one else can or will. We work for private individuals and the government alike.”
Bewildered, Julie asked, “The government? Don’t they have teams to handle things?”
Pup nodded. “They do, but sometimes the government needs things done and can’t get their hands dirty, if you know what I mean.”
Julie, impressed by this organization, vowed to learn more about it. Although she might never need its services, it would be interesting to read about it. She stopped in front of the blue SUV. “We’re here.”
She watched in awe at the attention the puppy gave to her handler. It was as if no one else existed. When Pup instructed her to search the car, Julie stepped aside, observing the dog explore every nook and cranny around her vehicle.
After Casey was done, she sat and whined at Julie’s SUV.
Pup reached for his weapon at his ankle. “Doc,” Pup said firmly, “you’d better move away from the car.”
A bit uneasy with his new authoritative tone and the brandishing of his weapon, Julie furrowed her brow and straightened her posture. “What on earth for?”
“Because,” Pup said, “Casey just discovered her first non-training explosive.”