Chapter 2
Chapter Two
Leo
Dr. Charles Long was a blowhard.
Takes one to know one.
Perhaps. But I couldn’t ever remember droning on and on about my accomplishments to a total stranger. I certainly hadn’t enumerated them to Quinton, the nurse, who told me to lose his number this morning.
My phone burned a hole in my pocket.
I hadn’t deleted his number, of course. Whether because I intended to apologize or because I hoped I might butt dial him and wind up with another quick hookup was entirely up for debate.
At least I’d removed my wedding ring. I wore it at the last hospital where I’d worked because there’d been a particularly flirtatious nurse who refused to take no for an answer.
I’d simply declined to share the status of my marriage—divorced by then—and had carried on.
Since I wasn’t going to get involved with anyone—least of all a nurse who didn’t understand how to back off—wearing the ring felt obvious.
Gideon and I might’ve been divorced, and certainly not amicably, but I wanted the outside world to think I was still taken.
I removed it every night when I came home, though. I didn’t want to confuse our children.
The picture of Melodie and Trevor Gideon sent me this morning warmed my heart. My kids meant everything. My marriage had meant everything until it had fallen apart. Finally, my job meant everything. Sometimes, those three things came into conflict.
“Did I tell you about the time we had a six-car pileup on the highway?”
I shook my head at Charles’s question.
“We medevacked a number of patients to Vancouver, but I treated three patients myself. Back-to-back surgeries. Saved some lives that day.”
“That’s great.” I hoped never to have to send patients to Vancouver, but I was only one person. Abbotsford was right on the TransCanada highway, and plenty of accidents occurred in the region. Should keep me busy for the rest of my career. Of course, I didn’t just handle traumas.
“Oh, here’s Quinton now. He’s one of many nurses you’ll work with, but he’s, uh, versatile.”
My ears perked up at the word. I doubted Charles had any idea of what he’d just said. Unless he knew about Quinton’s proclivities. I eyed the general surgeon, who was nearly sixty years old.
Nope. I couldn’t see him with Quinton.
But then, I didn’t know either man.
“Hello, Dr. Long.” Quinton grinned. “And how are you this lovely morning?”
Cold, damp, and pouring rain—typical for the Pacific Northwest in early February. Somehow, though, the nurse’s smile made things just a little brighter.
Until he turned his gaze to me and the air turned as frigid as an Arctic winter. I held out my hand. “Dr. Leopold Rodgers.”
He shook my hand, gripping it tightly. “Quinton Li, nurse extraordinaire.”
“Yes, very well.” Dr. Long eyed the corridor. “I need to check in with a patient who isn’t doing as well as I’d like. Perhaps Quinton can show you the rest?” Without waiting for assent from either of us, he departed.
I met Quinton’s gaze.
He rolled his eyes. “Forgets where his glasses are when they’re on top of his head, but he’s a damn good surgeon.” He eyed me. “What have you seen so far?”
“Just the surgical suites.”
“Naturally, he started there. Why don’t I take you through the entire process that a patient goes through so that if they’ve got questions, you can answer them?”
I blinked. I hadn’t even considered this. I thought he might show me recovery and then to my new office. “Uh, certainly. If you believe that’s what’s best.”
“I believe medical professionals should be empathetic to their patients—especially those who are here for the first time.”
Whether he meant patients or me, I couldn’t be certain. “Well, can you spare the time?”
He pursed his lips.
His very kissable lips.
Sheesh, knock it off. That’ll never happen again.
“Marlena has assigned me to get you organized today. I have a few patients I want to check on, but that can wait. Let’s do a tour, shall we?”
“Look—” I took a breath. “I think—”
“Don’t think, okay?” He snapped that. “I know what you think, and I suggest you keep any other brilliant thoughts you might have to yourself. Now, our OR suites are always busy, so this will be just a quick in and out. Abbotsford just keeps growing, and the hospital can barely keep up. Bursting at the seams.”
“Which is why they opened up a spot for me.” I was well-aware of the responsibilities associated with being the first of my specialty here.
“I must say, not having to send patients all the way to New West will be nice. I believe it’s always better to keep patients as close to home as possible.” He eyed me.
“That’s a wise observation.”
He guided us to a set of doors. He waved his keycard, and we were granted admittance.
“Hey, Grace. How are the kids?” Quinton offered a truly lovely smile.
Too bad it’s not directed at me.
“Jace has a bad cold. Flu shots are great—why can’t they make something for the common cold?
” The lovely hazel-eyed woman’s blonde hair was pulled back into a ponytail.
“But that’s just the mom in me who doesn’t want her kids to suffer.
Lisa hasn’t caught it yet, but it’s just a matter of time, right?
” She pivoted her attention to me. “Grace Bunson.” She squinted at my ID badge. “Dr. Rodgers?”
I nodded.
“Great! We’re looking forward to working with you.”
No hint of sarcasm or derision. But then she likely wouldn’t—to my face. God only knew what she and Quinton would say behind my back.
“I’m excited to be here.”
“We’re going to head out for a quick tour.” Quinton waved. “Thanks.”
Grace was already staring at her computer screen by the time we headed off.
The tour really didn’t take long. The place was bustling with energy as patients were moved through the various stages of pre-op, surgery, post-op, and then onto the wards or into the ICU. Everything appeared efficient. Nothing felt panicked.
“As you know, we focus on general surgery with some specialization. You’re the first of your kind.” Quinton said this in a rather neutral tone.
“You work in the surgical suite?” I followed him through another set of doors.
He shook his head. “I focus on patient care. I do shifts in post-op, but mostly I monitor patients once they’re on the wards. I do rotations wherever I’m needed.”
I whistled. “That’s unusual, right? Don’t most nurses pick a lane and stay there?”
“Some do. This is your office.” He gestured to the door with my name on it.
I took a moment to reorient myself. I’d dropped my messenger bag off earlier, but had been so many places since then that I wasn’t quite certain which way I’d come.
“Why don’t you come to the cafeteria with me? I can show you what’s edible and what to avoid.”
“Oh, sure.” The invitation appeared perfunctory, but I’d take whatever I could get. “I just need to check my phone.” Belatedly, the words struck me. Shit.
“I’d check mine, but I’m on duty. Wouldn’t want the doctor thinking I was ignoring the patient call buttons so I could update my social media.”
He met my gaze with an intensity that robbed me of breath. Those dark-brown eyes were pools of fathomless liquid. I could get lost in them forever.
They reminded me of my ex-husband’s. Only Gideon’s were light-brown. Just as intense, though.
Thinking about Gideon won’t lead you anywhere good.
Except he was watching our children, and I was grateful for that.
I snagged my phone from my back pocket.
No texts.
That was a good thing. That meant Gideon wasn’t having any troubles.
With Melodie at school and Trevor at home with Gideon and Lucky the dog, all was likely well.
In fact, my kids were in better hands than they’d been with the nanny when we all lived back in Surrey.
The young woman had appeared competent and compassionate—but I doubt she would’ve laid her life on the line for my children.
Gideon would. Of that, I had no doubt.
“I’m ready.” I re-pocketed my phone.
Quinton arched an eyebrow. “No flurry of messages to send? No stash of secret lovers?”
I stared. “What are you talking about? I’m not going to, uh, spend time with someone if I have other, uh, someones elsewhere. What kind of man do you think I am?”
“Someone who’s not very honest.”
My eyebrows shot up. “Says the man who said nothing about himself.”
He pursed his lips. “I forgot I brought my lunch. I’ll meet you back here in half an hour, and I’ll take you through—”
“I’m quite certain I can figure it out for myself. I think I’m scheduled to meet with someone from IT this afternoon.”
“Fine.”
“Fine.”
We glared.
Finally, I broke. “Whoever you think I am, Quinton, I’m not that man. I’m actually a good person.” And doesn’t this make me sound all pathetic and weak? Begging for scraps…
“You were the one who made the derisive comment about nurses. You’ll notice I didn’t say anything about surgeons.” A flash of something in his eyes had me suspecting he might’ve in the past.
Actually, he’d called us arrogant. If he didn’t remember, however, I was not going to bring that up myself. Let it go. Life’s too short. “Thank you for your assistance. I get the feeling you get around quite a bit, so I’m certain I’ll be seeing—”
He’d already pivoted and was stalking away.
…get the feeling you get around…
Oh yeah, that couldn’t in any way be misinterpreted. I’d meant he tended to rotate through departments—which was rarer these days. Many nurses picked a specialty and stuck to it.
Apparently not Quinton.
Hopefully, he won’t be on the surgical rotation.
Yeah, right, when have you ever been that lucky?
From memory, I found my way to the cafeteria.
I texted my ex-husband over lunch, and he sent me more pictures of our children. I smiled because I could finally admit I’d made the right decision—trusting him with our beautiful, smart, loving children.
Satisfied with my life—for the moment—I ate and then headed back to work so I could figure out my new computer.
Too bad figuring out my new life wasn’t as easy.